Alfa Romeo Owners Club of Australia Forum

Technical => 939 Series (159, Brera and Brera Spider) => Topic started by: V AR 164 on August 06, 2018, 10:39:08 PM

Title: 159 Aux Cable Mod
Post by: V AR 164 on August 06, 2018, 10:39:08 PM
Hi all,

Recently installed a mini ISO to 3.5mm cable into the 159 using the factory headunit. My car does not have the 'Blue & Me' system.

It is a really simple job to do, however you will loose the option to use the 10 stacker CD player in the boot. But I don't think anyone uses that these days...

Remove the HU, disconnect the 10 stacker CD connector and replace it with the new cable. I routed the cable through the passenger side of the centre console and have it leading into the centre console compartment when not in use.

Simple press the 'CD' button on the HU and it will play from the 3.5mm input.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Car-Radio-Mini-ISO-to-3-5mm-Jack-Aux-Input-Interface-Cable-for-Fiat-Grande-MP3/222858307168?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

For 5 bucks you can't go wrong.

Cheers, Andrew.

Title: Re: 159 Aux Cable Mod
Post by: Craig_m67 on August 07, 2018, 07:11:14 PM
or.. you could have hacked a BT-163 USB bluetooth module for another $5 to the (perhaps existing) dummy plug and gone aux in wireless.. pinouts and the data lines you have to ground are available....

Doesn't the 159 already have bluetooth audio - or is it just phone ?
Title: Re: 159 Aux Cable Mod
Post by: bazzbazz on August 07, 2018, 08:02:42 PM
Well the 159 has a USB slot in the glove box too so you can play anything you want from a USB stick. I would have thought that to be a lot easier?
Title: Re: 159 Aux Cable Mod
Post by: Craig_m67 on August 07, 2018, 08:29:42 PM
Does it connect to anything, or just supply power?
Title: Re: 159 Aux Cable Mod
Post by: bazzbazz on August 07, 2018, 09:25:05 PM
Connects to the factory head unit and allows you to play music on it through the head unit to speakers.
Title: Re: 159 Aux Cable Mod
Post by: V AR 164 on August 07, 2018, 10:05:03 PM
Quote from: bazzbazz on August 07, 2018, 08:02:42 PM
Well the 159 has a USB slot in the glove box too so you can play anything you want from a USB stick. I would have thought that to be a lot easier?

Wait what???? It has a usb port????

Mine has a factory Bluetooth phone option using a Parrot system, but it only lets me make and answer phone calls and doesn't let you play music. The aux is nice to have as I can play anything on the go and don't have a set playlist.

Whilst bluetooth is great, I find it a pain especially when I have mates in the car and want to play music off their phone. Setting up multiple bluetooth connections is just so unnecessary when a simple cable does the exact same job.

I'm going outside now to look for this usb port....

Cheers, Andrew

Edit: Nope I don't have a USB port anywhere, maybe because it is an early series car being its a 2006 model?
Title: Re: 159 Aux Cable Mod
Post by: bazzbazz on August 07, 2018, 11:31:09 PM
I can just imagine if you did have one . . . . "SON OF A BITCH!"  ;D ;D ;D

Just so you know I am not winding you up -

(http://www.poweritalia.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/114-1024x768.jpg)
Title: Re: 159 Aux Cable Mod
Post by: V AR 164 on August 07, 2018, 11:41:25 PM
Hahahahah yup, would have been pretty mad ;D ;D
Title: Re: 159 Aux Cable Mod
Post by: kaleuclint on August 13, 2018, 09:47:41 PM
My 2.2 had a stacker in the boot -- maybe 120 tracks?  My 1750Ti has the USB socket.  A 16Gb stick works fine.  About 2000 tracks I think!  Only hassle (hardly) is converting ITunes purchases to .mp3 and deleting the numeric prefix ("01", etc.) from the song titles so it doesn't show up on the screen and so you can find tracks alphabetically.
Title: Re: 159 Aux Cable Mod
Post by: bazzbazz on August 13, 2018, 10:05:29 PM
And that begs the question, Andrew, don't suppose you had a good look in the boot?  ;)

;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: 159 Aux Cable Mod
Post by: V AR 164 on August 14, 2018, 12:00:05 AM
Indeed my car does have the stacker, but honestly who uses CD's? It's 2018, not 2008.

Plugging in my phone seems a lot easier than downloading songs, buying CD's, burning CD's then putting them in the car. Nevermind the fact you don't know what songs are on what CD's.

For $5 and 2 mins of my time I think its a much more simple solution.

Andrew.
Title: Re: 159 Aux Cable Mod
Post by: bazzbazz on August 14, 2018, 08:17:31 AM
Good god, we're talking about CDs . . . . not Vinyl.   ::)

;D
Title: Re: 159 Aux Cable Mod
Post by: V AR 164 on August 14, 2018, 11:59:24 AM
Funny you should say that, I have a small vinyl collection myself. I listen to them regularly.

I believe that vinyl has actually been outselling CD's over the past year or so. Go figure.

Watch this space for a record player install in the 159!!!

;D ;D

Andrew.
Title: Re: 159 Aux Cable Mod
Post by: Citroƫnbender on August 14, 2018, 12:20:16 PM
LOL, can just see you fitting one of these:

https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2015/06/25/spinning-vinyl-while-cruising-the-interstate/
Title: Re: 159 Aux Cable Mod
Post by: poohbah on August 14, 2018, 01:42:12 PM
I only have vinyl and CD. Nothing on my phone or other wireless sources.
Title: Re: 159 Aux Cable Mod
Post by: bazzbazz on August 14, 2018, 05:03:05 PM
Quote from: Citroƫnbender on August 14, 2018, 12:20:16 PM
LOL, can just see you fitting one of these:

https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2015/06/25/spinning-vinyl-while-cruising-the-interstate/

"She'll be riding 6 white horses when she comes . . BRRRUUUP . . . She'll be riding 6 white horses when she comes . . BRRRUUUP . . .
She'll be riding 6 white horses when she comes . . BRRRUUUP . . . She'll be riding 6 white horses when she comes . . BRRRUUUP . . .
She'll be riding 6 white horses when she comes . . BRRRUUUP . . .  . . ."   :-[

;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: 159 Aux Cable Mod
Post by: ragazzo on August 15, 2018, 02:23:43 PM
I've been using xCarlink without bluetooth so I can charge while listening to musics on my iPhone. I didn't want to go through hassle installing mic and stuff so I didn't get additional bluetooth module for it but I wouldn't mind wireless just for music streaming.

How does BT-163 exactly work ? so I still plug it in via cigar charger and connect the aux line behind HU ? It'd be awesome if there's a USB dongle works via Blue&Me port (so there's placeholder file in the dongle and HU "plays" it while the dongle taking streaming from phones) but I can only dream.