Well I finally got the Nokia CK-7W Bluetooth car kit today. I have managed to install the parts you will see as well as the bluetooth brain. I am including some pics of where I put the mic and the button/controller. I do not have it operational as of yet because I am waiting on some parts from newministuff.com (from the UK) to allow me to integrate it with my HK system so it will play through the car speakers and mute the system at the same time.

So for now you get the pics of the installed setup for looks. I will post feedback on the function hopefully over the weekend (supposed to receive the stereo integration parts tomorrow or the next day).

Thanks! oh and I don't know how to add pics other than as an attachment.. sorry

Well Now I can't upload the pics because they are too large..... any ideas on how to make them smaller for this as attachments? Sorry, I am just learning how to use this camera.....

Chris

 

Use any photo editing software and save the file with higher compression (most have an option to save for web viewing)

 

OK- Here are the pics finally!

 

Just got the first of two HCB-300 kits (one for the MINI, one for the Subaru). The one in the Subaru is going in first, but I was thinking of putting the controller in the MINI in about the same place you put yours. The Sony controller looks to be about the same size just a different shape.

I'm thinking about putting the mic on top of the little grill in the headliner where the clock is in the '02-04 and maplights are in the '05s. I'm not going to put the mic behind the grill b/c I hear that it causes really bad sound quality, so I figured I'd put it on top of the grill....

 

I have the Motorola Bluetooth kit. I had it installed about 3 months ago. I love it,it mutes the radio when acall comes in and is so easy to use. If your interested in bluetooth you should check it out. The only draw back is the price of the unit and installation.

 

The Nokia only cost me $120 on eBay brand new!

It will mute the stereo stock as it is but I am waiting for the parts from the UK that will integrate it with the stock HU to allow muting and sound of the call through the car speakers.

I'll keep you posted on how that works.

Install time was short, for what has been done so far.

The biggest thing to be careful about is the length of the control cable. The one with the Nokia isn't bad but I located the brain behind the side panel of the dash on the drivers side by the door. I was rewarded with only 1 inch of extra cable from the controller by the time I finally got it there. Another good place for install is in the blank space under the steering wheel.

Also be careful with the little plastic cover (where I moutned the control) pulling it off. It is a bear to yank off and I managed to break one of the securing tabs but in remounting everything I was able to get it all secure.

Good luck and I'll let you know how the rest goes!

Chris

 

Will these Bluetooth kits work with any Bluetooth phone?

 

Yes,

Functionality may be limited with extra features some of the kits offer. Such as this Nokia kit will allow me to press and hold the button to make a call activating the voice tag feature so Ic an say a name and it will dial. This would not work with a non-nokia phone of course but you could still answer calls and such.

Chris

 

They should. The Sony HCB-300 actually states in the book that it will work with any Bluetooth phone...

 

Hmmm sounds like a better alternative to the MINI Bluetooth option. I don't like the MINI location. I didn't realize that the aftermarket options could tie into the Stereo. That is my main concern and want. We have OnStar in my other car and I love how it mutes the radio. Of course my other need is for my provider to offer a Bluetooth phone!

 

Who's your provider, Nextel? Everbody else has at least one Bluetooth model...

I wouldn't expect Nextel to offer Bluetooth anytime soon. They're VERY slow when it comes to introducing new technologies, always have been. Plus if the Nextel/Sprint merger goes through that could completely stall any efforts by either company to intoduce new technologies as they try to figure out how to merge the two completely uncompatible networks...

 

I'm with Virgin Mobile. They use the Sprint network, but not the Sprint phones.

 

Very Nice!

I'll be looking forward to hear how you like it.

Looks like I need a new phone soon and this could influence me

 

Keep in mind that if you want it to integrate with the stereo and play through the speakers you need to buy the piece that newministuff.com offers. They are the only ones I could find and shipped to the US was 54 british punds. So about $100.

To me it is worth it.

Coupled with the $120 kit off of eBay you are only out about $220 and you get it to plaay through the car speakers and mute!

I'll keep you posted. I am on my way home and hope the post has brought my new goodies!

If not, another day of waiting.....

 

It's a custom part that they designed...

 

I'm not sure if you are asking or stating but yes and no. They took parts made by a british company to make one plug and play unit.

 

I have installed the interface (plug and play mind you) from www.newministuff.com and I now have the Nokia CK-7W Bluetooth car kit working and playing through my Stock MINI H/K system!

It mutes the radio perfectly and of course I can hear everyone louder than I would ever want to since it is through the car speakers!

The mounting location I have for the mic (see pics above) works great and people don't have a problem hearing me!

If you have questions let me know as I will be glad to help. I think the installation all told took about 1 hour and could not have gone easier. Removing the stock stereo is easier than most places I have seen for the instructions. You actually do not need to remove the center console. Only loosen the pillars and remove the bottom of the dash panel a little and the pillars move over to the side enough to access the screws and slide out the radio.

Cheers

Chris

 

Glad its sorted

 

Mike it is fabulous! Picked the kit up from the post today and installed this afternoon. Couldn't be happier!

I will recommend you any day of the week! fast shipping too! To get from the UK it barely took a week!

Chris

 

Hey Tony, mind if I ask how much that Motorola setup cost you? If you don't want to answer here, you can send me a PM.

 

I am looking for an option such as this for the new Cingulair version of the Treo 650 that is coming out (hopefully if they don't delay the launch again) this week. Is my understanding that the only way to get this to pipe through the Mini's stereo is by utilizing the adapter from newmini?

 

The Kit was $150 at verizon wireless plus $100 installation fee.
What i liked about that was verizon came to my office and installed it,and the guy really knew what he was doing. He had previously installed bluetooth kits in MINIs.

 

I just got my new Cingular Treo 650 tonight. Real nice, much nicer than my old Treo 600. Now I need to convert my standard Mini stereo to Bluetooth. I already have the Mini Aux cable and XM unit installed in the console. Anyone know if I can add a bluetooth kit and integrate with the factory stereo if I already have a device on the Aux port?

 

03-Cooper S,

Welcome to NAM! Yes you can interface because the aux input has nothing to do with the car kit. If you were to tie into the aux input it would mean that you would have to change the input on your stereo to AUX to listen to the call. My setup works as follows:

Phone rings,
Audio Mutes no matter what I am listening to (I have 5 sources on my factory head unit)
Audio from phone call plays through audio system.

Now the only way to get it to play through the speakers that I am aware of is is via a plug and play setup from Mike at www.newministuff.com
I recommend it highly. He shipped it to me from the UK and I recieved it in little over a week. It is well worth the money as you can have it working in minutes!

If you have any questions not hesitate to let me know.

Chris

 

CustomAV,

Thanks, I have already gotten a lot of useful information from NAM. Thanks for the info. I'll order a cable from the UK and while I am waiting, start looking for a bluetooth kit. Palm lists several that are compatible with the new Treo, but I am sure the Nokia would also work fine. thanks again - Dave