Rear Entertainment System

[josiec]

Has anyone who ordered a 2022 with RES received any info?

I ordered on 10/20 and haven’t received anything other than the confirmation email that day. I don’t know how the commodity restriction works/if they fill orders as they get parts?

 

[bradley126]

I placed my order for the 2022 Platinum Max HD Tow package, Star white, Carmelo interior, and 2nd row bench a few days ago (1/29/22). We had an issue when choosing the RES. The option for the RES appeared on the computer but it wouldn't allow them to click and add it to my order. I hope it becomes available during my build so I can add it. Im spending a lot of money on this and would be bummed if I miss out on getting the RES because of the dumb chip shortage. I just dont think the aftermarket tablets are up to par and would like everything synced with the latest sync 4 technology.

I have found out that Ford has made a deal with Amazon and will most likely be implementing them into the 2022s according to some tech forums/articles. I'm just not sure when they will start that process? Jeep Wagoneers currently have the Amazon Fire tablets. You can watch the YouTube videos to get an idea of what to expect Ford to do.

If anyone has any other insight regarding the RES availability, that would be great!

 

[murrdawg50]

According to the updated order guide (2/1/22), the RES now says late availability. It did mention Amazon Firestick in the RES description so I’d say that was a correct assumption on the Amazon electronics outfitting the new expeditions. Now, how “late” is late availability? That’s the big question!

 

[maxlim2022]

I placed an order a couple of days after the Ford started taking orders. I heard nothing on the availability, no VIN so far. Priority code was 19 on the order sheet beginning of Nov. Middle of last month I changed the color of my truck and the salesman told me I would drop from a priority of 1 at the time to 10 which is was I received on my new order confirmation sheet. No idea what the "priority code" implies in terms of proximity to production but even when I changed colors, I was not made aware of it having an impact on the RES I had previously ordered. I was also not offered about when order will be completed. I was told going from priority 1 to 10 might delay me about a month but not a word on possibly when. This is a limited 4x4 302A CCD RES truck. I fear I may be in a for a long wait...

 

[murrdawg50]

Priority code 19 is a generic retail sale code for dealers. When they order a vehicle from Ford to sell on their lot, this the default code they go to. As far as the 1 to 10 priority codes, I’m not sure which is better or worse. I know there is supposed to be a way for the dealers to change the retail code of 19 to a special order code (which is probably 1-10). The sales manager at my dealer is a pretty young guy (probably close to my age anyways). That being said, I don’t think he has much experience inside the Ford order system and how to change stuff over to a special order from a retail order because he told me he couldn’t change it on his end from a retail order to a special order. I wanted to get it changed to special order so I can use the order number and VIN I got so i could use the Ford Tracking system to be able to track my vehicle’s production on my end. Apparently you can’t track your order as easily if the order is placed as a retail order rather than a special order.

 

[Mxer0022]

Retail order codes are 10-19 with 10 being highest priority and 19 being lowest. But it doesn't matter if your dealer doesn't have any other orders in for that vehicle. If your order is 10 and someone else's is 19 and they were ordered on the same day you'll get yours first. If they are bothe a priority 10 they'll come in first ordered. At least that's how I understood it.

 

[Tgreen48]

I ordered 10/19 with rear entertainment. My order is on hold for a restriction with priority code 01. No clue when it will get a scheduled. Ford doesn't tell the dealer anything so we're left completely blind. It's extremely frustrating.

 

[mlogan]

Clearly RES is causing issues/delaying VIN assignment. It seems like if you want RES, there's going to be a longer wait than those of us that have not chosen RES and have VINs and build weeks already.
I get why people want it and it can be convenient. However, my kids mostly use their tablets in our Chrysler Pacifica with RES - it's nice if you want to watch the same movie, but they just do their own thing on a tablet most of the time now anyway.

 

[USKflt]

When I ordered in December it could no longer be added. I got extremely frustrated trying to figure out why but eventually had to order before my PCO expired. Now seeing delays for those that were able to add it earlier on, I’m glad I wasn’t allowed to.

 

[NukeLife]

I have found that it’s a lot of fun to have on College Football Game Day or March Madness playing on all screens when road-tripping to a game. Kind of gets everybody amped up on the way there. And then they can still mess around on the iPad or phone while watching TV at the same time. It’s like a mobile surround sound living room on wheels.

I also installed a direct HDMI input in my console, and a motion-lockout override, so we can watch up front too. (Naviks). Three screens in surround sound.

 

[Tgreen48]

I ordered 10/19 with rear entertainment. My order is on hold for a restriction with priority code 01. No clue when it will get a scheduled. Ford doesn't tell the dealer anything so we're left completely blind. It's extremely frustrating.

I just asked dealer if he can get in touch with Ford and have the RES removed from my order. I'll post here with his findings, and whether or not it expedites my scheduling.

 

[josiec]

I just asked dealer if he can get in touch with Ford and have the RES removed from my order. I'll post here with his findings, and whether or not it expedites my scheduling.

Thank you! I’m definitely interested in hearing what you find out.

 

[maxlim2022]

Thank you! I’m definitely interested in hearing what you find out.

