Adding bluetooth to stock stereo/radio/head unit

Never thought of that!

Its a small sacrifice.

 

BT Unit is working good. Magnet Mount is awesome and perfectly placed ergonomically.

Figuring out the Mojo on running my charger wire between the stereo face and bezel trim. Think I have the room to do so and will run it down and out the shroud joint below the drink holder to plug into the adapter ports.

 

This is all good to hear.

For your consideration for the usb cord: I bought this usb power adapter and will wire it behind the dash to one of the 12 volt jacks. The gang of outlets will be mounted to or near the glove box (adhesive velcro, 3M VHB, etc., also behind the dash). I'll route a cord from this box out to the front of the dash whenever I decide where my phone will go. This will leave a few jacks available for charging a kindle or phone while they sit in the glovebox out of sight. For your application it sounds like it would keep the phone cord from coming back out to the front of the dash into the adapter port (if I'm understanding your description correctly).

FWIW, YMMV.

$13 DC Converter with Battery Clip 12V 24V to 5V 8A USB Power Adapter Buck Regulator Charger, 4 Ports Automatically Identify shunt Charging, Suitable for iPhone Android Samsung Galaxy S10 s9 Plus

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08MCZNYZN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s01?ie=UTF8

 

I have a 2006 Tundra with stock double DIN stereo/cd player. I don't care so much about phone calls but, I'd love to be able to stream Pandora, Spotify, etc.. It would appear that the easiest and cheapest solution is the Scosche adaptor. Am I wrong.

I bought a device a while back but had to return it as it required a cord from my phone to the stereo. My stereo does not have an AUX jack so I had to send it back.

 

$40, stick it in the lighter and tune the radio seems easy. For basic audio bluetooth to FM probably works fine but you may have to adjust the FM signal if traveling and you come across a station broadcasting on that frequency.

For $16 more you get the device listed at the start of this thread that tucks away out of sight and allows some use of head unit controls to advance/return tracks. 100% your call. Each has advantages.

 

So glad to have found this thread. I had been looking at new stereos but, after seeing this, I looked into Bluetooth transmitters and ordered one. Saved me a good bit of $ if it works as good as advertised. Can't wait to try it out. Thanks!

 

Not really?
For under $100 you can get a new radio and adapters and I could install one in 15 minutes in any parking lot anywhere.
I can not imagine jacking around with anything else when a new radio is so much better sounding and easier to use in the end.

And I am talking about any cheap Pionner,Kenwood,JVC,Sony or Alpine that these days has all of the features already in it.

 

Yeah. I get it, but if you like the OEM look and can still only spend $55 on a BT versus $110 for a cheapy shiny DD touch screen without a on/off dial for volume I’ll pick the former. Win win.

 

$19 Nulaxy Bluetooth FM Transmitter for Car, Upgraded Manual Power On/Off Switch Wireless Car Radio Bluetooth Adapter Supports Hands free Calls, USB Fast Charging, microSD Card, Aux Play - KM18 Plus Black

https://www.amazon.com/Nulaxy-Bluetooth-Transmitter-Upgraded-Wireless/dp/B074Y11C8B

$22.99, 2 minute installation. No need to buy and install a cheap stereo even though I'm not sure you'd find anything worth a crap for "under $100".

Some people.

 

I dont disagree but that is not really what I suggested either.

You can get a single Din radio from the major makers with a Volume Control Knob and BT and other screaming services built-in for way under $100 and no adapters needed if you can read and crimp connectors together and it will just be a better alternative to the factory radio in every single way except it will not look like the factory radio which will still look itself like a 15 year old radio at best.

I understand your feelings about it and we each want what we want for sure but if I compare what I want to what I give up to getit I have no real choice but to buy a new cheap radio.

To each his own though clearly.

 

A few notes as I finally finished this project...

Magnetic mount. I noodled a half-dozen alternatives such as window mounts, vent mounts, CD slot mounts, etc. I'm not crazy about using adhesives but this was the best position for my preferences. The power cord for my phone is parked in the vent when not in use. The cord disappears behind the dash and heads to the USB jack in the glovebox.



Sideview of the mount...



With the phone mounted. When the gear shift lever is in park it is close to the face of the phone but it works fine for me after a few weeks of use.


A shin's eye view of where the cord goes behind the dash. Again, I noodled a half dozen alternatives and landed on this one. It's a direct path to the phone, where it goes behind the dash is not visible and it's easy to pull out/push in the cord to the needed length.


USB ports in the glovebox to charge phone, ipad, kindle, flashlight while keeping wires and devices out of sight. The center console is a good possibility for another set of power ports. This USB port is connected to always on power pulled from the trailer light adapter (blue box) near the head-unit.