[GoR2002]

Hi all,

I'm thinking of buying a bluetooth handsfree HCB-30. I have read in the forum that it works fine an the installation is not difficult.

I would like to know where have you located the central electronics of the handsfree?. And, do you need any wiring harness adaptro to the radio boost??

Thanks a lot.

[brett]

Ask your dealer. I have seen on Mini2 that there is now a Centre arm rest which has the mobile phone kit with it . Very nice. You'll have to do a search in the forums
Cheers
Brett

[Farty_McCrablegs]

Be aware that the advanced music mute option wont work with a 2003 MINI radio (whichever one comes with the Harmon Kardon option). I just installed an HCB-30 and ordered the advanced mute unit, only to be disappointed that it wasn't compatible. Neither S-E or MINI could assist with a work around - the adaptor doesn't seem to fit the back of the head unit where it's supposed to. I was also a little disappointed with the outgoing audio quality. Not sure if the Nokia is a better option, but you might want to investigate it.

[xnetco]

Hi,

The out going audi quality might be to do with the position of the microphone as mine works quite well.

Tim

[Farty_McCrablegs]

I've got my microphone inside the cavity next to the sunroof. Where's yours?

[Jim and Basil]

I just finished installing one of these (with the advanced mute option) in my 2003 MCS (standard Alpine Boost head unit).

I put the handsfree transceiver box and all the wiring inside the knee bolster under the steering wheel. I put the microphone up on the outside of the sunroof controls, and ran the wire inside the sunroof control panel, behind the roof panel, down the support column along the windsheild (with the airbag), under the glove box, under the stereo and then up into the handsfree box. I ran the wire for the handsfree controller (the little remote control that comes with the handsfree) out from the back of the knee bolster and then stuck it on the side of my mobile phone holder (from ProClip), which is attached to the grey downtube next to the stereo.

So far this has worked out great - no wires showing, everything convenient but not in the way. The quality of the handsfree sound (on both ends) is better than I expected.

The advanced mute is a nice option, too - automatically mutes the stereo, displays "PHONE" on the stereo display, and routes the caller's voice through the stereo speakers.

The advanced mute adds quite a bit to the install time, though, because it needs to sit between the head unit and the speakers. I wasn't able to locate a wiring harness adapter, so I ended up splicing 2x8 wires to hook it up.

[Farty_McCrablegs]

I'm really interested in how you manged the last bit- splicing the wires in ordr to connect the Advanced Music Mute. My technician wasn't creative enough to think of this idea when he realized the standard adaptor wouldn't fit the radio. I'm in the states, and bought the H-K upgrade for my 2003 MCS. Could you provide some additional details re how to accomplish the splicing, and I can take them to my technician. Also, just to clarify - you have your microphone on the OUTSIDE of the slotted oval-shaped covering to the right of the sunroof controls? Mine's on the inside, and I'm betting that it is contributing to the poor outgoing sound quality. Thanks for any additional informnation you can provide.

[Jim and Basil]

To install the advanced mute, I had to cut off the two plastic wiring plugs on the mute connector, and splice the wires directly into the wires going into the radio's wiring harness. I cut the 8 speaker wires going into the stereo (leaving enough room to make the splice connections). Then I connected the end going into the radio to the corresponding line on the mute connector meant to be plugged into the radio, and connected the end heading off to the speakers into the corresponding line on the mute connector meant to be connected to the speakers. The wires on the mute connector are labelled (front-right neg, rear-left pos, etc., etc.), which made it pretty trivial to match up the wires to the wiring diagram for the head unit.

To make the connections, I just bought some butt-end splice connectors from Radio Shack (shove the wires into each end and crimp them down with pliers to hold them together).

A more, er, robust solution would be to locate a custom wiring harness for your particular head unit. I actually found a few options in that regard by digging through the Mini2 threads, but decided to be impatient and just wire the thing myself. You'll need the wiring diagram for the H-K unit, though - the one in the DIY is for the Alpine unit.

Yes, I have my mike outside the sunroof control panel, stuck to the gray plastic. The mike color is almost exactly the same as the sunroof panel, so it doesn't stand out much at all. I would think that if the mike were inside the little plastic grill on the panel, your voice would get muffled quite a bit.

[Pikapin]

Jim and Basil, do you have any pictures of your mic? I´m having some troubles about where to stick the mic?

Thanks

[Jim and Basil]

Quote: Originally Posted by Pikapin

Jim and Basil, do you have any pictures of your mic? I´m having some troubles about where to stick the mic?

Thanks

Sorry, I don't have any pictures, but if you look up from the driver's seat you'll see that oval-shaped grey plastic panel. If you have a sunroof, the controls are there. On each end of the panel, there is a small vent. I attached the handsfree mike right next to one of those vents, closer to the center of the panel.

[Pikapin]

you mean, on the oval thing, but outside of the panel, no?

[Jim and Basil]

Quote: Originally Posted by Pikapin

you mean, on the oval thing, but outside of the panel, no?

Yes, that's right. I did not put the mike inside the vents, as some have done, because the audio quality going out becomes pretty bad, and the voice-dialing recognition (if your phone has that) gets very bad.

[jionty]

Lots of people have put some very detailed posts on this subject and I do not want to suggest that they are without merit but if you want an easy and neater way just buy the HCB 30 or Nokia equivalent and then phone up or email Mikethemini (http://www.newministuff.co.uk/). He will provide a interface kit made by Nokia which he will adapt to fit Ericsson ) that has the right plugs for Mini radio (make sure you specify wave or boost and what year) and then all you do is unplug the plug that fits into the back of the radio and plug it into the one of the plugs on the loom of the interface and the other plug on the interface unit now plugs into the back of the radio. Main benifit is it takes no time at all and also when I sell the car I can take out my bluetooth kit if I want to. Hope this helps and Mikethemini also has pictures and directions to fit the interface unit. Pics of control unit on upright can be seen on my personal gallery. I wanted a neat installation of the mic so fed the wire behind the A pillar trim and the ericsson mike has velcro hooks on its rear face that nicely attaches to the cloth of the headlining. Voice recognition works fine as does sound quality. Hope this helps

[Jim and Basil]

Quote: Originally Posted by jionty

Lots of people have put some very detailed posts on this subject and I do not want to suggest that they are without merit but

I agree, and that's precisely what I did for the interface from the head unit to the speakers and the HCB-30. But the question was about placement of the microphone.