This is my first significant mod after becoming the proud owner of an 03 XKR Coupe a few months ago. I couldn't have done any of this without extensive reading in this forum, especially the Rev for instructions on how to get that bloody shifter surround off in one piece.

Trying to decide what to do with the all but useless nav system it occured to me that a modern smart phone has all of the functions I wanted, but how to connect the two. Turns out, it isn't so difficult.

The additions include:
1) AUX input
2) VCI-X (thanks to WhiteXKRs harness)
3) HDMI converter
4) iPhone integration
5) Parrot CK3000 Bluetooth

At the end I have music, movies and can even browse our favorite web forum, all from the comfort of my seat. I chose the Parrot 3000 mostly for the small size of the controls so I could mount them within easy reach. I purchased the applicable connectors for the console and overhead mic and made up a plug in harness for the Parrot and the microphone.

While I had the console out I removed the ash tray cover to make more room for the wiring and decided to use the stock overhead position and existing wiring for the microphone. I have read that this can be noisy but it seems to work well enough in a coupe.

If there is interest, I can can write more about the installation details, the power supply I had to create for the HDMI converter, etc. Also, there was a minimum order for the AMP connector and pins so I have 4 extras that I would be willing to part with at cost + postage if anyone else if looking to do a similar phone install.

Controls conveniently at hand. Parrot on the right, iPod on the left. Please don't read too much into the Monster brand, I wouldn't normally do that, but it was cheap on ebay. One hiccup seems to be that the controls work great when connected directly but don't work when using the iPhone adapter. Will have to see what I can do about that. The switch is part of WhiteXKRs VCI-X setup to select between the HDMI input and the stock nav system.



Mic installed in the stock location


It's alive! Not only that but with an iPhone 4s I can even use Siri with the hands free system. It feels a little strange to talk to your car and have it talk back.


Music works great and there is even album art


Video is perfect, but still having a little level triggering trouble with the audio on quiet parts and dialog


Web browsing. While safely pulled to the side of the road of course.

 

Very very cool, I have a 2000 XKR with the factory GPS monitor. It also use the monitor for a backup camera so when you put it in reverse you can see what in the back and the picture looks great. I also have DVD player that also uses the monitor but the DVD player died. Thanks for giving me some more ideas.

 

very nice! Another great idea for going aftermarket audio/video sources on our nav screen w/o changing the dash (and kudos for keeping the stock stereo & amp!!).

One of the main reasons I went with hardwired units like the GVN 53 and using a new deck, was so I could run a small hard drive off USB power, and most importantly, not drain my phone battery. I don't like to plug my phone in unless my battery is D E A D... With the very best smartphones only lasting 1, maybe 2 days on a charge, the worst feeling is getting a call, and having to cut it short because the phone just beeped it was going to die...then swapping batteries, or plugging it in.

Still, I applaud your project, and i think many I-addicted lovers will strive to achieve the same results. A writeup would be used, I guarantee it. I'll FAQ your hard work, just post it up here when you are finished, and you'll be legendary.

 

Took me a while to completely figure this one out so I could do the write up for the AV part but here it is!

iPhone_HDMI_AV_Install.pdf

After trying a bunch of different things I finally resorted to surgery on the AI-AUX to enable manual control of the audio switching. Now it works great!

I'll write up the Bluetooth too, which was less complicated (and way less frustrating to get the bugs out of).

On the upside, I can take now the interior out of my coupe in about 20 minutes.

 

This is a fabulous job Charlie! I am especially thrilled to see someone finally install an HDMI converter to accept video from late model electronics. Great work! And thanks for contributing your write-up to the forum!

 

Great job! Very clean install.

 

Thanks. I've been a member for less than 6 months and find this forum an invaluable resource, so it feels good to give a little something back.

I really am standing on the shoulders of giants and couldn't have done any of it without this forum and the great people here.

 

Just read about your project, Nice work. Started looking for the hardware and came across this link.
http://www.customgadz.com
Thought someone might find it worth looking into.

 

FAQd as promised, good job!

 

Awesome.

 

DIY's are better off with an android device though!

 

Careful now, Apple fanboys are flame happy and you might start a war.

In my defense, I did say that everything carries over except the adapter bit, so I was trying be inclusive and not leave the virus ridden Androids out of the fun.

 

That is an interesting idea indeed. Personally, I don't much like touch screens in a car. I use them all the time in industrial applications, and they are great in the sense that they can be infinitely configured, but they require that you be looking at them to know what you are doing. Poking at some display in the cockpit while traveling at a high rate of speed in a 2 ton missile just doesn't seem like a good idea.

That was really my thought about that Monster control, it has a decided shape to it and you can tell which button you are using by feel without looking. Unfortunately, it doesn't work with this configuration so need to dig in to it a little more.

I'm reminded of something I read years ago about Lockheed building the prototype F22 with touch screen controls. The Air Force had them redesign it with conventional buttons so that a pilot with gloves on, pulling 5Gs could know for sure that they pressed a button.

That and a software engineer in a cubicle somewhere could put "bomb drop" next to "track skip" on the touch screen and cause an international incident.

 

Finally I finished writing up the Bluetooth install.

It's a variation on what a number of people have done with different components, so perhaps less exciting that the HDMI, but the diagrams might be helpful to someone who is taking this on.

CK3000_bluetooth_install.pdf

 

Yeah that's one of the things I would actually CONSIDER tearing up my car for, probably not though.

OK I'll be careful about the Applites Vs. Androids war(NEVER had a virus, etc)

 

ccfulton, thanks for all of your great work. I just purchases a 2003 XKR black beautiful convertible and will be getting an Iphone 5 next month (when my contract allows with ATT). Do you see any problems using your conversion in the Iphone 5? Thanks again.
bb53pilot

 

The type of phone doesn't matter much so long as you have an HDMI output.

For the Apple case you will need the digital AV adapter, which I think might be revised for the iPhone 5 connector but the HDMI output side is the same so nothing else about the install should need to change.

 

Hola Charlie...i am a new member as well (03xkrconvert w/premium ice)...and am having some challenges doing an aftermarket head unit install...reason being there are 3 wires that go to the nav display (orange, green and brown) and i dont know where these would tie into an aftermarket harness...any ideas? And THANKS!

 

Hey Charlie, better yet...how did you tie into the nav display oem wiring to implement the parrot unit?

 

I didn't change the head unit so didn't get into the wiring you are talking about and can't really say what you pull need to do to connect it to the aftermarket harness. There are quite a few others who did change the head unit though, so they are more qualified than I to comment.

As for the Parrot Bluetooth unit, it doesn't interact with the Nav display at all. The console connector only goes to the head unit for audio and mute. The document in post 14 shows the pinout.