Bluetooth/iPod connectivity

Gary687

Gary687

Junior Member
Messages
212
Hi guys

First question already!

I have an xcar link iPod/Bluetooth system in my Alfa Brera at the moment but that car is being sold to pay for my new beauty. It is a simple yet brilliant system (http://www.xcarlink.co.uk/product.php?productid=51&cat=13&page=1) that simply connects into the back of the existing in-dash head unit - take out the connector for the 10-disc Blaupunkt CD changer and replace with their unit. iPod lead goes into the glovebox and Bluetooth microphone somewhere suitable and it all plays through the CD changer channel wonderfully well.

I know the 4200 also uses Blaupunkt and it also has a 5-disc changer in the boot so does anyone know whether this will work like the Alfa system does or does the Maserati head unit not behave like that? Has anyone ever tried the xcarlink in their cars?

Any help or advice greatly appreciated!

Cheers

Gary
 
Geofflyn

Geofflyn

New Member
Messages
560
Gary687 said:
Hi guys

First question already!

I have an xcar link iPod/Bluetooth system in my Alfa Brera at the moment but that car is being sold to pay for my new beauty. It is a simple yet brilliant system (http://www.xcarlink.co.uk/product.php?productid=51&cat=13&page=1) that simply connects into the back of the existing in-dash head unit - take out the connector for the 10-disc Blaupunkt CD changer and replace with their unit. iPod lead goes into the glovebox and Bluetooth microphone somewhere suitable and it all plays through the CD changer channel wonderfully well.

I know the 4200 also uses Blaupunkt and it also has a 5-disc changer in the boot so does anyone know whether this will work like the Alfa system does or does the Maserati head unit not behave like that? Has anyone ever tried the xcarlink in their cars?

Any help or advice greatly appreciated!

Cheers

Gary
Click to expand...

Gary have a chat with Jackson on Maseratioz as he has done a great job fitting Bluetooth to his car. Is your 4200 Blaupunkt or Becker? I thought. Becker was standard.
Geoff
 
Gary687

Gary687

Junior Member
Messages
212
Hi Geoff

OK will do!! As for the Bl vs Becker one of the (many!) handbooks I got with the car stated that the 5-disc CD changer was an optional extra and it states it is a Blaupunkt unit. I guess they could be referring simply to the CD changer rather than the head unit and the head unit could be a Becker? I have to admit it was just my assumption the 2 would be the same brand. I guess arguably as the info is taken from the CD changer and used by the head unit and the CD changer is a Blaupunkt then an xcarlink that works with a Blaupunkt would seem to make sense that it'd work?? I'm only assuming here and, of course, we all know what that can lead to ha ha!
Cheers
Gary
 
richard_masa_4200

richard_masa_4200

Junior Member
Messages
195
I have a 2002 4200 as well and have been down this path. You will find the stacker is blaupunkt and the head unit or NIT (maserati term) is made by Magneti Marelli. For iPhone connectivity to charge and play my tunes I purchased a Dension Gateway 100. It replaces the stacker. You don't get much more than that. No mp3 info on the monitor and I have to change songs on the iPhone.

As for the Bluetooth for phone. I have an old Nokia car kit that was installed when I bought the car. The original kit did not have Bluetooth so I replaced the main unit with a newer Nokia model that has Bluetooth and it all works great. I did notice some funky wiring into the NIT from the car kit, but it mutes the radio automatically when making or receiving calls and works really well.

I'm happy to answer any questions. Pity you're not in Melbourne, you could come over and have a look.
 
Geofflyn

Geofflyn

New Member
Messages
560
richard_masa_4200 said:
I have a 2002 4200 as well and have been down this path. You will find the stacker is blaupunkt and the head unit or NIT (maserati term) is made by Magneti Marelli. For iPhone connectivity to charge and play my tunes I purchased a Dension Gateway 100. It replaces the stacker. You don't get much more than that. No mp3 info on the monitor and I have to change songs on the iPhone.

As for the Bluetooth for phone. I have an old Nokia car kit that was installed when I bought the car. The original kit did not have Bluetooth so I replaced the main unit with a newer Nokia model that has Bluetooth and it all works great. I did notice some funky wiring into the NIT from the car kit, but it mutes the radio automatically when making or receiving calls and works really well.

