Upgrading to swapping Blaupunkt VW stereo with wider aerial connection?

boardtc

My Passat came with RCD 300 stereo system, here's the aerial connector point:



I am upgrading to have Bluetooth built-in and got a Blaupunkt VW MID EU UP1 being told it would be a straight swap. However, the double aerial at the back is narrower than in the RCD 300 and the connector does not match:



The installer did not want to cut my wires and do a join. Is there an adaptor I can get or what are my options?

TherapyBoy

The aerial on the new radio looks like standard fakra, it should be fitting perfectly. Can you take another photo of the back of the new radio without the aerial leads plugged in?

boardtc

Thanks a million, here it is:

TherapyBoy

Ok, it’s definitely a fakra-type aerial & should be fitting ok. It does look tighter than the inputs on the old radio, at worst you might need to get a short extension lead (or 2) & make the connections where you have the space away from the back of the new radio unit.
Who is your installer? Anyone worth their salt shouldn’t be having problems with this.

boardtc

It was the local garage I use... A couple of short extension leads sound ideal. Any ideas where I might get some / what I am looking for?

TherapyBoy

A car audio specialist would be able to sort you out, whereabouts you based?

boardtc

I'm in the Midlands, Athlone/Tullamore area.

TherapyBoy

I’m not familiar with anyone based around there. A quick google to see who’s local to you or a trip to Dublin might be in order. Any proper in-car specialist will be able to help. Avoid Halfords if possible.

boardtc

Thanks for your help. I thinks it's Fakra Male to male I need so? I found https://www.ebay.ie/itm/Fakra-Z-Male-to-Fakra-Z-Male-Plug-RG174-Coaxial-Pigtail-Cable-2m-for-Car-Antenna/163574788294

TherapyBoy

That looks like what you already have on the back of the radio. A male to female extension (x2) was what I was thinking but I can’t tell you 100% either way without seeing the car & the radio.
If at all possible, please take it to someone who supplies & installs car radios. They will be able to properly help you.

boardtc

Ok, after school pickup I went into a sepcialist car audio store, I brought in the new unit and asked them for an install price they said they could not give me one as they had not done this connection before and every car was different. Thanks to your info I got them to find the lead, 2m was the shortest they had. 2 of them would cost €50 :-(


I'm not 100% sure what I need, finding it hard to find a single F to M, there's plenty of dual ones like https://www.ebay.ie/itm/Dual-Male-Fakra-to-Female-Fakra-Antenna-Adapter-Cables-Radio-FM-Conversion-Line/383666616338

TherapyBoy

Where did you buy the new radio? Contacting them (or Blaupunkt directly) & explain the problem you’re having, there has to be a simple solution.

boardtc

One would hope! I got it from a scrap yard for €150, they said they take it back if there was an issue. I am trying to get built in bluetooth without costing an arm and a leg! Thanks for the idea, I emailed Blaupunkt there.

TherapyBoy

Ok, I think this might not work out for you. I thought it was an aftermarket radio unit (my mistake) but after reading you got it from a scrapyard I checked it out.

From researching the radio they came fitted originally in VW Tiguan & are coded, do you have the security code? Is the microphone for the Bluetooth system part of the radio unit or is it a separate part? If it’s a factory fitted part they might not be available separately as a single microphone part, it could be tied in to another system in the original car. Is the Bluetooth system included in the radio unit? It also could have been a separate system in the original vehicle & just controlled by the radio unit.

Get your €150 back from the scrapyard & go to a proper in-car audio specialist. Sorry dude!

boardtc

Thanks a lot for your time @TherapyBoy. They told me that the VW dealership would give me the code, I had not rang them yet. Good point about the microphone I had not considered that and do not know the answer. The same shop previously quoted me €600 to install a system, out of my budget :-(

boardtc

So I went back to the scrap yard and they recommended a garage across the road, I gave them a try, this young mechanic, wow, opened it up, took apart out the old connections, removing these bits:



This enabled him to then fit the existing connections into the new aerial in like 3 min. He then told me to look up VW Radio Code on ebay! I spent £5 and emailed them the serial number and they sent me they 44 digit code :-)

So moving onto the next "issue! Bluetooth audio is enabled in the settings but when I go into media "BT-audio" is disabled. My phone does not pick up a Bluetooth signal from it. Do I need to get something additional? I read in YouTube comments for another system that there was a Bluetooth module box under the passenger seat?

boardtc

Ok, so I have learned a bunch more. Bluetooth audio is enabled by installing a bluetooth module. I have not been able to find one second-hand, some are on ebay but seem to come with the harness (the necessary connecting wires and bits), most from Lithuania. I have found some new that will work, like https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/164024171890 for £163.80.

I found the more affordable https://www.aliexpress.com/i/4000184098375.html €53 but would be taking a chance with it. Any thoughts?

boardtc

To close this post, the ali express bluetooth harness was fitted and works perfectly.
Fully upgraded to Bluetooth system for Euros 300.