Do you have any iTunes songs on your phone? The only way I could get my phone to pair for music was ensuring at least one song was on my phone.

 

The itunes/iphone issue is/has been common when using your phones to stream music into a car. Apple snuck an update a while back like ios 10 where they made itunes an embedded player - forcing iphone users to activate itunes.. Android users dont have that problem...

The tablet is android and makes the BT connection quick with the car. All my apps on the tablet that require a login is done on install.

I never have to go back to my OEM screen. I set my A/C, radio presets and the OEM EQ then put the tablet inplace.

The window on the right side of the instrument cluster shows you the same info as the OEM screen - radio station, BT connection. The center screen gives you cameras.... I dont need cameras - its a vantage not a Speedtail.... the parking sensors still work. Beep...Beep.. Now if they can broadcast the cameras thru the instrument cluster... that would be nice..

The truth is that most drivers using cars apps run a map app and a steaming app the most... regardless if its carplay android auto.
Well, the vantage/AMG has the worst OEM map and music options... the two drivers most use...

the tablet/android gives me:
3+ maps options
any app that streams music/podcast etc... 60+
I can say "mcdonalds" by pressing the mic button in waze and all the MCD show up on he map - it takes 15 minutes to type an address in the OEM headunit. The drive was 8 minutes according to waze....
i can watch anything like Netflix etc....

remember, i only use my iphone as a hotspot to the tablet. I have a dual 12v connection so it charges my phone when i need while its keeping a charge on the tablet. The charge on the tablet doesnt matter unless you dont drive the car for 90 days... the hibernation is deep so while the tablet screen is off, its just in hibernation until it starts up again...