Connecting an iPod to the Bose HU
Connecting an iPod to the Bose HU
I just installed my iPod in the Z and wanted to condense all that I found here on the site so that other wouldn't have to look around, verify parts, and determine whether or not THEIR Bose HU would work.
What HU must I have?
- The Bose head unit that comes with the touring version of the Z. To verify, the right button of the 3 buttons at the top of the faceplate MUST say RADIO. This will allow you to switch between am/fm and the new modes added after the aux-in box is installed, sr1 and sr2. I have seen other Bose radios that have AM/FM in place of RADIO label on that right-most button, these WILL NOT WORK. They aren't satelite compatible.
What's needed for the install?
- an iPod
- a PAC AAI-NIS 2 aux-in unit (found here)
- an RCA-to-mini plug y-cable (found here) The monster cable one that I found has a 90 degree bend at the mini plug so that it sits out of the way.
- a charging unit with a mini plug aux-in (found here) This monster cable charging unit has the aux-in socket in the base so it is all compact. Big beefy connector too. No plugging into the headphone jack for the input
The SiK imp cable is nice too but it is white and hard to hide out of sight.
- a philips screwdriver, a flat blade screwdriver (really, thats it)
How to install (6 spd manual):
- sit in the passenger seat (easier from here)
- grab under the chrome ring around the shifter and lift up.
- disconnect the white ribbon cable that controls the a/c controls and turn shifter plastic to the side out of the way.
- remove the 4 philips screws at the base of the radio including the 2 screws that hold the white box to the center dash unit.
- remove the 2 screws that are located on the side/bottom of the dash where in connects to the center console.
- open the nav cubbie, lift out rubber sheet, and remove the 2 screws there and remove the small plastic panel.
- lift the center dash up slowly from the bottom. Several clips will let go and the dash should be loose.
- from the drivers side, disconnect the triple gauge plug. The dash should be free except for the plugs into the back of the radio.
- Put a towel in front of the radio to not scatch it up on the shifter. Tip the center dash forward to locate the 4 plugs at the back of the radio.
- Now to locate the plugs. Looking FROM the back of the radio you will see 4 plugs in a 2x2 arrangement (2 on top, 2 on bottom). The power plug is the one located at the top-left of the unit. The input plug is the one on the bottom-right. The plugs are all different sizes so you can't confuse them
- Unplug the power connector (top-left) from the radio and insert that plug into the AAI-NIS pass-thru harness.
- connect the other end of the AAI-NIS pass-thru power harness into the back of the radio power connector.
- unplug the input connector from the radio (bottom-right) and connect the AAI-NIS input harness in it's place. The stock plug is now left unused.
- connect the RCA-to-mini cable to the AAI-NIS RCA aux 1 output.
- feed cabling under radio and bring out to passenger footwell.
- re-assemble dash with AAI-NIS box tucked behind the radio.
- plug-in the charger unit to the cig lighter socket in the passenger footwell.
- insert the mini plug into the aux-in at the base of the charger connector.
- TURN THE VOLUME DOWN ON THE RADIO AND iPOD.
- plug the charger connector into the base of the iPod
- push the radio buttom until you see sr1 displayed.
- press play
- enjoy
Observations:
- This set-up works very well. No amplifier distortion like that from the Belkin charger unit. I also liked the fact that the cables can be bundled together tight and don't use the headphone jack as an input.
- It helps to use a small flat blade screwdriver to push in on the plug clips to release them when you lift up on the plug. Squeezing them with your fingers almost never works and just pisses off your fingers hehe.
- One thing I noticed is that the line-in level from the iPod at 50% volume is higher than the CD /radio level, meaning the radio needs to be turned down before switching to the iPod. If you don't do this, the iPod will come on really loud. PAC also offers a line balancing box called the TURBO 1 that will work with the AAI_NIS box. I might try this if the volume changes between the radio/CD/iPod are just too much. Who know, I may never listen to anything else but the iPod now
Overall, very happy with this mod and the items chosen. Very clean install and great tunes for the road.
