HU Replacement - Factory fit Bluetooth phone

[mordzy]

Well its my first post so thought id kick off with a technical one.

I have a new 09 plate cupra k1 which came with the MFD and bluetooth phone prep which is prietty good. not had one before but it seems great.

Im not happy with the HU and didnt pay for the factory upgrade one. i planned to upgrade the HU to the following, AVIC-F900BT

however im unsure of how this will effect the phone stuff. is this part of the headunit or does the Bluetooth phone stuff just mute the HU?

The HU im looking at does have a bluetooth phone function but i quite like the integration of the MFU and buttons on the wheel.

What do people suggest

Cheers Dudes

 

[chrisboyle999]

the factory fitted bluetooth wont work with another head unit. ie, you wont get the info on the mfd.

non oem headunit/bluetooth will work through the speakers, and i think with the correct adapters the steering wheel buttons should work.

 

[Street]

You'll lose the integration with the MFD..

One of the main reasons putting me off getting an aftermarket headunit, as much as I'd like one, I use the bluetooth too much!

 

[chrisboyle999]

i suggest mfd3.

 

[Street]

i suggest mfd3.

Quite expensive though..

 

[chrisboyle999]

hes got a brand new k1, moneys obviously no object!!!

 

[chrisboyle999]

THIS AINT CHEAP!

 

[Icehquk]

I'm not sure on this but I think that it can be done if you goto a proper after market place. The guys at my local dealer know of two MKII leons with after market stuff and they are supposed to be the nuts. I have the MFD2 and bar when the phone rings the stereo goes off it doesn't seem to do allot else anyway. From what I've seen of the MFD3 you can tap the screen to make your calls but you can speak the number in anyway so whats the benefit? Text may come up on the display or something but do you really want to be tapping the screen to text back whilst driving? Don't think so, I'd just shop around and see whats on offer mate

 

[n_olympios]

I've connected the factory BT unit to my Alpine HU. I just needed to get a KCE-900E adaptor (available from Alpine) for the interrupt signal. I can use the BT unit as before, the steering wheel controls work, the MFD works, the phonetic options work. The only thing that doesn't work 100% with the BT is my phone lol (S60 Nokia).

True, you don't get the option of inputting the number by tapping on the screen (as in the RNS510) but it's no big deal, you can always do that phonetically.

 

[robdf2]

I've connected the factory BT unit to my Alpine HU. I just needed to get a KCE-900E adaptor (available from Alpine) for the interrupt signal. I can use the BT unit as before, the steering wheel controls work, the MFD works, the phonetic options work. The only thing that doesn't work 100% with the BT is my phone lol (S60 Nokia).

True, you don't get the option of inputting the number by tapping on the screen (as in the RNS510) but it's no big deal, you can always do that phonetically.

details please

 

[n_olympios]

I will eventually make a tutorial, but the main line is this:

a) locate the cables coming from the BT unit (under the seat) to the plug that goes into the stock HU
b) there should be 3 cables, (+, ground and interrupt signal), extract them from the plug
c) take positive and ground and install an RCA plug
d) both this and the interrupt cable go into the KCE-900E, which in turn is connected to the Alpine HU.
e) set the Alpine HU Aux input (one of them anyway) into "Phone" etc

Presto, each time you use the phone, audio is interrupted and the voice is heard through the speakers. Basically all functions as before. All you have to do is adjust the volume (having said that, it is a bit annoying that the "connect" and "disconnect" sounds are much louder than the conversation volume).

Hope this helps.
Nick

PS: I know my installer also used a relay at some point, I'm not sure where that went though, I'll have to ask and get back to you.

 

[Street]

hes got a brand new k1, moneys obviously no object!!!

Fair point!

 

[Street]

I've connected the factory BT unit to my Alpine HU. I just needed to get a KCE-900E adaptor (available from Alpine) for the interrupt signal. I can use the BT unit as before, the steering wheel controls work, the MFD works, the phonetic options work. The only thing that doesn't work 100% with the BT is my phone lol (S60 Nokia).

