Styling 2023 Panda Hybrid - upgrade Uconnect 5" to 7"

[iYassin]

Hi all,

I have a 2023 Panda 1.0 Hybrid that came with the Uconnect 5" system (with DAB). Since it doesn't support Android Auto, I would like to upgrade to the Uconnect 7". I'm a bit confused though with regards to the compatibility and installation and found very little information online, so I wanted to ask here first

As I said, the Panda currently has the 5" system with DAB installed (see picture) and from what I can find online - didn't remove it yet - it has a blue and a green connector in the back, plus the FAKRA antenna plugs in white and grey (I'd assume FM/AM and DAB). For the 7" system I found two versions - one with a "recessed" screen (see picture), and one that seems newer with a "glass-style" screen (see picture) that has "Radio, Media, Hybrid, Phone" as touch-buttons below the screen. Now while it seems to be rather difficult to find photos of the connector side of the "recessed screen" version, the few I found showed traditional DIN-style connectors, while the back of the "glass screen" version has the same connectors as the 5" version. However, I found a page selling the second-style unit saying it's only compatible with the 2024 and newer Pandina, so I'm not sure. Feature-wise, I'm not sure how the two versions compare - I'd basically only care about having FM and DAB radio, Bluetooth media playback and handsfree, and Android Auto support.
Could you help me to understand which version of the Uconnect 7" would be best suited and compatible with my Panda?

All the Uconnect 7" seem to have an additional blue FAKRA antenna connector - I guess that's for GPS, and since I'm not planning to use the integrated nav but just Android Auto, I don't need to worry about installing a GPS antenna?

Furthermore, the "recessed screen" version is sometimes displayed with, sometimes without a tab for the hybrid functions of the car. Do these radios have different software, or will they simply recognise if they're installed in a hybrid or non-hybrid Panda?

And then regarding the installation, I've read in several places that you can't take a Uconnect 7" that was installed in a car and fit it to another since it is paired with the body control module, requiring a lot of coding to make it work. Now on Italian eBay and classifieds, there are plenty of Uconnect 7" advertised as "new with code" - would I be able to simply install one of these, enter the code, and be ready to go? Or is this never a simple plug-in swap?

Thanks a lot for your help in advance! Once I managed to do the upgrade, I'd also be super happy to write a guide, since so far there doesn't seem to be anything online.

Best,

iYassin

 

[bigshoogey1209]

I was wondering too about the wiring. Mainly, I am looking for a T-Harness between the Uconnect 5 and 7.

I bought the first one (from Fred Napel) and when i dry fitted it into the slot, it fit perfectly. The antenna wires (both blue and white) fit into the Uconnect 7. I did ask him about the wiring and all he says is to have an electrician install it. I would rather not do that, as I want to maintain the original harness in the car (i.e, no cutting). The radio that he sells does come with the code/pin to unlock the radio which is apart of the second question. I have installed a radio before in a Ford and it is the same concept. Type the code in and then it is coded to the car.

Hope that helps, and if you have any ideas for my question (locating a T-Harness), i would be great full