Installer recommendations?

TherapyBoy wrote: »

Don’t let Halfords near your car.

It’s a bit unclear from your post what you want to be installed. Are you looking for a Parrot handsfree phone kit or something else? Where in the country are you based? In the Dublin area I’d recommend either I.C.E. on Sandford Road in Ranelagh if you’re southside or Safesounds on Richmond Road in Drumcondra if you’re on the northside, they’re both in business a long time now & know what they’re doing.

I'm looking to add a USB port to a 2010 ford focus to play music off flash drive. Goggled and parrott kit came up, but don't like idea of screen and controller stuck to dashboard.

Have tried to ask installers for advice, like maybe can just keep radio and add cable or that, but don't want to know

I'm in Blanch but don't mind travelling within reason if its done right as shouldn't be a big job

I might ring them tomorrow so, hate calling asking for advice, waiting on being fobbed off as not a quick sale

Safesound priced a job before and was silly money

Safesounds
Sent email
Do i need x or so on, just agrees with me
How much would that be then, a normal one and then android auto etc, ah from x, no mention of model numbers etc or different froms for normal or fancy

I.C.E.
Said I would call
Very nice man, bit better on info etc, but threw out the dreaded from and to call over, if lived local I might

Every other installer
Pulling teeth, on and on to them, online on whatsapp etc and then dont reply unless you do all the chasing
Told 700 by one, 550 for the same from another and then sure thats nothing for a radio with android auto etc, not stopping to think maybe I dont want it or cant afford it after 4.4K on a car

Looking like AUX in or use my Bluetooth fm transmitter

Oh and re Halfords, a review I left them for Drogheda branch

Went in to price radio install
Passed a worker in a rain coat doing some electrical work in the rain in the car park under no shelter for him or car
Got talking to another worker to be told the owner didn't want a gazebo outside to work under
Tried to get price and hadn't a clue and would be more down to management again, rather than the worker who tried his best

I am now in two minds as the built in radio is great, just missing a usb function.
Ive seen ford radios with MP3 function on the net but E70 postage for E60 ish radio and then Im sure not about popping on/off trim

Crazy money when you get pricing, E120 for adapter etc alone

banana_bear wrote: »

There are two cheap options as well.

There are adapters that connect to the input for a CD changer in your cars stereo (many car stereos still have one of these, they certainly did in 2010). So they pretend they're a CD changer to your cars stereo, allowing you to use the next/previous key on your steering wheel, but play music off a USB drive.

I had a decent branded one of those (Dension ice link) that cost a good bit of money in my 2004 RAV4 before. Worked great, except of course you don't have a display and see what's playing. There are lots of different ones of these in the chinese online shops (I can't comment on the quality of them, of course). Here's one picked at random:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/USB-SD-AUX-MP3-Adapte-For-Ford-Focus-Galaxy-Ka-Mondeo-C-Max-Orion-Explorer-Interface/32513763826.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.15.37a61ecaHg062t&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_1_10065_10068_319_10059_10884_317_10887_10696_321_322_10084_453_10083_454_10103_10618_10307_10135_10821_537_10302_536_10133,searchweb201603_52,ppcSwitch_0&algo_expid=66396fff-cf65-4223-94ee-abe551f6e5bf-2&algo_pvid=66396fff-cf65-4223-94ee-abe551f6e5bf&transAbTest=ae803_4


The other option is something that emits a short range FM signal. So you have a tiny FM sender antenna in your car that plays music off your USB stick, and your cars stereo picks it up. Messy, but it can work quite well, and they're dirt cheap.

Again, here's one picked at random:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Car-Kit-Handsfree-Wireless-Bluetooth-FM-Transmitter-LCD-MP3-Player-USB-Charger-2-1A-Car-Accessories/32913605332.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.1.5a316e97WuzFpQ&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_1_10065_10068_319_10059_10884_317_10887_10696_321_322_10084_453_10083_454_10103_10618_10307_10135_10821_537_10302_536_10133,searchweb201603_52,ppcSwitch_0&algo_expid=e1204d3e-94a1-40f0-b233-43982a0ce11f-0&algo_pvid=e1204d3e-94a1-40f0-b233-43982a0ce11f&transAbTest=ae803_4

Or one with bells and whistles:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/JINSERTA-Power-ON-OFF-Bluetooth-4-0-FM-Transmitter-Modulator-Handsfree-Car-Kit-TF-USB-Music/32910503839.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.36.5a316e97WuzFpQ&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_1_10065_10068_319_10059_10884_317_10887_10696_321_322_10084_453_10083_454_10103_10618_10307_10135_10821_537_10302_536_10133,searchweb201603_52,ppcSwitch_0&algo_expid=e1204d3e-94a1-40f0-b233-43982a0ce11f-5&algo_pvid=e1204d3e-94a1-40f0-b233-43982a0ce11f&transAbTest=ae803_4

I'd love to take out the radio to see if cd changer port and throw that box into glove box, knowing my luck will break the trim etc. If no trim I'd have a look

The second option I have via here, only problem is cant do Bluetooth calls and for some reason interferes or can't get FM stations. Shame as does sound good and handy for the usual music services or whatever you put on phone

Thanks for all your efforts and help, may end up biting the bullet and paying for new radio.

I doubt I'd go android auto as 200 more and not sure if just a fad
Like the position of radio meaning taking eyes off road for satnav versus phone holder in line of sight

If only pirate radio was not a thing of the past