Classic....you kill me every time you do this crap. Sometimes I think, really...Mr. Photoman....was that necessary? Times like this however I just laugh and laugh. Well done.

 

So if your Crossfire has the factory NAV headunit the Blaupunkt St. Louis is NOT a simple plug 'n' play install?

 

Haha, crap. Might have to get this instead of my Clarion deck. Only thing that turns me off about this one is having to buy a separate adapter for the bluetooth connectivity.

 

Check with the other threads for more details on this, but you have to disable the telephone pin. Which could be done in a couple of seconds, so still pretty much plug-n-play.

 

Has anybody got a picture of the St Louis installed in a standard Crossfire console?

I was thinking of investing in the UK version of this HU.

 

I haven't pushed the unit in all the way, yet. I don't want to have to pull it out to install additional cables. My aux cables are coming in, from Amazon, tomorrow.

Once I have all the proper cables plugged in, I'll push the head unit the rest of the way and take a picture.

 

Here you go.
Click on pic to enlarge.
Keep in mind, I painted the surround silver to better match the dash. Gonna repaint it a brighter silver someday.

 

Thanks, Rush! That's a great help. I see the main body colour is really close to the console's shade. It certainly looks better with the trim painted silver, too. Shame its such a nightmare to get the right shade of silver. The UK version has a black surround, too. Arrgh!

 

Mine was alot closer till I sprayed clear over the silver. The base color was a cast aluminum color, try that. Just don't clear coat it. The nice thing is that the surround will come off, no masking.

 

I really like the looks of the MP56 and I would have loved to go that route. One complication, my iPhone.

It seems the only BT connection I could find that would definitely pair with the iPhone was the Pioneer DEH-7000BT. Thankfully, with reviews of ppro's DEH-980 everything went smoothly. I wouldn't let the fact that you might have to connect some wires to another harness deter you. I'm totally electronically dislexic and I had no problems. All the wiring to the new harness is done outside the car. Once done it's plug one end in to the new radio and the other in to the car's harness plug.

The DEH-7000BT does NOT look as nice as the MP56, but I can pair the iPhone now. I added XM radio for $99 and the additional aux port so now I have BT for the phone, USB connection and 2 Aux In ports. May not look as nice as yours, but it sure is functional.

 

Thanks to all on this thread for all the information.

Just "won" an MP56 on Ebay for $96.00 new, shipped, (so the lister says).

Has anyone had any experience installing this unit in a base coupe?

No amp, no rear speakers in the base coupe. ??

I intend to get the ipod adapter as listed in the Crutchfield catalog, as far as Sirius Sat, I'll have to use an in-line antenna modulator. I don't see one listed as an accessory.

Looking forward to teh upgrade. I will too spray the mounting bracket silver.

Although I am not an expert on car electronics, all the good plug and Play experiences with this radio makes me want to take a shot at it.

Besides, it under $100 on Ebay now if that's real..

One more question, do you have to revers power wires on this radio to get the clock to work?

Thanks for the continuing assistance.

Bruce

 

Warning!

I recieved the VWA3B radio adapter today... and it's the wrong one!

I ordered this:
http://ts.nuclearfallout.net/g/1.jpg

And received this:
http://ts.nuclearfallout.net/g/2.jpg

Amazon accepted the return and paid for the shipping... so I'm only out a little time for their mistake. It appears they have the wrong picture with the accessory.

I'm going to try pluging the unit into that little metal adpater that came with the head unit. I don't expect that to work well, so I'll most likely be sending the cable back to Amazon, tomorrow.

 

I know it's a more expensive unit, but are the specifications and color the same for the MP66? I was looking at it and it has a full color display which is a high item on my 'want' list.

Thanks in advance and thanks for all the information on the MP56... great write up!

EDIT: I did find a MP66 user guide, in French I think, but it does have the pin-outs for the unit. I've attached a capture of that page.

 

Lucky me! The MP56 includes an antenna adapter that works wiith the BMW / VW plug! I don't have to return it!

All I have to do now is dremel a small hole in the glove box area to run the auxillary cable. After the cable is place, I can permanently place the head unit and be done with this headache.

I am very, very happy with the unit. The sound is MUCH better and gives many configuration options. The radio picks up the RDS data, as well, displaying the station title and current song info. This is the best $130 I've ever spent.

 

Watch who you buy it from on Ebay.
My payment for the radio from agut3915, and they refused to sell it at the auction price.

They only have a rating of 19, so be sure to pay with PayPal, so you have a chance to get your money back if they turn out to be a fake seller.

FYI,

Bruce

I'll keep looking as this seems to be an ideal radio for my needs.

 

Strange.
How do they get 20+ out of 20+ ?

And, from my understanding, you don't get your money back from PayPal; you get a credit on your account. Different process, but similar result.

 

I just got one from agut3915 last week. No issues - he shipped (for free) the same day.

 

Anybody else having issues with USB/SD cards on their MP56? It seems really finicky. It will read fine, but will freeze up when moving between folders and then won't be able to read the media any more until I remove it and replace it.

 

Thanks for the heads up on that auction

 

This is the reply that Ireceived from Paypal re: the unit that I won.
$100.

Alexander Gutierrez (aguti002@fiu.edu) has issued a full refund for your payment.

I think that the winning bid was below his cost. Less than $100.

I'll try again, as he has the lowest opening bids.

If these are new, in box with all the parts, it's quite a deal.

Only one problem, he cancelled the sale!

Bruce