After being a long time reader to this forum, I am making my first entry:

I had the iPod Music Link installed from my dealer today. They were reluctant to try it because my car is a 2005 model, and not designated as "compatible".

I was told that an attempt could be made - however, I would be responsible for installation fees even if the technician could not make it work. I said, “Do your best!” In any case, the installer had it in within two hours. It works flawlessly!

I used to drive an Audi S4 2001 model with a 30gig Phatbox installed. The interface is exactly the same. Although some have described it as useless – I find it quite functional, and certainly a step in the right direction!

As others have already posted how the system works, I will not rehash the same material. I will say that the sound is excellent. It is as good as a CD, and the line level is the same. Therefore, you will not have to adjust volume going between XM, CD or radio.

The dealer charged:
ACURA MUSIC LINK $189.00
INSTALLATION $175.00
ATTACHMENT KIT $10.00
SUB-HARNESS $15.00

TOTAL $389 PLUS NY TAX

Making a grand total of $420.12 installed!

I was expecting more......

Bottom line - The sound quality is superb. Once you get used to the clunky interface, it is very easy to navigate to any Artist, Album, Playlist or Genre.

It would be nice to have the songs and artist displayed - but, I guess that will be a software upgrade in the future.

My 2 cents.

 

Good first post! Nice to know it will work on previous models. Glad you like it

 

I should mention the dealer in case others need them for price matching or justification of ipod integration installation into "older" models:


John Holtz Acura
201 Linden Avenue East
East Rochester, NY 14445
1-800-724-1770

 

waqar,

What gen iPod are you using?

jjh1234

 

Thanks for the info on the ipod integration. I'll be buying one this week.

 

60 gig Photo iPod (Click Wheel).
I think that makes it a fourth generation.

Are you having a problem with yours?

Looks like this!

 

Waqar,
Could you post the part numbers of the parts installed. That will help when I go to my dealer as they told me that the kit will work with only 06 TL onwards...

 

15100 Install iPod Adaptor

1 08A28-1H2-100 ACURA MUSIC LINK $189.00
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx INSTALLATION $175.00
1 08A28-1H1-800 ATTACHMENT KIT $10.00
1 08A31-0F1-000 SUB-HARNESS $15.00

Parts $214.00
Labor $175.00

 

You guys can get the whole kit for 208 shipped from here: Music Link

I got mine for Christmas, excellent service, top notch guy.

 

Waqar, nice to know u got this working perfectly. I'm also a ROC TLer but would never take my car to Holtz since I've had a very bad experience with them. I'll be getting the interface for mine within another 2 weeks or so after my pocket recovers from the expenses of the holidays and see if Crest Acura in Syracuse can hook it up for me. Got pics of the finished install?

 

I don't blame you. We have an X5 from Holtz, and I have to say that they are the worst dealership to deal with regarding problems. I have gotten lucky with the Acura guys. Since I bought it from them and I am a physician, I think that they are a little nicer to me.

There is really nothing pretty about it. The wire enters the glovebox from the back and the iPod hooks up to it. Pretty standard. They left about a foot of wire - so, it can actually be held if sitting in the passengers seat. However, that is pointless; because the only thing that the iPod displays is "Do not disconnect".

 

I have a 3rd gen and it is not listed as supported, but I don't know why not. I believe the dock connector is standard. Unless it has something to do with the software. I'm probably not going with the music link at this point anyhow.

jjh1234

 

Thought I read somewhere that it'll work with '04's & 5's with Navi.

 

Hay this is also my first post.
I Have a 2005 TL W/Navi and i installed the Acura Music Link today. it works just fine Now
But when i first installed it did not work the first time so what I did was reset the deck by unpluging all the harness in the back of the deck. that made it link up
I dident Take any pictures but if you have a little know how its easy to do the install yourself!!!

 

thanks for the info guys.

Fuki and waqar.... is your TL a non-navi model or w/ navi? I have the non-navi and was wondering what the display on the car looks like? Also, how are you accessing the ipod (i.e. are you pushing an IPOD button on the console or did you replace one of your buttons (AM/FM, CD, XM etc.)? Any info will greatly be appreciated.

