I'm not really a "music" person....

With a 5 hour road trip coming this weekend in the 348 (headed to the beach with the FCA), Mrs. JRR wanted some tunes in the car. I agree -- even XOST and Hyperflow would get tiring for 5 hours.

The car has a 2003(?) Alpine 7892 headunit which is about as basic as they come. It does however, have an AiNet output which I never knew how to use. Well, a quick call to the experts at Crutchfield on Sunday night was very very worthwhile!! For about $100, I bought an Alpine KCA420i iPod adapter, and installed it in about 20 minutes. Guess what? Fantastic sound with full headunit control of Mrs. JRR's iPod! Works like a champ, and is completely discreet. The iPod sits in the glovebox and all control is on the faceplate of the stereo with scrolling text. In the below pictures, I pulled it out just to take a snap -- there is enough cable for the passenger to easily answer an incoming telephone call if necessary. Heck, with the iPhone, the passenger can surf the web too -- while we listen to the tunes.

In a 348, it is so damn easy to reach the stereo connections -- I didn't even remove a single console plate. Just stick your head into the passenger footwell, and everything is accessible.

Now, the best part?? Despite what everyone said....Mrs. JRR's iPhone works in this adapter too. Scrolling text, etc. The iPhone does appear to be fully compatible with the Alpine 7892 and KCA420i. Very cool.



Just thought I'd post this so it gets sucked into the archives for future searches.
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(Edit: car is dusty... I was playing with the evaporator flap, and got it close for the first time in about 20 years. The cumulative dust of Tutankhamen's tomb blew everywhere because of the increased air volume)

 

The "recirculation" button on your A/C controller activates a flapper door that allows (or disallows) fresh air. Open the front trunk. Look inside the airbox directly in front of the windscreen. There should be a flapper door on the passenger side that is connected to a little actuator. When you press the recirc-button, that door moves up and down.

 

Actually I don't. They don't exist as a spare. It's a steel plate with foam on both sides.