I'm happy to answer any questions. Pity you're not in Melbourne, you could come over and have a look.
Click to expand...
Richard Maybe some photos would assist?
Geoff
 
hodroyd

hodroyd

Member
Messages
14,150
If the head unit is a Becker, they have a connection on the back for connections to phone, with auto mute built in to the head. Find out the model and you can download the manual from the becker site.
 
G

Guest 1678

Guest
have an xcarlink in a 2005 Gransport. works beautifully - but need later generation 3 onwards iPods. not happy with a generation 2

Damon
 
D

dem maser

Moderator
Messages
34,276
I have an alpine in my car and the bluetooth is excellent....in the maser i have a becker...very happy
 
Gary687

Gary687

Junior Member
Messages
212
Guys

Thanks for all the comments and advice there. Clearly more research needed here for me to find out what is what and take it from there.

Damon - your xcarlink set up. Is it the same as I have at the moment, i.e. the head unit was removed, the CD changer connector plug removed from the rear and replaced with the xcarlink one and then the whole thing refitted? Then the CD number on on the CD changer screen represents a playlist on the iPhone so can be controlled via this as if it were a CD in the CD changer? I have the iPod connector and the Bluetooth module attached at present so have a small mic on the A pillar. Very unobtrusive but also very good. If yours is the same and yours works, maybe it's worth me trying to fit the existing Alfa (Blaupunkt) one before I sell it? Not sure what generation iPod nano I have - I think it's 2 years old...
One of the other guys on the Oz forum uses a Parrot system but this requires a seperate display screen and uses Blutooth for the music rather than being hard-wired and is about $250 whereas if my current one works.......:)
Cheers
Gary
 
hodroyd

hodroyd

Member
Messages
14,150
I have been looking a Parrot Wireless system, they do a few versions, the biggest has a screen like a satnav, but shows all information including phone contacts from your phone and will take music via bluetooth. Have not decided yet, but wireless does save on hard wiring all over the car.
 
Gary687

Gary687

Junior Member
Messages
212
Good point re-the hard wiring. One chap here has the xcarlink in his GS but I'm not sure if our systems are the same. Logic would dictate that a Blaupunkt feed into the back of a head unit should be the same as the signal it reads comes from the Bluapunkt and not the head unit....and as I already have one of those, it might be worth giving it a go before investing in a new system...
Cheers
Gary
 
Gary687

Gary687

Junior Member
Messages
212
Looks good but where do you put it? Is it somewhere out of the way or is it installed in the dash?
Cheers
G
 
Fat Arnie

Fat Arnie

New Member
Messages
428
Er in the dash, where the existing radio is. Trust me, its much much better sounding than the Becker.
 
Gary687

Gary687

Junior Member
Messages
212
Sorry my mistake - I don't know why but I missed the fact you had a 3200GT so a different design to my 4200. Apolgies for the dumb question...:)
 
hodroyd

hodroyd

Member
Messages
14,150
Looks a good unit Arnie, any idea if it's compatible with the Becker amp normally fitted in the 3200? I'm assuming it is and this is what you used, also will it take an iPhone, or just the iPod, any idea?
 
Emtee

Emtee

New Member
Messages
8,446
Fat Arnie said:
Er in the dash, where the existing radio is. Trust me, its much much better sounding than the Becker.
Click to expand...

Gary687 said:
Sorry my mistake - I don't know why but I missed the fact you had a 3200GT so a different design to my 4200. Apolgies for the dumb question...:)
Click to expand...

Yes, no good on the 4200, as there isn't a single DIN header unit, but rather a NIT unit under the arm rest with an input screen mounted in the centre dash.

Gary, have you looked at the Loudlink? It's pretty basic, but compatible with the 4200 NIT - plugs into the CD multi-changer port.

http://loudlink.eu/webshop/
 
adam01

adam01

Member
Messages
1,079
Hi all

Below link from the US ML site is a WIP on the subject of in car stereo and idiosycresies across the 4200 units

Provides a good overview on the subject and includes a compilation of various posts on how tos, checklist and as well

http://tinyurl.com/4200AudioFAQ
 
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