Stock iPod integration possible?

[FoxCruiser]

Well, I'm driving myself kinda nuts with figuring out the audio sitch for my car. I do have an aftermarket deck in my BMW at the moment with the whole iPod integration, Bluetooth, and the whole nine yards. I mainly use it with an older iPod Touch that is pretty much stuffed with music.

The problem is that I really don't want to put a complete ton of effort and time into my new SSEi at this point. I'd like to keep the steering wheel controls without springing a fair amount of bucks into an aftermarket head unit, adapter harnesses, and a lot of time playing around with wiring. Also, I really don't want to be stuck with just a cassette adapter; I had to run one in my BMW for years and I'm plain sick of having to fumble around with a touchscreen while driving just to change tracks(not to mention how dangerous that is in the first place). This car doesn't have XM, nor does it have a CD changer. I was thinking about getting another head unit, getting it programmed(while the stock HU in this car works the display is completely scratched up and unreadable), finding an iPod adapter of some sort and seeing if I can get it to run that way.

So, in short I'm looking to somehow integrate my iPod into the stock audio system. I want to be able to use the steering wheel controls with it, so this leaves out the cassette adapter, FM modulator, or wired FM options. I don't want to spend a bunch of money/time/wiring/hacking behind the dash in order to get an aftermarket unit working, either. Yes, I fully admit I'm kinda picky. Heh.

I did find an old thread here: http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... ntegration

While this seems straightforward enough, I'm trying to figure out where the three pins added to the dash connector go to. Did the OP of that thread cannibalize a stock connector? How would this be wired into an integration adapter?

Any advice would be helpful. Admittedly I'm scratching my hair out thinking about this.

[bobgto65]

The 3 connectors are for the aux audio input. You need to have a radio with a "Mode" button to get the aux input to work. They will allow you to connect to the headphone jack on the Ipod so you can play music through the stock system but you will still have to control the playlist from the iPod. The SWC will work for the volume only. There is no way to get the stock head unit to control your iPod from the head unit. The electronics to control it are just not there. The only way to do it it to get an aftermarket HU.

[FoxCruiser]

The 3 connectors are for the aux audio input. You need to have a radio with a "Mode" button to get the aux input to work. They will allow you to connect to the headphone jack on the Ipod so you can play music through the stock system but you will still have to control the playlist from the iPod. The SWC will work for the volume only. There is no way to get the stock head unit to control your iPod from the head unit. The electronics to control it are just not there. The only way to do it it to get an aftermarket HU.

Thanks for the info. Looks like that might end up being a waste of time and money if it'll just do the same thing as a cassette adapter. Are there any recommended aftermarket HUs to use in these cars? I hate to say I'm picky, but I like to keep things at least somewhat stock-ish when I do audio stuff.

[nos4blood70]

If you're looking for stockish, you'll want a double DIN of some kind. A couple have done them, personally I think it looks great.