After market head units without Maestro

I’m considering getting an aftermarket head unit with Apple CarPlay. I’ve seen on the forum that in order to maintain the factory head unit functions, it must include the Maestro module. What I can’t figure out is just how much functionality you lose if you have a unit that does not have the maestro module. For instance, lots of vehicle customization options are in the Entune head unit such as door lock options, screen colors, headlight timer options, ect. Do you just lose all of these options if the new head unit doesn’t have the Maestro module? Does it maintain the last option selected, or does it go back to factory settings? Thanks for any insight you can provide.

 

Watching

 

In my case, I lost the ability to change them again, but all settings I had previous set were retained. I hadn't changed anything in there in 4 years anyway (after getting them how I wanted them), so I didn't mind.

I can always add the maestro later if I need to.

 

Without Maestro you'll lose the controls on the steering wheel. No volume or track changes, no switch to bring up Siri no accept/reject or hang up calls. If you go to the Maestro site you can enter your information and see specifically what you get.

 

The only real reason to have maestro is the steering controls as @tacovagon stated. Your other settings most likely wont even be accessible on the new unit with maestro. My pioneer unit with maestro doesnt have any options for changing light settings or autolock features. I believe the only way to change that other than oem unit is to connect via obd2 with scanner/app/techstream

 

This isn't exactly true. You can get all of those things with a cheap PAC. I spent $50 on mine. I can still control everything with steering wheel and pull up siri with the 'intercom' button.

However, I can't control the head unit options like door unlock and headlight options etc. And I obviously can't get vehicle info off of it like you could with the more expensive Maestro.

 

You got a deal. They are currently $100 at crutchfield. Maestro was recommended to me and I just bought it.

 

My Kenwood with maestro has all the light and autolock settings the factory HU did.

 

you would probably lose the functions located on your dash screen.

 

One thing the Maestro does is let you custom program the steering wheel controls. So if the left/right toggle for volume drives you nuts, you can fix that.

 

Get Joying HUs. Everything works for way less money.

 

What Kenwood head unit do you have?

 

either your head unit doesn’t support the menus or your maestro is defective/setup wrong. The entire purpose of maestro is to keep all the Oem functionality.

 

I have the DMX907S. All of the vehicle customization options I had on the factory HU are there on the Kenwood as well as all the steering wheel controls.

And then there's this...

 

There’s a bunch of things with the maestro you’ll never use. I recommend using auto harness house. They have a unit to keep the steering wheel controls. You can get your whole harness already wired together and it’s basically plug and play by the time you’re done depending on what radio you have. Just email them with what you have and they’ll tell you what you need. And you don’t have to splice or solder anything. All the harnesses from them are cheaper than the maestro.

https://autoharnesshouse.com/11443.html