MR2 Roadster Owners Club

The Workshop => Audio / Security / Electrical => Topic started by: gavw71 on December 15, 2009, 18:03

Title: Anyone tried these to play an ipod in the Roadster?
Post by: gavw71 on December 15, 2009, 18:03
Found these after searching on Google.

 m http://www.incaripod.com/Vehicle/Toyota ... ration_Kit (http://www.incaripod.com/Vehicle/Toyota/DICE_Electronics_Toyota_iPod_Integration_Kit) m

 m http://www.incaripod.com/Vehicle/Toyota ... ar_Adapter (http://www.incaripod.com/Vehicle/Toyota/Toyota_Dension_Gateway_100_iPod_Car_Adapter) m

Basically, I'm getting a 160gb ipod classic for Xmas and want to use it in my Roadster (pre-face lift '51 plate with standard Sony head-unit.) I don't want to use a gassette adaptor or FM transmitter due to the loss of sound quality. Also, I'm not keen on changing the head-unit for a single din with a front usb connection because I like the appearnce of the standard unit in the centre console and don't want to mess around adding a coin tray/bezel to fill the gaps around a single din.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: Anyone tried these to play an ipod in the Roadster?
Post by: Anonymous on December 15, 2009, 18:12
For the cost of those i would be updating the hu tbh.
Title: Re: Anyone tried these to play an ipod in the Roadster?
Post by: Anonymous on December 15, 2009, 18:40
Change it for an iPod-specific (not generic USB input) double-DIN unit then. The Alpine range is particularly good, but anything you can find that you like will do.
Title: Re: Anyone tried these to play an ipod in the Roadster?
Post by: Barney Bear on December 15, 2009, 19:27
I had one of the ice units fitted when I first got the car but have to say it doesnt work as well as the Alpine ida unit
think I had the ice for about 6 months then took the head unit out and had the Alpine fitted as you get a like for like control with your I-pod
still have the ice somewhere   s:D :D s:D
Title: Re: Anyone tried these to play an ipod in the Roadster?
Post by: muffdan on December 15, 2009, 19:39
+1 for the alpine unit(s). Fitted an iXA-W407BT last week, it's pretty good at controlling the iPhone. Could be better, but good enough!
Title: Re: Anyone tried these to play an ipod in the Roadster?
Post by: cclarke99 on December 15, 2009, 20:37
I'm not sure about these particularly, but my son knows what he's doing and still took several attempts of software downloading, etc to get a similar unit to work properly
Title: Re: Anyone tried these to play an ipod in the Roadster?
Post by: Anonymous on December 15, 2009, 20:50
The Alpine units work straight away, not sure what on earth he could've been using to need firmware updates?
Title: Re: Anyone tried these to play an ipod in the Roadster?
Post by: Anonymous on December 15, 2009, 20:51
Think he is referring to the units the op linked to Dan.
Title: Re: Anyone tried these to play an ipod in the Roadster?
Post by: Anonymous on December 15, 2009, 20:55
Right, gotcha. In that case I'd say the son doesn't know what he's doing if he bought one of those  s;) ;) s;)
Title: Re: Anyone tried these to play an ipod in the Roadster?
Post by: gavw71 on December 15, 2009, 23:45
Just out of interest, how much messing around is involved in converting from double to single DIN and what kind of finish do the conversion kits/parts offer?
I've got to agree with the general opinion that changing the hu is the way to go but  I'm now thinking a single DIN could be the better option as it seems more popular (eg. if I were to sell the Roadster, I could re-fit the standard Sony and keep the replacement.)
Title: Re: Anyone tried these to play an ipod in the Roadster?
Post by: Anonymous on December 16, 2009, 07:26
That was exactly my plan with the Zed. I'm using an Alpine iDA-X305 (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/alpine-ida-x305.html) right now and it's a fantastic unit. I use the spare single DIN pocket underneath to house the iPhone cable and the unit itself when driving along, which keeps it handy but also negates the need to run a cable anywhere else (like the glove box or to the centre console in the MR2). Get the proper converter kit and it'll look as good good as OEM.
Title: Re: Anyone tried these to play an ipod in the Roadster?
Post by: Anonymous on December 16, 2009, 08:14
Still got my original stereo with tape deck in mine so use the really expensive stuff CLICKY (http://www.8starshop.com/en/car-audio-cassette-tape-adapter-for-apple-ipod-sony-cd.html?language=en&currency=GBP)   s:wink: :wink: s:wink:
Title: Re: Anyone tried these to play an ipod in the Roadster?
Post by: m0jo on December 16, 2009, 14:17
FM transmitters can transmit stereo

I agree with others though @ £90 i'd upgrade the HU
Title: Re: Anyone tried these to play an ipod in the Roadster?
Post by: cclarke99 on December 18, 2009, 18:19
QuoteRight, gotcha. In that case I'd say the son doesn't know what he's doing if he bought one of those

He didn't buy it, it came with the car, the previous owner had given up with it. He's got a Masters degree in electronic engineering, so he knows what he's doing. Please check your facts before slagging off members of my family
Title: Re: Anyone tried these to play an ipod in the Roadster?
Post by: gavw71 on December 19, 2009, 10:37
I've decided to change the hu for a "made for ipod" one, should be here today/Monday.

