EnfigCarStereo's Blog

Here at Enfig Car Stereo we answer the same questions every day so I figured that if I made this guide it would clarify most of the questions and let us get back onto the forums. We specialize in Volkswagen & Audi. We also carry all the relevant iPod interfaces on the market and have been selling Auxiliary AUX interfaces for over 10 years since they were just used for people who wanted a direct audio input for their in-car TV’s. Everything on this page is for sale on our website EnfigCarStereo.com or you can click on the image of the item for a direct link to the item. PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE PAGE BEFORE CALLING US WITH QUESTIONS. It will help you make the best decision as to what interface you need and help keep us from answering repetitive questions. But if you do have questions after reading this please feel free to call us. We will be more than happy to speak to you.

Lets start with the car.
R8

What type of audio system you have does not matter with the  R8.  All cars have the navigation radio pictured below. All of these radios have an external CD changer port that is tricked into thinking that there is an external CD changer attached so that the audio port is activated and opened to allow the transfer of audio from your iPod to your radio. NONE OF THESE INTERFACES WILL DISABLE YOUR IN DASH CD PLAYER.

Audi R8 Radio

Radio Removal
Lets start with how to take out the radio.

The following video will show you how to take out the non navigation radio.

VIDEO COMING SOON

below are the keys you will need to take out the radio.
remember they come in packs of 2 and you need 4

Metra 86-9001 Radio removal keys

Glove box CD changer removal
This video will show you how to take out the glove box CD changer.
You can use the radio removal keys above to take out the CD changer.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ALKy-aP1qg&rel=0]

Connection Locations
There are 2 places to connect your interface. To the CD changer port behind the radio or to the black CD changer port in the glove box. All cars have the connection behind the radio. Most cars also have the connection in the glove box.  If you have a CD changer in the glove box then you definitely have the connection.  I have had 2 customers with what they called “demo” cars that did not have the CD changer or connection in the glove box.

Factory Satellite Radio

If you have factory XM or Sirius satellite radio it will be plugged into the CD changer port. If you don’t plan on using the XM or Sirius satellite radio you can just unplug it and disable it. If you plan on using the factory XM or Sirius satellite radio there are 2 options. All cars can use the Enfig Audi Sat Pass 2 http://enfigcarstereo.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/ENFIG_AUDI_SAT_PASS_2.html. The Enfig Audi Sat Pass 2 connects behind the radio on one end and connects to the satellite tuner in the trunk on the other end. If you happen to have the glove box CD changer connection you can use the Enfig Audi Sat Pass 3 http://enfigcarstereo.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/ENFIG_AUDI_SAT_PASS_3.html. This harness was designed to connect behind the radio on one end and to the CD changer connection in the glove box on the other end. They both do the same job but obviously the Enfig Audi Sat Pass 3 will make the installation easier if you have the glove box CD changer connection.

Enfig Audi Sat Pass 2

Enfig Audi Sat Pass 3

Internet radio: Some iPods like the touch & iPhone are capable of internet radio like AOL radio & Pandora. All of the iPod adapters below will allow you to play the audio through your factory radio. Non offer any control of internet radio besides volume.

Charging
All the interfaces below with the exception of the generic auxiliary aux audio input charge the iPod the new 5V USB charging that is required for the 4th Gen nano, Touch 2nd Gen, iPhone 3G & iPhone 3Gs as well as charging older iPods as well.

AUX
The first time of iPod adapter we will talk about is actually not an iPod adapter. It is the universal Auxiliary AUX adapter. Before you jump on this adapter let me remind you that we also carry iPod adapters that not only have an iPod specific cable but also have a secondary Auxiliary Aux input via 3.5mm jack or RCA input for all other devices that are not iPods. Since there are a few different brands I am going to discuss them on a separate page.insert link here.

I have included all adapters below just so you know whats available.  But for the money you paid for the car I’d just skip down to the Dension units.

BlitzSafe
BlitzSafe is the entry level iPod adapter. It works through the external CD changer port. The radio displays disc 1 track 99 (or Disc7 Track 99). The iPod is charged while the radio is on and for 20 minutes after you turn off the ignition. The only control from the radio and steering wheel controls is volume. The iPod controls are never locked. Notes: Does not work with 4th generation Nano. On the later radio software if you press track up or track down on the radio or steering wheel controls the radio will lock up and shut off the music. You have to go to FM then back to CD to reset the unit. Obviously its not a big deal because you really aren’t supposed to use the buttons anyway.

