MX-5 OC Forum

I have the standard head unit in my 2002 Phoenix.

Is there an easy and cheap way of getting a 3.5mm input into it..?

All I want to do is connect my Blackberry phone, to listen to Mp3's.

Not interested in the £85 option from MX5 parts.

If it comes to that, I'll just replace the head unit ;)

Thanks for any info...

 

 I've used the MX5 parts adapter and am happy with it - it keeps the original look of the car. I would be very worried about theft (and damage to soft top) if there was anything that looked modern in the audio panel. You can change tracks with the CD controls which is safer than fiddling with a phone.

One cheap option is one of those 3.5 m jack to FM radio units which you simply tune your radio into. They can be a bit poor quality though.

If you have a cassette tape unit, you can get a 3.5 mm jack adaptor cassette for that which just pops in.

 

 

I ran an Audiolink unit in my 02 MX5 & was well impressed but I was also lucky enough to pick one up second hand (only just sold it too  after upgrading my headunit & speakers), so keep your eye's open on Ebay or the forum here. I agree with you on if you have to pay full price for one you are better putting the money toward's a new headunit & the world's your oyster here with plenty of options available. I went for one of the mechless type headunits where there's no cd player & your Ipod/MP3 player sit's with in the unit so no untidy wire's.

HTH

Thanks for the replies...

However, I don't want SD card, USB stick, iPod, or even 'virtual CD changer' functionality (!?!)

Nor do I want to control my device from the head unit, or non existant steering wheel controls...

Nor do I want to pay £80 or so for some box manufactured in China for no doubt tuppence.

What I do want, is a simple block connector to plug into the back of the head unit, that gives me a cable with a 3.5mm socket, to plug my phone into.

Preferably made by a good guy on here, and for a fair price!

Can any 'cleverer than me' person do this..?

Here's hoping ;)

 

No one got any ideas..?

Hi

As far as I know but I could be wrong,  the standard 2 din head unit does not have an aux input at the rear. So there is no way of connecting to the unit.  If I'm wrong I would certainly like to know

R-b

I do realise that there's no direct input, what I'm after is a block connector that will connect at one end to an input on the head unit (for a cassette or MD for example), and at the other end will be a 3.5mm socket that I can plug my phone into...

I can see me having to buy a new head unit, which would be unnecessary if I could just sort this out... it can't be impossible, surely!

 

Could this be what you are looking for ? - http://www.maplin.co.uk/headphone-to-cassette-adaptor-27793

 

That's one of the options I posted above.  £2 to £3 on ebay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-Cassette-Adapter-AUX-3-5mm-iPod-MP3-Player-to-Tape-Converter-Shuffle-MP4-/300878121236?pt=UK_AudioVideoElectronics_PortableAudio_MP3PlayerCarKits&hash=item460dbbc914

 

Hi TerryM and zpat,

The OE head unit in my Mk2.5 doesn't actually have a cassette player.

However, there must be an input for one (and/or a CD changer, MD player etc) within the wiring, and that's what I was hoping to utilise...

 

There is an input for the CD changer so logically thinking/pie in the sky stuff if you could solder a 3.5 mm socket onto the line in wires on cable that goes to said plug, that's if you can get hold of a cable (if not you would have to dismantel the head unit). Not sure if unit would recognise there's anything there though (all the audiolink type device's have their own control module that fool's head unit into thinking there's a CD changer connected) Not seen it done so it's one of those suck it & see job's!! You will find all the connections/wire's listed here. 

Fabulous if you can acheive it but a lot of hassle when people like Audiolink etc have done the donkey work for you & you can buy a suitable head unit with aux in for £30 off fleabay. I wanted to stay with the standard OEM look but found the head unit amplifier wouldn't power a decent set of speaker's.

HTH

HTH... thanks for your thoughts...

I have to say, that what with wanting DAB, and really needing the '3.5mm input', I'm leaning towards this:-

http://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/product_m-jvc-kwdb60at_p-27504.htm

Obviously I'll be sad to lose the standard look, but it seems to solve all the problems...

 

Would you really want only a non-alarmed fabric roof between a thief and that? It's not just the cost of the unit, but the cost of a new roof that would worry me.

Good point well made...

Which brings us 'round full circle, back to the Audiolink type input gizmo's...

Or, a new head unit with a removable front panel perhaps..?

 

I'm looking for a 3.5mm input too. I have the standard double-DIN unit on a mk2.5 and a Parrot MKi9100 but the Parrot is pretty crappy and very temperamental so a hard wired job would be best. I really am NOT paying £80 for something to do this, and the FM radio transmitter is a faff (I have one). Did anyone find a solution like "adding a 3.5mm jack plug"? Thanks