NON-IPOD MP3 Integration

[personallyuneek]

I have been searching for a while and have yet to stumble on a thread about how to integrate a non Ipod MP3 to the Prius

TROLL ALERT: Before you start, I know I can and do hook my MP3 to the AUX port, but that cannot control the music through the stereo. Thanks.

I have found the XCARLINK http://www.xcarlink.co.uk/bmy_search.php?brand=Toyota&model=Prius&Year=2008 that seems to be exactly what I am looking for. It allows you to hook a usb cable to the 12 pin on the back of the stereo. I have the JBL and didn't know if it would work. With the 6 disc changer in dash, it still has the 12 pin for an external.

I wanted input before I purchased.....Thoughts

[kayak_hauler]

That sounds cool, and is something I would love to have as well. Don't know anything about the product though....Would the stereo software be able to recognize the play list from this? Anyone else with usefull info?

If you try this, please post your results...

[tedmarshall]

Originally Posted by personallyuneek

I have found the XCARLINK http://www.xcarlink.co.uk/bmy_search.php?brand=Toyota&model=Prius&Year=2008 that seems to be exactly what I am looking for. It allows you to hook a usb cable to the 12 pin on the back of the stereo. I have the JBL and didn't know if it would work. With the 6 disc changer in dash, it still has the 12 pin for an external.

I wanted input before I purchased.....Thoughts

I am not familiar with this device but I'd guess that it simply reads the MP3 files out of the player and plays them with its own hardware, not the audio hardware of the MP3 player. Thus you could use an MP3 player or a USB flash stick.

You'd need to make sure that your MP3 player allows direct access to the MP3 files via USB. Also, I doubt it would read/understand the player's playlists and such.

[beth04]

It looks like this would work with playlists based on folders (that's how my CD player works when I make MP3 CDs) if you're using a flash drive.

I wonder if this would work if you don't have a changer but just have the single CD player that plays MP3s and WMAs.

Does anyone have any ideas?

[spoonwzd]

I owned one of these xcarlink adapters for my Lexus IS200 and was very impressed with it.

When I changed my car to a UK 2005 Prius T4 I wanted the same feature, so based on my previous good experience with the xcarlink plus the fact that my JBL headunit doesn't support MP3s on CD, I bought an xcarlink adapter with the right connector.

I got it on Saturday and fitted it the same day.

It doesn't work.

It fits the 12-pin external autochanger plug and when you power on the car you see the USB stick get power and flash to show the xcarlink adapter has cataloged the mp3's on the stick, but when I try and switch to the 2nd cd player from the dash/wheel controls the head unit refuses to take notice of it. It briefly pauses to consider it, but then just switches over to radio.

This leads me in to my second problem. I bought the interface from xcarlink direct an their support appears to be a bit rubbish. They are only communicable via email and I consider myself lucky if i get a response from the only person they seem to have answering emails within 24 hours.

I'll let you know how I get on in due course.

[beth04]

I did some digging online for those of us that have a CD/MP3 player but not a changer and it looks like you can probably create a folder on the thumb drive called CD01 and that may work but that would be it.

I also thought that maybe you could add subfolders under CD01 like you can add to MP3 CDs but apparently this won't work.

Oh well, I still love my car!

Beth

[Hazmat42]

Will MP3 text be displayed when using xcarlink like it would be on a regular MP3 CD for those of us with radios that have that feature? Also, how many MP3 files maximum would each folder hold? Thanks!

P.S. I own a 2006 Prius with standard audio system

[spoonwzd]

I don't know about MP3 text. My headunit supports CD Text but not MP3s.

You can create CD01 - CD10 or CD12 directories (depending on how many autochanger slots your head unit will account for) and populate each directory with up to 99 mp3s.

I'm still awaiting resolution from xcarlink. I had a response on Tuesday which read, "There will be a slight delay in response to your email as the person who deals with our technical support is out of the office until this Friday 15th August. Please be assured that your message is important to us and will be answered as soon as possible."

Their definition of "slight" is clearly flawed. I continue to wait with decreasing patience.

[spoonwzd]

Well, Xcarlink say "[I have] consulted with our technicians, and Xcarlink has not yet been tested with this head unit, so it is most likely a compatibility issue."

So that's that. They've offered me a refund.

Looks like I'll have to buy a Dice and an iPod after all.

[Flying White Dutchman]

? so you can only place 99 numbers in a total of only 10 cd maps
and you wil only see "track 7 cd 2 " and not the track name's etc

shame i wanted this it s cheap option