zam2000

So my car hit 175K mile today. Not much have changed since 100K mile mark that I hit on 08/04. Interior show no crack, no rattle, no shake. Smooth drive and shift. I regularly do 100mph (and much more) when going to Vegas or San Fran, and the ride is handle is as good, if not better, than when new (probably due to suspension & wheel upgrade, and ECU flash)

I put in a dash mount GPS (Navman 520i) and bluetooth handsfree system lately. I would highly recommend this bluetooth Motorola handsfree system, it cancel out the engine noise really well. Sound is clear and loud, no echo whatsoever. The microphone is superb. Even at high speed, conversation can be carried out at normal tone, and other party can hear you talk no different than when you're talking onto speaker phone at home.

I calibrated & tested, and at the end, mount the speaker under the passenger seat, and mic near the sunroof switch. The main unit is mount under the passenger footweld. This give the optimal performce. We tried it against the handsfree system in the Acura (MDX and TL), and mine performe much better (no echo & clearer sound). Also, I wire the system to the phone-wire of the stereo unit, so when I make a phone call, or receive one, it automatically mute the stereo. The voice activation (say a number , or name from phone book, and it dials) also work really well with the system. The system automatically connect (sync) with my bluetooth phone when I turn on the ignition key. Overall, I'm quite happy with it.

I would not recommend the bluetooth handsfree that plug into the cigarette lighter. I tried out couple, and they're junk. They're only good when your car stay idle. As you move, the engine noise and echo really kill the conversation.

I got the handsfree system for free (help to retro headlight for a biker, and he gave me as a gift, since he can't use it w/ his bike), and I do the installation myself, no labor cost either

Some of the pix I took at lunch time today










Phone will mute the radio when in use



Rewire my wiring system. Remove the ipod, and create the aux port (via cassette adaptor), next to the Sirius unit for misc usage



Reaim the camera, work wonder





My GPS


Quick detail, not bad for a 175K mile car









See those F22 in the background, eventually, they'll be used in all three branchs of force (Navy, Air-force, and Marine). Quite cool

j944

Looks good. I see you have everything you need for those long hauls.

my E430 rocket

how did u connect the sirius unit to your head unit?

zam2000

I use the built-in FM modulator. If you're looking for Sirius, buy the first gen StarMate model (eBay), since they have very powerful FM modulator (VERYYY powerful, sound is crystal clear via FM modulator). Eventually, FCC fine sirius for violate the rule with this model (can't build the FM modulator too strong), and force them too change the design, and all of their units now have a very crappy FM modulator.

http://www.siriusbackstage.com/forum...ad.php?t=82451

my E430 rocket

i already have sirius. and i too use the FM modulator. but i want to either hard wire it either using and antenna fm modulator or hard wire it some other way.

The Godfather

wtf parktronic? Is that OEM? Looks awesome!


ZAM, your V1 picks up signals good with the sunvisor dots things in the way?

my E430 rocket

my car has a pretty interesting history. it was originally candian spec special ordered. and then turned into a US car and sold brand new to me in 1999. i'm pretty sure parktronic was not on the options list but could be special prdered

zam2000

Yes sir, 100% good. That part is simply dot paint, does not bounce off radar signal at all. Not to mention that's the location best for rear signal pickup (more liklely when we go on interstate)

my E430 rocket

i thought u need it to shoot out the back. so having it all the way up it can't get the best rear signal. thats why i have mine just under the rear view. so its as high as possible and still able to shoot out the back

fju2112

Zam, would love to know how you did this and how much it cost when it was all done - for just the handsfree/bluetooth install. I have the factory phone option in my E320 and have a RAZR; would love to have this installed in my vehicle. Feel free to PM me, or post here.

Edit: Well actually, it seems pretty easy in and of itself if you just buy the Motorola module, but I'm wondering if you somehow hooked it up to the factory cell phone wiring and made it work with the stock radio?