Blaupunkt Stereos

Steering wheel buttons will work with any IR remote capable head, but you need to use a PAC or Lightning Audio adapter. I've looked at the instructions, and it requires wiring the unit into the output of the steering column, then learining the head's remote control to it, sorta like a universal remote that you'd use for home.

IMO, any aftermarket head is gonna look out of place, since it'll have a narrower face, and have to sit off to the side because of the dash opening. I recall someone mentioning having issues finding an antenna adapter, and there is the issue of taking the outs from the head and making it compatible with the stock amp/speakers, if that's what you're doing (the stock amp needs a 11v differential input).

Do the steering wheel buttons currently use IR to work with the stock deck? Is that the only way to get an after-market deck to work with them? I'm not too worried about the new deck being off-center as long as the deck itself doesn't look hideous. Some of these newer decks are a bit extreme in their designs.

I wish I could find some pictures of after-market units installed in a BMW just to get a feel for them. Anyone out there wish to share?

Thanks!

Mike

SteelGray02ci said:

Do the steering wheel buttons currently use IR to work with the stock deck? Is that the only way to get an after-market deck to work with them? I'm not too worried about the new deck being off-center as long as the deck itself doesn't look hideous. Some of these newer decks are a bit extreme in their designs.

Mike

Click to expand...

No, the stock deck uses a proprietary control bus. In order to make it work with an aftermarket head which doesn't necessarily have a control bus, the converter box has to translate the signals that the wheel buttons send out over this bus, and match that up with a IR signal that the aftermarket head will understand. Frankly, I can't think of a better, more universal way to do this, as kludgy as it might seem.

If you simply want to add MP3 capability, a few people here seem happy with the PhatNoise.