06 M35 - Fully Integrated iPod system

[hsingh2088]

What's up Forum folks,

I have posted about Bluetooth Audio on this forum before and you all were very helpful in trying to figure out what options I had. Literally a week later, I figured out how to use my AUX system to connect my iPod to the car. Needless to say, I didn't make the Bluetooth conversion. grom-usb2-nis02-bluetooth-audio-conversion-t570539.html

I've reached a point where I am not comfortable messing around with my iPod while I drive, so I am looking for a non-bluetooth, fully integrated, iPod conversion. I want the iPod to be permanently installed into my car, and would like to have functionality over the playlist and folders via my steering wheel/audio control etc.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

[Partysan7]

If have satellite radio you can purchase USA SPEC PA-15 Infiniti ipod integration
harness and you are set, if not you need to get the PA-15 Nissan.
But even if you dont have satellite radio on your dash I would check the trunk atleast for the harness , thats where you connect the integration harness.
The harness/satellite radio module is located in top right corner in your trunk ( you need to pull the liner off) . If not you need the Nissan kit which I believe connects to the head unit.

[hsingh2088]

Thanks for the response Partysan7.

I do have Satelite radio, but it's not an active membership. So does the kit/iPod sit in the trunk? Is there a connection of some kind where the iPod can be installed in either the glove compartment or arm rest? I want to be able to pull out the iPod to add new songs etc.

[SmoovC]

A cable runs from the trunk to the interface module. I was able to install the module in the passenger kick panel, and run the iPod cable into the glovebox. There is enough cable to run into the center console if so desired. Of special mention, there are also stereo RCA inputs on the module that you can use as an extra aux input; I used those to connect a bluetooth unit for streaming from my phone.

[hsingh2088]

I've been reading in other forums that the bluetooth unit needs a power connection. So does the bluetooth unit receive power from the RCA inputs?

[SmoovC]

No, it does not specifically. Although, with a few readily available parts, it can happen.

I started a thread here: want-bluetooth-streaming-in-your-m45-he ... 25991.html

I understand that the Anycom unit is hard to come by now, but any similar unit that interfaces the same will suffice.

[hsingh2088]

I've been all over that thread. I don't get this part

3) You will need an iSimple IS76 cable. This cable has standard A/V RCA type connections and power / ground on one end, and an iPod connector on the other. Disregard the yellow video connector, as we will only be using the audio portion for this application. Plug the R/L audio connectors into the PA15-INFI aux in. At this point, you will need to provide ACC power to the cable. I found the easiest way to accomplish this was to pull the center console cupholder and tap into the cigarette lighter power supply. It is in a black nylon sleeve; brown is ACC power, black is GND, and red is lighting. Connect the red wire from the iSimple to the brown ACC wire, and the black wire from the iSimple to the black GND wire. I found it easiest to route the wire towards the firewall, around the footwell, and into the kick panel location.

Are you able to clarify this?

[SmoovC]

Specifically which part?

[hsingh2088]

Plug the R/L audio connectors into the PA15-INFI aux in. At this point, you will need to provide ACC power to the cable. I found the easiest way to accomplish this was to pull the center console cupholder and tap into the cigarette lighter power supply. It is in a black nylon sleeve; brown is ACC power, black is GND, and red is lighting. Connect the red wire from the iSimple to the brown ACC wire, and the black wire from the iSimple to the black GND wire. I found it easiest to route the wire towards the firewall, around the footwell, and into the kick panel location.

Where is this located in the car? I have the RCA inputs on the back part of the center console, but it sounds like he's running the iSimple from the trunk where the PA15-INFI is located?? I am pretty confused at this point and not sure what is being talked about here.

[SmoovC]

The interface cable for the PA15-INFI runs from the right side of trunk below the rear deck at the Factory satellite unit.

This same cable runs to the passenger kick panel, where I placed the control module for the PA15-INFI.

On the control module, there is a plug for the dedicated iPod interface cable, and there are also stereo RCA inputs.

The iSimple cable plugs into these RCA inputs (on one end, at the interface module), and the other end has a standard 32 pin iPod connection.

There is also power and ground on the iSimple cable that requires accessory power, as described above.

Does that help?

[hsingh2088]

Yes that helps tremendously thank you. One last question,

How do you connect the power and ground o the iSimple and what do you connect it to to get ACC power? That's another detail that I am sort of lost with.

Thanks

[SmoovC]

Glad the info helped. :-)

Within a foot of the RCAs on the iSimple IS76, there is a red wire with a fuseholder, and a black wire. These wires will need to be extended to reach into the center console area.

