Playing MP3 thru your car stereo.

[MysticBlue]

Hi Guys,
Any some advise and idea on this.
Recently bought a MP3 player, definitely not an Ipod. Have been thinking of possibility to hook it up with the OEM stereo. I know i can just get a cassette tape adapter but I'm thinking of getting a FM transmitter. Anyone had experience with FM transmitter?
Of course it will be cool if i could get it mod and connect it directly via cable.
Any expertise on this?
Thanks a million for looking

 

[MRacer77]

Re: Playing MP3 thru your car stereo.

If you want to connect to the OEM system, it is best that you look for a way to hardwire the MP3 player to the OEM system. This is because with the FM transmitter the chances of having interference from outside is very great, so your sound will not be good.

 

[TheNew7]

Re: Playing MP3 thru your car stereo.

My experience with the FM transmitter is NO DAMN GOOD.... I dunno whether you can retrofit the AUX IN for your car... I did mine and it works fine... Don't need iPod.... just plug and play....

With the FM transmitter, there is alot of interference plus the connectors for mine were loose... Maybe the newer ones are better.... but AUX IN is direct so less signal loss....

 

[MRacer77]

Re: Playing MP3 thru your car stereo.

thats right if possibke do an Aux In. However on the OEM Stereo I do not think that there is such an option... what the OEM iPod adapters do is use the CD changer jack as the line in for the iPod, so maybe you can use this idea for connecting your MP3 player as well.

 

[chickenbackside]

Re: Playing MP3 thru your car stereo.

Forget about the FM transmitter. All you will hear is static and your high frequncies will be severely compromised to the point that you will think that there's something wrong with your tweeters.

I used mine for 1/2 hour and then chucked it aside. Sounds much worse than radio...

 

[VolanteDB9]

Re: Playing MP3 thru your car stereo.

No go for fm transmitter...waste of S$40 bucks...argh...

 

[diablo_728]

Re: Playing MP3 thru your car stereo.

My experience with the FM transmitter is NO DAMN GOOD.... I dunno whether you can retrofit the AUX IN for your car... I did mine and it works fine... Don't need iPod.... just plug and play....

With the FM transmitter, there is alot of interference plus the connectors for mine were loose... Maybe the newer ones are better.... but AUX IN is direct so less signal loss....

you did the aux-in for your 7 ? was it at PML?

 

[TheNew7]

Re: Playing MP3 thru your car stereo.

Yes, but just noticed that the car in question is an E46. Mine's E60... Though the job was easy, one of the jobs they did was to reflash my iDrive/ECU software.... I suppose you can always give PML a call to ask about this. The most they don't do lor.....

 

[MRacer77]

Re: Playing MP3 thru your car stereo.

there are 3rd party solutions nowadays for connecting MP3 players to OEM headunits... can check out the net, but you might have to import from the US.

 

[TheNew7]

Re: Playing MP3 thru your car stereo.

I suppose the cheap and dirty way is to get one of those cassette thingy.... Plug and play...

Sometimes we get overwhelmed by technology... I think that's what most of us did when we went out to purchase the FM Transmitter.... just to be really disappointed....

Sometimes, and particularly in this case, simple is better.... less signal loss, less interference and most importantly, less hassles......

 

[MRacer77]

Re: Playing MP3 thru your car stereo.

casette thingy quality is not that great also lah... not much better than the FM transmitter IMHO...

 

[TheNew7]

Re: Playing MP3 thru your car stereo.

casette thingy quality is not that great also lah... not much better than the FM transmitter IMHO...

Quality one thing, but interference another..... good quality with high interference, still end up low quality...

 

[MRacer77]

Re: Playing MP3 thru your car stereo.

i mean overall experience still not up to acceptable standards.

 

[chickenbackside]

Re: Playing MP3 thru your car stereo.

I'll be getting this once it's available:

Find out more here:

Drive + Play / Drive + Play 2

 

[ulujungleboy]

Re: Playing MP3 thru your car stereo.

I'm sure I saw the Harmon/Kardon at a shop at the first floor of Adelphi.

 

[chickenbackside]

Re: Playing MP3 thru your car stereo.

I've not seen the version 2 with colour screen yet. Version 1 has been around for a long time already.

According to the Harmon Kardon website, version 2 will only be released in June...

 

[diablo_728]

Re: Playing MP3 thru your car stereo.

FM transmitter is very bad, esp in beemer as i undersatnd from pinliang the oem FM reciever is quite receptive, in my previous 728 i had a switch to disconncet the FM reciever for the FM transmiter to work, (not sure if im using the right terms) But the sound quality was still poor

 

[nYteMarE]

Re: Playing MP3 thru your car stereo.

used tape before.. mono sound... so it's not going to to justice to the music..

used fm transmitter before... intermitten stereo and lots of static/interference... very congested fm band in sg.. weak transmitter...

an aux solution would be one of the best i suppose...

 

[darkavgr]

Re: Playing MP3 thru your car stereo.

Hi Guys,
Any some advise and idea on this.
Recently bought a MP3 player, definitely not an Ipod. Have been thinking of possibility to hook it up with the OEM stereo. I know i can just get a cassette tape adapter but I'm thinking of getting a FM transmitter. Anyone had experience with FM transmitter?
Of course it will be cool if i could get it mod and connect it directly via cable.
Any expertise on this?
Thanks a million for looking

Try this : european auto source - 714.369.8524 | how fast can we make your dream go, stop and corner?

Its made for Ipod but has an additional Aux in which u can hook up any generic audio source thro 2.5" or 3.5" plug
Its a direct wire input so quality is good

of cos, no integration w OEM stereo so no MP3 titles & can't control your MP3 player from OEM stereo
No charging MP3 player too
Volume & bass/treble works thro OEM stereo though

Note that it cannibalises your CD changer's inputs so no more CD changer liao
Installation is easy..plug & play but u have to run wire all the way from CD changer,i.e. from boot to the glove box

Mine is e39 with SatNav & I've this unit installed (for ipod) & it works fine.
Tried the Aux In with my Treo 650 handphone & it plays ok

FM transmitters suck big time & dont waste your money...

 

[sszone]

Re: Playing MP3 thru your car stereo.

i using the alpine head unit with ipod cable.
if u are after sound quality, its better to go for this kind.
those fm transmitters are crap, waste of money