Updated experience with the CARABC 12 inch upgrade?

[GroovyGeek]

I am contemplating a 12 inch screen upgrade and while the infotainment one is amazing, the price puts a significant dent in the value proposition for what is effectively a nice-to-have cosmetic upgrade (ditto for the center console -would live to do both but...)


I have been looking at the carabc option and am seeing a lot of conflicting reports. Eville Truck recently uploaded a howto to YT that seemed to work without a hitch. But Auto Journey described a nightmare of an experience with sleuthing around the fuse box, Forscan futzing, etc).

There is not much user discussion on this topic here and elsewhere, I am wondering if someone brave enough to do this recently can share their experiences.

There are two key questions I am after

1) Is wireless Android Auto/Carplay retained? For the 2024-2025 reports the answer seems to be no, and for 2026 it is unclear.

2) The order page comes with two options - with or without a 12 inch APIM. I am assuming that since I don't have a source for a 12 inch APIM In should order the kit with the 12 inch APIM if I want to proceed.

3) What are the trade-offs of getting a US version 12 inch APIM as a tskeoff/salvage vs buying the CARABC one? Can it be reprogramed with Forscan or does it need FDRS?

Thanks for any insight.

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[rugedraw]

There is a reason the Infotainment system costs what it costs. They ensure the APIM they send you is properly programmed to your vehicle and OTA/FDRS updates continue to work as intended. I have seen countless people on many different Ford forums cause what is in most cases irreparable damage (in terms of server back end data) by throwing in APIMs that don't belong to the vehicle and/or are not correctly programmed. Once these incorrect parts/firmware versions get absorbed by the server, it will wreck the ability for updates to continue to work as intended and this cannot be fixed with FORScan or FDRS. Only Ford engineers can correct the back end data and when they see the issue was caused by the owner Frankensteining modules into the network, they will not help.....warranty or not. Yes, they can tell (very easily) that an APIM was swapped out.

I have no experience with CarabC. From what I have seen, they do NOT do this conversion the correct way:

https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/carabc-screen-upgrade-question.112528/

 

[GroovyGeek]

There is a reason the Infotainment system costs what it costs. They ensure the APIM they send you is properly programmed to your vehicle and OTA/FDRS updates continue to work as intended. I have seen countless people on many different Ford forums cause what is in most cases irreparable damage (in terms of server back end data) by throwing in APIMs that don't belong to the vehicle and/or are not correctly programmed. Once these incorrect parts/firmware versions get absorbed by the server, it will wreck the ability for updates to continue to work as intended and this cannot be fixed with FORScan or FDRS. Only Ford engineers can correct the back end data and when they see the issue was caused by the owner Frankensteining modules into the network, they will not help.....warranty or not. Yes, they can tell (very easily) that an APIM was swapped out.

I have no experience with CarabC. From what I have seen, they do NOT do this conversion the correct way:

https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/carabc-screen-upgrade-question.112528/

The confusion in this thread is partially user error, partially insufficient documentation from CarAbC. They sell kits that are bezel only, bezel + screen, and bezel + AIPM. They do ask for your VIN to so the AIPM programming

 

[rugedraw]

The confusion in this thread is partially user error, partially insufficient documentation from CarAbC. They sell kits that are bezel only, bezel + screen, and bezel + AIPM. They do ask for your VIN to so the AIPM programming

Flashing the config from your VIN is not programming. I am referring to the firmware itself. If the firmware on the APIM is different from what your current APIM has, once the TCU reports to the server, it will corrupt the data on the server side. Again: I don't know them or how they work.....maybe they do it right. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Edit: Screen only would be safe. I'd be careful of APIM swaps though.

 

[Gage]

I believe this YouTuber is a member here. He walks you through his install. After the upgrade everything worked as expected.

Youtube Video

 

[GroovyGeek]

I believe this YouTuber is a member here. He walks you through his install. After the upgrade everything worked as expected.

Youtube Video

Yes I saw this video but it is a very atypical experience. His upgrade worked without an APIM swap. From what I have been able to gather this only works if you use CarPlay, which is more graceful about resolution rescaling.

Here is another one that describes a rather different situation, more in line with what others have described



And in another video she goes into more detail, stating that wireless Android Auto basically dies not work even after an APIM swap.

Then there is the in-between situation


He makes it sound like things work but when I asked about wireless Android Auto he responded saying it is "spotty at best".

The second and third video are from a few years ago which is why I was asking about recent feedback, in case carabc has fixed their kit.

There is this thread on Facebook which is an interesting option


Several sellers on eBay sell what look to be North America OEM APIM + screen + harness kits + FDRS programming and you can buy the OEM bezel for around $500.

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