iPhone in my car?

[BUG4LIFE]

Hiya guys,

At the mo, my E36 328 has got the stock ICE but I want to get my iPhone up and running in the car so I thought I'd ask for some recommendations. I want to do it right, so I guess the best option is an iPhone compatible headunit, and I'm happy to spend out on that - so who do the best ones guys? The one and only previous owner of my E36, who I guess specced the car, decided not to tick the autochanger box so a single CD on the headunit might come in handy, if my phone dies?

As I mentioned, my car is totally standard, so at some point I'm going to want to uprate the speakers etc so the headunit choice has to take this into consideration too.

Cheers in advance.

P.S. Done anyone know is a good car audio shop in the Midlands, so I could go take a look at some options [don't make me go to Halfords!!!]?

[HellDiver]

Alpine CDA-105RI.

If you want Bluetooth hands free, add the BT400 module.

[MrLou]

Parrot MKi9200.

[BUG4LIFE]

Cheers guys, I will check those out...

Anymore peeps? Would it be asking to much to be able to control the choice of track/view listings on the headunit itself for around £200 also?

[MrLou]

BUG4LIFE said:

Cheers guys, I will check those out...

Anymore peeps? Would it be asking to much to be able to control the choice of track/view listings on the headunit itself for around £200 also?

The Parrot has a separate display that shows what track is playing and a remote unit that controls the phone/music.

You don't need to replace your existing head unit, the call quality is the best I've ever had in a car, it'll do audio over bluetooth or via the iPhone cable and you can plug in USB disks or any device with a 3.5mm socket.

For £150 (plus fitting if you don't want to do it yourself) I don't think it can be beaten.

Did I mention I was happy with mine?

[HellDiver]

BUG4LIFE said:

Cheers guys, I will check those out...

Anymore peeps? Would it be asking to much to be able to control the choice of track/view listings on the headunit itself for around £200 also?

Standard with the Alpines. You can go cheaper than the 105RI - the Alpine CDE-103BT has the Bluetooth built in, and still has the proper iPod functions. About £165.

[neil_bolton]

Becker Grand Prix.

Does the phone AND the iPod if you get the additional iPod adaptor, you can control it from the head unit.

Looks OEM too if you get the red one, as I know, I've got one in my E36.

Excellent power and clarity too even if not amped.

[markcjd]

MrLou said:

Parrot MKi9200.

+1

Perfect solution.

[neil_bolton]

HellDiver said:

BUG4LIFE said:

Cheers guys, I will check those out...

Anymore peeps? Would it be asking to much to be able to control the choice of track/view listings on the headunit itself for around £200 also?

The Alpine CDE-103BT has the Bluetooth built in, and still has the proper iPod functions. About £165.

I have one in my MX5 - is an ace unit, if fiddly to try and select what music you want on the iPhone.

Additionally, some may irk at the looks compared to my Becker in the BMW.

[HellDiver]

Becker is not cheap, though.

[Murph7355]

neil_bolton said:

...is an ace unit, if fiddly to try and select what music you want on the iPhone....

Agree on all counts. Certainly not intuitive, but work OK and sound great.

I think their later units are a bit more faithful to the iPod method of control, hence less buttons to faff around with.

OP - you may be able to get a device (e.g. Dension) that will allow your current set up to operate your iPhone...will look more "OEM"...

[djt100]

Have a look here, shoudl do what you need

http://dension.com/

[BUG4LIFE]

Thanks for the suggestions so far guys.

Correct me if I'm wrong - if I buy a headunit with Bluetooth built in, I can stream music from my iPhone to the headunit, so no need for wires [OMG, I sound like my dad]?!?!

[HellDiver]

BUG4LIFE said:

Correct me if I'm wrong - if I buy a headunit with Bluetooth built in, I can stream music from my iPhone to the headunit, so no need for wires [OMG, I sound like my dad]?!?!

You can, depending on the head unit. You'd need to check the specs. I could do it no bother with 105RI with the BT400 module. I'm not 100% sure if the 103 supports music over BT.

[BUG4LIFE]

That has got to be the best solution then, taking away the need to drill holes in the dash to poke wires through etc. All I'll need then is something to charge my iPhone while it's playing. Sweeeeet!

Still could do with some recommended audio shops in the Midlands though peeps - so I can go check out a few products.

[S18DMW]

Where abouts in the midlands?

If you're in or around stoke try the Ice House. They're pretty good. There's a guy on here called Andy who works there, don't know his username though.

[unpc]

markcjd said:

MrLou said:

Parrot MKi9200.

+1

Perfect solution.

+2 Excellent bit of kit

[t84]

I have a Pioneer DEH-7100BT, I preferred it over the Alpine offering.

What I do on my Focus is have a Brodit mount on my dashboard, the USB cable goes into my ashtray, so all I need to do is open the ashtray, pull the cable out 5cm, and plug it into my phone

[BUG4LIFE]

I'm in Worcester so Stoke is a bit of a journey really, cheers for the suggestion though.

I see t84, did you find it an easy job getting your cable from the back of the headunit through to the ashtray?

[t84]

Wasn't too hard no, if you've got a complicated dash you could always cable tie it to a coathanger and use the extra stiffness? (Ooer)