CarPlay Head Unit for Nissan Note E12 (2011-2021): how to install Android Auto and Apple CarPlay

The Nissan Note E12 is one of those cars people buy with their head and end up keeping for years: it fits into any parking space, has a huge boot for its size and offers rear space many compact cars cannot match. Its weak point, especially on entry-level trims, is the dashboard: a radio with a tiny display or no display at all, basic Bluetooth and no real integration with your phone.

If you drive a Note from the 2011-2021 period, the scene will be familiar: the phone stuck to the windscreen on a holder so you can see Google Maps, the charging cable running across the console and music playing over Bluetooth at half the quality it could have. There is a much cleaner way to solve it without changing cars: fitting a dedicated head unit for the Nissan Note with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which sits in the original console opening and leaves the factory climate controls untouched.

Does the Nissan Note have CarPlay as standard?

No. When the second generation of the Note (E12) was built, Apple CarPlay did not even exist as an industry standard, and Nissan never added it to this model in any later update. Depending on trim and year, this is what you may find in a Note:

• CD radio with a monochrome display on entry trims, with USB and AUX at best.
• Early Nissan Connect on higher trims: a small touchscreen, SD-card navigation and menus that feel very slow by today's standards.
• Bluetooth for calls only and basic audio streaming, with no app integration.
• Rear camera on some versions and higher trims only.

None of these units can be updated by software to get CarPlay: it is not a licensing issue, the original hardware simply does not have the processing power or the connections. The only real option is to replace the unit with a modern screen.

The solution: an Android head unit for the Nissan Note

The dedicated head unit for the Nissan Note E12 comes with the frame and connector designed for this chassis, so it replaces the original unit without universal adapters that stand out. These are its main features:

• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wired too if you prefer to charge your phone at the same time.
• 9-inch HD touchscreen, far more readable than the Note's original display.
• Navigation with your own apps: Google Maps, Waze or Apple Maps with live traffic and speed camera warnings.
• Music streaming: Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music or podcasts straight from your phone.
• Android system with the Play Store, so you can install whatever apps you want alongside CarPlay.
• Steering wheel controls kept thanks to the Nissan-specific CAN-BUS module.
• Rear camera input and amplifier outputs, with DSP and equaliser to improve the sound.
• WiFi, Bluetooth, built-in GPS and two USB ports.

Nissan Note compatibility: supported versions

The screen is designed for the full E12 generation and also fits late units of the previous generation with a standard adapter:

• Nissan Note E12 (second generation): 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.
• Late-phase Nissan Note E11: 2011, 2012 and 2013, with a standard 2 DIN adapter.
• 1.2, 1.2 DIG-S and 1.5 dCi engines from the same period.
• Trims with and without Nissan Connect, with manual or automatic climate control.

Before buying, it is worth taking a photo of the whole dashboard, with the radio and the climate controls in the same shot. It is the quickest way to confirm whether your car is an E11 or an E12 and which harness it needs. Send it to us on WhatsApp and we will confirm it free of charge before you place the order.

What is the installation like?

It is a plug & play job: it connects to the car's original connectors, with no cutting of cables and no changes to the dashboard. A workshop does it in under an hour and a patient DIYer can do it in an afternoon. The steps are these:

1. Disconnect the negative battery terminal and wait a few minutes before starting.
2. Remove the centre console trim using plastic tools so you do not mark the Note's panels.
3. Undo the original radio's screws and pull it out carefully from the sides.
4. Connect the specific harness and the CAN Bus module included: this is the part that translates the car's signals so you keep the steering wheel controls and the system warnings.
5. Route the microphone towards the A-pillar or the mirror and place the GPS antenna somewhere clear on the dashboard.
6. Test before closing everything up: sound from all four speakers, steering wheel controls, phone pairing and CarPlay or Android Auto.
7. Fit the screen into the frame and refit the trims.

If your Note already has a factory rear camera, keep it: with the right wiring it can be reused and you will still see the image on the new, much bigger screen.

How much does it cost to add CarPlay to a Nissan Note?

At an official service centre the answer is usually that there is no factory update for this model: the original system is discontinued and does not support CarPlay, either by software or by swapping modules. The usual alternative at a general workshop is a universal 2 DIN radio with an adapter frame, a job that almost always shows in the finish and normally means losing the steering wheel controls.

A dedicated screen for the Note avoids both problems: it fits like the original and keeps the car's functions. On the product page you will find the current price, the memory versions available and the delivery times. All our units include a 3-year warranty, shipping across Europe and support before and after your purchase.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know whether my Note is an E11 or an E12?
The E12 was built from 2013 and has more stretched headlights and a centre console with the radio in the upper section. If in doubt, send us a photo of the dashboard on WhatsApp and we will tell you within minutes.

Do the steering wheel controls still work?
Yes. The included Nissan CAN-BUS module keeps volume, track change and the phone buttons.

Do I lose the air conditioning or the trip computer?
No. The screen respects the original climate control layout and the instrument cluster information works exactly as before.

Does CarPlay work without a cable?
Yes, CarPlay and Android Auto are wireless: your phone connects on its own when you start the car. You can still use the cable whenever you want to charge at the same time.

Is it reversible if I sell the car?
Completely. As no original cable is cut, you can refit the factory radio whenever you want.

See the CarPlay head unit for the Nissan Note

You will find all the versions, real installation photos and detailed compatibility on the product page for the CarPlay and Android Auto head unit for the Nissan Note E12 (2011-2021). If you drive a different Nissan, our Nissan compatibility guide shows which unit matches each model.