What Parrot Kit Do I Get?

[E.Anderson]

I'm looking for steeering wheel controls as well as the ability to play music via bluetooth phone.

Is this possible? Parrot's site is absolutely useless as they have no number to call.

i've been looking at this site as well http://www.quickconnectproducts.com but they can't tell me if i can play music through BT or not.

any help would be greatly appreciated.

[QuattroTi]

Parrot kits are meant to interrupt a max of 4 speakers, steering wheel controls will not work with these kits. Bluetooth audio sucks already, sound quality will suck even worse when the Parrot amp outputs the sound to the speakers. These kits are good for handsfree call functionality but they are absolute garbage for audio. You will also have a tacky screen and button cluster laying around your dash. Change out your headunit for a BT one, you will be much happier.

[E.Anderson]

Quattro, so all i would need is a head unit (symphony2) that has BT already enabled? then run the mic myself and enable BT via VAG?

[QuattroTi]

what i meant was aftermarket head unit. I have the bluetooth phone prep package on my a4, it has the dock in the center console and a module somewhere im sure. I didnt know i had BT until a month after i bought my car (found time to read the manual); before then the dealership (Audi Pembroke Pines) looked at it tried to rip me off by telling me they could add it for approx $600-$700!!! when i already had it!.

[E.Anderson]

I don't care for the look of an aftermarket head unit. So i guess my only option is pay the 700 for OEM BT

[funky_snowman]

do NOT buy oem bluetooth. It's nice, but I wouldn't pay for it. It's a little glitchy honestly, and VERY overpriced.

visit enfigcarstereo if you absolutely must add anything to the stock unit. They sell the only worthwhile products imo. There is a dension unit that has bluetooth a2dp support I think. I have the ipod/usb/3.5mm dension unit and I like it well enough. The functionality is such that the usability bottleneck is really the HU, not the dension unit.

[papadelogan]

I wanted bluetooth and an auxiliary input. I saved a couple HUNDRED dollars and bought a Kenwood double-din deck with those features built-in, and now I also have my ipod connected AND can watch regular DVDS and still have the option to add a backup camera.

I started to add a Parrot BT kit.... the kit was ~$100, the wiring to get it to work with the SWMF buttons was almost $200 ADDITIONAL!!!

OEM for the fail on this one.

[grizzles]

steering wheel controls will not work with these kits.

Not true.

OP: You would need these two items:
1) MKi9000 ($141.99 from Amazon): http://www.amazon.com/Parrot-MKi9000-Advanced-Bluetooth-hands-free/dp/B001L10OF8
2) UNIKA PI090020AA ($99 from Parrot): http://www.parrotshopping.com/us/p_parrot_item.aspx?i=182081

You can use different Parrot kits but I prefer my interior stock so I would personally want the MKi9000 so I could either hide the controller under the dash or not use it at all (not sure if you can do that with these or not). I previously had the evolution 3000 I think it was and you didn't even need the controller, just the steering wheel controls, worked like a champ I just didn't like the mic.

[E.Anderson]

This kit says it only works with Apple crap. I have a Droid. What did you not like about the mic grizzles? What are you using now?

[Charles.waite]

Not true.

OP: You would need these two items:
1) MKi9000 ($141.99 from Amazon): http://www.amazon.com/Parrot-MKi9000-Advanced-Bluetooth-hands-free/dp/B001L10OF8
2) UNIKA PI090020AA ($99 from Parrot): http://www.parrotshopping.com/us/p_parrot_item.aspx?i=182081

You can use different Parrot kits but I prefer my interior stock so I would personally want the MKi9000 so I could either hide the controller under the dash or not use it at all (not sure if you can do that with these or not). I previously had the evolution 3000 I think it was and you didn't even need the controller, just the steering wheel controls, worked like a champ I just didn't like the mic.

I was looking into this a while back and the Parrot kits were well regarded. OP don't bother with an OEM blutooth kit, WAAY to expensive. The bluetooth box itself is under the passenger seat I believe. I almost pulled the trigger on a Dension Gateway system but I talked to a guy at a shop nearby who installed them and he said the parrot kits were much better. The tradeoff is you dont get the extra functionality of an iPod connection, but it looks like you have an AUX in mod so you're fine. This harness will adapt your steering wheel controls to a parrot 3000 Evolution (not sure if it works for other ones as well): LINK (http://www.quickconnectproducts.com/steeringwheelwith3000.html). Anyway just an idea. If all you're looking for is bluetooth I would get a parrot system and wire it up yourself (if you're up to the task). DOesn't seem hard at all if you don't mind spending a bit more on premade harnesses.

EDIT: They do sell ones for the mk9000 also. Just go to their homepage (http://www.quickconnectproducts.com) and use the harness lookup and select retain steering wheel controls. They're pricey, butnot much more than having a shop install and the positive is it is totally removable and integrates with the wheel controls.

[E.Anderson]

Thanks for your help Charles. I did some more research and it looks like my options are as follows.

1. Get the CK3000 WITH steering wheel controls but does NOT have the ability to stream music via BT
2. Get the MKi9000 which is NOT compatible with steering wheel control but DOES stream music via BT.

UGH!! This BT dilemma is so difficult! I really don't want to have that module taped to my dash somewhere....maybe hide it under the driver by the owners manual?

Does anybody know if i HAVE to use the controller on the MKi9000 to make/receive calls? Or can I just hide it away and never use it?

[grizzles]

This kit says it only works with Apple crap. I have a Droid. What did you not like about the mic grizzles? What are you using now?

I think they just say Apple because it will get more sales from people who don't know better...A2DP is a protocol that all the devices use so shouldn't be specific.

