iPod car adaptor advice.....

[Rick Lee]

Just got my new 30GB iPod all loaded up and am wondering how to put it to use in my cars. I don't spend enough time at the gym to justify this toy, but I do spend enough time driving to do so. My 993 has the stock Becker CD player and radio. My Mazda Tribute is a 2001, so it has no iPod interface. And the SC, well guess. What's the best thing to buy to make my iPod play in all three cars? Thanks.

[RANDY P]

the only way I can see it with using the crappy FM modulator - air tunes or otherwise. You're better off singing to yourself or getting some earphones. FM mod sucks.

rjp

[HardDrive]

I just use a cassette adapter in my VW and my Lexus. Works fine. If you are an audiophile, then you will want something more involved. I don't bother in my SC. I would rather listen to the engine.

The Alpine system is pretty slick, but I think you are looking at $400-500 for the whole thing.

FM modulators are a waste of $$$.

[Rick Lee]

I don't have a cassette player in any of my cars. I think the Rennlist guys have a cheap and easy fix, but so far I haven't been able to sift through all the options. I'm all thumbs when it comes to this stuff.

[Neilk]

There are some companies that sell adapters that fit into the CD changer input.

Your Becker might have RCA inputs where you could plug in a mini plug to RCA output. It's kind of difficult to say without seeing each head unit. However, FM Modulators do suck in comparison to a direct connection.

[VaSteve]

Rick

I have an FM modulator for mine. I use it in the BMW. This one:
http://www.monstercable.com/computer/productPageComputer.asp?pin=2660&LastPage=Apple%20Products

It works pretty well around town. Of course out in the country there's no interferance. With 3 presets, you can quickly move from station to station when the reception gets poor.

[Porschephile944]

I have a DLO TranspodFM. Friend had it and over the course of a trip, probably five hours total we were using the thing. Needless to say I liked it so I bought one for myself. I'm pretty sure I picked it up at best buy. A little pricey at 100$ when I picked up mine but so far it’s been worth it. Much better reception than the cheap FM powered battery transmitter I bought a radio shack. The best part about it is that while your driving it will charge your I pod so you wont run out of batteries in it...ever. You can also leave from somewhere with no charge and have it still work the whole trip because of its ability to charge the batteries.



Link:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7384332&type=product&id=1122654250706

[teenerted1]

Originally posted by VaSteve
Rick

I have an FM modulator for mine. I use it in the BMW. This one:
http://www.monstercable.com/computer/productPageComputer.asp?pin=2660&LastPage=Apple%20Products

It works pretty well around town. Of course out in the country there's no interferance. With 3 presets, you can quickly move from station to station when the reception gets poor.

i have the same one. works great in all my cars. all you need is a cigarette lighter and you are ready to go.

[Jim Richards]

RL, if there is a DIN connector in the back (or side, I guess) of your radio, I think you can get an adapter for the IPod. I think there was a thread on the early 911S registry web site that discussed this. Also, give Vu a shout...I'm sure he can get you hooked up.

[targa88]

RL,
I changed my Blaupunkt for a Pioneer with the DIN connector in the back and hard wired the connector. Best solution as far as I am concerned. No distortion or interference. The screen of the pioneer shows the title of the song or artist like the screen of the ipod (or playlist). Travelling back and forth to to the track etc.- and for all the time I spend in the car it was worth it.
Unfortunately, I find the FM transmitters to be inconsistent. Ask me why I know?!

[Yellowbird RS]

check this thread
My Ipod and my 911.

[techweenie]

Originally posted by Rick Lee
I don't have a cassette player in any of my cars. I think the Rennlist guys have a cheap and easy fix, but so far I haven't been able to sift through all the options. I'm all thumbs when it comes to this stuff.

There's a Becker distributor in Florida where I bought a little plug for the back of the 210 model that adds "AUX" input. Then, all you need is a mini-jack to RCA adapter, route the lead back to the front of the dash, mount the iPod somewhere and 'teach' the Becker to 'see' an AUX input. It's all pretty straightforward.

[Rick Lee]

Tech, are you sure it doesn't include some gubmint chip to brainwash me?

[techweenie]

Originally posted by Rick Lee
Tech, are you sure it doesn't include some gubmint chip to brainwash me?

LOL.

You bought a 'liberal' MP3 player. Better listen with the tinfoil firmly in place!

[Rick Lee]

I'll be sure to clean it out with plenty of Ted Nugent before I play any James Taylor.

[speeder]

Hey, watch it there buddy.

[Rick Lee]

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[Leland Pate]

I was going to post this on Rennlist but I'll do that later.

Rick, I wanted a "dock" for my iPod nano.

My criteria was as follows:
Must appear stock (iPod hidden)
Must be reversable
Must be one hand operable (essentially I wanted removal and docking of the iPod to be as easy as removing the key from the ignition)


So, here's what I did:

Purchased a Pioneer Interface adapter ($140 retail, I got it for $79.95 new on eBay) The interface allows your ipod to be controlled from a compatable head unit. Most all aftermarket makers have their own interface module. The biggest bonus is controling your iPod from the head unit instead of fumbling with the ipod controls while driving and the interface also keeps the ipod battery charged.

I managed to fit my interface module in the cavity behind the center console switches. There is an access panel on the right side of the console under the dash.

Then I started searching for a place to mount the iPod itself. Like I said, I really wanted a "dock" where the nano could be slid in and out similar to a USB or etherlink card is on a computer.

The solution I came up with was to hack apart an ashtray. I removed the ashtray insert and "modified" it to accept my nano. (I don't know if this would work for an iPod mini or not as it's larger. But it should get the creative juices flowing.)

So, then I dug out some of that Sculptie brand clay you can buy at hobby stores. It is soft clay that is hardened when baked in an oven. I fashioned a sort of ramp and guide sort of thing that essentially allows me to slide my iPod in the ashtray. A bit of dremel action and I had a hole large enough to accept the plug from the interface module.

I managed to make it where the connector is fixed to the base of the ashtray in the right position to plug into the iPod as it is slid into place.

One of the most important elements of all this is to keep the little hooks on the connector from locking into the ipod. You want it to be able to slide in and out without latching on the the connector cable. I used generous amounts of electrical tape wrapped very tightly around the connector to squeeze the hooks in so they do not latch on to the ipod. This method also makes it reversable if in the future my design turns out to be a failure.

I just got back from a 500 mile trip in the car and she worked like a champ. I couldn't be happier. And best of all the only thing that got screwed was the $5.00 ebay special ashtray.

I tried to take a few pics but they came out awefully blurry because it is dark outside.

I'll take some better ones soon if needed. But you'll get the idea.

Lastly, I am going to make a "cover" that fits the profile of the ashtray insert out of some carbon fiber I've got laying around. This way all you will see when you open the ashtray is a solid face with an opening just large enough to slip the iPod into.

Should be interesting.

Lee

[Jim Richards]

Damn clever, Leland!

[wludavid]

I think I'm going to get one of these:

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/comments/griffin-smartdeck-intelligent-cassette-adapter-for-ipod-ipod/

It's just a tape adapter, but it allows you to use the fast forward and rewind buttons on the steering wheel to go forward and backward between tracks. Gonna put it in my 528i with the stock tape deck.