iPod into Audi = ?

[Hornsey]

My other half has just bought an '04 A3 with the standard symphony sound system. What do people use to connect their iPods in these cars? When I got my BMW I bought an intravee which just replaces the CD changer - simple. Is there a similar system that is compatible with Audis?

[VAG1]

Connects2 = http://www.connects2.co.uk/c2search.aspx?catID=27&...

OR the more expensive option (does the same thing but more well known)

http://www.ipodcarkitdirect.co.uk/iPod_Car_Kit/For...

My brother has also just bought an 04 A3. What spec did you get? Hope your having better luck with it than him. The symphony system is the cassette player one? He also has that but is going to change it to concert system.

[Hornsey]

Thanks for that. Just what I was after.

The car is a 2.0 TDi Sport model. My brother has a 1.9 SE and my mum has a 2.0 S-line so I feel like I'm drowning in A3s!

[UVB]

Might be worth looking at the newer Parrot devices as well - those can combine Bluetooth phone connection and ipod through the car stereo.

[jp1982]

I'm thinking audi do a connection that can be retrofitted into the glovebox. approx 150 quid though.

[VAG1]

Denison is the exact same thing, I'm pretty sure they make it for Audi.

[ThunderSpook]

The XCarlink is the best option for the Audi's. They do a specific Audi model that sits between the stereo and the CD changer so you can still use the changer (if you have one) and it comes with both an iPod docking cable and 3.5mm jack connector. I had one in my A4 and it worked perfectly.

http://www.xcarlink.co.uk/home.php?cat=4

[va1o]

Another vote for XCarlink here

[Colonial]

ThunderSpook said:

The XCarlink is the best option for the Audi's. They do a specific Audi model that sits between the stereo and the CD changer so you can still use the changer (if you have one) and it comes with both an iPod docking cable and 3.5mm jack connector. I had one in my A4 and it worked perfectly.

http://www.xcarlink.co.uk/home.php?cat=4

I have a iTrip running in mine using the same principle.

[fatboy b]

ThunderSpook said:

The XCarlink is the best option for the Audi's. They do a specific Audi model that sits between the stereo and the CD changer so you can still use the changer (if you have one) and it comes with both an iPod docking cable and 3.5mm jack connector. I had one in my A4 and it worked perfectly.

http://www.xcarlink.co.uk/home.php?cat=4

Another vote here. Just put on in the OH's Seat at the weekend with a handsfree link too. Whole lot was £118.

[siwil1]

ThunderSpook said:

The XCarlink is the best option for the Audi's. They do a specific Audi model that sits between the stereo and the CD changer so you can still use the changer (if you have one) and it comes with both an iPod docking cable and 3.5mm jack connector. I had one in my A4 and it worked perfectly.

http://www.xcarlink.co.uk/home.php?cat=4

This looks great as we have just purchased an 07 A6 which has a cd multichanger in the glove box along with satnav drive.Am I right in saying we can still keep the multi changer in use? Was it hard to fit?

[ThunderSpook]

Yes you can. I had the Bose system with the changer in the glovebox and it worked fine. Only slight annoyance with it is it if you are listening to a CD, turn the car off, turn it back on again then it'll default to iPod. Easy to switch back to CD though.

Relatively easy to fit once you've got the stereo out of the way. I actually routed the cable on mine through to the centre armrest and kept the iPod in there.

[siwil1]

ThunderSpook said:

Yes you can. I had the Bose system with the changer in the glovebox and it worked fine. Only slight annoyance with it is it if you are listening to a CD, turn the car off, turn it back on again then it'll default to iPod. Easy to switch back to CD though.

Relatively easy to fit once you've got the stereo out of the way. I actually routed the cable on mine through to the centre armrest and kept the iPod in there.

Sorry for delay in replying unfortunately it wasnt top of my agenda for the last couple of weeks as after we had the car for 3 days some dhead decided to redesign the door and front wing . Anyway with regard to installation is it just a case of removing the auto changer in the glove box and installing the ipod interface in there or is the actual stereo itself buried behind the dash somewhere? sorry if thats a bit of a dumb question but I'm old and used to single din stereo's in the dash not all this mmi stuff!

[fatboy b]

siwil1 said:

ThunderSpook said:

Yes you can. I had the Bose system with the changer in the glovebox and it worked fine. Only slight annoyance with it is it if you are listening to a CD, turn the car off, turn it back on again then it'll default to iPod. Easy to switch back to CD though.

Relatively easy to fit once you've got the stereo out of the way. I actually routed the cable on mine through to the centre armrest and kept the iPod in there.

Sorry for delay in replying unfortunately it wasnt top of my agenda for the last couple of weeks as after we had the car for 3 days some dhead decided to redesign the door and front wing . Anyway with regard to installation is it just a case of removing the auto changer in the glove box and installing the ipod interface in there or is the actual stereo itself buried behind the dash somewhere? sorry if thats a bit of a dumb question but I'm old and used to single din stereo's in the dash not all this mmi stuff!