My apologies if this info has already been posted.

Thanks

 

We already know what an iPod looks like.

 

we need to know if it works with the 3G ipod... the kit says 4G and above for some reason

 

There's like 5 threads going on about this thing and not one picture of it or the install. Come on people!!

 

That's good to know it works with Navi. Can you take and post a picture of the display when it's in iPod mode?

 

Will it work on the 06 TL

 

yes, it will

 

Picture Halfway down the page

 

Cool, thanks.

 

We are going to be testing the adapter on various older acura models next week to see what will work exactly. If you guys have any un-answered questions about the link feel free to e-mail me.

 

ie it wont work wit 04'???....

 

Thank you, I will call the dealer today. in reply I have the IPOD nano. One more question, does it change the appearance of the dashboard?

 

No, just the glovebox.

 

Thank You!

 

does anyone have pics yet

 

Check out post 22 in this thread.

 

where did u get the link wire installed?
in the glove compartment?


do you think the wire is long enough for me to try and mount it in the arm rest?

 

I just installed mine. There is plenty of cable to go to the arm rest console if you want. I dod not want to pull the glove box.

 

Yes in the glovebox. I had originally planned to put mine in the center arm rest console as well, but once you start to take the car apart you'll see that you have to run the iPod connection cable from the spot where it is going to be installed to the music link adapter, not from the music link adapter to the spot where you want to install it. In other words unless you plan to drill a hole big enough to fit the dock connector through you wont be able to put it into the center arm rest console. Plus the fact that the armrest console is the last part to be re-assembled. If you really wanted to do it that way the bottom of the arm rest console has a removable panel, that you could remove, pull the iPod dock adapter through, then just round out a corner to let the cable move and re-install the cover. You would lose the rubber cover at the bottom of the console though.

 

I'll snap a couple pics of my install (and more then just the nav screen) on the way into work this morning.

 

As promised (forgive the quality - for a phone its not bad but it at least gives a sense of what the final install looks like.) Keep in mind this was a dealer install and not a DIY. I'm not comfortable enough yet to be pulling apart my $35k car, a different feeling then working on my older Civic (who dash had been off many times).

 

I was suppose to put my car in this morning to get the Ipod conversion kit install and my dealer said that the kit that they have WILL NOT have ALL the capabilities of the 2006 until later on. (I have a 2005 Non-Navi).

They refuse to install it until they get the all the bugs fixed. (song; artist; playlist; genre scrolling etc. are the bugs that they needed to get fixed.)

Needless to say, I am totally bummed out. I read on this that it worked and now my bubble burst. Oh well.. hopefully Acura gets it out soon.

By the way.. has anyone with a non-navi installed the kit yet? How does it work? Just wondering

 

I don't think your dealer ran the cable in your glove box correctly. It may the angle of your photo, but the installation instructions show drilling a hole in the glove box and running the cable through it with a rubber grommet. See here.

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=127777

jjh1234

 

Probably just the angle. It does come through a hole in the center "ceiling" of the glove box (actually part of the dash) and HAD a rubber grommet. About two cycles of opening and closing the glove box and the grommet came out. I put it back twice, but it doesn't like to stay in the opening so I gave up on it. There is some protective foam tape around the cable, so I think its safe, and feeling the opening while closing the glove box (at least closing it as much as I can with my hand there) it doesn't see to rub too bad. I'll definately keep an eye open for wear.

As I've posted elsewhere, the owners packet does seem to pose a bit of a problem, but after getting the cable situated just right (I tuck the loop behind the manual) the glove box closes properly. I may ultimately take it out - I just have kept the owners manual in the glove box of every car I've ever owned, so it'll be breaking a habit.

 

Cool, just checking that your dealer did you right. Enjoy the sweet sounds!!

 

How did they route your cable? Mine is routed over the back of the gove box and looks kind of sloppy. Dealer claims this is correct cable routing. Also, glove box now rattles -- going back on Friday. Thanks to any and all for any input.
John