MP3 players and Passat Radios

[LucyHi]

Can anybody tell me if there is an Aux or Line inut on any of the two cheapest 6 cd options on the Passat (RCD 600 with 6 CD option of the RCD 500 Monsoon). I need a standard jack-plug input to play my MP3 player.

I know there is an IPod option, but I have a good non-IPod MP3 player and have a number of good reasons for not joining the IPod club.

Unfortnuately my local dealer was out of his depth when asked this question.

Given all the other excellent features of the Passat this could, beleive it or not, be a deciding factor whether I get the Passat or a Mondeo (which I know has a line input) - I spend nearly three hours a day in my car and my MP3 player is my lifeline to sanity.:aargh4:

[snapdragon]

VW dont AFAIK do a jack connector, but VW does an option on a USB interface in the centre console which takes USB flash drives, basically you plug a USB dongle in and the music folders on it appear like seperate CDs on the radio, it uses the CD changer interface connection. Maybe you could try autoleads?

[snapdragon]

And if your mp3 player will mount like a flash drive you could plug it in there, and it may even charge it up.

[Huweth]

Look on Ebay. I've seen many different adaptors that can connect into the tape player. If you don't have a tape player, there are some which transmit the music from your MP3 player as FM radio, which you then tune your car radio in to pick up!

Some of the radio ones only cost a few quid, but I can't say how well they work as I put an MP3 CD player into my dash as a replacement.

[snapdragon]

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/producttests/202179/mp3_adapters.html

[LucyHi]

Thanks everybody. What I think I will do is go for the iPod interface option on the radio and look into whether I can cobble something together to feed my MP3 player into the appropriate input channels on the iPod connector (although I don't know if I'll have to do anything else with any of the control signals to get the radio to recognise the input - has anybody managed to get a normal Line Iinput into an iPod adpater connector?)

However if all else fails, it looks like I can go for an FM modulator version. I really do want to get a Passat and not a Mondeo!

[Sam]

If it means you don't get a Mondeo, and your MP3 player has a USB connector, why not go for a new headunit - more expensive I know, but you get true intergration.

Kenwood make a few units with USB line-in (Kenwood KDC-W6534U (http://www.caraudiodiscount.com/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2ecaraudiodis count%2ecom%2facatalog%2fsearch%2ehtml&WD=usb&PN=kenwood_usb_section%2ehtml%23a1_21151#a1_21151) [/URL]is one) and JVC have a few too ([URL="http://www.caraudiodiscount.com/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2ecaraudiodis count%2ecom%2facatalog%2fsearch%2ehtml&WD=usb&PN=jvc_usb%2ehtml%23a1_211020#a1_211020"]JVC KD-G722 (http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/), JVC KD-G821 (http://www.caraudiodiscount.com/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2ecaraudiodis count%2ecom%2facatalog%2fsearch%2ehtml&WD=usb&PN=jvc_usb%2ehtml%23a1_211021#a1_211021))

My own aftermarket Blaupunkt HU (have a look at bluespot.co.uk - I'm sure you know the Passat >2005 audio is Blaupunkt) plays CDs, MP3 CDs, connects to my in-dash changer and has a line in (3.5mm jack) which I use to route the sound through the rear speakers, in a low-budget style, when the kids are watching a DVD in the back.

HTH

Sam

[snapdragon]

But don't the new cars have the big screen radios with curved corners?

http://www.siocommunications.co.uk/VW_Golf_files/MK5-CK-7W-centre.jpg

[Sam]

But don't the new cars have the big screen radios with curved corners?

http://www.siocommunications.co.uk/VW_Golf_files/MK5-CK-7W-centre.jpg

Possibly and that's where my above post falls down! That said, I don't know what MY Passat the original poster is looking at buying.

There's always a fascia kit available though.

[LucyHi]

That said, I don't know what MY Passat the original poster is looking at buying.

Hopefully, I'm going for a brand new model SE.

[Sam]

Hopefully, I'm going for a brand new model SE.

Well that dashes my ideas then!

Someone with a B6 must have done something similar - have you looked in the B6 forum of www.ClubB5.com yet?