idiot proof guide to what I will need please?

[Tati]

I'm negotiating on a D Style+. It just has aux (as you know, only the D sport has connectivity) and the 12V socket is in a totally french place (as you also know). I am a tech idiot and so need some guidance on sensible, future proof and useful things to ask him to quote on installing prior to delivery.

I would want to be able to use an iPhone (or smartphone) in the car to make and receive calls and in an ideal world, use it as my music player too - great if possible to synch with the radio so that the tracks can be changed/displayed using the radio controls - as have seen in other cars. Is this possible and exactly how would I go about sorting it please? What's commonly done to sort out the issue please? It is odd, as all the other decent supermini cars have full connectivity on board. One dealer suggested a Parrot device, but it looks to me like this is just for making and receiving phone calls as opposed to streaming music? (??)

For the Tom Tom we have, I have asked the dealer if a 12V socket can be put in or near the glove box (tbc) as otherwise the cord isn't long enough and an extension cord would go right across the gear lever and handbrake. If he can't put in a new 12V point nearer or on the dash, what do you guys do as we use a Tom tom a lot?

Please help and keep it simple as I am really clueless thanks!

[ZACK]

Some Of The Parrot Devices Stream Music Too !

I'd Ask Your Dealer What the Best Option is,

You Could Always Have A Parrot For Making Calls And Buy A Citroen USB Connecting Box (About £120 I Think) From John Nicol / Your Dealer

[Yellow]

I use a tomtom and it's no hassle. I'm quite large and havent been in contact with anything plugged in(ooh er) and also with tt you can thread the lead through the trendy holes in the guages cover

[Tati]

er, which Parrot? (this is getting )

& which holes?

Dealer mentioned a usb in glove box @ £200 but not sure what he's on about and could get well ripped off due to being tech moron.
He is not sure if the 12V is possible. Citroen should have put it where the stupid air freshener is.

I just know that a car has to have total sync with a smartphone these days. I also know that only the Sport DS3s do. We have to agree the deal tomorrow am if it's going ahead so what must I ask for (without seeming a total muppet myself), cheers

[ZACK]

Build Your Own DStyle ?

That Way You Can Have The Hi-Fi Pack With Bluetooth AND USB...

The £200 USB Box Is What I Mentioned, They Install It Into The Back of Your Head Unit So You Can Play Songs off A USB Device...

[Tati]

will ask about the box, thanks Zack

[iwelford]

Have a look at this... the parrot MKi9200

http://www.parrot.com/uk/products/hands-free-car-kits

I am getting this installed soon. just scouting about for the best deal which seems to be Halfords just now (Oh Dear!).

It will cost about £165 fitted and it will allow hands free calling, bluetooth syncing and also has a seperate box included to plug in SD cards and USB as well. Seems like the perfect solution for us D-Style owners!

[Stanly]

The parrot units that are capable of streaming are the MKi 9100 & 9200
Both units are capable of A2DP streaming and have Apple connection, USB and 3.5mm inputs.

There are other manufactures of Hands free kits that are capable of music streaming etc.

The thing to be aware of with the parrot kits that due to it having it's own amp the sound quality can suffer

[Stanly]

As a company we install close to 10,000 hands free kits a year, there is not another retailer or garage that can say that, Each of the superstores as a requirement should have two store colleagues that have. passed both the Institue of Motor Industry Hardwire and CANBus/multiplex integration, which part of the country are you in ?

[Tati]

SE London. Can you pm with any details please. thanks. Thanks iW as well for the info

I am talking to the dealer some time this morning to ask him what they can do from their side. And cost. I think Citroen not putting full connectivity in the D Style+ is bad thinking on their part. Every other decent supermini has it now as standard.

[mix]

I think Citroen not putting full connectivity in the D Style+ is bad thinking on their part. Every other decent supermini has it now as standard.

As Zack said earlier, why not look into building your own spec DS3 instead of going for a plus model which has a fixed feature set? You can get the connectivity pack on a standard DStyle...

[ZACK]

Build Your Own DStyle ?

That Way You Can Have The Hi-Fi Pack With Bluetooth AND USB...

As Zack said earlier, why not look into building your own spec DS3 instead of going for a plus model which has a fixed feature set? You can get the connectivity pack on a standard DStyle...

This !

[Tati]

too long a wait, I need a car (old one died). Otherwise I'd spec up a cherry red one.

The dealer's looking into what's possible and cost. The Citroen usb connector he thinks is ok for streaming music but he's not sure on the handsfree calling, which is obviously vital.
We'd not be happy with the Parrot (!) if the sound quality isn't good. Any way round that please? thanks guys

Another q: what's the standard Citroen radio and speakers like anyhow? I know it's not DAB.

[ZACK]

Buy My 90 Hdi Off Me ?

It's Got All The Extras And Has The Full HiFi Setup With Bluetooth

Offers There...

[Stanly]

The Parrot kits are ok - if you are in no rush to have a hands free kit fitted I would wait for the new iO Play 2 kit to be released later in the year. Its got a better function spec than the parrot and has a better in built amp - its from the same company that have work with Mutant, Kicker and Focal to name but a few.

As for DAB - there is not a current hands free kit on the market that is capable of DAB radio, the only soloutions on the market at the moment are an aftermarket headunit, a stand alone adapter (uses fm Modulation to re transmit the DAB Broadcast) and as of last Thursday a hidden unit from Pure Called the Highway 300Di, this is a fantastic unit but would mean another display needed inside the car, the thing to remember with any DAB radio the quality is only as good as the antenna - and there is a lot variables that can cause a poor signal.