R53 HK System: Streaming Bluetooth Options
 

Hi Folks.

Just looking for your opinion and options that you may have tried personally or have heard of for the ability to stream music off my smartphone (lumia920) to my HK stock system via bluetooth?:

Thanks :)


SEN:thumbsup:

If you have the aux jack there are several blue tooth receivers that plug into your 1/8th inch jack. Cheap and very easy to instal...

Yes...as pillagethesound said, you can get a bluetooth receiver for way cheap on ebay or amazon...less than $10 shipped.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-Bluetoot...item27c999eaea

I have one of these and it works pretty well....good sound quality too. The USB is just to power it, so you would need to get a cigarette lighter to USB adapter for it in your R53 (also very cheap). As already stated, you need to have an Aux input for your stereo. If you don't have one for the HK head unit, you can get one from Outmotoring or even your dealer for around $40....it plugs into the back of the stock head unit.

Bluetooth via Ipod cable
 

I also have a R53 with the HK system with an Ipod aux cable. Will this work for bluetooth streaming?(http://a.co/d/2ru94au) Any one know? any other options other than a new system?

It might work, but it's hard to say because the OEM iPod adapter is such an odd device. The R53 headunit wasn't designed for iPods, so they created an iPod adapter that simulates a CD changer (there was a CD changer option). You would create special playlists on the iPod and the headunit could access them like CDs in the CD changer. If you plug in the device you linked, you might get sound out of it but there's a chance it could be incompatible.

The simplest way to get bluetooth streaming has already been mentioned — get an OEM aux input jack (https://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coo...p3_hookup.html) which plugs into the back of the radio. Then you can plug a bluetooth receiver into the aux input. You can get bluetooth receivers much smaller than the one in the earlier post.

thanks, saw that a bit later and thought about using this. http://a.co/d/aXO5DCc

A Grom BT3 is the best way to do this, without having to switch over to aux to use the phone and have the steering wheel buttons work, etc.

So does the GROM BT3 allow the existing steering wheel controls to work?

I have an 06 JCW with HK and an existing iPod 30 pin connector in the glovebox but the connector is crushed and I’m trying to decide the best way to get bluetooth into the car. Initially I was thinking I could just get a replacement cable and get one of these: .

It states it works with the existing steering wheel controls on Mini and BMW.

I use this unit . No need to install in the boot, able to use the steering wheel control, no wires to run from the back of the car, and installs in 30 mins or less..... And, a lot less money

Cool, thank you for the suggestion! That looks like it covers everything I’m looking for, I wonder why it didn’t pop up in my initial searches.

Thanks again.

I posted awhile ago in this forum, there are several threads about this unit and several others. These units haven't popped up in awhile on Amazon. There are pictures of the unit on this thread.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ing-wheel.html

Thanks for that link, that certainly helps.

Can the bluetooth module be located behind the headunit and or inside the glovebox? I really could care less about the other connections and only really want the music streaming and maybe the microphone for making calls.

There may not be room for the unit to fit behind the HU. As you can see from my pictures I have it under the toggle switches along with my USB charging unit. It really doesn't take up that much space. I guess you can also put it in the glove box, that was an option I was considering.

I just mounted the bluetooth module from Amazon today in my R53. Behind the headunit is pretty tight but the glovebox is reasonable, it just might be a bit difficult getting the cable to pass through pre-cut openings.

I stuck all the extra cabling, mic, and bluetooth unit on the inside of the panel right under the steering wheel. You don't have to open this panel but I did it to help pull the bulky cable harnesses in the back of the head unit while i was reinstalling it so it made sense to hide everything there with some cable management and tape. I ran the included Aux cable to the passenger's side through the little opening next to the glove compartment in case I ever want/need it or the BT functionality breaks. It even clips into the built-in ?pen holder on the glove box door.

Cleanest method is the GROM BT3. When I had my R53 that is what I used paired with the 07 Cabrio headunit.

I looked at the Grom unit, it's not cleaner. The unit I recommend plugs directly into the back of the existing head unit, no connection running from the CD Changer cable in the boot to the front of the the car.No wires to splice and works from the steering wheel controls. "Paired with your head unit". Do you already have BT stock on your R53?

If you've got an iPod adapter already you can just plug in a Bovee / Tune2Air device and it'll work mint. I bought one used on eBay for ~$30 and it's been working flawlessly - pairs as soon as you unlock the car, the steering wheel controls work perfectly.

I purchased this same unit but had a weird feedback thing going on in the rear speakers. I basically have no rear speakers in use now. I returned it once and they sent me a new one but it is the same issue. I am imagining there is maybe a ground off somewhere but no idea where!