Europa Bluetooth Install
Discussion
Hi Everyone
Bought a Blaupunkt bluetooth handsfree (also allows usb memory sticks for MP3's) adapter for the standard radio - just plugs in the back with a couple of extra wires for mic and phone-answer.
There is a box, about the size of an old cassette tape box that has all the electronics.
Of course, brain not in gear when purchasing off fleabay, and now realise I somehow have to install this.....
I'll have to feed a fairly thick wire from the unit to the back of the radio, as I'm sure the box won't fit in the space behind it.
All the articles I've seen so far have been for the elise with the speakers facing front, rather than the Europa (and new elises) where it faces up as they are on top of the dash.
Questions are, where should I mount the box, how do the wires get in behind the radio, what about feeding the mic wire and where to mount the mic ???
I'm not really comfortable paying someone else to do it for me, and I don't really want to have to drill anything so any tips from anyone would be very useful.
Thanks
Rog
Bought a Blaupunkt bluetooth handsfree (also allows usb memory sticks for MP3's) adapter for the standard radio - just plugs in the back with a couple of extra wires for mic and phone-answer.
There is a box, about the size of an old cassette tape box that has all the electronics.
Of course, brain not in gear when purchasing off fleabay, and now realise I somehow have to install this.....
I'll have to feed a fairly thick wire from the unit to the back of the radio, as I'm sure the box won't fit in the space behind it.
All the articles I've seen so far have been for the elise with the speakers facing front, rather than the Europa (and new elises) where it faces up as they are on top of the dash.
Questions are, where should I mount the box, how do the wires get in behind the radio, what about feeding the mic wire and where to mount the mic ???
I'm not really comfortable paying someone else to do it for me, and I don't really want to have to drill anything so any tips from anyone would be very useful.
Thanks
Rog
Hi Rog
funnily enough I am taking my head unit out today to feed some wires behind it. The theory is you take off the plastic panel on the lhs below the little cubby hole, held in with 2 cross head screws (the one used to mount speakers on old Elise models). Then pull out the head unit, Blaupunt so need a special tool but once you have this it is pretty easy. Then use a piece of coat hanger to feed wire behind airbag from lhs through to back of head unit. There is actually quite a lot of room behind the head unit so you may be able to hide the electronics here.
If you want a pic let me know and I will send one through.
cheers
C43
funnily enough I am taking my head unit out today to feed some wires behind it. The theory is you take off the plastic panel on the lhs below the little cubby hole, held in with 2 cross head screws (the one used to mount speakers on old Elise models). Then pull out the head unit, Blaupunt so need a special tool but once you have this it is pretty easy. Then use a piece of coat hanger to feed wire behind airbag from lhs through to back of head unit. There is actually quite a lot of room behind the head unit so you may be able to hide the electronics here.
If you want a pic let me know and I will send one through.
cheers
C43
Hi, I have fitted the USB/Bluetooth device to my Europa. Works really well! Space is very tight! I removed the head unit, left the cables still connected, removed the cowling from steering column - to route the cables.
I wanted a clean install keeping visible cabling to a minimum, I have the USB connector (usb extension lead required) located in the bottom right shelf, PTT button next to the "S" emblem and the mic in the middle of the dash.
Its worthwhile updating the configuration to get the MP3 id tags displayed and not just track1 etc.
Any way my first post, having owned my Europa for a couple of enjoyable months. I have not seen another on the road.
I wanted a clean install keeping visible cabling to a minimum, I have the USB connector (usb extension lead required) located in the bottom right shelf, PTT button next to the "S" emblem and the mic in the middle of the dash.
Its worthwhile updating the configuration to get the MP3 id tags displayed and not just track1 etc.
Any way my first post, having owned my Europa for a couple of enjoyable months. I have not seen another on the road.
When you remove the cowling, was this the upper section or lower one ?
I'm not sure how I'd remove mine, as the top section is covered in leather.
There are screws for the bottom part, so assume I could remove that.
Bit hesitant to start undoing things, as I'm a bit incompetent when it comes to these things - always seem to have one screw left over when putting things together....