It depends on the a harness plug to your changer. It's designed to plug into the CD-out of the head-unit, but the plug can then be piggy-backed by the CD-player lead. Whether this'll work at the CD player end depends on how the CD player harness enters the CD player (plug or lead straight in).

[siwil1]

fatboy b said:

siwil1 said:

ThunderSpook said:

Yes you can. I had the Bose system with the changer in the glovebox and it worked fine. Only slight annoyance with it is it if you are listening to a CD, turn the car off, turn it back on again then it'll default to iPod. Easy to switch back to CD though.

Relatively easy to fit once you've got the stereo out of the way. I actually routed the cable on mine through to the centre armrest and kept the iPod in there.

Sorry for delay in replying unfortunately it wasnt top of my agenda for the last couple of weeks as after we had the car for 3 days some dhead decided to redesign the door and front wing . Anyway with regard to installation is it just a case of removing the auto changer in the glove box and installing the ipod interface in there or is the actual stereo itself buried behind the dash somewhere? sorry if thats a bit of a dumb question but I'm old and used to single din stereo's in the dash not all this mmi stuff!

It depends on the a harness plug to your changer. It's designed to plug into the CD-out of the head-unit, but the plug can then be piggy-backed by the CD-player lead. Whether this'll work at the CD player end depends on how the CD player harness enters the CD player (plug or lead straight in).

if it wont work at the cd player end, is it hard to get to the back of the Head unit? where is it?

cheers

Simon

[fatboy b]

siwil1 said:

fatboy b said:

siwil1 said:

ThunderSpook said:

Yes you can. I had the Bose system with the changer in the glovebox and it worked fine. Only slight annoyance with it is it if you are listening to a CD, turn the car off, turn it back on again then it'll default to iPod. Easy to switch back to CD though.

Relatively easy to fit once you've got the stereo out of the way. I actually routed the cable on mine through to the centre armrest and kept the iPod in there.

Sorry for delay in replying unfortunately it wasnt top of my agenda for the last couple of weeks as after we had the car for 3 days some dhead decided to redesign the door and front wing . Anyway with regard to installation is it just a case of removing the auto changer in the glove box and installing the ipod interface in there or is the actual stereo itself buried behind the dash somewhere? sorry if thats a bit of a dumb question but I'm old and used to single din stereo's in the dash not all this mmi stuff!

It depends on the a harness plug to your changer. It's designed to plug into the CD-out of the head-unit, but the plug can then be piggy-backed by the CD-player lead. Whether this'll work at the CD player end depends on how the CD player harness enters the CD player (plug or lead straight in).

if it wont work at the cd player end, is it hard to get to the back of the Head unit? where is it?

cheers

Simon

The head unit will probably need to come out. You get a couple of keys with the Xcarlink, and you'll have to thread the lead from it through from the glovebox to the back of the head unit. I used a wire coat-hanger unwound and straightened. once the head unit was out, thread the coat-hanger carefully into it's hole to the left so it exits under the dash near the glovebox, then tie the xcarlink lead to it, and carefully pull it back through.

[ThunderSpook]

Yes you need to take the head unit out. The xcarlink then sits inbetween the end of the changer cable and the head unit. As said above it does come with the required keys, although if you have the double din unit you may need two sets of keys (although it is possible with one).

[siwil1]

ThunderSpook said:

Yes you need to take the head unit out. The xcarlink then sits inbetween the end of the changer cable and the head unit. As said above it does come with the required keys, although if you have the double din unit you may need two sets of keys (although it is possible with one).

sorry guys I may be being a bit thick here (probably!) The car is an 07plate A6 and as such does not have a head unit in the dash as the earlier models had It all runs from the Navigation wheel in the centre consul to a screen in the dash which covers all the menu's.(MMI)
The cd multiplayer is in the glovebox along with the navigation cd. Is there also a seperate head unit aswell hidden somewhere ? If I was any good on here I would link a picture of the dash to explain a little better.

Thanks

[ThunderSpook]

Erm, pass

[fatboy b]

siwil1 said:

ThunderSpook said:

Yes you need to take the head unit out. The xcarlink then sits inbetween the end of the changer cable and the head unit. As said above it does come with the required keys, although if you have the double din unit you may need two sets of keys (although it is possible with one).

sorry guys I may be being a bit thick here (probably!) The car is an 07plate A6 and as such does not have a head unit in the dash as the earlier models had It all runs from the Navigation wheel in the centre consul to a screen in the dash which covers all the menu's.(MMI)
The cd multiplayer is in the glovebox along with the navigation cd. Is there also a seperate head unit aswell hidden somewhere ? If I was any good on here I would link a picture of the dash to explain a little better.

Thanks

OK - you have MMI - that's even easier. Open up the screen - button next to the volume, and you have a couple of SD card slots there. Forget the Xcarlink, and use those.

Here's my A4 opened up...

Edited by fatboy b on Thursday 16th July 17:20