I had the CK3000 and I put the mic in the stock position, everyone I called had trouble hearing me and I got sick of it so I ripped it out and it's in the box in my closet. The steering wheel controls worked very well with it however.

[grizzles]

Thanks for your help Charles. I did some more research and it looks like my options are as follows.

1. Get the CK3000 WITH steering wheel controls but does NOT have the ability to stream music via BT
2. Get the MKi9000 which is NOT compatible with steering wheel control but DOES stream music via BT.

UGH!! This BT dilemma is so difficult! I really don't want to have that module taped to my dash somewhere....maybe hide it under the driver by the owners manual?

Does anybody know if i HAVE to use the controller on the MKi9000 to make/receive calls? Or can I just hide it away and never use it?

Charles edited his post, as you can see from my original one I posted a link to the steering wheel control module which would eliminate the need for the controller. I think $250 for the whole shebang is reasonable.

[Charles.waite]

Charles edited his post, as you can see from my original one I posted a link to the steering wheel control module which would eliminate the need for the controller. I think $250 for the whole shebang is reasonable.

Hah, thats what I get for not clicking the links before responding. The compatibility list on the second link doesn't work though and I would bet money it requires splicing and wiring diagrams to sort out.

E.Anderson, it looks like they do sell a kit specifically for the MKi9000 but the description is for the 3000 so who knows. The harness I linked to was $290 which is VERY steep, but it APPEARS to include the Parrot system and steering wheel control box as well. Their website is even worse than Parrot's website, so its hard to tell what it actually comes with though. I would shoot them an email and ask as $290 for everything a reasonable, but $290 for just the harness and steering wheel box is pricey. Of course it looks pretty plug and play which could be a bonus depending on your skill with stereo wiring. I am a total noob in that department, so I would rather pay someone to make a harness for me than try to do it myself.

[grizzles]

Yeah, I will say that I had to do a bit of wiring on my CK3000 setup although I am comfortable with that stuff.

[E.Anderson]

Absolutely, id much rather have a harness ready to go "plug n play"

Charles, I called quick connect and the 289 deal is ONLY for the 3000 (harness and parrot included). To see the harness for the 9000 you have to remove steering wheel controls because it isn't compatible..exactly how the everyday person would know that is beyond me. If you have steering wheel control selected it goes to the only option they have available, the 3000....Stupid website design I know. The 9000 harness is $55

MKi9000 Question...
Do I have to use the controller? If I can make/receive calls without touching the controller, id have no problem tucking it away where nobody will see it and just deal with not having steering wheel controls. I really like the BT streaming music feature and would take that over having wheel controls.

Also, wouldn't I be able to get this steering wheel integration kit? http://www.parrotshopping.com/us/p_parrot_item.aspx?i=182081
http://www.expansys.com/i/misc/parrot_unika_compatibility.pdf

So i would have...

MKi9000 - $200 http://www.parrotshopping.com/us/p_parrot_item.aspx?i=172834#
Wheel Integration - $100 http://www.parrotshopping.com/us/p_parrot_item.aspx?i=182081
Harness - $55 (select A4 > NO Nav > MKi9000)

Anybody tried this solution? I think i'm going to go with this setup! Will I need to VAG? I'm assuming yes

[E.Anderson]

bump...anybody tried this?

[Charles.waite]

Interesting. I wonder why they don't make an updated kit for the Mki9000. Whatever thanks for clearing that up.

I believe if you can get the steering wheel controls to work, you don't need the control unit. but I may be wrong. I remember seeing a thread somewhere where someone installed a 3000 evolution in their b7 but I can't find it for the life of me. I seem to remember them ditching the control unit altogether when they got the steering wheel controls to work.

Edit: I believe I've found it: LINK (http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/421752-What-kind-of-Bluetooth-are-you-using?p=6987109&viewfull=1#post6987109). Start reading at post 13.

[grizzles]

^ yep, I used to run that setup with my CK3000, never used the controller once, all steering wheel controls. Basically you plug the steering wheel module into the spot where the controller plugs in therefore it's one or the other.

[grizzles]

So i would have...

MKi9000 - $200 http://www.parrotshopping.com/us/p_parrot_item.aspx?i=172834#
Wheel Integration - $100 http://www.parrotshopping.com/us/p_parrot_item.aspx?i=182081
Harness - $55 (select A4 > NO Nav > MKi9000)

Anybody tried this solution? I think i'm going to go with this setup! Will I need to VAG? I'm assuming yes

Just an FYI I posted a link to the MKi9000 on Amazon for like $60 cheaper up above.

And I didn't have to do any VAG-COM trickery for my steering wheel controls, the integration does it's work through the OEM stereo's harness.

I dug around a ton some time back and didn't find anyone using this on the forums; not saying it's not out there but sometimes you just gotta be the guinea pig. If bluetooth sound quality was better I would be all over this...worst case scenario it doesn't work and you send it back.

[Charles.waite]

Just an FYI I posted a link to the MKi9000 on Amazon for like $60 cheaper up above.

And I didn't have to do any VAG-COM trickery for my steering wheel controls, the integration does it's work through the OEM stereo's harness.

I dug around a ton some time back and didn't find anyone using this on the forums; not saying it's not out there but sometimes you just gotta be the guinea pig. If bluetooth sound quality was better I would be all over this...worst case scenario it doesn't work and you send it back.

Yea. Personally I would go dedicated bluetooth and ipod connectivity. A2dp leave something to be desired quality wise. I would just as soon have a dedicated box for both. Also bluetooth is finicky at the best of times, so I would never rely on it for something as important as my tunes!

[E.Anderson]

Thanks for all your help! I think i'm going to pull the trigger..It comes with the IPod and USB cable so if i'm not happy with the A2DP quality i can always go that route. Thanks again for all the advice/links all!!