Custom (Macgyvered) iPhone cradle/BT Audio install RNS 510 integration in a R36

[R36VW]

Now we have the new rules about phones in cars I finally got around to making my own cradle for the car and integrating decent BT audio for the iPhone.
Nothing I could find commercially looked good enough for the clean look I wanted so I resorted to Macgyvering my own from a few bits I had lying around and a couple new bits to pull it together.

Whats involved?

Jailbroken iPhone 4S on 5.1.1 with a whole bunch of useful tweaks and apps that support landscape orientation.
The list is extensive so I'll post it later if there's interest.

An old vent mount cradle from my old iPhone 3GS (first on left in pic)

A new iPhone battery booster cover from Jaycar - (second from left) This one is really slim/clean and light and doubles the battery life, even has a standard iphone dock connector for recharging so you can charge it in the car, or off any usb/apple charger in the house. I didnt want cables which is why this one is so critical!

A bike mount kit with 4S and 3Gs cradles.

A Manhattan rechargeable BT audio reciever with 3.5mm out to connect into AUX in on the RNS 510. (pic in centre console) This thing is really great and for $55 dollars it was amazing value from scorptec computers. specs are 6.5hrs playtime and 3hrs to charge. 20hz-22Khz 748kbs BT 2.1 A2DP range 20M. http://www.manhattan-products.com/en...i-ku-bluetooth

BT audio can be crap, but this thing sounds fantastic. After listening to the BT audio quality of my Kufatec BT Audio/Phone hands free its like going from AM radio to full Hi-Fi CD quality. And I kid you not, it sounds as good as an MP3 can sound in a car environment... no dropouts, no static and it sounds as good as songs from SD or MDI! The phone pairs with both the Kufatec and Manhattan simultaneously (which was a nice surprise) and even automatically switches to the Kufatec BT for a phone call and then back again. (now that was really a massive surprise!)

For now for $55 bucks its a great alternative that meets my criteria for quality wireless audio and I can charge it from the cigarette lighter (5V USB) or take it inside to charge. I didnt want to pay $400 for a 9W7 without knowing how the quality of BT Audio was going sound. Now I know, eventually I will install a 9W7F AVRCP A2DP kit to replace the kufatec/Manhattan BT and then I'll have complete RNS 510 BT Audio integration with steering wheel buttons for tracks skip and artist info. The only downside is having to switch it off/on as it doesnt look like it has a timer auto off when there's nothing paired to it. If it was going to be a long term solution I'd just wire it permanently to the fuse box with 12v/5V usb charger inline.

BTW I do have the iPhone MDI kit which completely integrates with the Nav unit/steering wheel controls and dash display, but that requires putting the phone in the glovebox! Putting in the 9W7F i mentioned above will give me all the same funtions as the MDI kit wirelessly!

Anyway onwards with the pics...

The bits to be "Macgyvered" with the Dremel!



Another better angle



Pilot hole in the old cradle clip almost ready to mount the nut from bike cradle. (nut dremeled out)



Drilling out bigger.. later to be dremeled and cleaned up ready for hotglueing the nut in place.



Cradle finished + original iPhone 4/4S bike mount case + Battery backup case ready for glueing the clip from the 2nd 3G case that came with the bike mount kit.


New iPhone bike cradle mounted and nut glued in. (notice it swivels in the centre on a ball joint!)






iPhone battery booster case mounted to cradle.



iPhone installed in booster cradle! Nice clean fit!





Now off to the car...............

[R36VW]

How does it look? Pretty good I reckon!




Here's the Manhattan Bluetooth installed in the centre console connected up to the AUX in.



In landscape mode with the standard iPhone case (from the bike kit)




Portrait mode





Lockscreen using Lockinfo from Cydia.


Springboard in landscape with SBrotator 6 from Cydia.


Landscape Dialler - (screen rotate dial screen from itunes app store) Not that I really need it as the Kufatec BT works with the Nav unit which brings up its own dialler. But its nice to have anyway!

[R36VW]

On to the Music App which I love! Its called TutuneMe from App Store!

The top playlist bar brings up this menu when you tap it, or you can swipe the top bar to go next/previous playlist.
Of course SIRI can play my playlists for me too, but sometimes you dont know what you want and this makes it quick and safe while driving! Tap on one of the large icons and the corresponding screen comes up. I should point out the colours and font sizes and album art size are all fully customisable. This is the standard Cherry setting with the fonts brightened up and made larger for good visibility in the car! Which happens to match the RNS 510 colours pretty closely out of the box! You can swipe in the centre over the album art/artists info, left or right to go next/previous track too!


Playlists


Album view


Quick access to the audio routing from the bottom bar which also scrolls left/right to bring up different controls.



Thats all for now.. have some more pics I need to load up of the booster cradle, now the glue's dried. (pics at night!)
Will upload a video to youtube for tomorrow as well.

[R36VW]

Here's the booster cradle at night.

















More daytime pics tomorrow and a youtube video of it in action.

[R36VW]

1st of 7 short Youtube clips showing clipping the phone in and a few app features for the music app.












Text to speech email with TextnDrive, speed dial and playlist shortcuts and cradle mount inspection


Ok thats all folks!

I can also still use the internal NAV HDD/SD slot for music and plug a USB HDD or 80GB iPod Classic in the MDI interface for full control from the steering wheel and Nav unit with full id3 tags (artist/album info etc)

When I get the 9W7F VW BT kit I can replace the Manhattan and Kufatec BT and get the best of both worlds with an integrated wireless system with full steering wheel controls and Driver MFD & Nav Text.

The other reason for doing this is that the iPhone is much faster to navigate than the Nav unit and a lot more responsive with a nice interface.

Also when the iPhone is plugged into the MDI through the cable, it needs to be in the glovebox and you cant access music controls while its plugged in.

When using the new 9W7F BT kit you get all the benefits of the MDI cable plus full steering wheel control with text on the NAV & MFD and you can still use the iPhone music apps!

Thanks for watching!!!!! Im going for a drive!!