Bluetooth/iPhone and E7009 NAV (info & questions)

[CookieRoe]

Installed my E7009 (Factory NAV from 2008 Sienna) to my ride several months back. Purchased the factory mic and bluetooth buttons for the steering wheel. When installing the mic in the overhead light (sunroof controls) area, there apparently is a blue colored end to plug in the factory mic. My runner being a 2005 model, this blue plug wasn't there. No biggie I thought. Then I noticed the bluetooth buttons on the steering wheel didn't light up (when the lights are turned on) and touching them to activate the BT didn't yield any response (nothing on the NAV screen). I checked the connection in the steering wheel and all seems ok. I CAN pair via BT my iPhone and the NAV does recognize it, but with no voice (I never connected the voice out to the rear amp) and mic, it was practically worthless. NOW, I have a 2005 and figure that no physical connection between the steering wheel and HU (as in post 2006 models) exist which is why my buttons aren't working. Since its been so long since I purchased them, returning them isn't an option, so I kept the steering buttons on (besides, they look cool, hahah). My factory mic is still in its original package.

I've pretty much given up on having the factory bluetooth work as it was intended to by Toyota. MANY members here with 2006+ 4Runners have installed a factory NAV with BT buttons/mic working. I haven't seen any members with 2003-2005 4Runner with this mod (at least I haven't in HOURS of research).

For the last few weeks I've been researching hooking up an adapter so I can connect my iPhone (music), listen to my music AND have bluetooth. The following are interesting products (for those of us with the factory NAV):
1) Scosche Bluefusion for Bluetooth
2) Scosche iPod integration for iPod
3) Bluetooth/iPhone streaming This one combines the two (BT/iPhone streaming and connection)
4) iPhone integration. This one is only for iPod/iPhone (by Vais Technologies)
5) iPod integration iSimple (GateWay) See it in video here.

These are the bulk of the products that allow you to connect your iPod/iPhone and have bluetooth on your factory NAV. The BT kits come with a mic. All are plug and play. I am seriously looking at option 3 to get soon. But before I do:

Anybody have experience with these products?
Does anybody with a 2003-2005 4Runner successfully install a factory NAV with the BT/mic working properly? What am I doing wrong?

If I can get the BT to work with the steering wheel buttons I installed, that would be great. Maybe I'm missing something. The iPhone adapter I definitely plan on getting. Anyway, if no one can help, thats ok. I hope the information I posted here helps to serve anybody wanting to embark on these mods. I do plan on following up with pics (and vids). Thanks! :hatsoff:

 

[CookieRoe]

update................

Hey all:

Thought I would update this thread by zeroing down on two very similar products:

1) DICE Mediabridge Toyota Bluetooth kit - linkAcar

2) iSimple Vehicle Specific Kits - iPod, iPhone, Bluetooth, Connector
(click on Gateway and Blustream.......you need Gateway to plug into your OEM radio with or without NAV, Blustream then plugs into Gateway)

ANYWHO...........Both allow integration (using your steering wheel buttons to control your iPhone/iPod while displaying song info on your OEM radio AND give your bluetooth [for those who do NOT have bluetooth from the factory]). From some research I've found the following info:

iSimple: I've seen many like it, but some users say it's "laggy" when going through songs. That's about it.
Dice: Haven't really seen too much about this product. What is nice is that you can plug USB devices, that's about it.

Both are about $200-300 depending where you look. Does anybody have anymore input on these devices??

Thanks for any responses! :snacker: