I got my 8 (R3!) about 2 weeks ago and I absolutely love it. About the only thing I really want to change, at first anyway, is the audio configuration. It's the 6-disc, non-MP3, Bose head-unit that comes in the R3.
I use a suction-cup car mount to mount my phone to the window, but it's cumbersome and ... dammit it breaks the lines of the car, and I hate having wires go from above the dash to the center console.
Can I swap in an MP3-enabled CD unit? Could I swap in the nav unit from another 8? Would it be worth going for a double-din kit and aftermarket unit? I do like the stock look, but need some better options!

 

What year R3, I believe that streaming music through bluetooth to the deck was supported in 2010 and later models.

 

'09.
Bluetooth seems to only support the phone, not A2DB as you mentioned. I have thought about getting a Bluetooth A2DB receiver to stash in the center console, but would still need the phone mounted somewhere.

I really love the idea of a double-din kit, but the ones I've seen stand out as looking very non-factory, which is why I'm curious about the GrandTouring nav kit. I'd damn-near kill for an Android option, but nothing's got maps/nav yet...

 

You can get a harness for the ipod and will work with controls on the steering wheel
Dealer installed one for me when I purchased my 2010 R3 new.

 

I'm about as Android as they come. I appreciate what Apple is for many people, just not me. I have thought about getting the kit and modifying it for Android though. It *should* be possible, even if it needs an Aurdrino to reinterpret commands.

 

I've really got into the Windows phones recently and going to try to get a2dp working from that. Good luck on your future setup.

 

I have the GROM adapter to play my ipod, has bouth the dock cable and the aux. I think the new ones have bluetooth.