Retractable CarPlay Screen for Audi A3 8V (2013-2018): how to install Android Auto and Apple CarPlay

One of the most recognisable details of the Audi A3 8V is its retractable screen: it rises from the dashboard when you start the car and hides away when you switch off, leaving a clean, minimalist interior. It is so distinctive that many owners do not want to give it up to get CarPlay. That is why there is an alternative to the classic radio screen: a 7-inch retractable screen that takes exactly the same space, keeps the factory motion and adds Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a complete Android system. In this guide we explain how it works and who it is the best option for.

Does the Audi A3 8V have CarPlay as standard?

Only some cars. Early A3 8V models have the MMI system with a retractable screen but no phone integration beyond Bluetooth for calls and music. With the model update, Audi began offering the Audi Smartphone Interface, which added wired CarPlay and Android Auto, but it was an optional extra that many cars do not have. The result: most A3 8Vs on Spanish roads have a small low-resolution screen, navigation with old maps (if they have it at all) and no way of seeing Google Maps, Waze or Spotify on the dashboard.

The solution: Android retractable screen for Audi A3 8V

This screen replaces the original one in the same housing, with no frames or tabs sticking out, and keeps the mechanism that raises and lowers it. The most interesting part is that it coexists with the Audi system: you can switch from the original menu to the Android system whenever you like. Its features:

• 7-inch IPS screen with 1024 × 600 resolution, sharper than the standard one.
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto.
• Keeps the original Audi interface and lets you switch between it and Android.
• You keep using the rotary MMI controller, the steering wheel controls, the original sound and the vehicle settings.
• GPS, Bluetooth hands-free, music via USB, Bluetooth or Spotify and FM/RDS radio.
• Two USB ports and a DSP sound processor.
• Several memory versions; the higher ones add 4G connectivity with a SIM card.
• Free universal rear camera.

Compatibility with Audi A3 8V: supported versions

The screen is designed for the Audi A3 8V built between 2013 and 2018 in all its body styles: 5-door Sportback, 3-door, Saloon and Cabriolet. There is one important condition: the car must have the original retractable screen and the MMI controller in the centre console from the factory. A3s that do not have both are not compatible with this kit.

If your A3 8V does not have a retractable screen, or you prefer a larger fixed screen on the dashboard, the right option is the CarPlay radio screen for Audi A3 8V. And if you only want to add CarPlay to the screen you already have, without changing anything visible, take a look at the CarPlay interface for Audi A3, Q2, A4, A5 and Q7. The previous A3 (8P) has its own guide.

Retractable screen, radio screen or interface: which to choose?

• Retractable screen (this guide): keeps the factory look and the MMI, improves the screen and adds full Android. Ideal if you value the original interior.
• Radio screen: larger fixed screen on the dashboard. Ideal if size and visibility come first.
• Interface: changes no visible part; it only adds CarPlay and Android Auto to the original screen. Ideal if your screen is enough for you.

What does the installation involve?

The screen comes with its dedicated harness and is installed without cutting any wires:

1. The upper dashboard trim is removed and the original retractable screen is taken out with its mechanism.
2. The dedicated harness is connected to the A3's original connector, preserving the MMI and steering wheel control signals.
3. The GPS antenna and the two USB cables are placed in the glovebox or armrest.
4. The new screen is fitted in the same housing, and it keeps rising and retracting like the standard one.
5. The car is started, switching between the Audi and Android systems is checked and the phone is paired.

It is a slightly more delicate installation than a radio, because the work is done at the top of the dashboard, but an installer can do it in one or two hours.

How much does it cost to install CarPlay in an Audi A3 8V?

At the dealer, adding CarPlay to an A3 8V that does not have it usually means replacing the MMI unit or activating the Smartphone Interface when the hardware allows it, an expensive operation that is not always possible on early cars. And even then you would keep the original screen and CarPlay only by cable. The dedicated retractable screen includes a new screen, harness, GPS and rear camera, and gives you wireless CarPlay while keeping Audi's design. The current price of each version is on the product page.

Frequently asked questions

Does the screen still hide away when the car is switched off?
Yes, it keeps the original retractable motion: it rises when you start and retracts when you switch off.

Can I still use the MMI wheel?
Yes. The MMI controller still operates the original Audi system, and you can switch to the Android system whenever you like.

Is Android Auto wireless?
On this screen, Apple CarPlay is wireless and Android Auto works via USB cable.

Do I lose the original sound or the car settings?
No. The factory sound, vehicle settings and steering wheel controls are all kept.

Does it work on an A3 without a retractable screen?
No. It needs the factory retractable screen and MMI controller; if your car does not have them, the right option is the radio screen.

See retractable CarPlay screen for Audi A3 8V

If you want CarPlay in your A3 without giving up the screen that rises and retracts, you can see all the details and versions of the retractable CarPlay screen for Audi A3 8V in our shop.