SC-ed

Anybody else getting a popping noise when changing songs?
I'm using the USB MP3 player.

mcstin

Installed mine this morning! It took a little over an hour, with only one casualty, a socket head that I dropped while removing "the bolt". It fell and kept falling further the more I tried to retrieve it.

Removing the steel plate to reveal "the bolt" was a great idea. The only issue I had was I could not get the connection loose in picture # 11, I was however able to get the new connection made anyway. I could more or less see where the plug in was so I just eased it in and everthing worked just like it is suppose to. It sounds so much better than my FM converter.

Thanks Falcontx I had been waiting 6 months for someone to come out with a simple way to hook up my Ipod.

Collings

I got mine installed this morning, and so far so good. Thanks to the others who added tips on this thread.

I'd like to add a few little pointers of my own. The installation is not hard at all. Just be patient, and like someone else said, use a towel or something to protect various parts of your dash and center console from scratches when stuff is apart.

First, you should be very careful routing the cable to avoid strain on the little wires at the connector. I plugged the wire into the head unit, then pulled it so it ran down towards the steering column. From there you can run it back towards the center console . If you just plug it in and let the stereo rest on it, you could damage the cable.

Second, the jack that it plugs into is on the drivers side on the back of the unit. The instructions someone linked to had an arrow pointing towards the wroing side.

Third, I had to pull really, really frikin' hard to get my stereo and climate controls to pop out the first inch. Be firm but gentle and patient on that step.

Also like someone else said, once I got the two connectors for the climate control off I was able to pull the head unit out, and then twist it towards the passenger side. That allowed me to reach back on the drivers side and plug in the cable without disconnecting anything else. I had a little mirror on a stick that was very, very useful.

Oh.. And removing the metal plate under the steering column is an excellent suggestion. Thanks for that one!

The sound quality is great, and it's nice to have track skip buttons on the steering wheel. I have an older iPod with the touch wheel and the four touch-sensitive buttons across between the screen and the wheel, and I hear a little bit of "hard drive noise" coming through the system when the engine is off, but it's totally inaudible when I'm driving. The pause-when-not-in-use feature rocks. I wish the counter that displayed on the dash was, you know, relevant, but on the arbritary cupcake scale I still have to give this device 61 out of 73 cupcakes. If it were really cool it would project my iPod's screen onto a heads up display on my windshield that I could control with my brainwaves, and of course add 70 horsepower.

Thanks for bringing this to us, guys. I'm very excited about this product.

Jer

OK, so reading all this got me psyched... just placed my order.
Woo hoo.
Jer

bassplayer

Likewise. Ordered mine Monday, got it yesterday. USB version. Will give installation a try tomorrow despite the 40 degree forecast. Glad to see all the helpful hints with installation since I would not be considered a top notch mechanic (or even a mechanic for that matter). Will report on results pending completion of this project for anyone who is interested.

ferrocene

Wait a tick - if it's using the digital output on the iPod, why do you have to turn up the volume on it? Shouldn't the volume only control the headphone jack? If the volume control on the iPod changes the volume on this device then it's not that much different from aux adapters, quality-wise.

falcontx

iTrader: (1)

The iPod's volume does not affect the output from the dock connector, at least on all of the new iPods. I'm not exactly sure what he meant by that, unless the older ones did that. Either way, the signal is still analog.

Raptor2k

Does this still only work with later firmware versions?

bassplayer

Installed the USB version today. Things go just as mentioned in this thread, including the helpful tips. There was one minor difference on my vehicle with step 3. I have MT and heated seats so there was no wire to disconnect as shown. Instead there were the two connectors for the heated seat controls, but I did not disconnect them. Simply rotating the console cover to the passenger seat was adequate.
In addition, the dreaded BOLT in step 8... as I was removing it with an extended socket wrench, I was thinking "If I drop this bolt, it's history". Well not more than 1/2 second later I dropped it down into the center console area (otherwise known as the black hole). That's it; history. I uttered every known profanity. Ever see a grown man cry? So I completed the rest of the job minus the bolt. The head unit seems secure enough, but when warm weather breaks I will head to the dealer for a replacement bolt.
Otherwise clean install and sound is really an improvement over the crappy FM transmitter. BTW, I use a Treo 600 in a ProClips mount and am really happy with this setup. I believe ProClips USA also makes holders for iPods too. http://www.proclipusa.com/Default.asp

Collings

Oh. man.. That's a drag. One more tip on the "dreaded bolt" and then I'll shut up - It wasn't very tight on my car so it didn't require a ratchet to break it loose - a socket on an extension was all I needed. Just loosen it a turn or two with the socket, then take it the rest of the way out with your fingers, and start it with your fingers on the way back in.

