[davidklaw]

My dealership's iPod adapter hack! EDIT: FM modulation

Well my friends, when picking up my car today I asked about the Bluetooth phone adapter and luckily the service person accidently started talking to me about an iPod adapter they put together for S40s! Somehow they've managed to use the Volvo iPod adapter and their own know-how to create a wired version for our cars. And while it isn't supported under the warranty they say that if theres a problem I could just bring my car back there and they would take care of it. Here's the information I know thus far:<p>1. It uses the existing Volvo iPod adapter cord<br>2. They install toggle switch (under your dash) to switch between... something. I'm not exactly sure.<br>3. They install an audio and video input on the back of your center console. I believe this would be to plug the adapter cord into. And also a video input? Interesting!<br>4. I asked several times if it was indeed wired and not an FM transmitter and they responded several times saying it was indeed wired.<br>5. Once you "turn it on" you can no longer use the iPod to control the songs, etc. You must use the steering wheel controls.<br>6. Song information does not display on the radio.<p>If I remember correctly they said all this would cost me roughly $330. I believe I'm going to have this done to my car and if I do I will take photos and let you know how it is. Just remember this is a dealership thing, not a Volvo thing so if you're in Southeastern Michigan you're in a luck! I did not get to see or hear any working demos as they've only done it to 2 cars so far.<p>Cheers!<BR><BR>
<i>Modified by davidklaw at 7:12 AM 1-28-2006</i>

 

[Lou3000]

I'm in Chicago, please keep us updated because I may be making a little drive to Detroit soon.

 

[Pez]

Re: My dealership's iPod adapter hack! (davidklaw)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>davidklaw</b> »</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I believe I'm going to have this done to my car and if I do I will take photos and let you know how it is.</TD></TR></TABLE><p>INTERESTING...well as soon as you get it done you HAVE to write a full review on the install!! <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.vwvortex.com/vwbb/embeer.gif" BORDER="0"> <p>I may be worth me driving down to Michigan to get this done...wonder if the owners of those 2 cars frequent these forums.

 

[davidklaw]

Re: My dealership's iPod adapter hack! (Pez)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>Pez</b> »</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I may be worth me driving down to Michigan to get this done...wonder if the owners of those 2 cars frequent these forums.</TD></TR></TABLE><p>Unfortunately I doubt it, sounds like they're just some people that work at the dealership and wanted their iPods to work in their car. I'll most likely get this installed next week and I'll keep you all posted.

 

[d_man]

Re: My dealership's iPod adapter hack! (davidklaw)

As much as I'd love it to be correct I still doubt that it's doable. <br>I'd love to be proven wrong though, please keep us posted Dave

 

[davidklaw]

Re: My dealership's iPod adapter hack! (d_man)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>d_man</b> »</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">As much as I'd love it to be correct I still doubt that it's doable. <br>I'd love to be proven wrong though, please keep us posted Dave</TD></TR></TABLE><p>I understand the skepticism and actually am VERY skeptical myself. I'd like to see a working demo before putting down the cash and having them put a toggle switch and extra inputs in my car. We'll see!

 

[Greggor]

Re: My dealership's iPod adapter hack! (davidklaw)

If this really is wired, I don't understand how Volvo hasn't figured it out and is planning on using a FM modulated version for our cars. <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.vwvortex.com/vwbb/mad.gif" BORDER="0"> <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.vwvortex.com/vwbb/confused.gif" BORDER="0"> <p>Anyways, keep us all posted!

 

[mullmann]

Re: My dealership's iPod adapter hack! (davidklaw)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>davidklaw</b> »</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">3. They install an audio and video input on the back of your center console. I believe this would be to plug the adapter cord into. And also a video input? Interesting!<br>5. Once you "turn it on" you can no longer use the iPod to control the songs, etc. You must use the steering wheel controls.</TD></TR></TABLE><p>They have nothing to gain by lying to you, so I don't doubt that they have rigged something up. But some of the details sound suspect, namely the two I've quoted above. Count me among those curious to see how it comes out!

 

[Akash]

I dont doubt number 5... reason being is the pioneer (and alpine i think) have the same feature, it disables ipod control and puts a Pioneer or Alpine walpaper on it. all buttons and scroll wheel is disabled only to be controlled from steering wheel or Headunit.<p>I had this on my pioneer avic x1 in my old car.<p>point 3 i doubt too though<br>

 

[davidklaw]

Perhaps I just misunderstood them and #3 is simply the audio connector for the iPod adapter? But they did say audio/video.

