QPV with non-standard infotainment system?

Mr K

Member
Messages
321
Spotted a non-standard infotainment system in a car 2005 QPV Nuvola has up for sale at the moment. Seems to integrate well cosmetically. Anyone know what it is? The sides of the facia containing the buttons are integral with the facia of the factory head unit. Looks like thease have been neatly sliced off and the new unit slotted in.
Here it is
maserati-quattroporte-V-non-std-audio.jpg
Here's (my) factory unit
4.jpg
 

StuartW

Member
Messages
9,320
That does look a good job. I don't know what it is but they've done a tidy job & it looks like a touch screen interface
 

rockits

Member
Messages
9,175
It might be one of these fairly generic Android touchscreen systems. I looked at one when I had my RRS SC as you could take out the OEM panel & replace perfectly behind it. As it was a touch screen the factory buttons were redundant & it didn't integrate with steering wheel buttons. However it was a pretty good solution to get Spotify, iPod, Bluetooth streaming etc. into an older car.

Just give Nareman a call see if he knows...I'm sure he wouldn't mind a five min chat with an SM'er.
 

rockits

Member
Messages
9,175
That does look very good with all factory buttons/controls retained. Very nice installation. Not sure if it a bit big as maybe a 7" might not look so large. A 9" looks so big compared to stock.
 

Jkulin

Junior Member
Messages
983
So Drew how do you get around, the vehicle specific stuff such as Daylight running lights, locking and the other non audio related commands?
 

drewf

Member
Messages
7,159
It interfaces using the TV input module, so the standard Maserati screens are all still available. You wouldn't know the touchscreen overlay was there.

2012-11-03 15.08.24.jpg
 

Jkulin

Junior Member
Messages
983
That sounds very cool Drew, so does all the existing controls on the steering wheel work as well?

How do you get to the Maserati specific tools?
 

drewf

Member
Messages
7,159
Not quite. The steering wheel volume controls work - it thinks it's controlling a tv. Next track etc. doesn't - you need to use the touchscreen for that.

I'm not sure what you mean about the Maserati specific tools - if you mean the setup/info/trip/whatever screens, then you just select them using the buttons as normal.
 

Jkulin

Junior Member
Messages
983
Thanks Drew, on my 2010 QP there are control for the parking sensors, rain sensitivity, clock settings, auto lock functions, running lights, language of the on board computer and a whole hosts or other things that have appear to only be controllable via the infotainment system interface.
 

drewf

Member
Messages
7,159
Yep - same on mine. All this system looks like to the Infotainment is a TV input. The rest of it remains unchanged. The touchscreen overlay only connects to the Kenwood stuff, it has no effect on the standard Maserati screens. It's long obsolete now, but I'm sure a modern system could be installed in just the same way - after all, what use is the analogue tv input nowadays?
 

Jkulin

Junior Member
Messages
983
Brilliant Drew, so I imagine that there is a similar menu system like there was previously but displayed on the after market unit?

I'm going to have to have a look at your system next time your at one of the meets, cos it looks the mutts nuts.
 

drewf

Member
Messages
7,159
No - the touchscreen is just a membrane overlay on the original Maserati screen. There's no need for a similar menu but displayed on the aftermarket unit - the Maserati screens are displayed as original menus on the original screen.

Here's how it's put together - a aftermarket touchscreen monitor has the touchscreen membrane peeled away, and stuck onto the Maserati screen. The dismembered monitor still exists - it sits inside the dashboard on top of the Infotainment, under the vents, stuck to the Infotainment unit. It's needed to power up the touchscreen overlay. The feedback from that membrane goes to the Kenwood unit. The video output from the Kenwood goes to the Maserati TV module, and there are some other bits and pieces - amplifiers and other electronic nonsense.

So - select 'TV' and the Kenwood unit is displayed and plays on the screen and through the speakers. All its functions (radio/MP3/DVD/Sat Nav although I don't have a Sat Nav plugged into it) become available through the touchscreen.
Select Radio and the Maserati radio is displayed and works as per a standard car.
Select CD and the CD player/changer are displayed and works as per a standard car (except it doesn't now, as I've installed a Loudlink)
Select Nav and the Maserati 'if you don't already know where you are going you are stuffed' excuse for a Sat Nav appears.
Select Trip/Info/Setup (have I missed any) and the standard screens appear to configure the car, look at the laughable fuel consumption etc.

Happy to show you John - it was probably state of the art when it was installed, but it's pretty clunky now compared to an Android solution. If I was to install one now, I'd want a heck of a lot more for the £4k or so it cost the chap who paid for it. A £60 Android tablet will do most of it...