If you remove the cupholder panel and the switch panel, it is very easy to trace the wiring for the center console cigarette lighter. Coming out of the back of the cigarette lighter is a plug, and harness that is in a black nylon sleeve.

The 3 wires that are in this sleeve are: brown (ACC power), black (ground), and red (lighting).

I soldered the red wire from the iSimple to the brown wire in this harness (sleeve) ; and the black wire from the iSimple to the black wire in the same harness (sleeve). While I recommend soldering these connections, there are other ways to make this connection, ie: t-taps or butt connectors.

This provided accessory switched power to the iSimple cable, which allowed the Anycom to turn on and off with the accessory position setting of the PTS button.

[hsingh2088]

I know that I told you it would be my last question, well, I lied because after reading your response I have more questions lol. This is a lot more complicated than I envisioned.

So what happens to the brown wire?

Also, is there a tutorial on how to remove the cupholder panel? I am slightly nervous to remove it because it looks like it's installed really well...

[hsingh2088]

It looks like the Anycom is no longer available.

Will this work?

http://www.amazon.com/Patuoxun%C2%AE-Bl ... rid_pt_0_0

[SmoovC]

LOL! No problem, glad to help.

All 3 wires still stay connected to the cigarette lighter; you are just tapping into them, not disconnecting them in any way. I only mentioned there are 3 wires for ease of identification.

I am not sure if there is a tutorial anywhere; I removed it by opening the console lid and used a plastic upholstery removal tool (also known as "bone"), and prying up on the panel where it meets the console.

[SmoovC]

Appears as though the adapter should work, from what I read about it.

[hsingh2088]

If this was fbook, I would like your reply.

You've been really helpful and I sincerely appreciate it. Thanks for all the tips. I will post on the other forum what the results were.

Thanks,

[SmoovC]

Always glad to help, and please let us know how it all works out for you.

[TXT]

I just purchased the Bluetooth receiver that was provided in the link above. That one seems to have fairly good reviews and is purchased 2nd to most compared to another brand "CoolStream" The cool stream Bluetooth receiver is about 33 bucks but in the description page on Amazon it clearly lists some USA SPEC boxes do not work with it.

The link provided above only cost 14 bucks and I have prime, therefore I'll receive it on Friday and test it out.

Just to be clear SmoovC, you purchased one of those receivers and connected it to the USA SPEC 30 pin adapter and it worked? Or did you buy a Bluetooth receiver that connects to the RCA jacks on the USA SPEC box and power the receiver via Cig lighter?

[SmoovC]

TXT:

The integration, parts list, and method of installation I used are in the thread I wrote about it: want-bluetooth-streaming-in-your-m45-he ... 25991.html

[TXT]

I ended up receiving that bluetooth adapter today. I hooked it up to my USA SPEC PA15-INFI and it did not work. I hooked up like the picture below (I skipped the iSimple step).



I was able to hear the music at a very low volume, everything had to be silent for me to notice the music. This was at both the car volume and iPhone volume at max volume.

I might try another cheap Bluetooth adapter to see if I get some results that way. I just don't want to add an iSimple to my current USA SPEC adapter.

[hsingh2088]

Hmm...

How did you connect the receiver into the USA-Spec? From how I understand it, the iSimple connects the R/L audio cord to the USA-Spec, you extend the iSimple into the cabin of the car, and then you connect the Bluetooth receiver to the other end of the iSimple so that you can operate non-Apple products and play music via the BT receiver. Kind of like how you connect the BTR to a a Bose soundock..

Smoov - is that the concept?

[TXT]

That's the thing, my USASPEC already has a 30 PIN ipod connector on it, thats the whole point of the USASPEC adapter. Instead of connecting my iphone, i connected the bluetooth adapter. In the pic I provided, you see the arrow pointing to the 30 pin connector that comes with the USA SPEC.

I just didn't see a point in getting the iSimple that comes with a iPod connector, when my USA SPEC already has one.

[SmoovC]

Really, it is all about choices. I had the aux in behind the center console; which I wanted to leave that available for other A/V options for the RSE, and to have dedicated streaming for my EVO 4G. I also wanted a dedicated iPod input that is interfaced through the Factory controls and displayed on screen.

The setup I listed gives you: dedicated iPod interface (through the 30 pin iPod connector that TXT mentions), wireless BT streaming (through the USA SPEC RCA inputs via the iSimple cable and BT adapter), and still leaves the factory A/V inputs available for other devices.

[hsingh2088]

I think that's why it didn't work because the BTR isn't capable to decode the commands of the USA-SPEC to feed it into the car's system.

