You beat me to it 😂.@MR_Y, you may as well go the whole nine yards.And tissue box
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Read the WELCOME ALL BMWFANATICS post.
2022 Ford EcoSport 1.5 Ambiente Auto
- Thread starter MR_Y
- Start date
MR_Y
Well-known member
It could have been - I did not think at that time that the steering wheel was that bad.
After a few weeks of driving, I changed my mind.
Anyway, the Midas cover works well and feels warm in winter.
MR_Y
Well-known member
Small update
Fuel consumption
I am sitting on a true average (based on actual calculations since I bought the car) of 9.51 litres per 100km. The trip computer, long term average, says 9.1 - but that would've included fuel history before I purchased the car and started recording my own.
Traffic is the usual Midrand to JHB commute - mix of urban and highway roads. I don't pussyfoot, so maybe a lighter foot could bring that average down below 9, or if I did mainly open road driving with no traffic.
Anyway, will be keen to see how this consumption evolves upto the first service (15,000km, which is 10,000km away).
Driving
Overtaking and cruising ability is pretty good. The gearbox also seems to have adapted to my driving style (or maybe I adapted to it) and cut and thrust manoeuvres are less of a bother.
Infotainment
I am considering upgrading the audio system to full Android Auto functionality. Getting a few quotes and will weigh them up. Below is what such a solution may look like
Fuel consumption
I am sitting on a true average (based on actual calculations since I bought the car) of 9.51 litres per 100km. The trip computer, long term average, says 9.1 - but that would've included fuel history before I purchased the car and started recording my own.
Traffic is the usual Midrand to JHB commute - mix of urban and highway roads. I don't pussyfoot, so maybe a lighter foot could bring that average down below 9, or if I did mainly open road driving with no traffic.
Anyway, will be keen to see how this consumption evolves upto the first service (15,000km, which is 10,000km away).
Driving
Overtaking and cruising ability is pretty good. The gearbox also seems to have adapted to my driving style (or maybe I adapted to it) and cut and thrust manoeuvres are less of a bother.
Infotainment
I am considering upgrading the audio system to full Android Auto functionality. Getting a few quotes and will weigh them up. Below is what such a solution may look like
tman
Well-known member
ooof,
MR_Y
Well-known member
MR_Y
Well-known member
Update
So, spending hours in traffic made me realise that I need a centre armrest. Professional and custom armrest installs are too expensive. So, like my el-cheapo (but gets the job done) leather steering wheel cover, I decided to buy a generic aftermarket armrest. Based on Takealot reviews, I ended up getting this one.
Will fit it tomorrow and post pictures.
So, spending hours in traffic made me realise that I need a centre armrest. Professional and custom armrest installs are too expensive. So, like my el-cheapo (but gets the job done) leather steering wheel cover, I decided to buy a generic aftermarket armrest. Based on Takealot reviews, I ended up getting this one.
Will fit it tomorrow and post pictures.
MR_Y
Well-known member
So, my armrest arrived today from Takealot.
The English here does not inspire any confidence...
The instructions were not for the armrest model that was in the box, so I had to figure out the installation. Also, the supplied screws were not enough for the job, so I had to improvise.
The base can be adjusted to fit and you insert the screws to fasten it to the centre. The screws are pretty strong and this structure is pretty solid.
Next up, attach the armrest compartment. It is fake leather but feels pretty good for the price. There is a decent size storage compartment too. The EcoSport's handbrake interfered a bit with the setup, so I had to make some adjustments.
The final setup feels solid enough and serves its purpose. The red stitching is the only odd point, since the seats have white stitching.
The top section slides forward/backward, so the handbrake is not impacted. The compartment itself has a neat magnetic latch so it closes nice and firmly.
Would I advise buying this for a premium car? No. But, for a budget car, it does the job.
The English here does not inspire any confidence...
The instructions were not for the armrest model that was in the box, so I had to figure out the installation. Also, the supplied screws were not enough for the job, so I had to improvise.
The base can be adjusted to fit and you insert the screws to fasten it to the centre. The screws are pretty strong and this structure is pretty solid.
