So with some help from some other great members on this forum, and some great parts hookups, I managed to get the ipod integrated into the Factory bose stereo in my 2000 SLS in a very useable and functional manner. It sounds great, and it gives me the option for an additional aux input if I desire one.
Everything works perfectly, BUT there is one catch, This will work in all 1998-2004 Sevilles And Devilles (with a little customizing to each application) if you have the factory 6 disc changer in either the center console (Seville) or the glove box (Deville). Your CD changer will still work if you do not add a 2nd aux input.

Here's the basic details:

I used a Harmon Kardon Drive + Play kit - Model DP1

http://www.harmankardon.com/drive-1/

These can be had for a song these days on ebay, and work really really well at controlling your ipod.

Then I used a Scosche GM wiring Harness from Wal-Mart, and an extra GM CD changer cable to make a plug and play harness to the car - I didn't cut a single wire in the car...

If you guys are interested I'll share detailed info, wiring diagrams, parts sources and the like, as well as mounting ideas of what I did in my car for each of the particular components.

Take care,

George

I would be interested in a small write up as well as how much you $ spent in all.

Write up coming....

As far as cost, I'll break it down:

NEEDED items:

Harmon Kardon Drive + Play kit $25 - Ebay (these are regularly available for this price - well at least until they clear out the old stock).

Scosche GM Harness - 8.95 - Wal-Mart

Here's where it gets sticky. You need another male end that plugs into your CD changer. You can either cut up an OEM CD changer cable or you can use the bottom (black half) of this:

You can also use this - Metra Part Number 71-1858,

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=265-607

That piece is ~ 11 dollars. If you can find it locally then you may be better off, especially since shipping might be pricey.

BUT with this you have to carefully cut off the top blue piece, to get it to plug into the changer...not a big deal but an extra step.


The GM CD changer cable is about 40 bucks from a dealer.

You also need a 3.5mm stereo to Dual RCA cable. You will cut the RCA ends off and solder them to the harness, if you want to retain the CD changer audio as an option. I think this was 4.99 at radio shack.

That's the bare minimum to have it plug and play. That and some solder and heatshrink etc...

So $25 for the d+p kit, $9 for the one GM Harness, and say $15 for the other one, $5 for the 3.5mm cable = $54 dollars. Done.

I also got another wood shifter surround piece, because I wanted to permanently mount my drive+play controller, and did not want any wires showing, so I drilled through the replacement to run the cables. This is an optional step, but it really made the install better for me. That, a replacement cupholder (mine was broken) And what I thought was the CD changer cable (turned out to be the entire console harness) Cost me $60 shipped from a member on the forums here. Which I think is a remarkable deal.

So I still have less than $100 in my setup....

Take care,

George

So with some help from some other great members on this forum, and some great parts hookups, I managed to get the ipod integrated into the Factory bose stereo in my 2000 SLS in a very useable and functional manner. It sounds great, and it gives me the option for an additional aux input if I desire one.
Everything works perfectly, BUT there is one catch, This will work in all 1998-2004 Sevilles And Devilles (with a little customizing to each application) if you have the factory 6 disc changer in either the center console (Seville) or the glove box (Deville). Your CD changer will still work if you do not add a 2nd aux input.

Here's the basic details:

I used a Harmon Kardon Drive + Play kit - Model DP1

http://www.harmankardon.com/drive-1/

These can be had for a song these days on ebay, and work really really well at controlling your ipod.

Then I used a Scosche GM wiring Harness from Wal-Mart, and an extra GM CD changer cable to make a plug and play harness to the car - I didn't cut a single wire in the car...

If you guys are interested I'll share detailed info, wiring diagrams, parts sources and the like, as well as mounting ideas of what I did in my car for each of the particular components.

Take care,

George

George,

Is it possible that you can share the diagrams and also if possible some pics.

Thank you.

I was just going to ask for pictures. Of the installation and the controls on the headunit of the car changing a song on the ipod.

ummm
you guys realize
if you have a 98-01 Seville there already is a plug and play kit which will control your ipod through your stock deck and charge it right...

ummm
you guys realize
if you have a 98-01 Seville there already is a plug and play kit which will control your ipod through your stock deck and charge it right...

Can you elaborate more CadillacSTS2003?

ipod2car or isimple
ill get the link right quick

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8294696&st=isimple&lp=3&type=product&cp=1&id=1172880156033

ipod2car or isimple
ill get the link right quick

Very helpful, what I was looking.
Thank you.

no prob
NOTE:
and i say this so others will know
this WILL NOT work on an 02+ Seville or Deville
it WILL work on an 02 Eldo though

Here's why I went with the setup i did:

I wanted a completely hidden ipod solution.