Thanks for all the pointers everyone.

Gav.
Title: Re: Anyone tried these to play an ipod in the Roadster?
Post by: Anonymous on December 19, 2009, 13:15
Quote from: "cclarke99"
QuoteRight, gotcha. In that case I'd say the son doesn't know what he's doing if he bought one of those

He didn't buy it, it came with the car, the previous owner had given up with it. He's got a Masters degree in electronic engineering, so he knows what he's doing. Please check your facts before slagging off members of my family
s:lol: :lol: s:lol:  

I'm guessing the  s;) ;) s;)  at the end of the post didn't make it clear enough I was kidding, then? Chill out beansprout, I'm sure your son is a fine figure of a man with a really big willy and a brain to match. (http://www.otherplaceforum.com/images/smilies/heart.png)
Title: Re: Anyone tried these to play an ipod in the Roadster?
Post by: gavw71 on December 20, 2009, 21:25
OK, fitted new HU today, it's a cheap and cheerful Sony ( m http://www.sony.co.uk/product/ica-in-ca ... cdx-gt45ip (http://www.sony.co.uk/product/ica-in-car-usb-and-made-for-ipod/cdx-gt45ip) m ) but it has the following plus points:
1) I've read a review that says it's great for navigating through albums/tracks on iPod.  m http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews ... ewpoints=1 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B001LRRW16/ref=dp_db_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1) m
2) The red buttons match the MR2 dials/needles.
3) Leave the HU source on CD and the aerial doesn't come up every time the ignition is switched on.
4) The front clips off, so thieving b@s*@rds may be less inclined to break in.

I used an Autoleads FP-11-03 facia plate, not over impressed  as there's a small gap between this and the heater controls above and the ashtray below. Also, the facia plate looks like it should sit further in towards the side covers. (Before fitting, I offered up the surround from the original HU but there was no way it would fit as the hole is too small. Don't know if the surround on the face-lift HU is any different.) I'd also ordered an Autoleads PC2-17-4 adaptor cable, but this was not required as the original connector plugged straight into the new HU.

I'm now looking for a cradle for the iPod but don't want one that fixes to the windscreen, clips to the air vents or requires screwing/glueing to the dashboard. So, it looks like the only option is for a mount which sits in the cup holder, as below.
 m http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165452 (http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_381881_langId_-1_categoryId_165452) m
 m http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165452 (http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_236333_langId_-1_categoryId_165452) m
 m http://www.cancomuk.com/iPod-or-MP3-Pla ... %26%20iPod (http://www.cancomuk.com/iPod-or-MP3-Player-Accessories-/Product/65981?MacAlly%20mCup%20Adjustable%20Car%20Cup%20Holder%20Mount%20for%20iPhone%20%26%20iPod) m

I think Halfrauds is looking the best bet at the minute, as looking at the pics the ipod would sit lower down with their set-up.
Title: Re: Anyone tried these to play an ipod in the Roadster?
Post by: Anonymous on December 21, 2009, 10:20
Big, ugly but functional   s:wink: :wink: s:wink:  

Had mine for years
(http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv175/giddlepin/Snow3.jpg)
Title: Re: Anyone tried these to play an ipod in the Roadster?
Post by: Thudd on January 11, 2010, 11:21
Quote from: "gavw71"I think Halfrauds is looking the best bet at the minute, as looking at the pics the ipod would sit lower down with their set-up.

If the iPod is controlled via the HU can't you simply pass the leads into the back of the glovebox and mount the iPod in there?
Title: Re: Anyone tried these to play an ipod in the Roadster?
Post by: VVT-i on January 11, 2010, 12:05
That's where mine is, cable through the back into the the glovebox.. ipod never needs touched as the headunit controls it.

QuoteDon't know if the surround on the face-lift HU is any different.)

I read something about it being slightly different on here when I done mine.. fortunately for me my original surround fitted and everything looks stock. I will say that it was a tight fit to get it to clip on, but carefully pushing it in place done the trick.
Title: Re: Anyone tried these to play an ipod in the Roadster?
Post by: gavw71 on January 11, 2010, 17:41
Quote from: "Thudd"If the iPod is controlled via the HU can't you simply pass the leads into the back of the glovebox and mount the iPod in there?
I modified the cup holder mount and universal phone holder to take the iPod, only trouble was, when I sat the assembly in the cup holder, the iPod finished up infront of the HU controls!  s:oops: :oops: s:oops:  
So, I reverted to putting the iPod in the glove box.

With regards to the facia surround, I phoned MrT. last Friday to try and order  part no.55423 - 17040 : Surrounding trim  - listed in MR2 Roadster Stereo Installation - By Tony Murphy (http://www.mr2roc.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=12583) but was told the part no. didn't exist. I described what I wanted, the guy I spoke to spent a few minutes trying to locate the part, then told me he'd ring back. In typical MrT. fashion, I've heard no more.  s:roll: :roll: s:roll: