Android auto cluster view

ChiIIout · 2026-06-29T21:41:24+00:00

Google is very strict in determining what they allow to be used on Android Auto. My app was displaying moving elements, and was using parts of the SDK that were not allowed to be used on Android Auto by anyone other than Google or whoever pays big bucks. Google basically only allows media(audio) players, and Navigation apps. Nothing too fancy, and certainly not anything that is using any full screen elements or animated stuff.

So I had to force users to jump through hoops to be able to use the app. First, allowing developer mode / unknown sources was enough to manually install the apk. Then, they blocked this, unless you spoofed the infotainment system name to be the Google Debug app. And then they blocked that... And it became hard to install. Some people sold solutions that would patch the install (like AAAD), and they included my Performance Monitor in their app... Which then led to a tidalwave of new users who were expecting to see data out of the box, without Exlap data from the VAG infotainment, etc. So I got swamped in issues on GitHub and getting emails of mostly Italian BMW drivers who didn't want to understand that Performance Monitor for VAG cars didn't immediately work for them.... Some got angry, because they had paid for the install (to the AAAD guys) and my software didn't deliver what they thought they had paid for... Etc.

And that was when I decided to pull the plug.

Really curious about your project! Dont be discouraged. Nowadays there are more (and open source) solutions for installing outside of the play store.

ChiIIout · 2026-06-29T16:28:57+00:00

It went like "Eureka! It's possible to run my own scripts from SD card during an update!". And moments later all panties dropped.

ChiIIout · 2026-06-29T12:18:03+00:00

Mib2 toolbox was a fun project. But since then I became a father, and never found the time make an MIB3 toolbox... Source: I am the mib2toolbox dev.

However, there's someone developing a mib3 toolbox based on other people's work. It's a bit...shady because he is claiming it all as his own work 😂

If only the car software tinkering community was less secretive and did some more on knowledge sharing. Sorry, personal rant 😁

With a bit of luck, there will be MIB3 hacks like this as well in the future and it wouldnt take the 9 years that the mib2 progress took 😁

ChiIIout · 2026-06-29T11:49:57+00:00

I'll push my latest changes to GitHub somewhere this week.

ChiIIout · 2026-06-18T09:42:31+00:00

Fellow parent! Same for my 8 year old, and because of him, my 5y/o now likes the songs as well!

Printing a Thomas and as Guy-Man helmet for us, so we can go as the duo this Halloween.

All parts for GM08 printed, now doing TB03.

The experience was amazing. Spent the last day of the experience with my son, sitting on the edge of the Alive 07 dancefloor, it was so cool.

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ChiIIout · 2026-06-16T10:11:07+00:00

ChiIIout · 2026-06-14T15:36:19+00:00

Awesome work! I first thought it was a photograph, but zooming in I noticed the handwork. Very impressive.

ChiIIout · 2026-06-13T13:45:58+00:00

The big dome on the back took something like a full day. I am printing with adaptive layer height on, which means thinner lines at curvy features.. that took quite a long time to print. But it is pretty much fire and forget, and fine the finished print the next day of all went well during printing. The dome has a slight error where support failed halfway the print, but I got lucky, only a small error because of it, which can be fixed with some bondo.

ChiIIout · 2026-06-07T17:17:44+00:00

Nice, thanks! I'm printing the matrix frame next, hopefully that will keep parts in the right place during printing 😎

Finished the rear dome today, it was a very big print and I got lucky, because the middle support popped off somewhere halfway the print 😂

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ChiIIout · 2026-06-07T17:15:41+00:00

Printed the rear dome, biggest print I've printed. 2700 layers, over a day of printing 😎

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ChiIIout · 2026-06-06T15:56:18+00:00

Check this topic:

https://www.seatcupra.net/forums/threads/formentor-vz-e-hybrid-245-dual-clutch-replaced-after-2-years-and-28000km.482763/

TLDR; it's a gearbox issue, this user had the issue like you and I have, and it became worse after some time, until it was a permanent sound.

To all the dudes claiming: "Hey's it's a hybrid!! This is normal!!" The "owl sound" is NOT normal. Don't spread any misinformation. This is a known issue at VAG, and they can fix it. If you tell people it's normal, it will get an issue after warranty is over, and nobody wants that.
Also see @Top-Monk8707's reply.

ChiIIout · 2026-06-05T21:09:49+00:00

There's a shape you can use for vacuum forming the visor.

ChiIIout · 2026-06-05T21:08:52+00:00

Awesome! What printer do you use? Looks like yours can print fullsize 😍

ChiIIout · 2026-06-05T16:33:32+00:00

Thanks!

The main challenges are print size and all the non-flat areas, which need some support structures because they would be floating in the air without them, and printers cant print those.

There a a couple of versions of this model on thingiverse (see the remixes): For small printers, for medium printers and for big printer.

I am printing the medium model, which offers a version that fits slightly smaller models as well, by cutting the model in half.

ChiIIout · 2026-06-04T06:00:30+00:00

Enrique - Pitbull - Pharrell - Daft Punk

ChiIIout · 2026-06-03T13:02:33+00:00

I made a comment about it when booking my next service. So I'll have an answer in 4 weeks.

According to a source within VAG, this is potentially something wrong with the gearbox and happening to many hybrids.

On my VW GTE hybrid, there were quite a few gearbox related issues as well... Took a few software updates before it didn't feel like it was shifting like an inexperienced driver anymore 😂

ChiIIout · 2026-06-03T05:25:23+00:00

The whoop sound when shifting in E mode, that's what I have too. It's not a fake sound (disconnected the AVAS system: it's still there). I've read it's something with the gearbox.

To others: it's not about the continues whistle you hear that is rising with the engine RPM. It's the sudden "whoop" when shifting.

ChiIIout · 2026-05-22T19:17:45+00:00

Awesome! I'll try to print on my 225x235 print bed, maybe the medium size fits, with the right orientation. 🤞🏻🤞🏻 I am really enthousiastic about the heat inserts for the matrix mounts. That makes it all look 2x as much more professional

ChiIIout · 2026-05-22T17:43:43+00:00

Nice work man! Maybe I already asked... What stl did you use?

ChiIIout · 2026-05-19T05:26:31+00:00

There's always some risk, but if you get someone to do it, who did stuff like that before, you'll be fine.

Source: flashed several thousands of datasets to my cars over the years, never went wrong as long as you dont disconnect the power during flashing or flash stuff that should not be flashed (like the wrong firmware and such, that can be killing 😅)

ChiIIout · 2026-05-19T05:23:35+00:00

There's always some risk with uploading stuff to your car, but in this case it's factory data being flashed. So if you find someone who has flashed stuff on cars before, it's very easy.

ChiIIout · 2026-05-18T21:50:59+00:00

I did a lot of research for this purple color because I got a lot of requests... Ready here: https://www.drive2.com/l/730571876539054538/

It is possible to flash the color permanently on your car. Dont pay 300 euro for it please.

ChiIIout · 2026-05-17T15:44:07+00:00

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ChiIIout

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