 

[steve909]

Re: (davidklaw)

Me too! I'd like confirmation that anyone is able to get an analog signal into the MOST digital system in our cars.<br>That would be one large step for mankind, or, for us S40 owners anyway.<br>Please do keep us informed.

 

[drexplode]

Re: My dealership's iPod adapter hack! (davidklaw)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>davidklaw</b> »</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well my friends, when picking up my car today I asked about the Bluetooth phone adapter and luckily the service person accidently started talking to me about an iPod adapter they put together for S40s! Somehow they've managed to use the Volvo iPod adapter and their own know-how to create a wired version for our cars. And while it isn't supported under the warranty they say that if theres a problem I could just bring my car back there and they would take care of it. Here's the information I know thus far:<p>1. It uses the existing Volvo iPod adapter cord<br>2. They install toggle switch (under your dash) to switch between... something. I'm not exactly sure.<p>Which dealership in Michigan? Sesi, Dwyer, Suburban?<br>3. They install an audio and video input on the back of your center console. I believe this would be to plug the adapter cord into. And also a video input? Interesting!<br>4. I asked several times if it was indeed wired and not an FM transmitter and they responded several times saying it was indeed wired.<br>5. Once you "turn it on" you can no longer use the iPod to control the songs, etc. You must use the steering wheel controls.<br>6. Song information does not display on the radio.<p>If I remember correctly they said all this would cost me roughly $330. I believe I'm going to have this done to my car and if I do I will take photos and let you know how it is. Just remember this is a dealership thing, not a Volvo thing so if you're in Southeastern Michigan you're in a luck! I did not get to see or hear any working demos as they've only done it to 2 cars so far.<p>Cheers!</TD></TR></TABLE><p>Which dealership in Michigan? Suburban, Sesi, or Dwyer?

 

[davidklaw]

Ok so apparently I didn't get the best info at the start but today the person who does the installation of this replied to my email!<p>1. The steering wheel controls will NOT control the iPod. But will control the radio and such as they did before.<p>2. The interface to the Volvo system is a modulator that is hard wired through the diversity antenna (isn't this something people here have done already?)<p>3. Sound quality: a "significant" increase in clarity and dynamics over wireless FM with minimal amount of static (sounds to me like just a really good FM transmitter??)

 

[ukmatt]

Re: (davidklaw)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>davidklaw</b> »</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ok so apparently I didn't get the best info at the start but today the person who does the installation of this replied to my email!<p>1. The steering wheel controls will NOT control the iPod. But will control the radio and such as they did before.<p>2. The interface to the Volvo system is a modulator that is hard wired through the diversity antenna (isn't this something people here have done already?)<p>3. Sound quality: a "significant" increase in clarity and dynamics over wireless FM with minimal amount of static (sounds to me like just a really good FM transmitter??)</TD></TR></TABLE><p>Oh well... it's nice that the dealer is offering to install a solution at all - at least you have someone to fix problems.<p>A few people here have done FM modulator solutions (I think Karoshi had a really clean install well documented here). The sound quality is limited by the modulator solution but as you note, it should be much better than a regular transmitter.<p>UKMatt

 

[steve909]

Re: (davidklaw)

Is the "diversity antenna" different than the antenna?<br>Do they run a wire to the rear of the car, where the antenna is located?<br>I wonder what just what "significant" means.<br>But, thanks for keeping us informed. I'm curious to see what others say about this.

 

[ukmatt]

Re: (steve909)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>steve909</b> »</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Is the "diversity antenna" different than the antenna?<br>Do they run a wire to the rear of the car, where the antenna is located?<br>I wonder what just what "significant" means.<br>But, thanks for keeping us informed. I'm curious to see what others say about this.</TD></TR></TABLE><p>S40s and V50s all have diversity antennae (in the US at least) - two separate antennae for better reception. So any modulator will have the diversity antennae as one input and the ipod as the other.<p>The sound quality improvement should be significant as you remove one major source of noise from your sound source - with a transmitter you have other stations competing on the same frequency (or leaking into the next frequency along). With a modulator you are effectively disconnecting the antenna and so any static is greatly reduced.<p>Unfortunately you don't get the same sound quality with FM that you would with CDs.<p>UKMatt

 

[steve909]

Re: (ukmatt)

Thanks for the explanation UKMatt.

 

[davidklaw]

Just so everyone is aware, I've given up on this as we've already seen it done before here on the forums.