Finally, I was worried about cable length after reading the previous posts. Here's a picture before I replaced the cover so you can get a good idea of how long things are.. The length is adequte for front seat occupants to use the iPod, but a few more inches wouldn't hurt. (In fact, it would be really cool if it were long enough to route all the way around to the back half of the storage bin area so it didn't run through the cup holders. That would be super-cupcakes. If anyone knows where I can find an iPod dock connector extension cable, please share!)

I drilled two tiny holes to zip-tie the cables to the plastic in there so that the box can't move around or interfere with the parking brake mechanism. I don't have heated seats, so there's a TON of room in there for the box.. I don't know how deep the switches for the seats go, but I'd be surprised if you couldn't find room in there. Just be careful not to drill through any wiring harnesses.

I must say, it was nice to have all my music back on my long drive today. I hate leaving CDs in the car!

Collings

Okay I lied.. One more. Someone pointed out you can cut a hole in the little removable cover there that you see the wire routed through. I was able to get a small "chainsaw file" from the hardware store that was exactly the same diameter as the wire. Totally clean.

Now I'm really done.

AdamK

I just finished my installation too! I have the heated seats and everything fit just fine. My installation is virtually the same as yours. You can see the pictures I took here:
http://koczarski.com/RX8/Lnks/0006.html

Raptor2k

Man I want that...

Firmware, anyone?

trainoffools

Did anyone use the Monster FM transmitter before upgrading to this kit and if so, is the difference in audio quality significant? How about volume level?

Second question, my cupholder area gets VERY hot. In fact, so hot that a penny in the foam in the cupholder heated into the foam like a wooly mammoth in a tar pit. What's the outlook on the AudioLink's plastic case not getting overheated to the point of damage?

exarkun

Did you get the recall work done on your rx8? That should help with the heat problem.

AdamK

I haven't noticed heat like that at all with my 8. I've got my iPod and a HAM radio head in the cup holders and they hardly get warm?!?

bureau13

I've noticed that it gets pretty warm in there as well, but...well not THAT warm. Wasn't there a TSB or something about adding some kind of heat insulation there? Or did I just make that up?

jds

Javafuel

Falcontx,

I was wondering if it works with Palm PDA mp3 player thru USB connection, or it has to be connected via the 1/8" stereo jack?

falcontx

iTrader: (1)

It would most likely only work via the 1/8" stereo jack. The USB version will only read from storage devices.

Hidehiko

Finally got the Ipod kit installed and work great so far...though for some reason, it will sometime not recognize the IPOD (ie. can't change to "EX mode") and I would have to unplug & plug the IPOD back to the adapter to get it recognized..

another "small" complaint is that the timer on the head unit display would just keep going..ie. after a song is finished, instead of reseting the timer to "zero", it will just keep going.... no big deal...

other than that..this thing works great as I can easily go between Radio <-> CD <-> IPOD w/o having to worry about turning the IPOD on/off!!!

Raptor2k

Nevermind, again.

bassplayer

Noticing exactly the same behavior and I have the USB version. Somewhat annoying especially since the wire harness is soooo fragile.

MehkoR

hi i bought my car 1 week ago. I checked my head unit version is 10.01 will this adapter work with my headunit.
And the main problem is I am from Turkey how can i bought this thing. Will the shipping be a problem or not (Sorry for my english).

RichardK

Has anyone in the UK fitted one of these?

I've been given the go-ahead to get one by the financial controller (I figure it isn't MUCH more than I spent to have the iPod sit in my Beetle's cupholder with a cassette adaptor after all), and will therefore do so once I have my car.

But, if for some reason it won't work in the UK and I can't, I want to look for other options.