I know there have been posts before about the Dice Ipod integration and the Vaistech Ipod Integration, but i have decided to buy one or the other now and I wanted to know what you, the people who have them, thought of them, and if you would do it again if you had the chance.

 

i would do the vaistech ipod integration again if i had to. having never seen the dice, the vais' price was right, it has the i-agree trick, and it does what it says it will. oh and the customer service is great, too.

the plusses are easy installation, compact unit, and a good use of folders. the one negative is the slight delay in tuning from track to track.

 

Ken,

Didn't you have a lot of problems with your unit overheating?

 

Yes for awhile I did. The plastic part of the harnass connector partically deformed. Vais sent out a replacement right away. I'll try to install the replacement this weekend.

 

For those of us who don't want to actually open up our IS in anyway: what is the best ipod integration solution?

 

I had some issues with the VAIS for non-Navi/non-ML (and the VAIS people were really really helpful just wouldn't work for me so I'd recommend them anyways) so I went with a Belkin Auto Kit with Dock Connector (F8V7058-APL).

It uses the dock connector and has a mini out jack so you can plug into your AUX input directly. So you get the advantages of using the iPod's direct output thru the dock, charges the iPod at the same time and I added an iPod remote unti (forget the name offhand) so I have a little remote which I use to change tracks and put the iPod into sleep mode when I turn off the car.

My next step is to open up the center console, tap the center console box power unit wiring and add 2 hidden power outlets: one with the iPod adapter permently plugged in with a ground loop isolator and the second for the power adapter for my XM unit.

 

Captain Obvious says:

 

haha, so true!

 

what is the big differences between the two, besides price?

 

No that's just funny!!

 

As for the non-open-her-up option, I did the following:

The Belkin TunDok: This guy holds my iPOD video and Nano in the armrest cup holder. It has height adjustment, so the sliding armrest still closes.
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProdu...duct_Id=153999

For power, I used the Belkin adapter. It connects to the iPOD port and controls volume out.
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProdu...duct_Id=193794

I used a Radioshack 12v bending adapter to accomodate the tight space. I can't find it on their site, but anyhoo.

I ran in this config for a while, but there is a ground loop problem with the armrest 12v adapter that causes a rather nasty engine whine to play through the speakers (poor man's turbo). The dealership was unable/unwilling to fix this problem so I purchased a PAC ground loop isolator.
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-9HX6Mxq...op&i=127SNI135

It now works perfectly, although the armrest storage compartment is pretty much useless for anything but the ipod.

Let me know if anybody wants pics.