Hope that this condensed version of the requirements/install/parts helps
Todd
What HU must I have?
- The Bose head unit that comes with the touring version of the Z. To verify, the right button of the 3 buttons at the top of the faceplate MUST say RADIO. This will allow you to switch between am/fm and the new modes added after the aux-in box is installed, sr1 and sr2. I have seen other Bose radios that have AM/FM in place of RADIO label on that right-most button, these WILL NOT WORK. They aren't satelite compatible.
What's needed for the install?
- an iPod
- a PAC AAI-NIS 2 aux-in unit (found here)
- an RCA-to-mini plug y-cable (found here) The monster cable one that I found has a 90 degree bend at the mini plug so that it sits out of the way.
- a charging unit with a mini plug aux-in (found here) This monster cable charging unit has the aux-in socket in the base so it is all compact. Big beefy connector too. No plugging into the headphone jack for the input
The SiK imp cable is nice too but it is white and hard to hide out of sight.- a philips screwdriver, a flat blade screwdriver (really, thats it)
How to install (6 spd manual):
- sit in the passenger seat (easier from here
)- grab under the chrome ring around the shifter and lift up.
- disconnect the white ribbon cable that controls the a/c controls and turn shifter plastic to the side out of the way.
- remove the 4 philips screws at the base of the radio including the 2 screws that hold the white box to the center dash unit.
- remove the 2 screws that are located on the side/bottom of the dash where in connects to the center console.
- open the nav cubbie, lift out rubber sheet, and remove the 2 screws there and remove the small plastic panel.
- lift the center dash up slowly from the bottom. Several clips will let go and the dash should be loose.
- from the drivers side, disconnect the triple gauge plug. The dash should be free except for the plugs into the back of the radio.
- Put a towel in front of the radio to not scatch it up on the shifter. Tip the center dash forward to locate the 4 plugs at the back of the radio.
- Now to locate the plugs. Looking FROM the back of the radio you will see 4 plugs in a 2x2 arrangement (2 on top, 2 on bottom). The power plug is the one located at the top-left of the unit. The input plug is the one on the bottom-right. The plugs are all different sizes so you can't confuse them
- Unplug the power connector (top-left) from the radio and insert that plug into the AAI-NIS pass-thru harness.
- connect the other end of the AAI-NIS pass-thru power harness into the back of the radio power connector.
- unplug the input connector from the radio (bottom-right) and connect the AAI-NIS input harness in it's place. The stock plug is now left unused.
- connect the RCA-to-mini cable to the AAI-NIS RCA aux 1 output.
- feed cabling under radio and bring out to passenger footwell.
- re-assemble dash with AAI-NIS box tucked behind the radio.
- plug-in the charger unit to the cig lighter socket in the passenger footwell.
- insert the mini plug into the aux-in at the base of the charger connector.
- TURN THE VOLUME DOWN ON THE RADIO AND iPOD.
- plug the charger connector into the base of the iPod
- push the radio buttom until you see sr1 displayed.
- press play
- enjoy
Observations:
- This set-up works very well. No amplifier distortion like that from the Belkin charger unit. I also liked the fact that the cables can be bundled together tight and don't use the headphone jack as an input.
- It helps to use a small flat blade screwdriver to push in on the plug clips to release them when you lift up on the plug. Squeezing them with your fingers almost never works and just pisses off your fingers hehe.
- One thing I noticed is that the line-in level from the iPod at 50% volume is higher than the CD /radio level, meaning the radio needs to be turned down before switching to the iPod. If you don't do this, the iPod will come on really loud. PAC also offers a line balancing box called the TURBO 1 that will work with the AAI_NIS box. I might try this if the volume changes between the radio/CD/iPod are just too much. Who know, I may never listen to anything else but the iPod now
Overall, very happy with this mod and the items chosen. Very clean install and great tunes for the road.
Hope that this condensed version of the requirements/install/parts helps
Todd
Last edited by Sponge; Nov 7, 2004 at 02:15 PM.
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