Why is CarPlay not functioning on my 2024 Can-Am Spyder?

Pretty common knowledge that the 2024 Can Am Spyders did not ship with Apple CarPlay enabled due to a licensing issue. It was widely reported that they were working with Apple to resolve the licensing issue and had advertised an April 1, 2024 date for resolution.

I don't know if it was live on 4/1, but as of today, April 4, 2024, Apple CarPlay is available on the 2024 Can Am Spyder. You simply need to connect your Spyder to WiFi and via the menu Preferences: General, select Download Update for the BRP Connect application. ~10 minute download and ~10 install. Your mileage may vary. ;)

I hate jumping on the "me too" bandwagon, but I reached out to BRP on May 16th and received a similar response:

"I deeply apologize for the inconvenience being the Apple CarPlay is

still not available, an important feature many customers are still

waiting on. I wanted to let you know that over the last couple of

months, the  Apple CarPlay was available for a few dealerships to test

its functionality, but later it was found that there was a bug in the

update, and they again had to fix the update, which made this delay so

long. I can assure you that the appropriate team is working tirelessly

as much as they can to have the update as soon as possible, but I am

afraid I can't confirm on an exact date it will be released as we have

no ETA.

I kindly advise you to keep in touch with your dealership, <deleted name>,

and they will let you know directly as soon as the update

is available. We deeply appreciate your patience in this whole process,

and we apologize once again for any inconveniences it may cause."

So I reached out to my salesperson, asking who at the dealership I should be talking to.

The response was a bit of confusion, as they apparently didn't know anything about what was going on:

"I just forwarded your email to the sales manager so she is aware of it as well.

You should receive an email from BRP and a letter in the mail when any kind of software update/recall that applies to your unit. At the point that the software is available, you will be able to go to any BRP certified dealership and have the update/recall performed to your unit free of charge!

I will also make my service department aware of the situation so they can be on the lookout for an update and see if they can call you as well!"

So the dealer is pointing the finger back at CAN-AM, which I can't fault them for, since they sell and service CAN-AM products, but they are not the ones creating the updates or fixes, only following the manufacturers instructions to install the released updates.

In the meantime, I bought a Garmin Zumo XT GPS, mounted it on my handlebars, and paired it with my phone and the bluetooth headset in my helmet. The Zumo will stay there until Apple Carplay navigation is working correctly.

I ride a 2024 Spyder RT Sea to Sky. I was able to connect my Spyder to my home WiFi network, and download the update from CAN-AM that included Apple CarPlay, and after I jumped through the other two hoops it has been working fine.

The "hoops" are that once I downloaded the update, I also had to make sure that the other requirements for using CarPlay with your Spyder are also met. You can find them in your CAN-AM Spyder RT Series Operators Guide (aka owners manual).

Page 34 (bottom right) - "The front USB port must be used to run Apple CarPlay."

Which means you must plug your iPhone into the USB port located in the glove box in front of the handlebars, as noted on Page 50 and 51.

Page 50 (bottom) - "To use the Apple CarPlay, you must

1. Connect a compatible smartphone to the display via USB cable.
2. Pair a helmet audio system to the display via Bluetooth.

NOTE:

If one of the two devices is not properly connected, Apple CarPlay can not be used."

Page 51 (top)- "NOTE:

An undamaged genuine USB is greatly recommended.

The USB port is located in the glove box."

I have an Apple iPhone SE 2nd Gen connected to the black USB plug in the glove box using an Apple cable.

I have a SENA 3S Plus bluetooth headset installed in my helmet, and have paired my headset to my Spyder.

Here's what the display looks like when you get all of the pieces installed correctly:

And yes, since it's Apple Carplay you must use an Apple iPhone. It will not work with an Android phone.

Note. My dealer sent me an email today. They have released Apple carplay finally. Here is the catch. I went for service Monday and they updated dashboard software which broke wifi connectivity so I cant do over the air update. Going to dealer in the morning for then to try updating directly. Will keep you posted this was the announcement

NOW AVAILABLE: APPLE CARPLAY FOR CAN-AM SPYDER

Dear BRP Dealer,

We are happy to announce that Apple CarPlay for MY24 Can-Am Spyder is now available for download.

HOW TO INSTALL

There are two ways that the customer can install Apple CarPlay on their vehicle:

The customer can visit your dealership and have it installed using BUDS2. The bulletin (#2024-4) and files associated with Apple CarPlay are available in the Knowledge Center on BOSSWeb.

