ICE question...

T

tjradiohead

Member
No doubt this has been done to death but I have rather specific requirements.

I'm looking to add ipod connectivity and bluetooth to the E85 I am buying. In my old 118D I had a parrot MKi9200 (this one http://www.parrot.com/usa/products/bluetooth-hands-free-car-kits/parrot-mki9200) Which was fantastic functionality wise. It would auto connect to my phone, take voice commands, browsing audio albums was nice and easy with the remote. However sound quality was dire to the point that I wouldn't buy one again. The sound from the factory CD player was significantly better than the iPod and Parrot as the Parrot uses its own (poor) amplifier.

So what are my alternatives? My E85 has no steering wheel controls and no cd changer.

Easy browsing of albums is important as it bluetooth, auto play when ignition is switched on and aesthetics are important too, I don't want an ugly multi-coloured aftermarket head unit if I can avoid it.

:?
 
Surely the parrot kit just routes the audio to the stereo, rather than trying to power the speakers itself??
 
I had a similar conundrum, combined with the woeful sound quality of the standard BU head unit...the only resolution that gave me the functionality and reasonable sound was an aftermarket HU...just tried to find one that worked with the Z its not perfect (aesthetic wise) but there are plenty of more "subtle" HU's around now that can look ok and the 80's inspired original is not exactly a work of art.
 
Im leaning more towards the aftermarket solution too sadly :(

I've tried to get my head around the Intravee stuff but there just seems to be too much detail that I don't understand.
 
i tried the dension - and it is ok - but I dont think i would spend the money again, I think I would try the HU route
 
I've just put a pioneer av x 7500bt in mine with blue tooth parrot, the Bluetooth is very good, clear as you like even with the roof down, both ways. The sound of the stereo is fantastic but I also put a slimline sub in the boot, it is kicking. The hu is very easy to use and does pretty much everything you could want from it and it has enough woomph even without the sub but the sub is the dogs gonads.
 
Get a dension, they have BT modules as well. All hidden away, uses the factory headset and mfsw controls.
 
Will the Dension work even if I don't have a MFSW? I have the standard business headunit.

Looking at the website it appears that the Dension Gateway Lite BT would solve my issues - what are the downsides? Most on here seem to favour the Intravee?
 
tjradiohead said:
Im leaning more towards the aftermarket solution too sadly :(

I've tried to get my head around the Intravee stuff but there just seems to be too much detail that I don't understand.
Click to expand...

I looked at the denison and intravee route but then discounted them as I only have the standard HU (so not worth preserving for functionality) and there seems to be a lot unreliability and issues with them (being reported) and they are expensive for what they provide...for me I found a an aftermarket HU will provide much more functionality, work without complication and cost much less.

If I where coming from having a pro HU with NAV I would probably have tried to make them work though
 
tjradiohead said:
Will the Dension work even if I don't have a MFSW? I have the standard business headunit.

Looking at the website it appears that the Dension Gateway Lite BT would solve my issues - what are the downsides? Most on here seem to favour the Intravee?
Click to expand...

I had a dension icelink plus from 2003-2011 and it worked fine in three different cars.

I only changed to an Intravee as I changed my car.

Intravee is only advised if you have nav. Audio wise it doesnt offer anything over the dension kit and the intravee doesnt add BT either.
 
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