Did you hide the bluetooth box in the space behind the radio ? does it rattle or did you velcro to something ?
How tight is it ???
I'm not sure how I'd remove mine, as the top section is covered in leather.
There are screws for the bottom part, so assume I could remove that.
Bit hesitant to start undoing things, as I'm a bit incompetent when it comes to these things - always seem to have one screw left over when putting things together....
Did you hide the bluetooth box in the space behind the radio ? does it rattle or did you velcro to something ?
How tight is it ???
Ahh, in which case I may have rushed into a purchase I'm unable to install......
Have you actually had the radio out and had a look-see ??
I'm still debating whether to have a go tonight (big match may put hold on this) or wait until I come back from holiday week after next...
Hopefully everyone on here will have had a go and offer me advice to a muppet like me !!!
Great car, never see another one on the road - people really curious what it is, especially when overtaking and they pause to stare....
Have you actually had the radio out and had a look-see ??
I'm still debating whether to have a go tonight (big match may put hold on this) or wait until I come back from holiday week after next...
Hopefully everyone on here will have had a go and offer me advice to a muppet like me !!!
Great car, never see another one on the road - people really curious what it is, especially when overtaking and they pause to stare....
I removed the left hand blanking plate - where the little cubby hole is.
You can then feed (with coat hanger) wires behind the air bag into the radio recess quite easily.
Trouble is, I'd like to have it with minimal visible wires, and it currently looks impossible with no hole small enough for the various wires (with big connectors on) to feed through.
I can see how taking the cowling off would be good to access the right hand side - but sort of scared to !!!
Anyone got a mechanical breakdown of how that disassembles so I can see how the leather may be affected ??
Thanks
Rog
You can then feed (with coat hanger) wires behind the air bag into the radio recess quite easily.
Trouble is, I'd like to have it with minimal visible wires, and it currently looks impossible with no hole small enough for the various wires (with big connectors on) to feed through.
I can see how taking the cowling off would be good to access the right hand side - but sort of scared to !!!
Anyone got a mechanical breakdown of how that disassembles so I can see how the leather may be affected ??
Thanks
Rog
I didn't go the left hand side poking wires behind the airbag, seemed a bit iffy. Plus you would probably have more cables exposed.
There are 6 screws holding the cowling on, 2 either side (all most at the top of the bottom cowling) and 2 underneath. The bottom cowl extends right up to the speedo housing with top cowl just covering the top of the steering column. You can't just remove the bottom screws to take the bottom cowl off, need all six screws removed.
Once the cowl is off, still requires a stiff wire to route all the cables. The plastic box I have left unsecured; its very light, its plastic and space is tight.
There are 6 screws holding the cowling on, 2 either side (all most at the top of the bottom cowling) and 2 underneath. The bottom cowl extends right up to the speedo housing with top cowl just covering the top of the steering column. You can't just remove the bottom screws to take the bottom cowl off, need all six screws removed.
Once the cowl is off, still requires a stiff wire to route all the cables. The plastic box I have left unsecured; its very light, its plastic and space is tight.
Gave up tonight - football on and beers collected with a pizza on the way.
Misses gone into town so I can enjoy myself !!
Will have to tackle this after next week (in Benidorm on holiday)
My hands are quite big, and I'm not sure how I'll get the box in the radio aperture - its really a tight fit.
That leather looks great, but appears to be stopping me taking the various bits I need apart - I'm sure I can but its a mystery to me.
When examing the various bits that the dash is built from, you can tell its a handbuilt car - to put it politely.
It did occur to me that if I could remove the left hand plate on the 'glove box' (or trinket tray I guess) then the wires will feed through quite easily - but its really wedged in there, and I couldnt see a screw or any way to release it.
If anyone could contribute to this thread, I'm sure we will gather enough info to make it easier for others (or just us bearing mind the number of europas on the road !!)
Cheers
Rog
Misses gone into town so I can enjoy myself !!
Will have to tackle this after next week (in Benidorm on holiday)
My hands are quite big, and I'm not sure how I'll get the box in the radio aperture - its really a tight fit.