I plan on hardwiring an iPod in the trunk, or elsewhere, and have the BTR available for streaming non-Apple products, i.e. Samsung Galaxy. I think the only way to accomplish that is to connect the iSimple RCA output to the RCA inputs of the USA-SPEC.

From what I understand, when you enable BT streaming, you have to use your phone to change trakcs, adj. volume etc...

[MOWellsinVA]

Plugging the Bluetooth adapter directly to the 30-pin iPod connector will not work, as you have seen, you must connect the Bluetooth adapter to the USA-SPEC box through the iSimple cable to the "aux" RCA jacks n the USA-Spec. You can keep an iPod connected to the USA-SPEC all the time and then switch to "AUX" if you wanted to stream from a smartphone through Bluetooth. I have the Anycom Bluetooth adapter and the iSimple cable, but have not had the time to install it and connect the my USA-SPEC interface yet.

[TXT]

Reason I was thinking it would work directly with the USA SPEC is because the iSimple was able to decode the information from the BTR and also power it. I was hoping the USA SPEC would act in the same way. My USA SPEC did power it and play the music (very low volume), but obviously not like SmoovC's set up. I'll tinker with it some more and report any findings. I really don't want to bother with the iSimple so if anything, I'll stick to connecting the iPhone to the actual plug itself.

[lastig21]

I just installed a Dice Mediabridge in my 07M35 and am pretty pleased with the results. If you're not familiar with it, the MediaBridge has native Bluetooth A2DP/AVRCP (confirmed working with an HTC One), a 3.5mm aux input, and a USB port that supports flash drives and Apple devices. It also includes a microphone for use as handsfree through the stereo, but I am not using this piece since I'm linked to the bluetooth in the car. You can currently pick one up for $70 at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Dice-MBR-1502-NIS ... B004Q3RDD4

I used the Bluetooth connection with my android phone for a couple of days, but I thought the audio quality was subpar. The volume was fine, and I think the mediabridge puts an emphasis on the bass and treble. The mids felt lacking, but it is very acceptable for short drives or when using navigation from your phone. The steering wheel controls allow you to change tracks through the bluetooth connection... pretty slick. I did not have any track information through Bluetooth. For reference, I have never heard any streaming bluetooth that I thought was acceptable.

I am now using a 3rd gen ipod touch through the USB port. The audio quality is at least as good as the MP3 cd's I was using, and I plan to make this work for me. My track information is hit or miss, but I expect I need a firmware update on the mediabridge. I will confirm this weekend. Steering wheel controls also change the track on the iPod.

Installation was very straightforward, and I have my unit sitting between the gearshift and the cupholder. Access for firmware updates wont' be too big of a deal. All of the cables are included, and there is no need for any splicing of wires. For the low entry price (specific to the model that happens to work in our cars), I highly recommend it.

[hsingh2088]

Too bad I am reading this now, as I've installed the USA-SPEC unit lol. I really wanted to the steering wheel controls for switching tracks, still trying to figure that out. The track-info for the USA SPEC is pretty spot on, I am still trying to figure out how to configure the dip switches to get the features I am looking for. The sound quality for the USA-SPEC is phenomenal and the BT Rcvr isn't too bad either. Though it is quite a bit of work to integrate the USA-SPEC. I definitely think it's worth the effort...

[hsingh2088]

Really, it is all about choices. I had the aux in behind the center console; which I wanted to leave that available for other A/V options for the RSE, and to have dedicated streaming for my EVO 4G. I also wanted a dedicated iPod input that is interfaced through the Factory controls and displayed on screen.

The setup I listed gives you: dedicated iPod interface (through the 30 pin iPod connector that TXT mentions), wireless BT streaming (through the USA SPEC RCA inputs via the iSimple cable and BT adapter), and still leaves the factory A/V inputs available for other devices.

SmooovC!

Thank you so much for the notes, they were invaluable to my friend and I. We finished the install yesterday at 4:30PM. Taking out the backseats was quite the chore. It took approx 4 hours to complete because we are a couple of n003s when it comes to this type of stuff haha.

So one issue, we fried the BTR that I bought off of Amazon...

http://www.amazon.com/Patuoxun%C2%AE-Bl ... h+receiver

I am not sure if it was able to handle the 12V capacity or it . In any case, I went to the store and picked up another unit which had a button on it, which activates the BTR when it's plugged in. The BTR works really well when it is on, but when I turn off the car, the unit does not turn back on by itself.

Since the Anycomm unit is no longer available, and the first one I used burned out, the second one I have has a button, what type of unit do I need to purchase?

Any ideas?