bobafett

Guys,

Curious if anyone has seen a solution to get both iPod and bluetooth connectivity in an SLR yet? Would be much obliged to hear what options are out there.

--Dan

bobafett

Bueller?

bobafett

Well since no one is useful, I figured I'd throw up what I'll go with in case anyone else ever asks the same question. I don't want to do "too much" - just improve functionality to something modern.

Pioneer DEX-P99RS. It has a very clean aesthetic and has the right feature set (bluetooth, ipod, etc), good integration into stock controls and mic placement, etc. It's not a simple head-unit swap, though, since you need to get an external amp (not built-in). This means that it's worth a couple extra bucks to swap out the wiring, speakers, etc. You can still achieve "good" sound keeping the stock speaker locations and the stock look. All in, you can get a nicely finished solution done for <10k.

For those looking to add nav, you'll need another solution. The single din motorized screen systems seem clunky to me and NONE of them look ok.

--Dan

xxGenericSNxx

Sorry I took this long to respond. The idea just struck my mind. If the SLR has a CD changer you can probably get a Dension iPod kit to take over the CD changer. I think these kits have a switch so you can toggle between iPod and CD changer if you still want to use CDs. There's also an optional bluetooth add on to the Dension. If you're after an OEM solution for the bluetooth, I think all SLRs come prewired with a telephone in the armrest, so you might be able to plug in a bluetooth module.

bobafett

That's a clever idea. I hadn't seen that unit before, but I certainly see the appeal. Could be a good compromise to keep the stock head unit and then simply upgrade speakers. The car's OEM system is woefully bad, but this way you don't have any kind of aftermarket amp, etc. Keeps the stock look. Thanks, N!

--Dan

xxGenericSNxx

No problem Dan. I despite swapping to aftermarket headunits. They never look the part, in my mind. I'd much rather swap out the speakers and try to have everything tie into the factory system, despite being ancient.

I'll check the photos of the SLR I was in before to see the phone set up. If it has that MHI cable then you can just unplug it and use the OEM bluetooth- plug and play.

MerClaren

I don't recommend Dension. Their products are pretty unreliable and their customer service is atrocious. The website says the GW52M02 is compatible with the SLR, so I bought one for $550. I tore the trunk apart and cut my hand open trying to install it. Out of frustration I sent an email with a photo of my head unit....Guess what, oops Dension made a mistake SLR is NOT compatible with GW52M02. Instead we need a GWL1DB1, but I am not so sure about that. Before I spend another $300 I figured I would try thisice UNI-150-PRO FM Direct Modulator with RDS Text. I asked my local MB dealer to do the install. I just received a call from them that everything seems to be in order, except that the radio sounds terrible. I will head down there tomorrow to investigate further and post my results then.

sayegh87

Any update on this? Can you use the ipod and bluetooth? Really interested in doing this for my vehicle, so any info would be greatly appreciated.

MerClaren

The Dice FM Direct Modulator did not work. I'm not sure if the unit itself was defective or if there was something further up or downstream that was causing a failure to function. At this point I have resigned myself to the fact that The SLR is a totally different creature to all other vehicles on the planet. As a last ditch effort I may attempt to install an aftermarket head unit, so long as no permanent modifications are necessary. Everything else seems like a waste of money and time, as nothing works. My only holdout for going aftermarket for the head unit? I would have to make my own wiring harness since no one (including crutch field) makes a plug and play harness adapter.

xxGenericSNxx

Sorry for all the trouble that you've gone through. It's too bad that the infotainment on the SLR is so antiquated that nothing really seems to work well for it.

Best of luck!