BlitzSafe VW/M-Link1 V.5 connects behind radio
BlitzSafe VW/M-Link1 V.3A connects in glove box

BlitzSafe VW/M-LINK1 V.5

BlitzSafe VW/M-LINK1 V.3A

The video below in in a VW but the function is the same.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXoivIndHlA]

Grom
Grom adds control from the radio and steering wheel controls. On disc 1 the iPod controls are unlocked and you have track up & track down controls from the radio and steering wheel. Disc 2 is your second, disc 3 is your third , disc 4 is your fourth , disc 5 is your fifth, disc 6 is your sixth playlist on your iPod in alphabetical order. On disc 2-6 the controls on the iPod are locked but the you still have track up & track down controls from the radio and steering wheel controls. Notes: On the later radio software if you press track up or track down on the radio or steering wheel controls the radio will lock up and shut off the music. It’s a big deal because you pay extra money for this interface for the control.

GROM I2-VAG-D connects behind radio
GROM I2-VAG-T connect in the glove box

GROM-I2-VAGD

GROM-I2-VAG-T

Below is a video that will show you how the unit works.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbgLlCQdxJ0&rel=0]

USA Spec
USA Spec adds a secondary Auxiliary Aux audio input via a left and right RCA plugs on the side of the unit. Disc 1 is your first, disc 2 is your second, disc 3 is your third playlist on your iPod in alphabetical order. Disc 4 is all the songs on your iPod in one playlist. On disc 1-4 the controls on the iPod are locked but you still have track up & track down controls from the radio and steering wheel controls. Disc 5 unlocks the iPod controls and you have track up & track down controls from the radio and steering wheel. Disc 6 is the Auxiliary Aux audio input. The later radio software has no problems with this interface.
USA SPEC PA11-VW6 connects behind radio
USA Spec currently does not have a unit that uses the connector in the center console.

USA Spec PA11-VW6

Demonstration video in a VW but function is the same
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoSz1PzM4MU&rel=0]

Dice Electronics

The dice i-VWR/i-VW-T unit never locks the controls on the iPod. Disc 1 activates track up/track down. Disc 2 activates playlist up/playlist down, once you find the playlist you are looking for you go back to disc 1 to go up and down the songs on the selected playlist. Since the controls on the iPod are never locked you can always keep it on disc 1 and select your music (like a genre) from the iPod controls and the go track up and down from the radio or steering wheel controls. The Auxiliary Aux audio input is controlled by disc 5 track one is iPod track 2 is Aux. When you are in the aux mode discs 1-4 act like EQ & volume for the aux. Its a nice feature since some of these external units have low audio levels. Dice also advertises artist and album controls on disc 3-4 but we think they function poorly and think you should ignore them. The later radio software has no problems with this interface.

Dice I-VWR/5V connects behind radio
Dice I-VWT/5V connect in center console

Dice Electronics i-VW-R/5V

Dice Electronics i-VW-T/5V

Below is a video of this unit in a VW but the functionality is the same.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8z6jPVXYTIw]

Dension

Dension makes the GW16AC1. The GW16VC1 will show text on the MFD (Multi Function Display). Works with both radios. As far as we know all cars come with the MFD. Below are 2 videos that demonstrate the interface in your car.

The GW16AC1 is the best interface available for your car. It will show all the information your iPod does on the MFD while the iPod controls are locked in GW mode. In UI mode the iPod controls are unlocked but you get no iPod text on the MFD. But you do get playlist up/Down on disc 1 & song up/down on disc 5. Then there is the AUX mode that gives you auxiliary Aux audio input via a female 3.5 mm headphone jack on the Dension Unit.

Dension GW16AC1

The videos below will show you the unit in your car.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djqj0G5ALs4&rel=0]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOr41pMsORE&rel=0]

The Dension unit has an iPod cable that is sold separately. You must use a Dension cable. The reason it is sold separately is because they give you a few options. The options are below.

Standard iPod cable.

Dension IPO4DC9

Then you have 2 cradles.

Dension IP34CR9

Dension IP51CR9

If you still have questions contact us at numbers below. Remember it’s always best to call. E-mails may not be responded to immediately because we are busy answering phones.

Thanks for reading and let me know if I forgot something,
Christian
[email protected]
888-Yo-Enfig (Not a joke we actually got it )
888-963-6344