OEM microphone with aftermarket headunit

[.adam.]

I've just ordered a double din fascia to fit a Pioneer head unit I have gathering dust in the loft. My E86 has the factory hands free kit fitted with the microphone on the steering cowl. Does anyone know if this is useable with an aftermarket head unit? I don't know where the OEM mic plugs in, or if an adaptor is available?

 

[pvr]

Just get another microphone for the centre of the roof which is the original installation place. . That is what I did for the CarPlay as that needed a microphone. It just clips in the oem location.

 

[.adam.]

Mine has the OEM mic on the steering wheel cowl, which is the correct place for mine.I did read in the past about locating a mic in the light cluster, but mine just has lights, no grill for a mic to sit behind.

 

[pvr]

At the top of the windscreen is the grill next to the light. I have two microphones now, one above the steering wheel and one in the original oem location.

 

[pvr]

In here

 

[pvr]

 

[.adam.]

Just had a quick check online, mine has this cluster fitted:

this must be yours?

I guess they are interchangable?
I could just swap to one with the space for the mic then.

 

[pvr]

I had not seen the one without the mic grill before, mine is on a 2007. What is yours?

 

[.adam.]

Mines a 2008(58), so they must have changed them. I'll get one with a grill, I would have thought they'd be a straight swap, and they are not expensive on eBay.

 

[pvr]

I will check on my 08 as well as I have not looked at that one yet.

Either way, it should be changeable I would have thought.

 

[TriggerFish]

I think the grille in the headliner is for the E85/convertible, and the light on it's own is for the E86/coupe.

If pvr's are from an E86, I stand corrected!

 

[pvr]

No, mine is an E85. I did not know there was a difference there

 

[.adam.]

Just to update, the unit with the speaker grill doesn't fit my e86, it's wider than the one fitted.

 

[DMike]

OP, if your Pioneer uses a conventional 3.5mm plug it probably expects a passive mic that is, iirc, only fed with 2V. The factory mic uses 12V and probably wont work.

 

[.adam.]

I've 3d printed a mount to put the Pioneer mic in space the aux in port is under the climate controls, hopefully it'll pick up around okay there.