[scot]

elambo: possibly there is a running revision that went in so the cd changer was grounded better. What year is yours?

You could also just try grounding the cd-changer (for those with noise) directly to the bar elambo mentioned. That may help reduce or eliminate the noise.

[elambo]

My QP is a late '07.

After figuring out how to tame this grounding issue I passed it along to eboltron who didn't seem aware of it at the time. Maybe it's not such a popular problem. Either way, grounding the adapter cable goes a long way towards silence, though it might take some wrestling to find the best spot.

[2000c43]

XCarLink Update: I received the unit today in the mail without any trouble and relatively quickly. The unit itself is small, lightweight, and seems well built. The bluetooth module plugs into a port on the side of the unit and has a separate long thin wire for the microphone, which is great and should be easy to run up the sunvisor area without much trouble. I'll post back once I get a chance to see how it installs and if it works. On a side note, I saw people posting about noise with the "eboltron" cable. Interstingly enough, the instructions to the XCarLink state that on some cars, it is necessary to connect the two wires terminated with crimp on male and female wire bullets together (you can see them in the pictures below) to eliminate any grounding noise. I know that people have tried grounding the "eboltron" cable to eliminate noise, but I thought I would pass this information along since it seems to be the solution this manufacturer has chosen in the event a noise problem exists.

[scot]

That is grounding the audio chain to the chassis ground. That should work as well, but if you have a cd-changer that isnt unplugged (as in the case with the cable only solution), it might only make it better and not kill the clicking noise.

So have you tried using the ipod connection yet?

[2000c43]

It works!!! Just plugged it in to make sure it works and experiment with it before I install it permanently. So far, it is great. Purchased a trim clip removal tool from Pep Boys and removed the three black trim clips holding the panel under the CD changer as well as the one plastic "nut" by the gas pedal and the metal nut by the dead pedal to remove the trim panel. Unplugged the changer and plugged in the XCarLink with the car off and plugged the iPod cable and Bluetooth module into the XCarLink. Powered up the car and it worked great right away. I did have the plug the two "bullet connectors" together on the XCarLink per the XCarLink manual to eliminate the "click" that other members have heard using the eboltron cable. Sounds perfect once those bullet connectors were connected. iPod can be controlled using the iPod itself in "iPod mode" by selecting CD1. Alternatively, you can select CD2 to go into XCarLink mode which gives you Playlist 1, CD3 for Playlist 2, and so on. iPod pauses when you switch to Radio or turn off the car and iPod restarts when you select CD or turn the car on. Steering wheel controls and radio controls work for skip, search, etc. A2DP streaming works as well as does the hands free Bluetooth for the phone. Made a few quick test calls and people said I sounded great using the Bluetooth. When you finish a phone call, the iPod or A2DP streaming starts up again. Truly plug and play...didn't have to modify the cars wiring at all. The XCarLink charges the iPod when it is plugged in without having to connect any additional wires for power or ground...everything comes from the factory harness with the one Blaupunkt style plug. Going to install everything nicer now that I feel confident that it is working properly and will report back once I drive around and use it for a bit and provide some pictures.

[2000c43]

Forgot to mention that I tested it using a fifth generation iPod video. I do not have a more modern iPod touch or nano to try those out. I'll try to try those out by borrowing a friends iPod touch, etc. to see how they work. As far as Bluetooth, I am using a iPhone 3GS and the A2DP and hands free worked with my iPhone 3GS.

[elambo]

That's fantastic news and it sounds like a complete success. I see this in my future.

[2000c43]

Drove around to run some errands and it seems to work very well. When a call comes in the music fades to pause and you can answer the call one of three ways: 1. from the phone 2. by pushing the Bluetooth button on the Bluetooth adapter or 3. by holding track forward on the steering wheel or radio (which is what I do). You hang up the call using any of the same three methods (I use the hold track forward method). The call hangs up and then the music starts again. When using the iPod to play music, if you want to start streaming music via Bluetooth, the XCarLink simply switches to Bluetooth automatically when you start playing music. When you stop streaming music via Bluetooth, there is a short pause, and then music starts playing again via the iPod.

Here are some pics of the install. Basically, I removed the trim panel under the changer and plugged in the XCarLink as I described above. After that, I decided to just remove the changer all together since it wasn't functional anymore and to provide a place to mount the XCarLink and iPod. Very easy to remove the changer using standard radio removal tools inserted in the front and pushing it a bit from the back of the changer with your hand. It is a standard DIN size and has a Fiat sticker on it, which makes sense and now also makes sense why this XCarLink works since it is for a Fiat as well. Then, I used some Velcro to mount the XCarLink and my iPod to the empty changer spot. I ran the wire for the Bluetooth module under the trim panels and put the Bluetooth puck right next to the hood latch release lever. From there, there was the perfect amount of wire to run the microphone up the A pillar and to the corner of the windshield using my hands.