That leather looks great, but appears to be stopping me taking the various bits I need apart - I'm sure I can but its a mystery to me.
When examing the various bits that the dash is built from, you can tell its a handbuilt car - to put it politely.
It did occur to me that if I could remove the left hand plate on the 'glove box' (or trinket tray I guess) then the wires will feed through quite easily - but its really wedged in there, and I couldnt see a screw or any way to release it.
If anyone could contribute to this thread, I'm sure we will gather enough info to make it easier for others (or just us bearing mind the number of europas on the road !!)
Cheers
Rog
Edited by roger.daltrey on Wednesday 21st May 20:18
what I did was connect everything up first; head unit out, connect the box to head unit and wires connected i.e. usb cable, mic, ptt button. Push the box in aperture first - needs to go towards the right hand side - no room to fit behind head unit, once its part way can start putting the head unit back in, push this in to secure.
It was a ball ache to do, didn't realize how little space there is. But I think it is worth it.
Yes the build quality, its not premium.
It was a ball ache to do, didn't realize how little space there is. But I think it is worth it.
Yes the build quality, its not premium.
Sorry, I'm probably using the wrong words.
The left-hand-side trinket tray is the one I removed the large blank plate from and its through this hole that I can feed the wires behind the airbag to the radio.
The long tray running under the dash, with the small divider half way along, has an edge panel on the left (and right as well) that if I could remove would give me the space to pop some of the wires through (not forgetting that whilst the wires are small they have lumpy bits on both ends) to the tray on the other side, then through the aperture to the space behind the airbag etc...
It seems pretty wedged in there, and not sure how its fixed. Couldnt find any screws holding it in, and I don't want to break it.
Any clues how to dislodge, and how easy to put back (without breaking) ?
The left-hand-side trinket tray is the one I removed the large blank plate from and its through this hole that I can feed the wires behind the airbag to the radio.
The long tray running under the dash, with the small divider half way along, has an edge panel on the left (and right as well) that if I could remove would give me the space to pop some of the wires through (not forgetting that whilst the wires are small they have lumpy bits on both ends) to the tray on the other side, then through the aperture to the space behind the airbag etc...
It seems pretty wedged in there, and not sure how its fixed. Couldnt find any screws holding it in, and I don't want to break it.
Any clues how to dislodge, and how easy to put back (without breaking) ?
Hi Rog
I would put some pictures up but I am struggling to load them onto webshots.com. However I did not muck around with the tray under the airbag. As you say lots of plastic bits that don't want to move. I took off the cover above the trinket tray and then you can feed a piece of wire (coat hanger / welding rod) above the airbag and through to the space behind the stereo. There are a couple of routs through. The one I found first time is quite small and I though I was going to have to take the connectors off the RCA wires to get them through. However there is a route above the airbag with a reasonable amount of space which I managed to get a RCA connector through with no problem. Give this a pop and see how you get on. If you have a large connector block you can always take the pins out of the plastic bit, feed the wires through and then put the pins back on. I would suggest having plasters nearby as there are quite a few sharp pieces of metal. Seriously there is one edge under the trinket cover is quite sharp so if your wires are going to run over this then give them some protection which whatever comes to hand.
cheers
C43
I would put some pictures up but I am struggling to load them onto webshots.com. However I did not muck around with the tray under the airbag. As you say lots of plastic bits that don't want to move. I took off the cover above the trinket tray and then you can feed a piece of wire (coat hanger / welding rod) above the airbag and through to the space behind the stereo. There are a couple of routs through. The one I found first time is quite small and I though I was going to have to take the connectors off the RCA wires to get them through. However there is a route above the airbag with a reasonable amount of space which I managed to get a RCA connector through with no problem. Give this a pop and see how you get on. If you have a large connector block you can always take the pins out of the plastic bit, feed the wires through and then put the pins back on. I would suggest having plasters nearby as there are quite a few sharp pieces of metal. Seriously there is one edge under the trinket cover is quite sharp so if your wires are going to run over this then give them some protection which whatever comes to hand.
cheers
C43
Finally got it installed, and its a fairly discrete setup with no wires showing and the usb thing (on an extension) in the right-hand trinket hole together with the PTT button.
