After a tip from the previous owner of the Volvo S80, I came across the Volvo RTI retrofit from Custom Xccessories. The idea was very appealing: keep the original Volvo RTI screen, but add modern features such as Android Auto, Waze and Google Maps.
Since Custom Xccessories was a small company in Slovakia and, at the time, I would have had to send my RTI unit to them for the installation, I put it off for quite a while. Back then, I simply didn’t fully trust the idea of sending the unit away.
Some time later I checked the Custom Xccessories website again and noticed that they were now offering a DIY Volvo RTI retrofit kit as well. By that point I had already been following Custom Xccessories on Instagram for quite some time and saw that the company had built up a decent number of followers and customers. That convinced me it wasn’t a scam, but rather someone who had turned his hobby into a small business. He developed the retrofit himself, so I eventually decided to go for it and ordered the Custom Xccessories Volvo RTI retrofit kit.
And I have absolutely no regrets! If you use Waze a lot, this really is a huge upgrade. I’m very happy with it. It instantly makes the car feel much more modern, while still looking almost OEM. Great!
Update after a few months (07-10-26): Android Auto problems with the RTI retrofit
Unfortunately, I now have to completely take back my earlier enthusiasm.
After using the Custom Xccessories RTI retrofit for several months, I’m no longer happy with it at all. The biggest issue is that the wired Android Auto connection randomly disconnects. Sometimes Android Auto works perfectly for hours, while at other times the connection drops several times within a short period. So far, I haven’t been able to find any clear pattern.
Wireless Android Auto isn’t an option for me because I need to use a wired connection due to my VPN. That makes the problem especially annoying while driving. I mainly use Android Auto for Waze and Google Maps, especially on road trips and in places where I don’t know the roads.
When the Android Auto connection drops, I have to unplug the USB cable and reconnect it. After that, navigation unfortunately does not resume automatically, so I have to open Waze or Google Maps again and set up the route again.
By now I’ve missed several exits because of this. Even more frustrating is that Android Auto sometimes disconnects again almost immediately after reconnecting, meaning you can start the whole process all over again. That’s really not something you want to be dealing with while driving somewhere unfamiliar.
The same phone works fine with Android Auto in other cars
It’s also important to mention that I use the exact same phone with wired Android Auto in two other vehicles. Both of those cars are fitted with much cheaper aftermarket Android Auto units.
In those vehicles, Android Auto works perfectly fine and the wired connection remains stable. I don’t experience the random disconnects that I get with the Custom Xccessories RTI retrofit.
Because of that, I find it very unlikely that my phone itself is the cause of these Android Auto connection problems.
Contact with Custom Xccessories about the Android Auto issues
I contacted the owner of Custom Xccessories about the problem through Instagram. He had previously posted about a similar connection problem with Apple CarPlay, for which there apparently isn’t a real solution and where the issue was blamed on Apple.
Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a solution for my Android Auto problems either.
For a Volvo RTI retrofit costing more than €300, I find that pretty disappointing. At that price, I expect something as basic as the Android Auto connection to be reliable.
A navigation system that works perfectly for hours on one trip, but then randomly disconnects during another, simply isn’t something I can depend on. After having constant problems during my latest road trip, I eventually switched the RTI system off completely and just used my phone for navigation instead.
Custom Xccessories Volvo RTI retrofit review: my experience after several months
I still really like the idea behind the Custom Xccessories RTI retrofit. When everything works, the system looks neat, fits in nicely with the original Volvo interior and Android Auto on the original RTI screen instantly makes the car feel much more modern.
That was exactly why I was so enthusiastic about this Volvo RTI upgrade in the beginning.
But in the end, reliability is much more important to me than how good or OEM-like something looks. A navigation system needs to work when you actually need it, especially on a road trip or when driving somewhere you don’t know.
Unfortunately, that simply isn’t the case with my unit.
My first impression of the Custom Xccessories Volvo RTI retrofit was very positive, but after several months of use my opinion has completely changed.
Based on my own experience, I cannot recommend the Custom Xccessories Volvo RTI retrofit, especially if you rely on a stable Android Auto connection.
If you’re considering buying this Volvo RTI Android Auto upgrade kit, I would at least keep in mind that there may be problems with the wired Android Auto connection. For me, the issue has become annoying enough that, if I had known this beforehand, I would not have bought the retrofit.