Next up, attach the armrest compartment. It is fake leather but feels pretty good for the price. There is a decent size storage compartment too. The EcoSport's handbrake interfered a bit with the setup, so I had to make some adjustments.
The final setup feels solid enough and serves its purpose. The red stitching is the only odd point, since the seats have white stitching.
The top section slides forward/backward, so the handbrake is not impacted. The compartment itself has a neat magnetic latch so it closes nice and firmly.
Would I advise buying this for a premium car? No. But, for a budget car, it does the job.
MR_Y
Well-known member
Update
A bit of an irrational upgrade but I am justifying it since it is for my daily driver
I ordered an android headunit and it's getting installed next week + reverse camera (nice toy rather than necessity). Specs here:
ttaudio.co.za
Woodmead Sound to supply and fit next week.
A bit of an irrational upgrade but I am justifying it since it is for my daily driver
I ordered an android headunit and it's getting installed next week + reverse camera (nice toy rather than necessity). Specs here:
Ford EcoSport 2018-2023 (Mid Spec) - TT Audio
2018 Ford EcoSport Android radio with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, GPS, Navigation, reverse camera and built-in DSP.
ttaudio.co.za
Woodmead Sound to supply and fit next week.
MR_Y
Well-known member
Update
So the unit was fitted today
10 inch unit, so an upgrade on the specs above.
Sadly, my Ulefone X5 Armour cannot link to Android Auto on the unit
I need to buy a new phone with a more recent Android OS version. Will post pics once the new phone is bought and running.
So the unit was fitted today
10 inch unit, so an upgrade on the specs above.
Sadly, my Ulefone X5 Armour cannot link to Android Auto on the unit
I need to buy a new phone with a more recent Android OS version. Will post pics once the new phone is bought and running.
MR_Y
Well-known member
So, after installation, buying a new phone (old phone was not compatible due to being older Android), struggling with the stock Android interface app on the head unit and then finally buying a proper Android head unit emulator app, the system finally works today.
I could have bought a proper Android Auto compatible head unit (Pioneer or Sony), but these do not fit on the new gen EcoSport, without having to cut up the dashboard. So, my options were limited to the Chinese derived units. The TT Audio unit is packaged and distributed out of Durban, but is a Chinese product underneath.
This unit is an Android tablet that has been modified to be a car head unit. There is an app called Z Link that enables the unit to run Android Auto but it is very temperamental and does not work consistently.
After some Googling, I found a proper Android Auto Emulator that was mentioned on a few tech forums. After paying R84 and installing 'Head Unit Reloaded', all seems to be working fine now.
Another issue I had was the wonky resolution on the unit. After some Googling, I found that this is due to the hidden resolution setting on the Android Auto app on my phone. There is a trick to get to Developer mode by tapping the Version tab 10 times in and then you can change the output resolution to fit your Android unit screen.
Anyway, here are some pictures of the unit in action tonight.
The unit has some bloatware, so I deleted that and will rather use Android Auto instead of the unit's preloaded apps. The only preloaded app that may be useful, is the Nav app which has offline maps that are updatable (Here maps and TomTom maps can be chosen) using WiFi. The Nav app uses the built-in GPS receiver in the unit - this will be useful if there is no data connection on the phone. However, the app looks like an old satnav from 2007, so only good as a last resort.
The sound quality is not as good as the original head unit. However, I may need to play a bit with the graphical equaliser to get that right.
As part of the installation, I asked for a rear camera to be fitted. Resolution is decent and works well with the standard rear PDC on the car.
Everything looks stock, like a high spec Titanium EcoSport, with only two oddities. The standard microphone for the Ford SYNC system cannot be linked to the new unit and the standard voice control button on the steering wheel no longer works. This is not a train smash. The installer inserted a microphone neatly above and behind the rear view mirror. Since verbal "Hey Google" functionality works, there is no need for a hard button to activate voice control.
Will post daytime pictures later of the rear camera, new microphone and other functions.
On another note, I will use the same installer to fit a proper Sony head unit in my Cayman in the next few weeks. That will be another story - context to be provided on my Cayman thread...
