Bluetooth kit advice please

[Azz1n]

Me again!

I want to get a bluetooth hands free kit in my CLK Cab, so that I can make/receive calls from my iPhone 3G and also play music from it through the existing headunit.

The steering wheel does have 2 "Telephone" buttons on it, but when I press it it just says "Function not available" (or something similar).

I'm thinking of a Parrot MKI9100: http://www.parrot.com/uk/products/hands-free-car-kits/parrot-mki9100 or a 9200: http://www.parrot.com/uk/products/hands-free-car-kits/parrot-mki9200

All suggestions/advice welcome!

 

[hawk20]

Me again!

I want to get a bluetooth hands free kit in my CLK Cab, so that I can make/receive calls from my iPhone 3G and also play music from it through the existing headunit.

The steering wheel does have 2 "Telephone" buttons on it, but when I press it it just says "Function not available" (or something similar).

I'm thinking of a Parrot MKI9100: http://www.parrot.com/uk/products/hands-free-car-kits/parrot-mki9100 or a 9200: http://www.parrot.com/uk/products/hands-free-car-kits/parrot-mki9200

All suggestions/advice welcome!

Contact Alfie at Comand.co.uk for good advice on these problems.

 

[Blakbeard]

Are you sure you can play music from your iPhone via bluetooth? They're configured out of the box to work with bluetooth headsets etc only and not stream music on bluetooth....although I think there is a hack to trick your phone into doing it....

What's your plan as I'd be interested in trying it if you have a better way of doing it?

As present I'm using an iTrip auto...

 

[turbopete]

i believe the telephone buttons on the steering wheel only operate phones fitted to the pre wired cradles that can be fitted to MB's. if pressing the buttons says its unavailable then chances are your car hasnt been pre wired. this could be done but i believe is much more expensive than parrot or similar solutions

 

[Azz1n]

Are you sure you can play music from your iPhone via bluetooth? They're configured out of the box to work with bluetooth headsets etc only and not stream music on bluetooth....although I think there is a hack to trick your phone into doing it....

What's your plan as I'd be interested in trying it if you have a better way of doing it?

As present I'm using an iTrip auto...

I think the iPhone sends it to the Parrot as data rather than streams it, as it comes pre wired with a cable...

The Parrot MKi9200 is also gifted for music.

Supplied with a specific cable, it is compatible with all music sources, such as iPods, iPhones, USB flash drives, Bluetooth stereo (A2DP) phones, MP3 players and any other analogue players.

The Parrot MKi9200 also features an SDHC-compatible SD card reader on the side of the screen.

The MKi9200 displays the full playlist along with the name of the artist, the title and even the corresponding album cover in colour when available on the iPod, iPhone or USB flash drive.

Music is delivered through all the car's speakers, giving the driver and passengers exceptional sound quality and the breathtaking Virtual SuperBass and Sound Spatializer effects.

http://www.parrot.com/uk/products/hands-free-car-kits/parrot-mki9200

 

[Blakbeard]

I think the iPhone sends it to the Parrot as data rather than streams it, as it comes pre wired with a cable...



http://www.parrot.com/uk/products/hands-free-car-kits/parrot-mki9200

Cool....looks interesting.....might have to look into that myself!

Would be ideal if iPhone cable could come out into the centre console / armrest

 

[Azz1n]

I'm currently looking at the MKI9100 as it has a smaller, more discreet display unit.

Does anyone know if the display unit in the 9100 is wireless or wired?

It's also removable, so I guess it leaves a little bracket behind and if that's the case and it's wireless I could attach it to the trim at the bottom of my screen, right in the centre.

But I'm not keen on it if that display unit is cabled as there doesn't seem to be any gap under that trim at the bottom of the screen to hide a cable.

 

[dbean]

I'm also thinking of getting a handsfree kit put in. I contacted Comand as I wanted to use my iPod, make handsfree bluetooth calls and have a sat nav put in. Unfortunately they came back to me with an eye watering price which may prove a bit too much right now.

That said they were super quick at coming back to me and laid it all out in nice and easy to understand steps for me. Jolly helpful and I'm sure the finished solution would look superb. I'm also a bit dubious of anything that's going to look tatty once it's in.

 

[Azz1n]

I'm also thinking of getting a handsfree kit put in. I contacted Comand as I wanted to use my iPod, make handsfree bluetooth calls and have a sat nav put in. Unfortunately they came back to me with an eye watering price which may prove a bit too much right now.

That said they were super quick at coming back to me and laid it all out in nice and easy to understand steps for me. Jolly helpful and I'm sure the finished solution would look superb. I'm also a bit dubious of anything that's going to look tatty once it's in.

Comand were the same for me, good/quick replies but way out of my budget.

I've found a Kenwood head unit that has an optional OEM steering control adaptor, so I'm exploring that option at the mo.

 

[megah0]

I'm sure I've seen patch leads for OE steering wheel controls for command.

I've used Autoleads products before now on other vehicles.

 

[stripe]

I'm currently looking at the Dension Audio Gateway 500 with the BTA1500 bluetooth adaptor, which seems to cover all the bases and allow me to use the keypad on the stereo to answer and dial numbers.

The Parrot units bypass the stereo completly and use their own amp.