Radio/bluetooth phone/ipod integration

[703MGB]

Hi to all,

I waited until I received my Cooper S 2006 convertible to start serious investigation around complete integration of both the iPod and Bluetooth phone with the car radio.

Obviously I would like to retain all functions such as the steering controls (3 spoke steering).

My car is a Canadian version which does not have the HK or navigation.

What I found up to now are a couple of feasible scenarios:

A- Retain the current car radio with a Ice-link plus, Parrot CK3100 with some kind of adapter sold in the UK for the steering wheel controls.

B- Go for the Pioneer DEH P70BT which is a radio integrated with bluetooth which would require Pioneer iPod adapter plus again a steering wheel control add-on (wired or infra-red). This solution brings some questioning because 1st of all this radio is not available in America and even if ordered from Europe could not work because of the frequency selections (In North America radios decimals are odd numbers ie 96.9 and in Europe i saw 96.8)

C- The Parrot RHYTHM N'BLUE now this this rocks complete integration on the bluetooth phone side. Remains Ipod integration for which I did not found any data and the steering wheel control issue again.

One thing I know I will not go for the 450$ or 1250$ units sold my BMW for MINI's cause the price is ridiculous.

Anyone out here had any success with this type of integration.

Thanks in advance

[703MGB]

http://www.parrot.biz/products/index.php?id=rhythmnblue

[703MGB]

Comments anyone?

[2006McsaSteve]

I have the Parrot 3100 and the ipod adapter in my 2006 MCSa. The Parrot works well (although my callers say the sound isn't great), and the ipod works well, although sound is only at 90% quality as I think there is some sort of interferance that makes a very slight hiss sound. I did the installation with my brother in law and it took a few hours to do it all at once.