Im searching for a head unit that works well with the iphone 3G.

Don't mind mounting a cradle on the dash, or using bluetooth.

Don't want the front usb input as they look gash and prevent easily removing the face plate

Phone call integration would be a bonus.

Best one I've found so far is the Alpine iDA-X001.
Thoughts?

Either way mate. Obviously if it uses bluetooth, then control from the HU is essential as I can keep the phone in my pocket.

Regarding the USB it seems some HUs have a port on the front or rear that allows yout to put your iphone charge cable in and use it that way.

I got this one just before xmas and im very impressed with it. Can control playlists etc through the head unit. The bluetooth function is good. Auto-sync's to the head unit when you switch it on. Not a bad price either.

Halfrauds clicky

It does have a front USB port which i don't have an issue with as i have only 1 USB cable so take it out when im not using it.

Can't go far wrong with the Alpine full speed connection range

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Audi S3 Black Edition

+1

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Ex SC-6

Now in a Megane R26

+2 Love my flip out screen jobby. With the added bonus that if i ever bought myself an alpine sat nav, i can plug it in and use the screen as a sat nav touch screen.

thats mine

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Pete Sims - R.I.P buddy!

PS£ id - onenashy

Cheers mate but im only looking at the

Liking the Kenwood mate

The thing with the pioneer is the control knob is actually quite a pain to use, eg changing radio frequencys is left to right, and you end up holding it slightly one way and it changes function instead of station.

Gonna research the Kenwood a bit more

Have just done exactly that I think you are right, it looks to be the better bit of kit in terms of being easier to use

I may order one up this afternoon as i should be able to fit it at the weekend

Only downside is i cant change the light colour to red

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Just Drive It

I've had the iDA-X001 your looking at for 18 months and it is really good, but it does have a couple of drawbacks.
Firstly, the full speed connection is only available when you buy the additional lead, which I did. The difference in speed is so minimal it didn't really notice, however, what they don't tell you is that by using the full speed connection you actually lose the ability to view the album covers on the headunit! Showing the artwork like it does was the main reason I bought it in the first place!
Secondly, it's not as easy to navigate as it could be. When you press the centre of the jog dial to open the menus (artist, album, playlists etc) and find the one you want, you then have to press the seperate enter button. This is counter intuitive to the average ipod user as you'd expect to press the centre of the jog dial again- a mistake I still make regularly.
Lastly, I know I'm ranting, scrolling through the artists/albums can take a lifetime. You can get round this though by selecting the music you want before plugging in the ipod/phone, and it will carry on playing from where you left it.
Having said all that (nearly done) it is a great headunit and I've since put it into my e39 5 series which even with the standard speakers is a great sound (I needed it amped in the 306 to get a decent sound).
Apparently the newer versions of this unit take care of the last two issues I've had with it, and if you do go for the extra bluetooth adapter avoid the first generation of it as it had compatibility problems with more modern phones- before the 3gs was released.
Lastly, deep breath, I've got photos of it installed in the 306 in my old posts.
Good luck!

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If you go down to the woods today...........

Just bumping this as I'm looking to buy this week or next, any more recommendations.

Main points I want:
1) iPhone 3G connection (pref rear usb or BT)
2) Album art
3) If connected, should charge the iphone

Fletch did you get that Alpine? I'm after a new HU to link with my IP4, ideally no more than £200 tbh but if the HU is worth it I'll pay a little more. Don't mind if USB port is front or rear. Should be some bargains in the sales.

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340 horses

What do you want to do with it Jon? Connect hands free for phone calls or play your music?

The Alpine unit I've got in the pug connects via blue tooth for hands free phone calls only.But we have a bit of kit in the Passat that connects via blue tooth and will play music and be a handsfree kit via bluetooth. Works well with my IP4. I can find out how much I can get one for if you like as it's Tara's god parent

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My old man wrote me a letter from prison once. It said if you don't want to end up in here, stay away from crime, women and drugs. Trouble is, that don't leave you much else to do, does it?