I'm considering putting a Bluetooth connection in my 2005 Land Cruiser. I have had it since 2010. It has navigation. I tried it a few years ago and it did not work. Also is there a system that will work with the CD, FM AM etc. and not create a need to abandon any of those? I have done a little research and want the best sound possible and consistent volume settings. Also, does anyone have a satellite radio hooked into the OEM head? It looks like it toggles between AM and SAT any advice is greatly appreciated.
Best Blue Tooth for 2005 LC 100 with Navigation
- Thread starter Ziafra
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I'm using this in the tape deck, works well for music & phone use...
Amazon product ASIN B07L9JBQ2V
Amazon product ASIN B07L9JBQ2V
- Thread starter
- #3
That is pretty cool. have one of the old fashioned ones that has a wire to the phone. The deck has "periods" where it keeps ejecting the thing and other times works just fine. Do you have that eject problem?
No, it has never ejected like the old "wire" ones (I switched from that one too).
The only somewhat issue is that you have to reconnect the device if your phone is away from the vehicle for 10mins or so but not a huge issue as it has always connected quickly and on the first try.
Btw, I keep it plugged into the cig outlet right below the tape deck continually so there is never an issue with charging.
The only somewhat issue is that you have to reconnect the device if your phone is away from the vehicle for 10mins or so but not a huge issue as it has always connected quickly and on the first try.
Btw, I keep it plugged into the cig outlet right below the tape deck continually so there is never an issue with charging.
I just installed a Vais Technology SL3b-L and it works great.
forum.ih8mud.com
Factory nav, CD changer, other audio, etc. work well (no difference). The bluetooth module is treated like an additional multi-disc player that toggles to the factory disc changer when pressing the 'disc' button. The screen sometimes gets confused about playlist names (but not song titles), but everything I've tried to send through (Pandora, radio-like apps) works fine.
CDs still sound a titch better in the car, but not sure whether to blame that on bluetooth (iPhone send or SL3b-L receive) or MP3 compression. The sound is very, very good, though. Far superior to the bluetooth radio transmitter I had been using.
I don't use the satellite radio, but I noticed a pretty serious degradation in reception when adding the SL3b-L into the chain (see picture of what I assume to be the satellite radio pigtail, which I plugged into the SL3b-L harness).
There's a March Madness sale going on now at Vais that gets you $30 off.
edited to add:
There is a volume difference between sources, but fiddling with the phone out volume (almost on 100%) reduces the difference enough to keep from getting blasted by a source change. I haven't messed with it enough to know whether I can go to 100% volume without distortion.
Installed Vaistech SL3b on 05 LC
forum.ih8mud.com
Factory nav, CD changer, other audio, etc. work well (no difference). The bluetooth module is treated like an additional multi-disc player that toggles to the factory disc changer when pressing the 'disc' button. The screen sometimes gets confused about playlist names (but not song titles), but everything I've tried to send through (Pandora, radio-like apps) works fine.
CDs still sound a titch better in the car, but not sure whether to blame that on bluetooth (iPhone send or SL3b-L receive) or MP3 compression. The sound is very, very good, though. Far superior to the bluetooth radio transmitter I had been using.
I don't use the satellite radio, but I noticed a pretty serious degradation in reception when adding the SL3b-L into the chain (see picture of what I assume to be the satellite radio pigtail, which I plugged into the SL3b-L harness).
There's a March Madness sale going on now at Vais that gets you $30 off.
edited to add:
There is a volume difference between sources, but fiddling with the phone out volume (almost on 100%) reduces the difference enough to keep from getting blasted by a source change. I haven't messed with it enough to know whether I can go to 100% volume without distortion.
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #6
Thanks!
I had one of the older VAIS tech units (I forget the model) with built in hard drive and iphone support. I hated the thing. I hope the new ones have a more intuitive interface. I had to speak with VAIS support several times to find undocumented features, and even found a few things they didn't know.
I ultimately got tired of it and purchased a USA Spec BT45-TOY. Wish I had done it sooner.
I ultimately got tired of it and purchased a USA Spec BT45-TOY. Wish I had done it sooner.
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- #8
Thanks for that. How do you like the BT45-TOY?
It's been pretty good so far.
My main gripes with it are probably mostly caused by the behavior of the iphone itself.
If I stop music/audio on my phone, it will automatically start back up seemingly at random. It will continue to do this as long as I'm on the radio interface for bluetooth audio (mini-disc for mine).
The other issue I have is if I answer a call and I'm outside of my car (but the ignition is on) the phone will constantly keep swapping back over to the car's audio. I end up having to disable bluetooth on my phone when this is happening, which is pretty rare for me. Might be more annoying if you work on jobsites and leave your LC running nearby on a regular basis.
Like all aftermarket interfaces I've used, the volume is totally different for this vs. the FM radio or cd changer. I have to turn the volume up much higher using this to achieve the same volume. This results in me blowing out my ears every now and then when I swap back to FM radio getting back into the car.
- Thread starter
- #10
Thanks Again. I read in other threads the same thing you said. It seems that in some applications the 45 works fine.
I have had a BT45-TOY in my truck for 2+ years and have had no gripes with it. I installed it in a parking lot minutes after finalizing the sale of the truck before my 12+ hour drive home. Never had any connection issues or anything like that. Good sound quality and easy to install.
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- #12
Thanks for the replay. I'll check it out. Price is fair.
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- #14
It looks pretty large. Where did you place the box?
I just installed the BT45 in my '05 last weekend. Install went pretty smoothly. Running wires through there with average sized man hands is kinda tough. Would be much easier w/ 6y/o hands. I have the same problem with the volume, have to turn it up fairly high on the stereo, but sound is great. Can't remember where I set the dip switches, but mine plays on CD #4. I have satellite and rear DVD in mine. For the head unit, I just pulled the glove box and put it behind the right side of the plastic housing behind the glove box. Didn't even need to secure it (yet).
Not sure if anyone else is running the microphone, but I ended up putting it right under my speedo in the far lower right corner of the instrument panel. Black on black, so it's barely noticeable, even if you're looking for it.
Not sure if anyone else is running the microphone, but I ended up putting it right under my speedo in the far lower right corner of the instrument panel. Black on black, so it's barely noticeable, even if you're looking for it.
In the glove box. It’s a relitvely small box you could probably install behind in the dash somewhere. I just did it in the glove box for convenience. There is still room in there for other items.
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- #17
No not really. I just followed some other installs that guys had done.
I almost did that, but I had my box out already changing the cabin air filters, so figured i may as well put it under there where it’s totally out of sight.
Another Btoy45 user. I had my stereo shop put it in while they were doing tint. The only feature that doesn't work (I think they left a switch unswitched during install) is my call answer/end button on the steering wheel. Otherwise everything is no different than what it would be from the factory. Looks like stock (big thing for me) and has all the features I'd need. Sometimes I do have issues with calls wanting to play through the car if I'm outside of it, but I usually use Voyage ear piece anyway and it takes priority over the car's system when I select it. Not a fault of the Btoy at all, just how the phones work.