IT seems like the isimple allows you control volume (as does mine) from the headunit, and then track in a current playlist or artist from the head unit... That's it. If i'm wrong someone please correct me....
You also do not get any display on the radio of track title/ artist/ album on the radio's display...

You can not switch between artists, albums, or playlists using the head unit....

With my solution, you can hide the ipod, and you have complete control of everything... You essentially have a remote ipod screen and remote complete click wheel joystick...

You do not have to touch the ipod at all, or mount it in a place where it is visible or accessible. This does not seem to be the case with the isimple.

Secondly, I wanted the ability to retain the stock CD changer, as well as have the potential to add another aux input to the setup. The isimple takes the place of the cd changer, and does not add another input.

As far as the radio is concerned, its playing the CD changer, and that is what it's display reflects. I just keep the changer loaded with cd's and it's happy....

Here are some pics of my setup:

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj306/dirtyguido/DSCN1191.jpg
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj306/dirtyguido/DSCN1172.jpg
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj306/dirtyguido/DSCN1190.jpg

Take care,

George

Interesting. MikeKilpatrick is also working on his own home brew config. I'm interested in something that just plays. I use my ipod on shuffle all the time. rarely play just one artist.

so if the ipod is attached with the best buy alternative can you still control it with the iPod if necessary?

Interesting. MikeKilpatrick is also working on his own home brew config. I'm interested in something that just plays. I use my ipod on shuffle all the time. rarely play just one artist.

so if the ipod is attached with the best buy alternative can you still control it with the iPod if necessary?

Yeah me and Mike discussed our setups extensively via e-mail... We kind of both came to the same conclusion in terms of how and where to tap into the system, but used different devices to do so... Mike has also moved his CD changer to the trunk, in order to open up room in his center console. He got the non cd changer option console inserts... I actually am contemplating something similar, but moving the changer to the glove box, similar to how some of the lexus models have it mounted. I much rather prefer to have storage in the center console rather than the glove box, but it seems like unless you manage to catch a deal on ebay, the inserts for the console are very expensive from the dealer.

The ipod can still be controlled via the click wheel directly with the best buy setup. As a matter of fact you pretty much have no choice but to control it that way... beyond track up / down... It comes with a cradle to mount your ipod in plain view...

You can actually just use the ipod with a setup similar to mine and a line out / battery charge cable for the ipod as well, with probably $30 worth of wiring and an afternoon soldering.... You will not have access to the changer anymore though...

Take care,

George

that's pretty cool that the unit fits in the ash tray. However it is not in very plain sight and would likely cause me to get into an accident. I would like to do something like that with the newer harmon kardon unit that also has bluetooth.

that's pretty cool that the unit fits in the ash tray. However it is not in very plain sight and would likely cause me to get into an accident. I would like to do something like that with the newer harmon kardon unit that also has bluetooth.

Well the newer HK unit would be great.... But was too price preventative for me at this point....

Actually with the newer HK unit, or even with mine, you could easily mount the screen for it where I have my GPS unit. That would be a very good setup...that wont make you look down, plus the joystick on the newer ones is wireless, so you dont even have to drill into the console wood like i had too on my car (I bought a spare specifically for that purpose).

It's actually not bad as far as the display is concerned... 90% of the time i'm not looking at the display, i just take my hand off the shifter and onto the control wheel, everything is raised, so you can easily do it by feel... at least after the first day. The only time i really look at the display is selecting a playlist, artist etc...

I don't think that it is any more distracting than having an ipod in a cradle next to the radio, and trying to mess with that... Think of the display as a bonus, not something to stare at constantly. Use common sense while driving of dont try to navigate through the ipod database at 80mph while not paying attention and you'll be fine... Everything in a car is a distraction. Phone, ipod, GPS, all take away from truly focusing on driving...

Take care,

George

this thread says I pod.

If you want a cheaper and less aggravating way of doing it use this http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BREQN4/ref=dp_cp_ob_title_1

I have one for mine and it is flawless. sound quality is super clear and crisp. even better then a CD player Range is pretty good as well. Buddy of mine were doing a little trip and he was driving behind me and tuned in to it and we were listing. and it was cool :)

try it and find out

You still dont get the full sound of the Ipod via a radio station. I have a transmitter that even shows the track and artist via RDS on the head unit but the sound quality is still radio and not as good as a CD IMO.

Could this be adapted to plug into my Sirius Sportster 4?

However if you just buy the cable that replaces the changer the ipod controls via the sterring wheel and eliminates all distraction. You just lose the cd changer but who cares you have an ipod full of music you might as well lose the changer it is obsolete anyway.

