In Praise Of The $149 Continental VDO Radio

[jyl]

I love these things. Have installed them in every car with a single-DIN radio slot. Compact, cheap, works fine, and “standardizing” means I don’t have to remember how each car’s radio works.

[WPOZZZ]

Wow, those are very nice, and inexpensive! How is the Bluetooth quality for phone calls? Separate mic?

[A930Rocket]

Interested. I have a cheap Panasonic or something in my 911.

https://a.co/d/iiqgfmB

[jyl]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

Wow, those are very nice, and inexpensive! How is the Bluetooth quality for phone calls? Separate mic?

Mic in unit. No one has complained about it. You can add a mic via the ISO connectors.

https://www.continental-aftermarket.com/media/5740/tr7412ub-or-owners-manual.pdf

[Ovdee]

Interested in this.

[CurtEgerer]

Thinking about one of those for my quattro. It came with a 'modern' CD-radio that looks ridiculous and finding an original OEM radio has become stupid expensive.

[CurtEgerer]

[cabmandone]

They have a nice clean, semi retro, look to them. I was going to put one in my 911 before I sold it but didn't get the chance. The new owner put one in the car soon after he got it home.

[rfuerst911sc]

If you are using Google maps via Bluetooth I assume you hear the directions via the car speakers is that correct ? I want one of these for my 996 .

[GH85Carrera]

I went with the Blaupunkt Bremen for my 911. It looks much like the period units delivered in 911s. The are that looks like a cassette slot is just a door that hides the USB port to charge the phone, or use the phone for music or navigation. It also has a micro SC card slot. Bluetooth, and it all works great.

I have had it for several years, and many long trips, and 10s of thousands of miles and it has been flawless. The big rocker switch on the right side is to skip to the next song if it is playing a song I don't care to hear. I have a 16 GB USB thumb drive plugged into the back with 140 of my CDs on it. Put it on random, and I never know if the Moody Blues or AC/DC is up next.

That Continental unit looks nice as well.

[jrj3rd]

Great radios. Put one in my Boxster a few years ago. Got it from Bergvill https://www.bergvillfx.com/ He also has all the proper wiring adapters to make it plug and play. Sells a nice little decal to change it to a "Porsche" radio as well. Great to deal with.

[jyl]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

If you are using Google maps via Bluetooth I assume you hear the directions via the car speakers is that correct ? I want one of these for my 996 .

When using BT audio (A2DP), you hear through the speakers whatever audio the phone is putting out - music or directions - and you also make phone calls through the speakers and mic. I haven't tried the AUX jack, but I assume same there. I also haven't tried the USB input. I'm pretty simple with radio use.

It would be nice if you could connect the phone by BT and then have the phone "override" radio or AUX or USB when active - so calls and directions would interrupt the radio. I don't think it does that. It would also be nice if backlight color was switchable or there were different models with different colors. But hey for $149 . . .

The only thing I actually don't like is that the radio automatically turns on when the car is turned on. Sometimes I'd rather start my drive in silence.

[jrj3rd]

Originally Posted by jyl

The only thing I actually don't like is that the radio automatically turns on when the car is turned on. Sometimes I'd rather start my drive in silence.

If you actually turn off the radio before the car it will not automatically turn on. It remembers last state.

[jhynesrockmtn]

This is great information. My son put some modern stereo in my 911 and it is ugly as sin. I also have a line on a 87 535i that has the original radio in it. This would be a nice looking upgrade.

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by jyl

It would be nice if you could connect the phone by BT and then have the phone "override" radio or AUX or USB when active - so calls and directions would interrupt the radio. I don't think it does that. It would also be nice if backlight color was switchable or there were different models with different colors. But hey for $149 . . .

Even the $20 headunit in my truck will let the phone or (for example) Google maps override the music that it's playing via bluetooth. It also chimes when a text or something comes in. I think that ANY bluetooth headunit would do at least that much.

[jyl]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

Even the $20 headunit in my truck will let the phone or (for example) Google maps override the music that it's playing via bluetooth. It also chimes when a text or something comes in. I think that ANY bluetooth headunit would do at least that much.

What I mean is, when you are not playing music via BT - say you’re listening to FM radio - I’d like to hear directions and phone calls.

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by jyl

What I mean is, when you are not playing music via BT - say you’re listening to FM radio - I’d like to hear directions and phone calls.

I know that mine will interrupt FM for a phone call, I'm pretty sure that it will interrupt FM for Google Maps, but I'm not positive, I rarely if ever have the volume up on Maps, because it's annoying

I would expect nothing less from any bluetooth capable headunit