Ipod Integration....

[Sculli]

Morning All,

Have been following the forum for a while, but just signed up this morning to try and get a little more info on a specific topic....

Have just taken delivery of my second brand new IQ.... and IQ2 in fact in beautiful pearl white. In between the two I had a Yaris with the Touch and Go system and got so used to the iPod / iPhone integration that I ordered the IQ with the nav system.

When I picked the car up, I questioned the fact that there was no iPod connection next to the gear stick. The salesman pointed out that this was an additional option - the "iPod inegration kit". Indeed this is specified in the brochure as a dealer fitted option.... at the princely sum of £300. I questioned the fact that this option is not shown on the website and the features of the nav system itself now includes "full iPod integration" so was it unreasonable to expect that the car came with this connection?

The dealer suggested that I contact Toyota - which I did by e-mail. They were very friendly and helpful and agreed that the wording on the website was a little ambiguous. They agreed to send the integration kit to the dealer who would fit it free of charge. Result!

Unfortunately, after 3hrs of messing around with the car, the dealer called to say that the kit did not fit into the back of the 350 nav system - it was designed for the earlier 510 system. They had never seen an IQ with the 350 system so didn't know what to expect until they removed the head unit - which is fair enough. After a call from the dealer to Toyota - and a chasing call from myself - they eventually contacted me to say that it was a mistake and the wrong lead was sent. BUT.... there it turns out that there is no such thing as an iPod integration kit for the 350 system at all - the only way to connect an iPod is directly to the head unit through the USB port under the little flap.

So..... in adding the nav system, not only do you lose the CD player, but you also lose the convenient 3.5mm aux jack located on the centre console and so if you want to listen to anything but the radio you have to have a cable trailing down from the head unit, past the gear stick. Toyota did admit that does seem to be an oversight on their part but as the car is being discontinued there would be no chance of a connection kit being produced in the future.

Anyhow.... can anybody confirm that there is indeed no iPod connection kit for the 350 system? Or perhaps suggest an alternative way of connecting that can be left in place and doesn't involve a cable into the front of the head unit? (apart from the bluetooth option and the very limited functionality it provides.... and not from an iPod anyway!). Also - the head unit has an option for a CD multichanger - I have no idea where you would fit one in an IQ - but it is an interesting idea.......!!

Ta muchly......

Sculli

[Parts-King]

Put the music on a USB stick and play it that way??

[tarquin]

Hi

I know lots and lots about the Tns 510 and the Tns 350. It is unusial to see a 350 in an iQ except on the continent. I initially had a 510 and purchased the 2 part ipod intergration kit and installed it. Without the kit on a 510 you could not even charge your ipod or iPhone on it. The cost of the kit was just over £120 The rest of the cost must be their installation costing. I changed mine to the 350 because of the traffic camera alerts and road speed indication, which is not available on tbe 510. As you say the ipod intergration is only available using the front USB socket. Lower IOS 4.3 operating system allows you to view video on the 350 but only with the 30pin adaptor lead with a 30pin plug one end ans a USB and 3.5mm jack the other end. No video possible via a lightning connector even with an adaptor. Of course you loose the CD but you can add a 6 CD changer which fits under the passenger seat. Or put your music on a USB stick or bluetooth it with an adaptor.

Hope this helps

David