bbf2530 Posted May 8, 2018 Share Posted May 8, 2018 (edited) Hi gang. Just found this video tutorial on upgrading a 2013-2016 MKZ from SYNC2 to SYNC3. Not sure if it has been posted previously. Hopefully it will help MKZ forum members looking to make the upgrade. Good luck. :) Edited May 8, 2018 by bbf2530 Robert Iggy Cerami 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Ice MKZ Posted May 28, 2018 Share Posted May 28, 2018 that looked easy....I know me...I'd break every tab and have endless rattles for the eternity of my ownership no matter how cautious I am. approx cost of the kit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Ice MKZ Posted May 28, 2018 Share Posted May 28, 2018 $1499...YOWSA!...Think I'll wait a few years and buy a used 2017 TT AWD for that price! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R2D2 Posted May 29, 2018 Share Posted May 29, 2018 It looked like he did this with the power live and the car on.... strange Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jm98 Posted July 8, 2018 Share Posted July 8, 2018 GPS Antenna? I have 14h with Navigation If I swap, should i be able to use existing GPS Antenna? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrross Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 On 7/8/2018 at 6:00 PM, jm98 said: GPS Antenna? I have 14h with Navigation If I swap, should i be able to use existing GPS Antenna? sync 2 and 3 use a different antenna by my understanding... ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbf2530 Posted July 19, 2018 Author Share Posted July 19, 2018 On 7/8/2018 at 6:00 PM, jm98 said: GPS Antenna? I have 14h with Navigation If I swap, should i be able to use existing GPS Antenna? Hi jm98. Yes, the new system would use the existing antenna in your car. The antenna locations may be in different places on various model years, but locations are not a factor. Keep us updated and good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicho Posted September 20, 2018 Share Posted September 20, 2018 Isn't the '16 MKZ able to upgrade via software updates. I thought Ford pushed out Sync 3 to all their '16 vehicles Lincoln included. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drolds1 Posted September 21, 2018 Share Posted September 21, 2018 No. The MKZ didn't get Sync3 until the 2017MY. The SUVs had it earlier. BTW, there's no software to update a Sync2 to Sync3. JoeBrown 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reverendalc Posted December 4, 2018 Share Posted December 4, 2018 has anybody pulled this off without being gouged by 4D tech? i read on F150 forums that multiple people have done it with their pickup trucks and edges etc, and they did so w/o paying $1MM to those guys for the gear. they were also able to identify other ford models which had direct-fit SYNC3 units, as some require bracket/other modification to install. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eurythmian Posted June 5, 2019 Share Posted June 5, 2019 I think I’d rather that my $1,500.00 and put that towards a new down payment on a brand new one. That’s a lot of money... Jeeze! But yes, it certainly would be nice to have SYNC3. The loaner the dealership gave me for a week really made me aware at how cumbersome the SYNC2 with MLT is. The fact I can’t seem to get it to display or play an audio sound when I receive a text message is a pain in the a$$. I’ll save my money for my next Lincoln. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ter06 Posted June 14, 2019 Share Posted June 14, 2019 I made the switch - got the apim& screen from car-part for a fantastic price. all in cost me about $330. and my park assist still works. Serj Ortan and philld 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pwcopy Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 ter06, Went to car-part.com to search for parts to copy your conversion. Searched 2017 model year so I'd get SYNC 3 parts. No mention of "apim" anywhere. Just the attached list. Am I on the right site? What am I looking for? Many thanks for yr help, PW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ter06 Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 Here's a non gps unit. screen and apim. its a pretty good price. https://www.ebay.com/itm/202743077474?ul_noapp=true Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pwcopy Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 (edited) Thanks! My 2016 Reserve has Navigation. Will it still work with this 2017 screen? The listing says "Info-GPS-TV Screen". How do u know it's non-GPS? Really appreciate the help. Edited July 30, 2019 by pwcopy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrross Posted August 7, 2019 Share Posted August 7, 2019 Selling a complete parts setup all ready to install. and yes it is a NAV head unit as well. see classifieds post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jangul Posted August 7, 2019 Share Posted August 7, 2019 (edited) On 7/30/2019 at 10:31 AM, pwcopy said: Thanks! My 2016 Reserve has Navigation. Will it still work with this 2017 screen? The listing says "Info-GPS-TV Screen". How do u know it's non-GPS? Really appreciate the help. No. The new sync 3 screen will not work with the old myford touch screen. You need the apim, the screen, the cable connection between the two, a new gps dongle, and a new usb hub for car play. If your old hub has the a/v ports you'll also need a plastic mounting bracket around the new hub. Then there's the software programming if you dont get a unit preprogrammed by the seller. I'm not trying to discourage you. It's not exceedingly difficult once you have the components and the right info. Ive done the upgrade AND upgraded my active park assist to add park out assist myself. Unfortunately most of the info i got was from the Ford fusion website since nobody was talking about it here which made the specifics more complex than necessary. So I'd like to help other MKZ owners with specific info for our car from my experience where I can. Edited August 7, 2019 by Jangul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pwcopy Posted August 7, 2019 Share Posted August 7, 2019 "No. The new sync 3 screen will not work with the old myford touch screen." I think you misinterpreted my question. I was asking if my current Navigation function would still work If I switched to the item for sale posted above by ter06: Here's a non gps unit. screen and apim. its a pretty good price. https://www.ebay.com/itm/202743077474?ul_noapp=true. I'm now looking at systems on ebay that are pre-programmed by the seller. Thanks to your info, I will now ask about the gps dongle, new usb hub and plastic mounting bracket. I'm hoping to find a system