I could have bought a proper Android Auto compatible head unit (Pioneer or Sony), but these do not fit on the new gen EcoSport, without having to cut up the dashboard. So, my options were limited to the Chinese derived units. The TT Audio unit is packaged and distributed out of Durban, but is a Chinese product underneath.
This unit is an Android tablet that has been modified to be a car head unit. There is an app called Z Link that enables the unit to run Android Auto but it is very temperamental and does not work consistently.
After some Googling, I found a proper Android Auto Emulator that was mentioned on a few tech forums. After paying R84 and installing 'Head Unit Reloaded', all seems to be working fine now.
Another issue I had was the wonky resolution on the unit. After some Googling, I found that this is due to the hidden resolution setting on the Android Auto app on my phone. There is a trick to get to Developer mode by tapping the Version tab 10 times in and then you can change the output resolution to fit your Android unit screen.
Anyway, here are some pictures of the unit in action tonight.
The unit has some bloatware, so I deleted that and will rather use Android Auto instead of the unit's preloaded apps. The only preloaded app that may be useful, is the Nav app which has offline maps that are updatable (Here maps and TomTom maps can be chosen) using WiFi. The Nav app uses the built-in GPS receiver in the unit - this will be useful if there is no data connection on the phone. However, the app looks like an old satnav from 2007, so only good as a last resort.
The sound quality is not as good as the original head unit. However, I may need to play a bit with the graphical equaliser to get that right.
As part of the installation, I asked for a rear camera to be fitted. Resolution is decent and works well with the standard rear PDC on the car.
Everything looks stock, like a high spec Titanium EcoSport, with only two oddities. The standard microphone for the Ford SYNC system cannot be linked to the new unit and the standard voice control button on the steering wheel no longer works. This is not a train smash. The installer inserted a microphone neatly above and behind the rear view mirror. Since verbal "Hey Google" functionality works, there is no need for a hard button to activate voice control.
Will post daytime pictures later of the rear camera, new microphone and other functions.
On another note, I will use the same installer to fit a proper Sony head unit in my Cayman in the next few weeks. That will be another story - context to be provided on my Cayman thread...
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CK4LIFE
Active member
Wow.. that looks awesome bud. Might consider same for SO's fiesta
MR_Y
Well-known member
Thanks man.
If the Fiesta has a traditional dash (so the stock screen does sits fully inside the dash), then I would suggest a simple Pioneer or Sony unit, with Android Auto or Apple Car Play functionality. That would be less of a hassle with software issues and would cost less to install too.
CK4LIFE
Active member
It's a 2018 model, same unit with the EcoSport,but I just need a reverse camera though and maybe navigation
MR_Y
Well-known member
No sump guard?
So, I looked under my car today and saw that I don't have a sump or splash guard under the the engine. I called up Ford and they said it is normal for the Indian made EcoSport (Ambiente) models, while the European spec (Trend and Titanium) come with sump guards. This was one way that they keep the costs down on the Indian cars. Given that I drive quite spiritedly on gravel roads, I don't want stones flicking up and damaging my engine components.
I ordered a sump guard and it will be fitted on Saturday. Cost is R2,800 with installation.
Below is what it may look like:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some pictures of the Android Unit:
Aircon screen pops up when you use the aircon buttons. Also, the aircon can be controlled from this screen. Fancy...
Reverse camera
Google Maps from Android Auto
Standard SatNav (built-in maps - no mobile data required)
Main screen
So, I looked under my car today and saw that I don't have a sump or splash guard under the the engine. I called up Ford and they said it is normal for the Indian made EcoSport (Ambiente) models, while the European spec (Trend and Titanium) come with sump guards. This was one way that they keep the costs down on the Indian cars. Given that I drive quite spiritedly on gravel roads, I don't want stones flicking up and damaging my engine components.
I ordered a sump guard and it will be fitted on Saturday. Cost is R2,800 with installation.
Below is what it may look like:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some pictures of the Android Unit:
Aircon screen pops up when you use the aircon buttons. Also, the aircon can be controlled from this screen. Fancy...
Reverse camera
Google Maps from Android Auto
Standard SatNav (built-in maps - no mobile data required)
Main screen
Last edited:
