iPod classic to 2014 Leon Via USB/Aux only

[Copa]

Hello everyone,
I'm hoping someone can help me to connect my iPod Classic (160Gb) to my 2014 Leon.
I've just changed from a 2011 and I had a USB/Aux connector in front of the gear stick, this worked well.
The new car has the same but now located in the glove box. The original cable (unsurprisingly) no longer works.
When looking online into connecting to the new car I keep coming across this new type of cable that comes with a red or blue collar (that is pics online looks from a distance almost like the iPods 30 pin connector) that does the job. Trouble is, there is no connector of this type in my car, only the USB/aux. I asked the dealer and they ordered in a cable, but it was the blue collar one that of course I could not use.
I’ve found cables that look like the one I already have for the 2011 Leon online, but I don’t know if they are really any different than the one I already have internally.
Feels like I’m constantly so close to finding the answer but never quite getting there.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Thank you in advance.

 

[daniel575]

Doesn't it have Bluetooth? I know it's not ideal (as you can't browse tracks - on Android anyway) but it may be an option if you can't work it out?

By the way, with mine, I got two separate adapter cables for the car's "USB" connection (or whatever it is). One is for connecting a regular USB cable, the other is something I don't recognize, I guess it might be for Apple devices.

 

[Copa]

Hey Daniel,
Thanks for replying. Yes, the car has Bluetooth OK which I can use for hands free phoning as well Bluetooth audio to listen to podcasts from my phone which is a nice system and works really well. The problem is my iPod classic doesn’t have Bluetooth.
I’ve noticed that the iPod classic can easily be connected to the audio system using the dedicated Apple connector that I think you are referring to. The problem with that is that the car (2014 Mk3) lacks that port and only has the standard USB/Aux the same as my older Mk2 Leon. The cable I used for that doesn’t work in the new car sadly.
My phone is generally full and I have a very large music library (hence iPod classic 160Gb) so downloading 5 or 6 albums at a time is a bit weak, streaming isn’t much of an option either as it would eat my data allowance and as I drive around the countryside for work the connection isn’t likely to lend itself to a decent user experience.
So I’m hoping there’s a particular cable that goes from a 30 pin Apple connection to a USB/Aux output that supports my iPod in the new car!

 

[moomoomoo]

You could use a bluetooth transmitter like the following:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/KOKKIA-Transmitter-authentication-capabilities-generation/dp/B004SH40BQ

... However you can't charge the iPod at the same time which may be an issue.

I'd personally buy a large USB stick. Can get a 64GB for a reasonable 15 quid or so.

 

[Copa]

Hi moomoomoo,

Thanks for that, that's gone right to the top of my backup plan list! Still just wanna try to find something similar to my old set up.
I tried out of curiosity the standard Apple cable that came with the iPod (the white one that goes into a plug to charge it). It appeared to be doing something. It said loading library or something like that. Left it a few minutes and it didn't change from that though. Will leave it for longer when I e more time to see.

Just to check, if I get a big USB drive, can I just copy my iTunes folder over to it and plug it an to the car? Or does DRM or anything complicate matters at all?

You'd think with these fancy hi tec devices a plug and play approach would work!!!

 

[moomoomoo]

I'm not sure the standard Apple cable will work like that - I imagine the Leon is expecting a USB mass storage device which the iPod won't provide.. However it would do if you flashed the iPod with something like Rockbox. May be worth checking out. www.rockbox.org

I think Apple dropped DRM a few years ago but if any of your library is still protected then you should be able to liberate the tracks fairly easily.

 

[Copa]

Yeah, I think I might end up duplicating my library on a memory stick and using it. Annoyingly its just that I had it all working perfectly on my old Leon and so its not quite as good, getting out of the car and plugging my headphones in and picking up where I left off is great.
Just annoying as it comes across as a step backwards!!

 

[bretth1974]

My iPod classic works fine on my cupra which is my16 with the standard apple cable. I do have full link enabled though solo not sure if that makes a difference?

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