The usa spec product even adds another input.

Could this be adapted to plug into my Sirius Sportster 4?

Yeah, that's easy enough....

Basically if you have the changer, you can add an aux in without too much hassle...

Now, as far as I know, and please correct me if I am wrong.

First, I will agree that the other devices are easier to setup install because they require no assembly or wiring knowledge, and they do work... BUT

Both of these aftermarket "interfaces" have VERY limited control of the ipod from the factory radio / steering wheel:
All devices including mine control the volume... beyond that:

First the Peripheral Isimple.. the only control you have of the ipod from the headunit is switching track up and down within a current playlist, or album... That's it. All artist / playlist / album selection must be done with the ipod itself from the click wheel.

Now the USA spec product is a bit better:

You get to assign 5 specific car ipod playlists... basically it fools the factory radio into thinking that the ipod is the 6 cd changer. Disc 1 is every song in the ipod, discs 2-6 are the 5 specific playlists...

The radio will display as if you are playing the cd changer

Disc X (now playlist) Track X... No artist / track title info is displayed....
So you get 5 lists to choose from... that's it. The usa spec product from what I understand also disables ipod click wheel functionality... So you are stuck constantly moving stuff around on the ipod if you want to switch up what you have available in the car.... Now here's the thing... you only get 5 lists, but i think up to 99 tracks each... BUT good luck remembering what track is where... its sloppy and disorganized.

The USA spec product does also allow for an additional input... My design can also allow for more than one aux input if you combine what I and Mike Kilpatrick have done...

I actually had a similar style interface with an aftermarket clarion ce net radio... That one did display track and artist info, but still... I ended up picking up a smaller used ipod mini that was my dedicated car ipod... I have a 60gb ipod, and it's pretty full... Now I dont NEED that in the car, but I didnt buy a 60gb ipod to keep a gig of music on it either.... and this is the only practical way (while maintaining the stock headunit) That I have found to manage it...

The second thing to be mentioned here is also cost. I think the Peripheral ISimple setup is $99 and the USA spec one is ~ 150.. If I was to get one of them at least get the USA spec one so you have some control of the ipod over the radio...

Take care,

George

Thanks i have been looking for something exactly like this.

Yeah, I bought an extension cable from GM and moved my CD changer into the trunk, on the backside of the rear seat. It came out REALLY nice! Also, the 2002-2004 models do not work with the factory kits that best buy, amazon, etc sell. My solution was a sony interface that goes between the changer and the head unit, with the help of some custom wiring and proper diagrams. Mine is a plug and play system as well with no wires needing to be cut. When you turn on your XM, Sirius, IPOD, or Zune, the device picks up the signal, turns off the sound from the CD changer and turns on your auxiliary device(s), when you turn the auxiliary source off, 10 seconds later, you CD changer kicks in. I also put a Y adapter in to the RCA jacks on the Sony device, which allows me to have both my XM radio and my Zune playing when I need them.

The extra space in the console is GREAT! Almost a foot deep... But, you need to find the parts on ebay, they DO show up once in a while and sometimes you have to buy a WHOLE console to get them, but even at 60-100 dollars, it is still cheaper than buying the individual parts from GM.

Mike

Mike:
Do you have a part number for that GM extension cable for the CD-Changer? I have looked everywhere for a cable like that but can't find one.
Hasse

I'm just starting down this path and could use some advice of you folks who have already done this! I have an 01 STS.

First of all, I'm wiring in my PDA (so simple L/R audio only - no need for track control etc). Next I have the CD changer in the console but am ready to toss it (my music is on my PDA ). The changer works great in case someone wants to buy it :) I had it replaced under warranty so its like new...

1. Can I simply unplug the CD changer and use the Audio L/R pins from the connector to feed my music into the head unit? I'm guessing not (this seems to easy)....

2. If not, how does the head unit know what device is available on the input (XM/CD/Other)? And did I read correctly that 2 devices can connect to the head unit?

3. How about the console box that's left when I remove the CD changer....I image there will be a big hole. Is this a single piece I can replace for a caddy model w/o changer?

Thanks
M

George:

Did you have to replace the whole console (so get a sealed console once you removed the CD changer)?? Is there an insert only which needs to be replaced? Any other parts to replace once you remove the changer?

Thanks,
M

dirtyguido I have two questions about the head-unit (H/U) shown in the first pic on page 2 of this thread: Does the H/U allow you to insert a single CD into it, in addition to controlling a CD-changer elsewhere in the car? Do you know if the wiring harness and operation of a H/U such as the one in the pic is backwards compatible with a '97 STS? (If it would work in a 2002 Eldo I'd imagine it might work in a '97 STS)