2005 ES330 Aux input Bluetooth vs aftermarket replacement
11-02-17, 07:47 AM
#1
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2005 ES330 Aux input Bluetooth vs aftermarket replacement
I have a 2005 ES330 with Mark Levinson with Nav/Navigation with CD changer in the armrest. Basically I'd like an aux input. Better would be to have bluetooth capability. I don't care if I lose the cd changer.
My questions are:
GTA doesn't sell an aux input or bluetooth car kit that will work with Navigation. Grom, from what I can tell is glitchy and the cable that goes from a 3.5mm jack to a 8 pin mini din connector, for the aux input, is proprietary and poorly made, with people complaining that they need to replace it several times per year.
New head units have their own issues ranging from wiring harness issues, to climate control issues, to the voice on the nav not working, to issues with the steering wheel controls, to questions on whether the airbags will work!! And new systems might have to include new amps or preamps or subwoofers, I'm not sure, I can't suss it out.
I've seen people who constructed their own wiring harnesses. But I can't do all that.
So the easiest thing would be to find a car kit for adding an aux input, hopefully with bluetooth. Some people seem to be able to solder one in, but there has to be a simpler way, no?
Any help is greatly appreciated.
My questions are:
- Is there a kit that works well with my system? Hopefully something I can do myself.
- If not, what is the simplest/cheapest way to replace the whole thing with a head unit with an aux input, bluetooth and nav? And how much money are we talking here? Is there a wiring harness that covers all the bases?
- Is there a way to merely pull the cd changer from the armrest and use that input for an mp3 player or my phone?
- Should I just use the Grom unit and expect to buy a new cable several times per year. Still cheaper than a whole new head unit, no?
GTA doesn't sell an aux input or bluetooth car kit that will work with Navigation. Grom, from what I can tell is glitchy and the cable that goes from a 3.5mm jack to a 8 pin mini din connector, for the aux input, is proprietary and poorly made, with people complaining that they need to replace it several times per year.
New head units have their own issues ranging from wiring harness issues, to climate control issues, to the voice on the nav not working, to issues with the steering wheel controls, to questions on whether the airbags will work!! And new systems might have to include new amps or preamps or subwoofers, I'm not sure, I can't suss it out.
I've seen people who constructed their own wiring harnesses. But I can't do all that.
So the easiest thing would be to find a car kit for adding an aux input, hopefully with bluetooth. Some people seem to be able to solder one in, but there has to be a simpler way, no?
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Last edited by Rotcod; 11-02-17 at 07:55 AM. Reason: adding to question
11-03-17, 06:28 PM
#2
Driver School Candidate
I have a 04 es330 with Mark Levinson and Navi. I bought the grom aux 3.5mm input. Used for about 1 year with no issues.
To note: In order to work properly, I needed to put a single blank cd in the cd changer by itself.... I wrote to grom when it wasn’t reading the aux input and they said to disconnect the cd changer. but I didn’t know how to do that and I discovered the blank cd trick.
To note: In order to work properly, I needed to put a single blank cd in the cd changer by itself.... I wrote to grom when it wasn’t reading the aux input and they said to disconnect the cd changer. but I didn’t know how to do that and I discovered the blank cd trick.
11-04-17, 04:59 PM
#3
Lexus Champion
If your handy you can open the CD changer and find the L- L+ R- and R+ lines and solder an AUX jack to it.
Then insert a blank CD and it will read from your aux device.
Then insert a blank CD and it will read from your aux device.
12-31-17, 08:25 AM
#4
Driver School Candidate
I have a 2005 ES330 with Mark Levinson with Nav/Navigation with CD changer in the armrest. Basically I'd like an aux input. Better would be to have bluetooth capability. I don't care if I lose the cd changer.
My questions are:
GTA doesn't sell an aux input or bluetooth car kit that will work with Navigation. Grom, from what I can tell is glitchy and the cable that goes from a 3.5mm jack to a 8 pin mini din connector, for the aux input, is proprietary and poorly made, with people complaining that they need to replace it several times per year.
New head units have their own issues ranging from wiring harness issues, to climate control issues, to the voice on the nav not working, to issues with the steering wheel controls, to questions on whether the airbags will work!! And new systems might have to include new amps or preamps or subwoofers, I'm not sure, I can't suss it out.
I've seen people who constructed their own wiring harnesses. But I can't do all that.
So the easiest thing would be to find a car kit for adding an aux input, hopefully with bluetooth. Some people seem to be able to solder one in, but there has to be a simpler way, no?
Any help is greatly appreciated.
My questions are:
- Is there a kit that works well with my system? Hopefully something I can do myself.
- If not, what is the simplest/cheapest way to replace the whole thing with a head unit with an aux input, bluetooth and nav? And how much money are we talking here? Is there a wiring harness that covers all the bases?
- Is there a way to merely pull the cd changer from the armrest and use that input for an mp3 player or my phone?
- Should I just use the Grom unit and expect to buy a new cable several times per year. Still cheaper than a whole new head unit, no?
GTA doesn't sell an aux input or bluetooth car kit that will work with Navigation. Grom, from what I can tell is glitchy and the cable that goes from a 3.5mm jack to a 8 pin mini din connector, for the aux input, is proprietary and poorly made, with people complaining that they need to replace it several times per year.
New head units have their own issues ranging from wiring harness issues, to climate control issues, to the voice on the nav not working, to issues with the steering wheel controls, to questions on whether the airbags will work!! And new systems might have to include new amps or preamps or subwoofers, I'm not sure, I can't suss it out.
I've seen people who constructed their own wiring harnesses. But I can't do all that.
So the easiest thing would be to find a car kit for adding an aux input, hopefully with bluetooth. Some people seem to be able to solder one in, but there has to be a simpler way, no?
Any help is greatly appreciated.
01-04-18, 05:28 PM
#5
Any chance this work with the tape deck? I actually use my 6 disc changer. I don’t know if my tapedeck is broken, or The terrible quality five dollar cassette adapter I bought is at fault, but sometimes (often) I don’t have stereo sound and I have to eject and pop it back in. I can’t find my old school high-quality cassette adapter from the 1990s… That worked great in previous vehicles.
What I’m wondering is, is there a way to wire an ox to the Cassatt side, and if I put a dummy cassette in, use tape mode as aux
01-04-18, 06:29 PM
#6
Check that out!!!! Can’t imagine it’s nearly as pleasant with the 6 CD changer in our 4ES. I like the tape deck idea better because I use CDs again I get a thrill from finding early 90’s late 80’s stuff from my childhood and listing to the whole thing. I was a music junky early... Parents have photos of me passed out next to albums of my choosing wearing studio headphones at 2-3 years old
I REALLY want to do this to my car! I will use a jack, though, as in my experience, cables go bad.
And GOOD sources for QUALITY jacks?
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