I’m due to pick up my new MX-5 on Monday (). It has an aux socket so I know I can play my iPod or iPhone through the stereo, and that’s fine.
However, I was wondering if there’s an easy way to install a USB charging socket into the car as well - or even a unit that would plug into the stereo so I can play and charge on a single cable.
I currently have a bluetooth adapter that plugs into the cigarette lighter of my car and connects wirelessly to the phone, but also has a USB plug on it so I can charge the phone. It worked well enough, but recently fell apart and shorted the fuse to socket. I’d rather not have the same happen again!
I believe that there is an Ipod interfcae, whether or not this will charge at the same time though I’ve no idea.
I’ve done something for Android, consisting of a 12v to 5v step down, a 5 port USB hub, a USB DAC, 180GB SSD drive, and all connected via the CD Interchanger socket.
Now I can browse all the audio on the SSD drive via android and stream this to the headunit.
I picked up the SSD at work, so this didn’t cost me anything.
All the other bits came to about £20.0, it’s all tucked away behind the glovebox.
I’ve done exactly that by using this type of cable and a double usb power connector fitted into the auxillary power socket. Readily available on ebay.
It was fitted like this. This is on a 2010 car. Centre console varies a little on earlier NC cars.
I wanted it reasonably discrete so I removed the radio unit to cut a small hole above the power outlet to route the cabling up and back to the glovebox.
Bear in mind, if you want to remove the radio, there is an anti-theft bolt to remove. It is a bit fiddly to get out. I had removed the radio a couple of weeks earlier to clean the laser so the security bolt had already been removed.
Now I can use the iphone or ipod as a music source and charge at the same time.
The Mk3.5 is different to the Mk3 in that it has an Aux socket which is powered from the CD changer port on the radio. I tried to replace this with an XCarLink bluetooth box (featuring phone charging, steering wheel controls and an aux input too) at about £110 but it didn’t work properly on my car so I returned it for a refund. May work for you though. Whereas a similar unit on my previous Mk3.0 was fantastic.
The alternative is a USB charger in the power outlet socket and a 3.5mm aux jack. Your bluetooth adapter may also claim the power socket so a doubler could do the job but there isn’t much room in the MX5 for all that kit and the phone. It may be possible though to piggy back your kit with some 3m connectors behind the radio / in the glove box if you are knowledgeable in the fitting department.
Personally I’m now contemplating a Pioneer double din satnav/DAB/bluetooth installation done professionally at about £1,000 but it isn’t really a sensible option on an £8k car is it?
I assume with the standard aux connection that I’ll still have the standard volume controls but no control over the ipod itself through the steering wheel/stereo controls? Not a big issue - I tend to just put a playlist on shuffle, but my wife’s car has the all-singing, all-dancing USB connection as well as the aux plug, so I’m curious.
Yep, I have std controls via the stereo unit. You can also play around with the graphic equalizer or sound genre on the ipod to establish personal bass/treble levels, if you desire.
No control over the ipod via steering wheel controls to navigate tracks … but that’s never been a concern to me.
Like you, I have many playlists varying from 60 to 230 tracks so I just let it run.
The cable and USB port thingy were about £4.50 from Ebay. My only criteria in searching was that they both had to be black. Many cables are white … so check colour being dispatched.