In the end, no tools are needed to do this other than a socket to remove the one bolt by the dead pedal, a trim clip remover to remove the clips holding the panel under the CD changer, standard radio removal tool (if you are inclined to remove the changer), and some Velcro or double sided tape.

I am going to keep using it and will report back with any strange behavior, problems, etc. I think it would be even better to make up a simple trim panel to put in place of the changer to give a "finished" look to where the changer used to be for a place for the iPod, sunglasses, etc. Obviously, if someone is only interested in the Bluetooth A2DP and hands free functionality, you could mount the XCarLink completely out of sight and use the entire area where the changer was located for storage and just use Bluetooth to play music and hands free.

[2000c43]

Quick update: Still really enjoying the XCarLink so far but there is a glitch. When listening to the iPod and you take a call, change to FM and then back to iPod, change to A2DP and then back to iPod, or turn the radio off using the radio power button and then back on again...the iPod picks up again playing the song right where you left off. However, if you turn the car off for longer than a few minutes, the whole system sort of "resets" itself and when you turn the car back on again the iPod starts playing but from CD1 (iPod mode) and from the first song on the entire iPod and the same first song every time. At that point, you can simply track forward or select another playlist by choosing CD2, 3, 4 or 5, but that doesn't change the fact that you are pretty much starting over again when you turn on the car to get to the playlist or song you want. Not a big deal for some and maybe a big deal for others. If you are only using the A2DP and hands free functaonality, then this wouldn't be a factor for you anyway. I have emailed XCarLink to see if they are aware of this issue or have a fix for it. Even with this issue, for ease of installtion, no modifications to the car, the price (approx $170), steering wheel controls, great sound quality, and fast changing of tracks...I am still really happy with it. If XCarLink can has a fix for getting the iPod to start playing where it left off every time, it would be that much better. Will let you know when I hear back from XCarLink.

[zfb]

That's good enough for me. Put an order through for one as well.

Should arrive soon. Thanks for the helpful writeup and pictures!

[2000c43]

Still using and enjoying the XCarLink. Have been emailing back and forth with the manufacturer to determine why the unit doesn't start up the iPod where it "left off" when turning off the car. In addition, there are times when the unit can be slow to start playing music and seems to get "locked up" or "confused". Eventually, music starts playing but there is a big delay. They have been very responsive and will report back if that issues can be eliminated. Alternatively, they believe that I may just have a defective unit and I believe they are going to ship out a replacement. In either case, I will report back if the company is able to work out these kinks or if the replacement unit simply solves the intermittent issues.

In the meantime, I purchased a $15 universal DIN size pocket from Crutchfield to make the opening where the CD changer was look a little more factory. Super easy...no modifications to the car necessary whatsoever and didn't even have to remove the factory sleeve for the original CD changer. Just put the kit together, drilled a whole in the back to pass the iPod cable through, trimmed off just a little plastic on the tabs so that it fit all the way flush, and just pressed fit the pocket in place of the CD changer. There was just a few small areas of silver showing from the factory sleeve that holds the original CD changer, so I used a few small strips of electrical tape to cover the silver before putting in the pocket. I suppose one could have used a Sharpie to color the silver black as well or just leave it alone since it was so minor. Really happy with the results and really like the fact that neither the XCarLink nor the DIN size pocket required any modifications or cutting to the car. The total project cost is under $200 ($170 for the XCarLink with Bluetooth and $15 for the DIN size pocket).

Universal DIN Pocket at Crutchfield.com

[elambo]

It's looking great and with the changer gone you have added space for the iPod, but for other things as well. And with the pics and descriptions you're making this very easy for the rest of us who will follow.

[QP Sport]

Originally Posted by 2000c43

I placed an order today for the XCarLink iPod adapter with the extra A2DP / Handsfree Bluetooth module. I purchased the model designated for the Fiat (SKU2139) from iPod CD changer adapter, VW iPod, Music Link, xCarLink based upon their correspondence...

Any update yet? If you need, I have pictures of the back of QP07 head unit which may be of interest as regards connections which I took when playing with some different options for iPod connection.

[2000c43]

XCarLink is shipping a replacement unit to me to see if some of the intermittent issues are being caused by a faulty unit. I report back when I receive it. In the mean time, still really enjoying having the iPod in the car and the Bluetooth.

[trygve11]

Does the iPhone automatically pair with the A2DP or do you need to go into Settings, General, Bluetooth, and then connect manually each time you get into the car and want to get this rolling??