Hello everyone
Long story short, i have no way to officially play music from my phone in my car (2004 W211). I am looking to buy a bluetooth FM transmitter, what can you guys recommend for good sound quality?
Better than any short-range FM transmitter, you can get a hardwired [FM modulator with Bluetooth] that plugs directly into the antenna port in the back of the radio head unit, then your stock antenna cable plugs into the modulator. The modulator picks up your Bluetooth and taps the output signal directly into the physical antenna circuit at one of (usually) two selectable frequencies on the radio dial; here’s an eBay search for them.
There’s also similar, older-style FM modulators without Bluetooth, just an aux-in jack; these were commonly used to tap aftermarket CD changers into stock factory radios back in the day. IMO these would be preferable if your audio source (e.g. phone) has an aux-out/line-out or headphone jack. Anywhere you can eliminate a wireless signal in favor of a hardwired connection for audio, the better.
Finally, if your stock head unit has a cassette player, there’s also rechargeable dummy cassettes with Bluetooth built-in, so your phone would transmit a BT signal to the cassette adapter, which would then feed the audio signal right into the tape head just like playing a real cassette tape.
Thanks for the tips. That seems really interesting I’ll look into it
Surely there must be better ways to upgrade that car.
Either a USB or BT module or just replace the head unit?
FM transmitters “work”, but it’s crappy deluxe. If you can just pop in a different head-unit then you are spoiled for choice.
If it’s a very integrated thingy, like my 2005 A6 had a MOST bus and all the hardware except for the CD changer was in the trunk connected with fiber optics.
Got a third party module that pretended to be the CD-changer and gave me a USB-interface and optional Bluetooth.
Obviously the car is 20 years next year, so don’t go overboard, but if you can swap in a DIN-unit that’s basically the same price as an FM transmitter.
thanks for the tip
Someone should make a cassette adapter that’s charged by the lil gears that spin the tape
Try this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HDO66NK
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If your vehicle is a 2004 you might be able to relatively easily just get an aftermarket radio with Bluetooth and all that jazz, might liven up your sound system a bit too depending on the quality of the stock unit.
I’d rather not to as it’s too expensive for me to justify
What did you look at? A bare bones single din JVC, Pioneer, Alpine, on Crutchfield is around $120. If your car has a double din it’ll come with a dash kit for free to make it look nice.
It comes with everything you need except trim panel tools and wire crimps.
By the time you did all this junk you might as well had spent the $120.
If i replace something i’ll need to replace the whole infotainment unit, the cheapest acceptable one (still chinese) is around 300 euros.