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Ipod dock for my SLE?
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:36 am
by airdvr1227
Did a quick search but didn't turn up anything. I'd like to be able to connect my Ipod to my Bonne? How do you do it?
Re: Ipod dock for my SLE?
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:39 am
by 93 SSE 4 ME
Does your car have XM capability (current subscription doesn't matter)? I have mine lined into the XM module, and it works great. So well in fact I did the same set-up in my Duramax.
Here's the link, I believe the info. is on Page 2.
http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... f=13&t=318
Mark
Re: Ipod dock for my SLE?
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:44 am
by airdvr1227
No XM.
Re: Ipod dock for my SLE?
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 11:59 am
by J-ROD
If you car has the factory cd changer in the trunk, here are a couple of options.
http://www.mp3yourcar.com/advanced_sear ... 134%7C2003
Re: Ipod dock for my SLE?
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 3:17 pm
by airdvr1227
No CD changer either.
Anyone have any experience with something like this?
http://www.icarkits.com/product_info.php?products_id=59
Re: Ipod dock for my SLE?
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:27 pm
by Bugsi
That's an ordinary FM transmitter. Many people use the FM transmitters when there either is no good way to interface with the factory radio wiring, or when they just don't want to mess with wiring. The upshot: They work. The quality is reasonably good, about what you'd get on a very clear FM radio station. The downside is that the quality is reasonably good, about what you'd get on a very clear FM radio station.

The other downsides are that the FM transmitters alone do not provide power to keep the iPod charged, -unless they also come with some sort of cigarette lighter power adapter-, and they do not provide any user interface connection to the radio. For example, my aftermarket Pioneer head unit with a Pioneer CD-IB100 iPod interface lets me control the iPod through the radio's front panel controls, and also provides charging power to the iPod through a single cable.
So aside from not providing power and needing to actually use the iPod to control the iPod, FM transmitters generally do work reasonably well. While they aren't the very best choice, they are often one of the very *easiest* choices to interface an iPod to a factory system, since there is no wiring involved.
Re: Ipod dock for my SLE?
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:37 pm
by bonnevillain
i'd prefer a tape adapter to an FM transmitter personally
Re: Ipod dock for my SLE?
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:49 pm
by 93 SSE 4 ME
My experience with FM transmitters lead me to believe that it's a poor solution. I tried several different brands from various manufacturers. I almost bought an FM modulator, which my research lead me to believe would be a better solution than the FM transmitters. Hawkjet came up with a method to add the necessary wiring to non-equipped vehicle for a CD changer, which might be an avenue worth exploring. I feel your pain on this issue. I was pumped when the solution that lewis26 (Mike) came up with was posted.
Mark
Re: Ipod dock for my SLE?
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 5:02 pm
by Bugsi
One other downside to FM transmitters that I forgot to mention: They are themselves usually powered by batteries, so they only work as long as their battery is good. I prefer a wired solution for that reason. FM transmitters and an iPod with charging and audio cables starts to turn into a rat's nest of wiring and dead batteries that *don't* work more often than they *do* work. If you can do the wiring harness modification for the iPac interface device, I think you'll be happier.
Re: Ipod dock for my SLE?
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 11:16 pm
by J-ROD
This is what I use. The only downside is that is that as mentioned before, it does have some interference on occasion. Not too bad though. I have found that placing my ipod between the passenger seat & head rest is the best place for the least amount of interference. It also shows you what you're listening to according to the information on your ipod for each song. So it gives you the song title and the artist on your factory stereo.
http://us.kensington.com/html/11206.html
Re: Ipod dock for my SLE?
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 2:30 am
by tan96ssei
ok the way i read this is you have the stock system without monsoon without changer and without XM; that being said your options are for an Ipod are: a battery operated universal FM transmitter, an Ipod specific FM transmitter (these come in battery operated or cig. lighter "nice for charging feature") or if charging is not of importance and quality is more important you can get an inline antenna transmitter (essentially force feeds the music into the stereo) and if on the back of the stereo you have changer port for a cd changer then there are direct input options there as well