Materials to Maintain Your ZHP IIIII Hand Protection IIIII Tools to Maintain Your ZHP
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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Location
    Southington, CT
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    1,376

    Suggestions for best radio upgrade

    I've got all winter to think about upgrading the radio in my vert. I've watched lots of videos about adding the Aux cable to get my iPhone to work and charge, but it would seem after 12 years there'd be an HD, Bluetooth, Aux head single DIN option that would be close to plug and play (with adapter cables) for this Business CD Radio in my dash. Any suggestions to modernize this? I'd like to keep the red character lighting in the unit so that it would still look original to match the OEM radio and dash lighting. And I don't want to cut any cables so I'd have the option to pop the original unit back in later (a long time from now) assuming that even mattered to a new owner

    Appreciate your thoughts
    Pete


  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Omaha
    Posts
    210
    The AUX cable is a very easy and inexpensive addition.

    Not sure that there are many 'factory-look' single DIN units - the Avin/Eanon/etc are double din units that match the factory NAV space and look.
    2006 330Cic | Monaco Blue on Natural Brown | 6MT ZHP ZPP ZCP NAVI

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Location
    Southington, CT
    Posts
    1,376
    Thanks bandwagn. The Aux cable sits at the top of my list, but I'm thinking that if/when I inevitably upgrade from my iPhone 6 and go to one of the iPhone 7's or higher models that no longer even use an audio plug I'll be right back to this same question. Think of what your mobile phone looked like in 2005 vs today, then imagine what it might be in just 2 or 3 years from now. I'm thinking having built-in Bluetooth in a single DIN radio is the only common technology to our current generation and possibly next generation phones, so I'd hope to have that technology in the dash without ruining the factory look

    Maybe that's a stretch...........
    Pete


  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Location
    Branford, CT
    Posts
    16,055
    The iPhones that don't have aux jacks come with Lightning-to-aux adapter cables, don't they?
    There are no single DIN units that look factory. If you want a factory look, you'll have to buy one of the double-din units that are made to look like the factory nav unit.
    BP
    2005 330i ZHP / 6MT
    Imolarot / Naturbraun
    2003 330iT / 6MT
    Orientblau / Naturbraun




    It's not the car you drive, it's how you drive it.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Location
    Southington, CT
    Posts
    1,376
    You're right az3579. Just did the research I should have done before. CNET said:

    A Lightning-to-3.5mm dongle

    Let's get this one out of the way first, because it seems to draw the most ire from readers. Apple thankfully includes a Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter in the box to make the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus compatible with "legacy" headphones. The catch is a single-port dongle means you can't charge the phone and listen to music at the same time, but guess what? Belkin already released a $40 Lightning splitter to solve that problem, too.

    Aux cable may be the easiest route.............
    Pete


  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    VA/DC
    Posts
    14,445

    Suggestions for best radio upgrade

    I have an iPhone 7 and use my Aux Jack with a Bluetooth adapter. Works great. Supports phone call too.


  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Location
    Southington, CT
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    1,376
    thanks ElCID86. That sounds perfect. I assume you can hide it out of site if you want? Reviews for phone call quality aren't that good but are great for Bluetooth streaming which is all I'm looking for. And I can't imagine even attempting hands free calling in a convertible............
    Pete


  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    VA/DC
    Posts
    14,445
    Quote Originally Posted by pedro2u View Post
    thanks ElCID86. That sounds perfect. I assume you can hide it out of site if you want? Reviews for phone call quality aren't that good but are great for Bluetooth streaming which is all I'm looking for. And I can't imagine even attempting hands free calling in a convertible............
    It would be easier to hid if the six jack were in the glove box or behind the door under the radio... Mine is on the button panel...
    (A shorter charger cable would help too...(red).)


  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Location
    Southington, CT
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    1,376
    From your picture, looks like you installed your audio jack to the left of your passenger heated seat button. I have room there even with the extra convertible top controls and heated seats. That looks really clean.
    Pete


  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    VA/DC
    Posts
    14,445
    Quote Originally Posted by pedro2u View Post
    From your picture, looks like you installed your audio jack to the left of your passenger heated seat button. I have room there even with the extra convertible top controls and heated seats. That looks really clean.
    Yes that’s it. Clean except for the wires... I wish I’d put it behind the sunglasses? Storage door so I could close it up.

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