I want to get a new radio with bluetooth for hands free iphone usage. I am looking at Kenwood KDC-BT945U, Blaupunkt Bremen MP78, and Alpine iDA-X305. The Kenwood and Blaupunkt have bluetooth phone built in. The Kenwood has a Parrot version in it and I can not determine what is in the Blaupunkt. The Alpine requires a separate Parrot box KCE-400BT

http://www.kenwoodusa.com/KDC-BT945U
http://www.midwestelectronics.com/bl...lay-p-685.html
http://www.alpine-usa.com/product/view/ida-x305/

Any suggestions? Is a built in as good as separate bluetooth?

 

I just bought the Alpine BT103 from Crutchfield. It is great and very reasonably priced ($229). Bluetooth hands free works excellent and their tech support while installing myself was very valuable. It came with the microphone all the harnesses needed to install it. Get the Alpine IPOD cable as well, it is the best

 

The Becker Grandprix fits nicly into the 964 dash picture.

http://www.soundlabsgroup.com.au/p/B...ker+Grand+Prix

 

I have the Becker GP and it is great ! exactly the one for a 911 .... bluetooth works a gem

 

Becker here too - Inidianapolis Pro with sat-nav - works really well and looks great.

 

I looked at the Becker, but could not determine the range of functionality with iPhone 3GS.

Also is there a US distrbutor?

 

The Becker looks nice but the rest of them are too flashy IMO for the dash (at least in my 91 C2 Cab).

I have the Alpine 103BT in another car and it works well, although it does throw the odd "Error 03" when I have my iPhone plugged in via the iPod cable (btw eBay is a great place to get these cables...I had one shipped from China for $16 all in).

I deliberated on taking the radio out completely as I have a cheesy looking Kenwood (I really hate all the flashy aftermarket stuff). In the end I opted for the Blaupunkt Toronto BT as it was reasonably simple looking and well priced. (http://www.midwestelectronics.com/bl...aux-p-684.html). I'll let you know how it works out when I install it this weekend.

A little off topic but while I was exploring options I considered trying to source an original CD-2 (the unit my 964 came with). I see that one just sold on eBay for almost $270...with NO security code. Hope that guy has better luck getting a replacement code than other people I've heard about.

 

anyone using the Becker Grandprix with iphone 3GS?

 

I'm guessing, Steve, but based on my experience with the Becker I'd say the functionality would be limited to display of the number of an incoming call, manual dialing of outgoing calls via the Becker head unit push-buttons, plus Bluetooth providing audio connectivity.

 

Yes using Becker Grandprix with iphone 3GS - as John says limited in functionality compared to parrot kit in my other car (no voice dialling for instance). However, to answer incoming calls fine - if people can hear me over the barely silenced flat 6 behind me! On the ipod interface it will not charge the 3gs btw - but you can get an adapter via ebay which slots in line to rectify this.