Bluetooth options (Aftermarket)

[Trippy]

I am expanding my fleet of Land Rovers (currently a 1999 Disco 2 V8) with a 2007 Freelander 2 TD4 SE. It does not have bluetooth and so I am preparing to install something that has. I want to be able to use it for hands-free calling as well as music streaming from Spotify on my phone.

Replacing the stereo with a flash new head unit like I did in the Disco would be my first preference, but the non-DIN layout of the factory stereo may make this awkward. I assume I could put a stereo in the empty double-DIN Nav-hole above the stereo, but it will look a bit silly with two stereos.

I had a look a the MKi-9100 from Parrott and it may do the trick. Has anyone installed a Parrot (or any other good bluetooth option) in their FL2 and has some tips?

[Trippy]

After doing some more Googleing I found this: Freel2.com - View topic - Pioneer Retrofit (http://www.freel2.com/forum/topic14429.html)

It seems you can remove the whole factory stereo and fit a plastic mounting frame for a double DIN head unit. It might be more costly and more work than just slamming in a single-DIN unit in a "normal" car.

[Meken]

But you need to have the oem unit still inline somewhere hidden or you lose the dash info

[Meken]

Ps we have parrot works fine

[Trippy]

Yeah, I am thinking a Parrot will probably be the easiest (and cheapest) option. So does the FL2 stereo have automatic mute function when you get an incoming call with the Parrot?

[Meken]

Cannot recall 100% but I think the auto elec had to put a relay in for the power as it doesn't have a mute wire for phone

[jarrods]

The parrot wires in between you head unit an your speakers. It has relays built in that break the cct between the radio and speakers and outputs the phone to the speakers. It works very well.

[Trippy]

The parrot wires in between you head unit an your speakers. It has relays built in that break the cct between the radio and speakers and outputs the phone to the speakers. It works very well.

Does that mean the sound from the phone is not amplified by the amp in the headunit? That would be no good for playing music through the phone then.

[lt8x7]

I have the Parrot Asteroid Mini. It has its own amplifier so when playing music from my phone, the sound quality is excellent. You can play music via Bluetooth and it also has wired inputs for iGadgets and ISB sticks.

[Trippy]

I did a bit more reading and it seems the best setup is to get a special cable for the parrot so that it directs the sound output for music to the Aux in on the car stereo while it routes phonecalls directly to the front speakers.
It is so much easier to install a headunit with built in Bluetooth. Oh well, I will have another think about this and report back here.

[Richard93Vogue]

I have a touch screen Sony unit in my Freelander 2. It has GPS and bluetooth and the phone works great. Not sure of the model number but by all accounts it is much better than the LR unit.

[Richard93Vogue]

pics of my sony

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/freelander-2/79085d1402993504-bluetooth-options-aftermarket-img_8703-1-.jpg

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/freelander-2/79086d1402993824-bluetooth-options-aftermarket-img_8705-1-.jpg

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/freelander-2/79087d1402993852-bluetooth-options-aftermarket-img_8707-1-.jpg

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/freelander-2/79088d1402993945-bluetooth-options-aftermarket-img_8706-1-.jpg

[Trippy]

But you need to have the oem unit still inline somewhere hidden or you lose the dash info

What dash info do you lose? Are there detailed instructions somewhere on how to do this?

[Trippy]

I have a touch screen Sony unit in my Freelander 2. It has GPS and bluetooth and the phone works great. Not sure of the model number but by all accounts it is much better than the LR unit.

It looks great. Did you install that yourself or did you hire someone? The great thing about using an aftermarket headunit is that all Bluetooth audio is amplified directly by the headunit.

[Richard93Vogue]

It was installed in the car by the previous owner who had it done by someone. There is also a usb plug in the glove box that i use to plug in my MP3 player.

[MrsE]

I am expanding my fleet of Land Rovers (currently a 1999 Disco 2 V8) with a 2007 Freelander 2 TD4 SE. It does not have bluetooth and so I am preparing to install something that has. I want to be able to use it for hands-free calling as well as music streaming from Spotify on my phone.

