hooking up Connects 2 box

Cloth Ears

Cloth Ears

A2OC Donor
Hi all,

I'm pretty sure I remember seeing a helpful guide to connecting a Connects 2 Aux converter to the CD autochanger sockets on a Concert II, ages ago, but can't now find it. The instructions which come with the unit are rudimentary at best, and as I remember it, not all the plugs got used in the install but the paperwork doesn't explain things at all clearly.

Am I mistaken in this? If I remember it right, can anybody perhaps point me to the thread in question? Nb, it's not the one about installing the neat aux socket in the ashtray. What I'm trying to be clearer on is which colour of plug goes to which socket on the back of the head unit.
 
This took me ages to work out - I didn't have any manual. The three little different colour blocks that join together go in the top - the autochanger ports. The red (I think) plug takes the Oem plug so your radio still turns off and on with ignition. If you struggle I'll try and look out a photo.


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Pinkythelabrat said:
This took me ages to work out - I didn't have any manual. The three little different colour blocks that join together go in the top - the autochanger ports. The red (I think) plug takes the Oem plug so your radio still turns off and on with ignition. If you struggle I'll try and look out a photo.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Thanks, that's what I was thinking, but the diagram doesn't make that at all clear. Grateful for the confirmation, cheers!
 
Just an update - finally got around to fitting this.

It is as PTL says, the three multi-coloured plugs fit in place of the topmost plug from the harness, into the back of the head unit. The plug from the harness then fits into the floating socket which comes with the Connects 2 unit. There is an earth wire, which I terminated in a crimp-on connector which I secured to one of the Torx screws on the side of the head unit (you have to crimp down the sleeving flat, or it won't go back into its slot).

The hardest thing, by far, was getting out the dash cubby. This just didn't want to budge via the 'make a fist inside and force it to pop out' technique. I eventually eased a flat bladed screwdriver down one side and gently prised one side loose, and the whole thing popped out. I drilled a 20mm hole in the back, which I threaded the Aux plug through.

The second hardest thing was getting the DIN unit release keys back out of their slots. One seemed to have worked its way into an odd position, and took some persuading.

It seems to work well. Toggling the CD button brings up the 'autochanger' which is my iPhone, and playing the phone's stored music gives decent quality audio. As has been mentioned elsewhere, it seems to only display as 'Track 1' and the head unit navigation buttons aren't effective, control of tracks is via the iPhone itself.

Seems like a worthwhile spend of £30 to get my A2's audio 21st century compliant. Happy bunny!
 
Pinkythelabrat said:
I couldn’t cope without mine now - audiobooks are my best friend.
Click to expand...

I've finally managed to sort a way to sort my Audible files so I can convert them to MP3s to play in the car :)

Just about to listen to Shogun (unabridged it's just short of 50 hours :eek: That'd be a LOT of CDs)
 
Sorry to revive and also slightly hijack this thread! Can any of you Connects2 owners comment on the charging capability of the built-in USB port?

The description simply states it is '5V' but fails to mention the amperage, which would give an idea of how quickly this could charge a Phone. I'm trying to figure out if this could charge my Phone faster than running Waze and Spotify will drain it.
I have a quick charger running off the cigarette lighter but would ideally like to keep things neat and avoid the extra cables.
 
To be fair, it's not a "Quick" or "intelligent" charger, of the type you would need to effectively charge an iPhone fast. My solution to a similar situation was to purchase a Duracell Energizer charger pack, and have that on constant charge from the 5v feed from the Connects2 - this gives intelligent charging and enough backup for very long journeys. I had it plugged in under the steering wheel dashboard, and ran the iPhone cable up through back of the dashboard behind the instrument cluster, thus keeping it away from feet etc.
 
That's an inventive solution, thanks for the tip!

I'm assuming the Connects2 box is only powered when the ignition is on and not permanenty live like the cigarette lighter? I'm sure the drain would be minimal, but I don't use my A2 regularly so would rather avoid any constant drain when the car is off for my own peace of mind.
 
TheBoyFromBromley said:
That's an inventive solution, thanks for the tip!

I'm assuming the Connects2 box is only powered when the ignition is on and not permanenty live like the cigarette lighter? I'm sure the drain would be minimal, but I don't use my A2 regularly so would rather avoid any constant drain when the car is off for my own peace of mind.
Click to expand...

Mine has never caused any issue. I think it’s controlled by the radio power on but it’s too tucked away on mine to check the usb connection. Sorry.


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I've since found and ordered a simpler alternative from eBay.de. This one cost just £35, so quite a bargain. It comes with the head unit removal tools too which is handy!

This 'Bluetooth Musik Adapter' connects to the original head unit via the CD changer port just like the Connects2, but provides only the Bluetooth connectivity element for streaming audio from a Phone or other device . So no Microphone, Aux-In or USB.

I asked for English instructions for pairing the Bluetooth to my phone, here they are incase anybody else intends to put an order in:

For pairing please enable bluetooth at your phone and start the search for new devices, there you can find
the adapter as "BlueMusic". If you like to pair a new phone and cannot find the device in the search list,
please press the next track button, to enter pairing mode. This only works with no phone connected.

To start playing music please press CD2-button.
Click to expand...

I'll let you know how I get on once it arrives.
 
I finally installed this at the weekend, it works great! It will only play media audio via Bluetooth though, I couldn't get the audio from a call to play through the speakers. Maybe it has a more restrictive chip in it or something.
 
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