Ona technical note, the misses reckons the mic sounds a bit tinny, has anyone improved this at all ?
Also, when plugging in a USB stick (works with ipod shuffles as well) the track details are not shown on the radio front. I suspect this is normal, and I tried updating the bluetooth firmware (only available on the german blaupunkt site) and edited the config.txt file to enable all the bits I need - but nothing.
Once again, any advice on this one anyone ??
Thanks
Rog
Ona technical note, the misses reckons the mic sounds a bit tinny, has anyone improved this at all ?
Also, when plugging in a USB stick (works with ipod shuffles as well) the track details are not shown on the radio front. I suspect this is normal, and I tried updating the bluetooth firmware (only available on the german blaupunkt site) and edited the config.txt file to enable all the bits I need - but nothing.
Once again, any advice on this one anyone ??
Thanks
Rog
Hi,
http://www.blaupunkt.com/uk - select services then download, then firmware. Includes some .pdf docs which cover firmware upgrades and configuration upgrades.
Its the MicroDrive(MD) text file you need, different ones for how your phone connects to Bluetooth. Make sure your USB memory stick is empty of music, just the Blaupunkt folder.
Once its updated mp3 tags will be displayed.
Yes it does sound a bit tinny, but its better than a headset.
http://www.blaupunkt.com/uk - select services then download, then firmware. Includes some .pdf docs which cover firmware upgrades and configuration upgrades.
Its the MicroDrive(MD) text file you need, different ones for how your phone connects to Bluetooth. Make sure your USB memory stick is empty of music, just the Blaupunkt folder.
Once its updated mp3 tags will be displayed.
Yes it does sound a bit tinny, but its better than a headset.
I downloaded the MD bits as advised, and it appeared to show the track name.
On close inspection, it showed the track file name (including the .mp3 extension).
I updated the firmware from the .de Blaupunkt site, as its a newer version.
Do you actaully have the MP3 tags being displayed ?
Also
I can't get it to display the phonebook bits, which it should do (Nokia 6310 and Nokia E50 phones).
On close inspection, it showed the track file name (including the .mp3 extension).
I updated the firmware from the .de Blaupunkt site, as its a newer version.
Do you actaully have the MP3 tags being displayed ?
Also
I can't get it to display the phonebook bits, which it should do (Nokia 6310 and Nokia E50 phones).
Hi
Yes, all checked tag info there, and its not displayed - just the filename.
I checked this and edited the config.txt file to just show tag info, and not to show the filename (which was there originally) - and it showed nothing.
The display does show the name of the phone it connects to, and briefly PHONEBK, but nothing else.
It even displayed 'CONFIG CHANGE' (or equiv) when it uploaded the edited config file - so its sort of half way there at the moment.
My Nokia E50 (according to Blaupunkt site) won't transfer the phone book, but my trust old Nokia 6310i should do.
The latest Blaupunkt firmware I used was 8205, the one of the UK website only goes up to 6B27.
The URL for the site is
http://www.blaupunkt.com/de/infoservices_7_5.asp
You may have to use the google translater to figure out which bits you need..
Let us know how you get on solving this one
Yes, all checked tag info there, and its not displayed - just the filename.
I checked this and edited the config.txt file to just show tag info, and not to show the filename (which was there originally) - and it showed nothing.
The display does show the name of the phone it connects to, and briefly PHONEBK, but nothing else.
It even displayed 'CONFIG CHANGE' (or equiv) when it uploaded the edited config file - so its sort of half way there at the moment.
My Nokia E50 (according to Blaupunkt site) won't transfer the phone book, but my trust old Nokia 6310i should do.
The latest Blaupunkt firmware I used was 8205, the one of the UK website only goes up to 6B27.
The URL for the site is
http://www.blaupunkt.com/de/infoservices_7_5.asp
You may have to use the google translater to figure out which bits you need..
Let us know how you get on solving this one
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