OR

The customer can update the software of their vehicle from their home via Wi-Fi. They can follow the steps detailed on the Can-Am website

BRP/Can-Am have not enabled it yet. It is supposed to happen this month. You can run the Wi-Fi update to your head unit every few days and see if it updates. Pro-tip, if your home Wi-Fi doesn’t reach your bike, use your phone hotspot. The updates are small.

The 2.1.5 update is out today with Apple CarPlay. Just installed it myself and an initial touch test shows that it works. Already had volume issues with headset so hopefully I can get that ironed out.

What happens when you try to use it exactly?

How are you trying to use it?

Are you following the Can Am's user guide to activate Car Play?

To use the Apple CarPlay, you must

1. Connect a compatible smartphone to the display via USB cable.

2. Pair a helmet audio system to the display via Bluetooth.

NOTE:

If one of the two devices is not properly connected, Apple CarPlay can not be

used.

https://www.operatorsguides.brp.com/public/tmp/219002365.Spyder.RT.WEB.pdf

No. By now you should have gotten a letter from Can-Am/BRP offering you an additional year of B.E.S.T. warranty or $500 credit towards Can-Am merch. This is good until the end of the year. If you bought after 5/20, it's only good until such time as ACP comes out. I wouldn't hold my breath for it to be forthcoming anytime soon. I've already given up on seeing it this year.

I’m thinking from some of the comments around the technicians at our shop it might take a “hard” update hooked up to Buds at the BRP dealership. The home wifi system might not be able to install the ACP program on our machines. I will be doing that Monday on mine to check that out.

It's a one page letter and there's no fine print disclaimers, other than stating that you need to take advantage of the offer by December 31, 2024 and that you bring proof of purchase and the VIN number when you claim either compensation.

When I first contacted my dealer about the missing Carplay issue, the response was that when a software update is released BRP would contact me, and then I could take my Spyder to any BRP dealer to get the update installed. He also said he'd make sure his service department was aware of the problem so they could watch for an update, and contact me when it was available. That email response was dated May 16, the same day I emailed him.

I received my letter from BRP and contacted him on June 3rd about receiving the letter, and reminded him that I was not offered a B.E.S.T. warranty so that was of no use to me, and asked about the $500 credit. It's the evening of June 9th, a week later, and I haven't heard from anyone at the dealer.

I will be calling them tomorrow, Monday morning.

The letter does say that when Apple Carplay is available that they (BRP) will contact me and provide information on how I can get it "...restored to your vehicle via the comfort of your home or at your local dealership."

The last line of the letter is a sentence in bold that refers the dealer to an "Experience Express newsletter" dated May 24, 2024.

Just tried my ACP today. It’s interesting that the headset must be paired to the bike. The phone has to be plugged in to the bike to make BRP connect active, thus activating the ACP mirroring your phone. Made phone calls. Sent text through Siri. Used Siri to navigate to addresses. Listened to music. So far I haven’t tried connecting to fellow riders on the Cardo Packtalk Edge. That will be the test. If someone has tried the bike to bike communication please let us know. The janks.

They released it yesterday. If you can connect over wifi you can download directly. I went to brp dealer and had them do it with their buds2 system. Btw works perfectly and so nice to have it active

I got it "mostly" working a couple of days ago, as in CarPlay came up on the display, but when I tried to navigate to a local business it located the business, but then just had a spinning series of dots, without actually saying it was ready to navigate.

That was while my Spyder was parked inside my garage, with the key on but the engine was not running.

Today I went out and tried again, but raised the metal garage door before doing anything else.

My Spyder was still parked inside the garage, but I started the engine this time.

After connecting my iPhone to the USB cable in the glove box, and confirming that the iPhone and the SENA headset in my helmet both showed up as being connected thru bluetooth with my Spyder, it worked.

I asked it to navigate to my local WalMart:

So I'm guessing the failure from a couple of days ago was because the GPS signal was being blocked by my metal garage door.

iPhone SE Gen 2 connected to the USB port in the glove box using an Apple lightning cable.

SENA 3S Plus Boom Microphone bluetooth kit mounted in my helmet.

I have the same issue. I bought a new can am and really want ACP. I spoke to an agent at can am and they said when the software gets updated you will see a greyed out CarPlay app when your not connected to Bluetooth.

she also said they would let me know when the software is ready. She didn’t have any projected date. I hope it’s not long. I have a work around with an iPhone mount, but I don’t like it.

if anyone sees the new software, please update this post.