Ipod Integration Kit - Warning

[Delilah 62]

All,

(This topic supports dt10liverpool's remarks made a few weeks back - Hopefully it will save someone wasting their cash)

I have today picked up my first Prius (a new T-Spirit) and I am very happy. BUT....

...my wife has an iPod and I thought it would be nice for her to be able to connect it to the car so she could control it through the steering wheel, etc.

Before ordering it, I asked questions at the dealership but it appears they did not have anything more than 'best-guesses'. I asked on the forums (including this one), but was unable to get much information. I called the parts department and all they sent me was a print out of the fitting instruction.

Today I have the owners manual and it tells me of the limited integration it actually offers - it tells me that I should be able to listen to all my playlists, and browse them by name. HOWEVER, the manual seems to refer to the models without a touch screen. As a result my playlists come up on the screen, without any identification. USELESS!

I'd be happy to hear I am doing something wrong, but I'm quite good with electrical things (I can programme a VCR, and everything!)...

(Oh... The rest of the Prius is lovely ---- It's a shame this is spoiling the overall experience.)

[Mkuk0]

Erm slightly confused here, surely ALL prii have touch screens?

Are you saying something does come up on the screen, but not the names of the songs?

I am considering this extra myself, so any other info gratefully received.

[Delilah 62]

Erm slightly confused here, surely ALL prii have touch screens?

I'm no expert, but the T3 and T4 don't have the touch screen. It's only the T-Spirit, or cars with SatNav upgrades that have the screen, as far as I'm aware. In these models, the standard radio and CD information appears on the screen and nothing appears on the radio fluorescent display.

[ChrisW78]

Erm slightly confused here, surely ALL prii have touch screens?

I'm no expert, but the T3 and T4 don't have the touch screen. It's only the T-Spirit, or cars with SatNav upgrades that have the screen, as far as I'm aware. In these models, the standard radio and CD information appears on the screen and nothing appears on the radio fluorescent display.

The T3 certainly has a touch screen. The console of the Prius is the same across all the models from what I can tell.

Sadly, I'm also experiencing the drawbacks you mention, especially the total lack of knowledge at dealerships :-(

[Spirit AO08]

Obvious, the fact that the iPod integration doesn't work on the Spirit is not something widely communicated in the dealer net...

For similar amounts you cn buy the DICE... offering more functionality. Anybody experience with fitting these in a Prius T-Spirit? (JBC Radio)?

Thanks

[Marmus]

Just received my new T-Spirit, and after hours of faffing around trying to get the damned ipod 'intergration kit' to allow me to see the names of the playlists, or the tracks (apart from on the ipod itself, which is handily hidden in the glovebox!), or play anything other than the first six, I gave up in disgust. The instruction booklet is useless - it says that there are multiple screens to allow you to access all your playlists - there aren't. It implies that you can see the playlist and track names - you can't.

Erm, call me old-fashioned, but that doesn't sound very integrated to me...

I'm really hacked off that I have paid for this - especially as it's in a Company Car and so I'm paying tax on it (minimal I know, but it's the principle!)

However, on a positive note, at least I now know that it's not just me being a numpty.

Ho hum - what's the best alternative kit I can buy so that I can control my ipod through the car touch screen system??

[Haylands]

Just received my new T-Spirit, and after hours of faffing around trying to get the damned ipod 'intergration kit' to allow me to see the names of the playlists, or the tracks (apart from on the ipod itself, which is handily hidden in the glovebox!), or play anything other than the first six, I gave up in disgust. The instruction booklet is useless - it says that there are multiple screens to allow you to access all your playlists - there aren't. It implies that you can see the playlist and track names - you can't.

Erm, call me old-fashioned, but that doesn't sound very integrated to me...

I'm really hacked off that I have paid for this - especially as it's in a Company Car and so I'm paying tax on it (minimal I know, but it's the principle!)

However, on a positive note, at least I now know that it's not just me being a numpty.

Ho hum - what's the best alternative kit I can buy so that I can control my ipod through the car touch screen system??

Hi

I bought one of these for my Lexus and it was superb I can recommend it, full integration, fullcontrol through the touch screen

Vais Technology SoundLinQ2 SL2i

Link to web site, just checked and they do it for your Prius

http://www.vaistech.com/home.php

They do lots of different ones, I got the SL2i, it was easy plug and play once the radio was out..... also has the benefit of automatically pressing the "I Agree" button everytime you start up...

I bought mine from eBay US site, they deliver to UK no probs and were very helpfull, I think someone is importing these but when I looked a while ago they wanted twice the price it cost direct.....

Good Luck

Pete

[Chris Ray]

That looks good Pete, but base model on eBay is £250!

Can I ask what you paid for the SL2 and any link, if it is less?

Thanks

[Haylands]

That looks good Pete, but base model on ebay is £250!

Can I ask what you paid for the SL2 and any link, if it is less?

Thanks

Hi

I think I paid about £140 but that was about 14mths ago..... !Removed! pound..... anyway if you do decide to buy it, it does seem pricey but it definatley works well and the service from them was good. I ordered it from eBay, I suppose you could try emailing them direct....

Good Luck

Pete