AM V8 Vantage retrofit cruise control

[nicholasa]

Hi guys, need your help on the cruise control retrofit question!
I have a MY06 V8Vantage
I understand that fitting CC will necessitate a steering wheel change (as I heve no switches at all!!!)
The vehicle dates to a curious cross-over period: GSM SIM CARD readers no longer fitted, but Bluetooth was an optional extra (not fitted !!!)
So, there are two Bluetooth modules that are applicable (4G43 model nos) one BLUE in colour that is fitted above the pedals and is an isolated stand alone BT system, the other BLACK in colour and fits inside the centre console and is connected into the MOST system.
I'm guessing (unless you guys tell me otherwise) that I need to fit the BLACK 4G43 Bluetooth module, upgrade the steering wheel with both BT/Audio & CC 4G43 Switchpacks, then have the software upgrades for both CC & BT/Audio.
Am I close, or a million miles off????

Thanks
Andy

[Bravo73]

I think that KarlFranz will be your man to help with this.

IIRC, you won't necessarily have to replace your wheel to add the switches. But you will have to be pretty handy with a drill (and brave enough) to drill a few holes in your existing wheel.


Edited to add: Before Karl chips in, I've done a bit of digging and have found one of his old threads. This gives you a very good idea of what is required to add the switch packs to an existing wheel:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

(And a touch of alcantara, if you're that way inclined!)

Edited by Bravo73 on Sunday 8th September 23:19

[graham 500]

I have just bought an Alcantara Wheel with cruise and phone buttons for my vantage and have the old wheel spare. This only has the cruise buttons on the RH side. As far as I know all the wiring is there just needs connecting.
If your interested let me know.

[petecowie]

I had cruise control retro fitted to my 2005 DB9, I bought a V12V steering wheel which had the switched and it was fitted by Bamford Rose, if I remember correctly there was also an interface that required repacement and a reflash to enable.
Also I tried requesting this via official channels and they said it was not possible!
Hope this helps.
Pete

[Paralight]

V8 Vantage are pre-wired for pretty much anything that can be fitted as an option, of that age. If you want to add on cruise, simply change steering wheel for one with cruise buttons on it and tell the car (via AMDS) that it has cruise. Simples.

BT is slightly more interesting. for the 06MY the blue box 4G43 is required, this is old technology and can have some difficulties connecting to new handsets. You will also require the steering wheel to have buttons for BT control (for information, the wiring for the buttons goes direct to the BT kit on this age of car, on later cars with the MOST BT, the steering wheel interface wiring went to pin 13 on the ICM where it was converted to data to run via the MOST). The other things you will need to add will be the BT switcher interface (diverts audio via front speakers (Yours still working Peterr96?)) located in the CEM panel and also the microphone fitted up by the rear view mirror. The audio quality would benefit from the upgraded mic kit, which relocates the mic at the top of the A-pillar. I'm not sure on costs for this lot, but Steering wheel c£475, switcher box c£110, BT box c£300.

Or..... I could fit a Parrot BT and Steering wheel interface....... :-)


All the best,

James

[nicholasa]

1. james / paralight

Last year I had the ICM upgraded (white display characters) with the genuine AM iPod upgrade kit.
Putting BT to one side, is it possible to fit the matching Audio switch-pack and only use it for entertainment control? (Volume etc)

[Paralight]

Not something I've tried, but there should be no reason why not. The only conflict I can see is if there was some change required on the config file.

It also makes things a bit more complicated in respect of BT, if you go down that route. The mute pin was deleted from the later ICM as BT was then controlled via the MOST. What this means is that when a call is made via BT, in normal circumstances, the ICM would tell the amp/s to mute and then the BT switcher would transfer audio to the front speakers. If you add in the later BT box, there would need to be a harness change to accommodate that, mic etc.

Need to get of a BT steering wheel and a length of wire.....

Regards,

James

[nicholasa]

JAMES / Paralight - you rock!