True, you don't get the option of inputting the number by tapping on the screen (as in the RNS510) but it's no big deal, you can always do that phonetically.

Wow.. Thats exactly what I'm looking for!

Which head unit are you using? Does it display the phone book and everything on the MFD?

 

[mordzy]

I've connected the factory BT unit to my Alpine HU. I just needed to get a KCE-900E adaptor (available from Alpine) for the interrupt signal. I can use the BT unit as before, the steering wheel controls work, the MFD works, the phonetic options work. The only thing that doesn't work 100% with the BT is my phone lol (S60 Nokia).

True, you don't get the option of inputting the number by tapping on the screen (as in the RNS510) but it's no big deal, you can always do that phonetically.

Nice one

from re looking at how it all works. the only involvement the factory HU has is that it mutes and passes through the audio. in which case the BT and FMD + Steering controls are independent of the HU. so realistly with the adaptors / phone mute function any HU will be fine.

I dont want any stereo details on the MFD to be fair. just the phone and the trip/fule stuff

 

[OldNick]

I am reading this with interest. I have a JVC headunit. How does the KCE-900E actually connect to the headunit? Is it an Alpine specific connector jack? I can see from the picture of it there are several connectors. Which one connects to what on the back of the head unit?

Could it be used with other head units?

Cheers

Nik

 

[n_olympios]

Which head unit are you using? Does it display the phone book and everything on the MFD?

The head unit is the Alpine IVA-W505R. Nothing is changed in the way the BT module works, so yes, it displays everything on the MFD. I have connected a CAN-BUS adaptor for the steering wheel controls to work, but that's only for the audio controls on the right side (plus the MODE button on the left). There is no adaptor needed for the phone controls.

I am reading this with interest. I have a JVC headunit. How does the KCE-900E actually connect to the headunit? Is it an Alpine specific connector jack? I can see from the picture of it there are several connectors. Which one connects to what on the back of the head unit?

Could it be used with other head units?

Cheers

Nik

I don't think you can use it with other brands, no. There is an Alpine proprietary (AI-Net = Alpine Interface Network) connector in the back, this is connected to the main unit. This box takes the audio and interrupt signal from the BT module and then translates it to an interrupt signal for the HU. Then all you have to do is set the HU up through its menu.

Nice one

from re looking at how it all works. the only involvement the factory HU has is that it mutes and passes through the audio. in which case the BT and FMD + Steering controls are independent of the HU. so realistly with the adaptors / phone mute function any HU will be fine.

I dont want any stereo details on the MFD to be fair. just the phone and the trip/fule stuff

Indeed. I had never used the audio info part of the MFD anyway. My other cars have rotating menus for the screen and changing from one mode (audio) to another (trip computer etc) only takes a single button press. On the MFD however you have to enter the setup menu for this (with the car standing still).

Ι think that it is possible to show audio info on the MFD by using another CAN-BUS adaptor, but who cares anyway.

Here's a (bad) photo of the new HU in place.

 

[SeanCorky]

Looks good, dont think i could live with moving my steering wheel to the other side though?

 

[n_olympios]

Me neither, but the left side is the right side.

 

[Street]

That looks great!

Am very tempted to do that.. But the Alpine headunit doesn't have builtin sat nav which is kinda what I was after. Will have to scout around and see if its possible with some other headunits!

 

[OldNick]

OK. Following on from this, if i get an RCA plug and connect to the + and - from the bluetooth, and plug in to the AV INPUT of my JVC AVX810 i should get sound when it is selected?
If i also connect the TEL MUTE from the bluetooth to the TEL MUTE on the head unit the unit will mute when it detects an incoming call?
Will the unit stay muted when i select AV INPUT and i will not be able to hear the sound?
Or does the mute signal stop when you answer the call?
For example, listening to radio, call comes in, stereo mutes, you notice the sound mutes so you press AV INPUT then press button on steering wheel to answer call and stereo stops muting and you talk to the caller. When finished, you simply hang up and select radio again and away to go.

Cheers

Nik