Adding Bluetooth streaming functionality to NG4

[wurlycorner]

Tried a couple of ways to do this, so thought I’d write up here.
Originally I bought a generic automative Bluetooth to RCA out Bluetooth adapter from eBay - one of these.

This would just plug into the two RCA audio in sockets in the top of the glovebox, but it needs +12v and ground.
I didn’t want to hack into any of the original wiring, so I took the trim off the lower a pillar to find a bolt on the side of the dashboard that could be used for a good ground and ran a black wire into the fuse box area.

For power, I bought one of the plug in ‘fuse tap’ adapters from eBay and identified one of the fuses at the top of the fuse box that is switched 12v (didn’t want it to be permanently on). Wired both those in to the power, ran the power cables out the fuse box cover through where you pull on it to pull the cover off and plugged the phono plugs on the sockets.

Connected it up and set the headunit to ‘aux in’ and it worked. However it was a bit quiet and I wasn’t hugely impressed with the sound quality - wasn’t sure what the issue was.

I kept my phone Bluetooth connected to the headunit so it used that for calls but via the eBay adapter for streaming. All worked fine and automatically swapped between the two for incoming calls.

That only worked for a couple of weeks and then the Bluetooth adapter died - still had power and ground but no life (led wouldn’t light, phone couldn’t find it) so that got ripped out.

I wasn’t really happy with how tidy an install that was, so I bought one of the plug in adapters intended for the RD4 in the hope I would be able to sort out plugging that in to the back of the headunit (I was thinking into the autochanger inputs while leaving the aux)

Today I fitted that. I didn’t go for the autochanger inputs but instead I de-pinned the plug that came on the new adapter and the original factory wiring three pins that feed the ‘aux’ sockets into the connector on the back of the headunit - and swapped them.

I ran power and ground through over the top of the glovebox, by feeding through from the headunit area (I use a mesh curtain chord that I bought from b&w years ago as a cable chaser to poke through and then tape the cables to the end and pull through)

And then soldered it up to the ground and power I’d previously installed.
Everything now completely hidden inside the dash.

Works perfectly - let’s see how long this one lasts (hopefully it doesn’t die as quickly as the last one!!!).

I think this sounds better than running it through the aux sockets. Not sure if that’s just a factor of less connectors and wire length, on what is a very low output device.

[mickthemaverick]

Nice write up Iain I'm sure some people will benefit from that!

[wurlycorner]

Thanks Mick (it will be a better write-up when I sort the bloomin pics out! )

[the-termin8r]

Umm...Is now a bad time to bring this up? Someone posted about it on Reddit the other day. It's much more expensive than those Ebay modules, but it does seem to be somewhat seamless (at least on paper).

[wurlycorner]

Pics now fixed.

Thanks for posting that Rob - I had looked everywhere for a plug/play bluetooth module for this headunit and not found anything (which amazed me).
That would have been a bit more convenient, but even given that (no faffing around with power/ground connections) that's not cheap though, at 189 Euro's - I paid £17 for the thing I've fitted!
For 189 Euro's I'd be wanting carplay/android auto (which I *cannot believe* someone hasn't produced an aftermarket adapter suitable for this system yet - but they haven't!)?

If this module dies after a short while like the last one, then perhaps I'll go for that one, in the hope that it's more reliable...

[the-termin8r]

I wouldn't mind paying that money as it's theoretically a seamless integration that works with the car's mic and buttons; and fixes one of the the NG4's two biggest problems (the other being the 2 DIN size). Looking at C5s up until now, the NG4 was always something of a deal breaker for me as downgrading is a pain. I actually passed up a couple of 3Ls over the past couple of years because of the NG4 (and also because they were estates). I really don't get the hype behind AA and ACP. My phone and a magnet gets the exact same result with the added benefit of not having some giant eyesore screen in the corner of my eye. The orange monochrome is much easier to ignore when everything else also glows orange.

[wurlycorner]

Bluetooth calling works perfectly on the native NG4 setup though - the only thing missing is streaming audio (annoyingly!).

I would like CarPlay to have Waze on the larger native screen and then there’s no need to have the phone out at all - can stay in pocket etc.

[the-termin8r]

I use nav very rarely, that's why I like the magnet solution, my phone is in my pocket 98% of the time.