that includes Android Auto, as I'm an Android user. Many thanks, PW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlownGP Posted August 19, 2019 Share Posted August 19, 2019 I just did this on the wifes MKZ. As much as DDtech overcharges for their systems. I would not have done the install without seeing that video. lol It was a pretty easy swap. I just had a issue with coding. I loaded codes from a 17 MKZ with the same options, but a few things still did not work. So after a week of messing with stuff. I sent Jason at FVLP email and paid for the programming. Works great now. This was my 4th Sync 3 swap. Did my Mustang first, then moms 13 Explorer, then my brothers base Mustang. It's been a pain in the ass at times getting the screens and APIMs from the junkyards. Many times I was told it came with the APIM and I didn't ship with the screen. Then LKQ sent me the wrong screen two times. GLAD IT'S OVERS NOW!!!! lol pwcopy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake1980 Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 Hello, i have a 2016 mkz with the sync 2 system with no navigation or anything. Wanting to upgrade to the sync 3 with navigation. If i were to get this from a salvage yard, what all would i need to make sure i get to do a successful swap? Can i use my existing screen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbf2530 Posted December 5, 2019 Author Share Posted December 5, 2019 10 minutes ago, Jake1980 said: Hello, i have a 2016 mkz with the sync 2 system with no navigation or anything. Wanting to upgrade to the sync 3 with navigation. If i were to get this from a salvage yard, what all would i need to make sure i get to do a successful swap? Can i use my existing screen? Hi Jake. Watch this video: Jake1980 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake1980 Posted December 6, 2019 Share Posted December 6, 2019 When im searching the 2017 sync 3 screens with navigation, I'm finding that there are a lot of different ones. Since im going to put it in my 2016 mkz, are any of the different models not able to be used in my 2016? Ive noticed that none of them say compatible for both years. Im just having trouble narrowing down the search Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pwcopy Posted December 6, 2019 Share Posted December 6, 2019 First, let me say I have NOT done the conversion. Several big-ticket expenses (water heater, tires) have come my way of late, so spending the money on the car is not a priority. Please read this entire thread. you will find most of your answers there: > The MyFord Touch screen will not work with Sync 3 electronics > The Sync 3 screen and electronics must be from an 2017-2019 MKZ > DDTech offers complete systems, although at substantially greater cost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jangul Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 You need these basic things to perform the upgrade 1. Sync 3 screen(touchscreen NOTcompatible with SYNC2) 2. Sync 3 APIM(electronic module contains all the maps and software) 3. Sync 3 cable between APIM and screen 4. New GPS dongle(not compatible with sync 2) 5. New USB Hub(to enable android auto and carplay) 6. New mounting bracket for USB Hub(allows hub to mount in wider a/v interface hole) 7. A wiring adapter for the new USB hub 8. a. USB elm adapter, laptop, and FORSCAN software to properly configure your APIM . You can get a prep-programmed configuration file for FORSCAN based on your VIN from Dan. or b. a seller who will pre-program the system configuration for your car based on your VIN DDtech will provide all of this in a package. But, you can buy all the parts separately for far less , even a preprogrammed APIM. If you decide to source the parts yourself, you can find pretty much everything from ebay except the wiring adapter which you might as well buy from DDtech, it costs about 50 dollars. You do not need an MKZ specific SYNC3 unit or electronics. You can use the SYNC3 APIM from any SYNC3 vehicles, not just MKZs. You can use a SYNC3 screen from a lot of different Ford and Lincoln vehicles, but some screens WILL NOT be compatible with the MKZ brackets because of how the brackets mount to the frame. There are two types of 8" sync3 touchscreen: 1.recessed and 2. flat . The screen we use is the 8" flat. Those compatible flat type SYNC3 screens can be pulled from the following vehicles: 8" FLAT/STANDARD Ford Fusion Ford Mustang Ford F150 Ford Escape Ford C-MAX Ford Expedition Ford Focus Lincoln MKZ Lincoln MKC If you have park assist, it will require proper FORSCAN configuration of your PAM module to work correctly. You can also upgrade the firmware on your PAM to add extra active park assist features if you have the right programming tools for flashing firmware. If you want factory NAV, you must buy an APIM with factory navigation in it. It doesn't matter whether you had it or didn't have it before you upgrade If you add a non-nav APIM to your NAvigation equipped car, you will not have factory navigation. If you add a Navigation APIM to your non-nav vehicle you will have Navigation. The only componen that determines whteher or not a unit has navigation is the APIM. You can't add NAV maps to a non-map APIM because it has less internal memory. The 2017-2018 SYNC3 APIMs will only naturally upgrade to SYNC3 version 3.0 with the official USB software from Lincoln. A hardware revision adding more memory to the APIM allows upgrades to 3.4 with 2019 and newer vehicles. To upgrade to 3.2 or above requires the newer version of the APIM...officially. Also the Maps may be as old as 2014 and new ones may not be available from Ford/Lincoln for the older SYNC3 APIMS ... officially. Unoffically, you can reformat the older SYNC3 APIM operating system to allow it to upgrade to SYNC version 3.4 AND upgrade the Maps to the newest ones in the process pretty easily thanks to some helpful Russians. bigjailerman, pwcopy and kelshaer 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pwcopy Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 11 hours ago, Jangul said: "You need these basic things to perform the upgrade..." WOW! Thanks for this super-helpful step-by-step. Not sure I can handle the programming duties, as I have ZERO experience in that realm. Besides, I'd need a Windows laptop and I've lived 100% in the OSX world my entire working life (advertising). I'll set about locating sources for your parts list and see how much I'll have to spend. I may end up going with DDtech because I'm not too confident about going the DIY route. Thanks again! 11 hours ago, Jangul said: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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