+1^

 

[MattG]

Have they changed, updated or improved the RES?
Ours in a '20 is MEH at best.

 

[3rd Expyowner123]

We have 2018 with RSE, our two teenage kids have rarely used. They prefer to be on their phones. I just purchased a Amazon Fire Stick and connected to RSE. It worked in my driveway connected to the truck’s WiFi, with access to Netflix and YouTube TV (which I subscribe to). I have not tested on the highway yet, in terms of the vehicle on board WiFi having enough signal strength to stream video. In March will be doing a road trip, and will have plenty of time to test out.
I do wish the RSE had option to play audio through car audio system.
That said, when our kids were younger, in our 2008 prior Expedition we used the RSE frequently on road trips, playing DVD’s.

 

[MattG]

Our '20 has the RSE.
You CAN play the audio through car speakers, you need to connect it via Bluetooth.

That said, the kids were bored of a few DVD pretty quick. We are going to download a variety of shows and movies on a USB stick and give that a try. Feel it will be nice to have a little USB stick at the ready to connect and throw something on.

In reality, the Ford RSE seems pretty low-tech and not really that useful. The need to connect it bluetooth every time you turn the car on is a pain, the remotes are pretty flimsy and not always responsive, same with the touch buttons on the units themselves. If I were to factory order, I would skip the ~$2,500 option and put it to better use.

Kids prefer their IPad anyhow.

 

[ExpyStealth]

We have a 2018 F150 that we opted not to get the rear entertainment system on (or at that time it might have just been DVD head rests), but instead bought head rest iPad mounts off Amazon so the kids each have their own iPad for trips using the trucks WiFi to steam Netflix, Disney+, etc with no issues. That way it’s limitless on what they can watch on long car trips.
So we decided to do the same thing again when ordering our ‘22 expy.

 

[NukeLife]

I’m pretty sure I covered all this in an old thread from a year or two ago, but here it is in a nutshell:

The RES as it comes from Ford is poorly implemented.
There are really nice ones out there, and Ford could have looked to any of those examples (QX80). But they cheaped out.

The major complaints: no ability to control from the front seats, and no hard-wired audio input to the vehicles surround sound. The Bluetooth interface is laughable—even assuming you can get the audio delay set correctly.

There are solutions—some more complex, and some more costly, but if you intend to use the system for whole family enjoyment you may want to explore them.

One solution (that I went with) was to install a module from Naviks that allows an HDMI input directly to the car‘s audio system, and front screen if the front passenger wishes to watch also.

What this looks like is a pluggable module that you install inside the center console (center stack and console must come out) and route the HDMI receptacle wherever you want. I ran my cable to the inside of the cavernous armrest bin. Once this module is installed, you install a small USB thumbdrive (formatted—but nothing on it.) into one of the USB ports in the center console and select that USB input for audio. This is just a way to tell the car to pull audio from the HDMI input, since there is no HDMI option to select from Ford’s menu Then depress and hold the left thumb pad on the steering wheel for 2 seconds and magically anything plugged into that HDMI port plays through the car’s audio system, and is displayed on the center console screen.

Perfect right? Well, no, you’re not quite done yet. That gives you glorious surround sound TV up front—but what about the rear screens?
Well, turns out the rear screens also have an HDMI input. So I installed an HDMI splitter in the center console bin also, and my “source” (which is sometimes a BluRay player, and most times my Roku streaming stick) just sends TV to front and back simultaneously. And yes that requires running a HDMI cable (DON’T BUY A CHEAP ONE!!) from inside the console bin, under the carpet and up through the driver’s seat to the headrest screen.

A weekend of work to be sure once you get all the pieces parts and panel tools you need, but the result is how it should have come from the factory. HDMI video and audio from streaming TV or BluRay on all three screens simultaneously with seamless, effortless, HD surround sound. Still not a perfect solution, but it at least makes it useable. And to toggle the front screen back and forth from “TV” mode to Ford Sync mode, just hit the left arrow on the left D-pad again.

 

[josiec]

Just an update- our dealer tried to remove the RES to help our vehicle get built and the system wouldn’t let them. Hopefully that means they are close to building early orders with the RES

We originally ordered 10/20

 

[maxlim2022]

The RES as it comes from Ford is poorly implemented.
There are really nice ones out there, and Ford could have looked to any of those examples (QX80). But they cheaped out.

The major complaints: no ability to control from the front seats, and no hard-wired audio input to the vehicles surround sound. The Bluetooth interface is laughable—even assuming you can get the audio delay set correctly.

There are solutions—some more complex, and some more costly, but if you intend to use the system for whole family enjoyment you may want to explore them.

I am hoping with the implementation of Amazon TV and Amzon itself touting this and using the example of the Wagoneer, that Ford would better implement it with the 2022, otherwise, you are right. The implementation from what I gather was poor and needed work around our using Bluetooth with variable audio lag. If I knew for certain, they would be continuing the same system as they have done through 2021, I would not have ordered with RES. I a hoping for a better integrated product with Sync 4 and Amazon fire TV....I may be wrong, but I hope not!