CarPlay Head Unit for Nissan Murano (2002-2008): how to install Android Auto and Apple CarPlay

The first-generation Nissan Murano (Z50) was an SUV ahead of its time: a tall coupé silhouette when almost nobody was doing that, a 3.5-litre V6, a CVT gearbox and a roomy, well-finished cabin. Those who still own one keep it for exactly that reason — because it holds up mechanically and is still comfortable. What has not aged as well is its infotainment: a head unit with a small display, no phone projection and, in many cars, no usable sat-nav.

Changing car over that makes no sense. There is a model-specific screen for the Murano that replaces the original head unit, fits the factory opening and adds wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto while keeping the steering wheel controls. In this guide we cover what your car came with, what it gains with the screen, how it is fitted and what it costs.

Does the Nissan Murano have CarPlay as standard?

No. No car of this generation left the factory with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto — those technologies came long after it. What the Murano Z50 offered was:

• CD radio with a multi-disc changer and a small information display in the centre console.
• The Nissan Birdview system with DVD navigation on some versions, running maps that are completely obsolete today and are no longer updated.
• Bluetooth for calls only on better-equipped cars, without proper music streaming or app control.

In practice, anyone driving a Murano today ends up using their phone on a mount, with audio over an FM transmitter or an aux cable. It works, but it is awkward and unsafe: every time you want to change destination or playlist you have to handle the phone.

The solution: an Android head unit for the Nissan Murano

Our model-specific screen for the Nissan Murano replaces the original radio using the model's own harness and frame. It is not an adapted universal unit: it fits the opening without gaps and plugs into the car's original connector.

• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto: your phone connects on its own at start-up and its interface appears on the big screen.
• HD touchscreen, far larger and brighter than the original, with day/night mode.
• Built-in GPS with Google Maps and Waze, live traffic and offline maps so you can navigate without mobile data.
• Bluetooth hands-free, FM/AM radio, USB and mirror link to duplicate your phone screen.
• Reversing camera input that switches on automatically when you select reverse — a very useful upgrade on an SUV with a rear window as steeply raked as the Murano's.
• Steering wheel controls, parking sensors and the original camera preserved thanks to the Nissan-specific CAN Bus.
• Android with OTA updates and access to the apps you use daily: Spotify, YouTube Music, internet radio, podcasts and more.

Compatibility with the Murano: supported versions

The kit is designed for the Nissan Murano Z50, the first generation (2002-2008):

• Murano 3.5 V6 with CVT transmission, the engine sold in Europe.
• Cars with the standard CD radio and cars with the original navigation system.
• Trims with and without the Bose system: the unit has an amplifier output.
• Cars with a factory reversing camera and cars without one (in which case you can add it).

Since this generation used several fascias depending on market and trim, the quickest route is to send us a photo of your current radio on WhatsApp: we'll confirm the right frame and harness free of charge within minutes.

What is the installation like?

It is a Plug & Play installation with the model-specific connector: 30 to 60 minutes, without cutting or splicing any of the car's wiring. A fitting guide is included.

1. Disconnect the negative battery terminal before touching anything on the console.
2. Remove the centre console trim with plastic pry tools, easing the clips out carefully so you don't mark the mouldings.
3. Undo the original head unit screws and pull it straight out.
4. Unplug the connector blocks, the aerial and, if your car has one, the sat-nav or amplifier connector.
5. Connect the specific harness and the CAN Bus module from the kit. Each plug fits in only one place, so there is no margin for error.
6. Route the microphone cable up the windscreen pillar to the mirror and, if you fit a camera, run its cable down the side trim to the tailgate.
7. Reconnect the battery and test before closing up: sound from every speaker, steering wheel controls, GPS, camera and phone pairing.
8. Slot the screen into the opening, screw it down and refit the trim.

From · free shipping · support before and after your purchase.

For normal use (navigation, music and calls) the 2 GB version is more than enough. If you regularly run sat-nav, streaming and CarPlay at the same time, the 4 GB one makes a noticeable difference in smoothness. We explain it in detail in our RAM guide.

Frequently asked questions

Do I keep the steering wheel controls?

Yes. The Nissan-specific CAN Bus module keeps volume, track skip and phone working from the wheel, just as with the original radio.

My Murano has the Bose system, will I lose the sound?

No. The screen has amplifier outputs, so the sound system keeps working. Let us know when ordering so we can send you the right wiring.

Can I add a reversing camera?

Yes. The screen has a camera input and switches to it automatically when you select reverse. On an SUV with a rear window as raked as the Murano's, it is one of the most appreciated upgrades.

Does the sat-nav work without mobile data?

Yes. Besides the built-in GPS, you can download offline maps from Google Maps or Waze and navigate with no data coverage.

Will it pass the roadworthiness test?

Yes. It is a model-specific screen fitted into the original radio opening: it alters neither structure nor lighting and needs no type approval. We explain it in Do Android screens pass the Spanish ITV test?

See the CarPlay head unit for the Nissan Murano

➡️ See the product: CarPlay Head Unit for Nissan Murano (2002-2008) · all Nissan screens.