Julesprivate
Active Member
I know this is a bit of a "low rent" solution and hardly the neatest thing ever but I thought I'd share my experience.
I recently bought a 2004 W203 270CDI as a sensible commuter car (more sensible than my TVR anyway LOL). It's a lovely car and I really enjoy driving it (and I'm pleasently surprised at that).
It only has the base Audio 10 single CD head unit, and as I am not sure how long I'll be keeping the car (I'm contracting away from home) I didn't want to mess about changing this and then having to change back sometime in the future.
I know "FM transmitters" are old hat, and I've tried them in the past with mixed success but I saw an ACME F300 Bluetooth/FM Transmitter for £30 on the bay and thought "it's worth a punt"
Well how surprised am I that it works really well. OK audiophiles won't like the sound quality but to my ears it sounds great.
I stream music from my phone via A2DP and it also works as a handsfree kit. It also (and this for me is the kicker) has a USB output that means I can charge both the phone and my satnav (I bought a Y-cable).
I could use the satnav in the phone but I prefer to have use my Tomtom so in theory I could have a neater install but TBH for my "work" car it's fine.
The ACME device will autoselct the best "free" frequency if it detects interference (shame the radio won't skip with it LOL) but TBH I've not had to change frequencies once yet.
Even the handsfree works fine (although apparently I sound a bit robotic sometimes).
For £36 inc delivery and the y-cable I think it's a great, cheap piece of kit.
It'd be relatively easy to mod the kit so it doesn't use the cigarette lighter too (just 2 wires to solder on) but for now I'll leave it alone and enjoy it..
I recently bought a 2004 W203 270CDI as a sensible commuter car (more sensible than my TVR anyway LOL). It's a lovely car and I really enjoy driving it (and I'm pleasently surprised at that).
It only has the base Audio 10 single CD head unit, and as I am not sure how long I'll be keeping the car (I'm contracting away from home) I didn't want to mess about changing this and then having to change back sometime in the future.
I know "FM transmitters" are old hat, and I've tried them in the past with mixed success but I saw an ACME F300 Bluetooth/FM Transmitter for £30 on the bay and thought "it's worth a punt"
Well how surprised am I that it works really well. OK audiophiles won't like the sound quality but to my ears it sounds great.
I stream music from my phone via A2DP and it also works as a handsfree kit. It also (and this for me is the kicker) has a USB output that means I can charge both the phone and my satnav (I bought a Y-cable).
I could use the satnav in the phone but I prefer to have use my Tomtom so in theory I could have a neater install but TBH for my "work" car it's fine.
The ACME device will autoselct the best "free" frequency if it detects interference (shame the radio won't skip with it LOL) but TBH I've not had to change frequencies once yet.
Even the handsfree works fine (although apparently I sound a bit robotic sometimes).
For £36 inc delivery and the y-cable I think it's a great, cheap piece of kit.
It'd be relatively easy to mod the kit so it doesn't use the cigarette lighter too (just 2 wires to solder on) but for now I'll leave it alone and enjoy it..
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