Dear Intaweb

[bellinghman]

Look, I know what I want.

I want the ability to receive DAB stations in my car. I happen to like BBC7 and so on.

I want the ability to play MP3s from a reasonable size storage. (A few gigabytes would be fine) No, I don't want to have to plug an MP3 player in: I'd be happy with the ability to put a USB drive in the glove compartment.

I want to be able to use the existing steering wheel controls to be able to change track or station or whatever.

That's all I think I want. I don't actually need the ability to play a CD. Or a cassette.

So why is it so hard to find the right product?

Comments

[silly-swordsman.livejournal.com]

Is there a standard interface for steering wheel controls, or is it all hard tied to the pre-fitted stereo? I think that's the first question to answer.

While there are MP3 car stereos around, they're very niche. The done thing is to fit an iPod dock (which all three German car makers do on some models now, I believe). These cars have the steering wheel controls tied to the docking station, too, AIUI. Maybe you need a new car?

[bellinghman.livejournal.com]

Standard interface? Not quite, but there do seem to be adaptors so that if the head unit understands the concept at all, you can get most steering wheel controls to work. I've certainly seen which part numbers are relevant for this one with one unit.

(New car? This one hasn't had its first MOT yet.)