There is, already installed, a Parrot CK3100, so let's leave the BT there.

So moving forward, I need to find a steering wheel and fit it with the correct Audio & Crusie switch-packs.
I guess the cruise switch pack will be of the 4G43 age, but the Audio switch pack will be a later version as my ICM has been upgraded?

Thanks
Andy

[Bravo73]

nicholasa said:

So moving forward, I need to find a steering wheel and fit it with the correct Audio & Crusie switch-packs.

Read graham 500's post above!

[Paralight]

As far as I am aware, all the switch packs are the same. They work on a resistive coupling rather than 'modern' cars that use CAN bus. The only change was the printing on the buttons!

Worst case scenario.... If you buy a steering wheel and for whatever reason the config files or ICM change won't allow you to control the audio from the steering wheel (wasn't fully available until 09MY), then I have an interface that will allow control of the Parrot 3100 from the steering wheel controls.

All the best,

James

[nicholasa]

Thank you Bravo73
I have read Grahem500 post - if I decide to go with only a cruise control switchpack, I will contact him.

[nicholasa]

James
I think I've sourced a steering wheel with both switchpacks - i'll be in touch once acquisition is made.
Many thanks for all your input to date.
Regards
Andy

[Billieray]

hi guys,

I have an original steering wheel with bluetooth and radio control volume installed but I haven't the cruise control so I decided to order it from here

http://www.astonmartinbits.com/models/5-V8-Vantage...

my car is a 2008 production and the left bluetooth command has the same shape so It should be the correct ones

my doubt is if I will find the cable to connect the cruise control already in the steering wheel or not, I suppose that everything is already pre mounted from Aston Martin, so I just need to plug&play the cruise control or not?

thanks for your help

Edited by Billieray on Sunday 29th September 10:38

Ps: I have to disconnect the battery to dismount the airbag or is enough to push the the reset button in the boot to stop the electricity?

Edited by Billieray on Sunday 29th September 12:29

[Billieray]

Good evening,

I just dismounted my steering wheel to be sure that everything is ready for the cruise control that I want to buy from AstonMartinBits

I discovered that the number on the steering wheel connector is 9G33-3600-CA, instead the number on the airbag is 4G43-042B85--AA

I see that I haven't any cable that from the central main black connector goes to the cruise control, on the other side I have the cable that goes to the bluetooth buttons and there are the cables for the horn left/right/down.

So I don't know if I will need to buy even the central connector with the two cables (bluetooth and cruise control) or if It will be included with the cruise control. Maybe I have to buy the complete system (bluetooth and cruise + the main connector) ???

Ps: to dismount the airbag you don't need to disconnect the battery, everything worked fine (no explosion)

Edited by Billieray on Sunday 29th September 23:53

Edited by Billieray on Sunday 29th September 23:53

Edited by Billieray on Sunday 29th September 23:54

Edited by Billieray on Sunday 29th September 23:55

[KarlFranz]

You won't have wiring for the cruise switchpack unless the wheel is equipped with cruise.

If you look in my thread about my steering wheel project, you will see some pics of the wiring with and without the switchpacks.

[Billieray]

But I can't buy the entire cables/connector and put them?

don't tell me that I have to buy the entire steering wheel!

[KarlFranz]

Billieray said:

But I can't buy the entire cables/connector and put them?

don't tell me that I have to buy the entire steering wheel!

Sorry, no, the cable isn't sold separately. Furthermore, the switchback you bought can only be installed on your wheel if you are willing to carve up the rubber on your steering wheel as I documented in my thread. The normal process to add cruise control is to purchase an entire wheel with the switch pack and wiring, install it on the car, then enable to cruise functionality on the ECU.

[Billieray]

Understood

Ok I have changed my order and I have bought the entire steering wheel with the bluetooth and cruise control, I will make It in alcantara and I hope that everything will work

Thanks for all the informations