Replacing the stereo with a flash new head unit like I did in the Disco would be my first preference, but the non-DIN layout of the factory stereo may make this awkward. I assume I could put a stereo in the empty double-DIN Nav-hole above the stereo, but it will look a bit silly with two stereos.

I had a look a the MKi-9100 from Parrott and it may do the trick. Has anyone installed a Parrot (or any other good bluetooth option) in their FL2 and has some tips?

Hi there interested to know what you ended up doing, did you lose the function of the buttons on your steering wheel?

[FisherX]

I was looking at the unit in the below link. I've been in contact with them and they have told me a Android version is now available at the same price and removes the need for the little control panel in the front and has a higher resolution. But I think I like the idea of the USB in front for phone charging and movies. Also they preload in the Australian GPS maps with lifetime updates.

I'll be heading down this road as soon as the Australian peso, sorry dollar gets a little better.

Land Rover Freelander 2 dvd player w/ gps navigation system (http://www.smartauto24.com/land-rover-freelander-2-gps-satnav-1706)


This is the manual for the Android system. It's new apparently so they don't have it up on their site yet for the Freelander

http://www.smartauto24.com/docs/user_manual/X11-370C%20User%20Manual.pdf



And if you want to go down the Double DIN road you'll want one of these.


http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/LAND-ROVER-Freelander-2-Discovery-3-Sport-Double-Din-Fascia-Panel-Kit-DFPK-29-02-/350508221595

[grod]

I have a Sony Xav-712BT waiting to go in to replace the CD400. I wanted a bluetooth replacement for the rather ordinary installed nav unit could provide for phone calls. I bought the patch leads with the steering wheel control option.

Im planning on putting it in within the week.

Will report on progress

g

[Easty]

G'day this is my first post just had the 2009 freelander2 for about a month now, loving it. But I wanted Bluetooth and fitted a Himbox HB01for $44 from ebay the music streaming is as good as my last pioneer hu it syncs quicker and the phone calls interrupt music and are reasonable quality all just plugged into aux in at the back of the centre console easty.

[fitzie]

Hello All,


FisherX I bought one of these chinese units a few months back to fit into our SE Freelander 2. The unit fits O.K. and the Sat Nav is reasonable, I wanted it so that I could use bluetooth and as a reverse camera monitor, a couple of gripes/issues: The USB port did not work at all, they refunded me $100US, the bluetooth volume is set as default at a very low level, the wife refuses to use it as you have to adjust the volume for each call. I had a high pitched whine present on the audio when the haldex pump on the rear diff fired (every 8-9 seconds), this was present only on the chinese unit, took a while to ascertain the haldex pump was the culprit, managed to filter most of it out with a noise filter. The customer service was reasonable and they were helpful over e-mail.


Some of these issues may have been sorted with the upgraded andriod software, I am not sure of the long term quality, time will tell, would rate it at 5/10. You may be better off buying a reputable brand and replacing the existing stereo, I was not keen on this as wanted to retain the standard dashboard.


Fitted it all myself and was not too difficult but a lot of re-visits pulling the dash apart to try and fix the issues.


Good luck with it all,


Fitzie

[grod]

Fitted a Sony XAV-712BT a few weeks back that I got on ebai for $540. I also had to get the connectors to convert the standard loom to the 2din standard head unit (as well as antenna adaptor and steering wheel control module). Also needed the 2din cage and facia to mount it in place (about an extra $250 on top of the head unit).

All went smoothly with the installation until I tried to turn it on and all I got was a whirring sound from the unit without any display. Turned out that I needed an additional power connection (accessories) to be able to power it up, and as the car had no compatable wire connected to the origonal radio, I added one from the fuse box under the glove box. In hindsight, I could have just jumped the existing power cable going to the radio and set the unit's "auto off" function to stop it from draining power if I forgot to manually turn it off.

After the fiddling Im reasonably with the new radio and bluetooth function. I lost reversing sensors and dash clock. Radio has a clock display anyway and I intend to hook up a reversing camera to the radio. I can also buy a reversing module to connect between the radio and existing sensors if I ever feel the need.

g

[FisherX]

Thanks Fitzie for the review.

I wanted it for the Bluetooth and the usb above all but to fill the hole in the dash would be nice too.

Maybe the Android is better and if I go with that i'll write a review.