| mthomas |
All,
I have tested / used about every Ipod interface available from Bestbuy, and have found one that fits the bill 99% (see numerous posts on this subject using the search feature). This is not an advertisement, just relating my experiences. I finally went with the Peripheral Products Ipod2Car, for Asian cars.
Included in the kit:
- Various cables to interface from OEM headunits of various Asian car manufacturers (about 10 different cables) to the provided Control Module.
- Control Module (small square box with dip switches to reconfigure for different head units).
- Long cable to run from control module to mounting location of Ipod.
- Several plastic brackets to enable a variety of mounting options. These turned out to be the suprise bonus of this kit.
- Instructions (assembling and configuring components, not vehicle specific installation instructions).
The costs at Bestbuy was $199, plus tax.
Background: I previously got this product, and initial testing indicated there were some issues. Upon contacting Perpheral for support, they indicated that the '05 Pilot was an unsupported application, at which point I returned it to BB. Long story short, I was not happy with IceLink replacement after about 3 weeks in the vehicle, and re-exchanged it for the Peripheral unit. Fairwarning: the manufacturer does not support this product for the '05 Pilot, but it works pretty well for me.
My requirements, and product performance (based on 1 week testing).
- Use Ipod Interface to select music. Works as desired.
- Charges Ipod when ignition off. Works as desired.
- Use steering wheel controls to change volume. Works.
- Use steering wheel control to change source. Works.
- Use steering wheel controls to skip a song. Works with issues (appears to be about a 5 second delay, sometimes does not work).
- Sound quality. Very good.
- Clean appearing installation. Good (depending upon skill of installer).
- Single cable operation. Works.
- Allows for use of protective cover on Ipod (silicon Ipod skin with window protection in my application). Works
- Mount point to keep Ipod hidden conveniently in console when not in use. Works great!
Notes:
- When vehicle is turned off, the control module does not pause the Ipod, but stops it after about a minute. Upon restarting the vehicle the user must manually browse to the desired music and restart.
My post installation pictures below. I am not documenting taking the headunit out of the dash, or removing the center console cover in the rear, as this has been done in other places. I did not document the installation with pictures, as most has already been done many times before (and I wasn't sure how I was going to do it until I was almost done). |
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| mthomas |
I attached the control module to the underside of the dash, above the head unit with 2 sided foam tape.
I removed the rear center console cover using directions provided in another thread here (see 'page 2' picture lower in thread). Be careful with the adjustable fins on the heat/ac vents, I broke one without even noticing (looks like the entire cover would need to be relaced if a proper fix were desired).
Link to instructions for removing cover on rear of center console
With the rear cover off the center console, I drilled a hole (about 1/2") through the exposed back of the center storage bin. Starting in the storage bin, I ran the Ipod cable through the hole, down to the floor to behind the center console (control module plug end of the cable ~ round plug). Using a coat hanger, I fished the cable forward along the passenger side of the center console (after removing lower portion of the cover).
Link to thread with pics and dicussion of center console passenger side panel removal
Using a coat hanger, I fished the cable up behind the CD changer and climate controls, to the head unit area where I previously mounted the control module.
Here's a picture of the cable going through the rear of the center storage bin (with grommet purchased separately). |
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| mthomas |
Here is a picture of the inside of the center console storage bin from the top, with Ipod on the cradle provided with the Peripheral kit. The cradle is a great solution for holding the Ipod:
The cradle has a number of backing plates, one of which is a 4 inch long, 2 inch wide flexible mounting plate, with adhesive tape on the back. This flexible mounting plate fits in the OEM slot provided on the storage bin door (left one, cell phone holder removed). The thin flexible mounting plate slips under the flanges which hold the cell phone holder, and it curves to match the contour of the bin door, and size is just about perfect.
The cradle itself has adjustable jaws which could be used to hold a variety of cell phones if the Ipod is not in use. The cradle allows for continued use of business card holder (see picture).
Extra hole (bottom, next to Aux power outlet), and scratches on the Aux power fixture, were a result of my first attempt to route cable directly down the center console from the bottom of the storage bin (as I have read other people had done with other products). This approach did not work for me due to the size of the plug on the end of the Peripheral cable (1/2"). Also, the location I selected was directly above the heat/ac tunnel in the center console (glad I didn't cut anywires!). In the end, I would stongly recommend the rear console approach due to ease of access and space in fishing the wire / plug). |
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| mthomas |
Here is a picture of the Ipod held in the cradle provided with the kit, with the center console door open / down. Again, the cradle is attached to the 4" x 2" backing plate, which in turn in slipped under the OEM flanges for the cell phone holder. This fit is a better solution than I could have imagined, and really sets this kit apart from the others (for the Honda Pilot).
Note, Ipod is in silicon 'skin' with window cover for further protection from use in vehicle (and outside). Image on Ipod display shows charging from vehicle in progress (vehicle ignition is off). |
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| mthomas |
| Ipod in use, bin door down, cradle visible. Music is selected from the Ipod, while holding the Ipod. Ipod normally sits in center console, or in cradle, while driving. Ipod may be used by driver, passenger, or rear seat passenger, given the appropriate length of cable is left in the center storage bin. |
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| mthomas |
| Ipod on cradle, storage bin door closed (normal storage position). Safe from view while parked, out of the way when driving, easy to access location. |
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| mthomas |
Packaging.
If I had the above instructions, and had to reinstall this product from scratch, I'd say it would be about a 1 to 1 1/2 hour job, taking my time. I'd rate this as a '2' on a difficulty scale of 1 to 5 (a little more complicated than changing the oil and filter the first time). Until a bluetooth solution for a non-bluetooth enabled headunit comes along, this one works and looks pretty good. (satisfaction a 4.8 on a scale of 1 to 5). |
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| sdihome |
Hey mthomas,
What model of Pilot do you have. Do you have NAV or RES. Also do you have XM. Where did you plug into the head unit. Thanks, sdihome |
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| mthomas |
'o5 EX-L, No nav or RES.
Ipod2Car connects instead of OEM cd changer. The kit provides for various adapter plugs which allow the OEM headunit to connect to the Peripheral control module. |
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| florida_guy |
[QUOTE]Originally posted by mthomas
[B]
Notes:
- When vehicle is turned off, the control module does not pause the Ipod, but stops it after about a minute. Upon restarting the vehicle the user must manually browse to the desired music and restart.wasn't sure how I was going to do it until I was almost done).[QUOTE]
To be sure I understand. If you are out shopping every time you come out of a store to go to the next one you have to re-search and scroll forward to pick up where you left off in a song?... assuming you remember. That is a disqualification in my book.
What did you not like about the IceLink? |
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| mthomas |
My IceLink experiences
The Peripheral works better for me than the IceLink (which I had installed for about 2 weeks). The Peri unit stops playing and charges the unit reliably without me having to press stop on the Ipod. Actually the Peri unit 'pauses' about 80% of the time. I have not yet determined the sequence of events which causes the Ipod to 'stop'; implying loosing it's place, vs 'pause' which allows me to restart from where it left off by pressing the play button on the Ipod. |
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