I had a new headunit installed in my 2006 MCS. It is a Pioneer P9800BT. It has full Ipod control from the unit. I can control volume and track from the steering wheel. It also has Bluetooth for my cell phone and Bluetooth Audio. It is a very nice unit. It is easy to use. The shop that installed it had no problems getting the headunit to interface with the HK amp and speakers along with the factor sterring wheel controls. Please see my gallery to see a picture of it installed. I know this is more expensive than the factory ipod but it workes very well and has bluetooth capabilities.

 

That's the head unit I've beed drooling over. Only problem is I can't get the bluetooth to work with my Verizon Treo 650 Palm phone. From what I hear on the Treo 650 forums it's a Verizon problem because of what they do to the bluetooth capability. Have you been able to use the bluetooth features? Please tell me more about the iPod integration. Does it show all the iPod info that you want? Are you going to use it for satellite radio? What kit did your installer use for the steering wheel controls?
And... how does it sound?
I'm jealous.

Patrick

 

Patrick, I have a Blackberry Pearl and it works very well with it. There is only one item that It has a problem with and the is it does not transfer over my phonebook. Otherwise it connects automatically, my voice sounds fine to people calling me and their voices sound fine on my end. When someone calls it automatically pauses my ipod and when we hang-up it automacally starts back from where we were. The ipod has much better sound than through the aux input. The HU controls the ipod as if it was the ipod. The steering wheel controls alow you to change the volume and the song but not the playlist. Buy the way the system rocks. Hope that answers your questions.

Rick

 

Rick,
Thanks for the info. I'm still seriously considering this HU and hoping the bluetooth problems get resolved in the future.

Pat