Older vehicle hands-free cellular setup ideas

[BarkingGhostar]

Morning All,

The state of Georgia recently passed the hands-free law, which essentially means you cannot have a cell phone in hand or lap while being the operator of said motor vehicle. My wife for the past couple of years has been driving my 2001 Toyota Tundra pickup as her daily driver and I need a more elegant solution for her to be able to answer calls hands-free.

Now the Tundra isn't the most amicable of interiors for handling this situation but I figured i would try to garner some suggestions. BTW, the same inquiry goes for a 2004 BMW 325i sedan. Only our 2013 335 has a Bluetooth sync for hands free option. Just need the '04 325i and '01 Tundra solved/setup. As always, any help would be appreciated.

 

[repoman0]

Couple options for the BMW:

https://www.amazon.com/Bluetooth-Adapter-Interface-Auxiliary-Capable/dp/B00FGAS448
https://avinusa.com/avant-3-for-bmw-3-series-e46-m3-android-multimedia-navigation-system.html

That Avin unit is obviously nice and looks factory, but it's pricey. Later post-2002 E46s are prewired for the BMW factory Bluetooth option, which is a kit you install. No one seems to use it, I doubt it's any good.

 

[HarryLui]

https://www.amazon.com/Bluetooth-Tr...3305859&sr=1-2&keywords=radio+cell+hands+free

 

[mdram]

https://www.crutchfield.com/

get an android/apple compatible stereo, they are not that expseive

 

[jlee]

I would go with an Android Auto / Carplay head unit - see Crutchfield as linked above.

 

[mdram]

forgot to mention

crutchfield may cost a bit more, but you can get the head unit, wireing harness adapter, dash adapter, ect from them

and thier customer service is spectacular

well worth the little extra they charge

 

[lxskllr]

My work truck has an old boombox behind the seat(wired to a power port), and I run the phone through the aux port. Mostly for listening to music, but it makes a credible speaker phone. Probably more ghetto than you want though.

 

[ponyo]

I drive 2002 Tundra as daily driver and I just use Apple AirPods. None of my four vehicles have Bluetooth and while I could easily add cheap transmitter like HarryLui linked, I really don't want to add one to all my vehicles. Since I pretty much always carry AirPods with me with my iPhone, that combo works great.

 

[mdram]

headphones/earbuds are illgal in some states, at least in both ears

 

[ponyo]

headphones/earbuds are illgal in some states, at least in both ears

I live in Georgia like OP and it's not illegal here. Plus, you can still hear all your surroundings with the AirPods in your ear. It doesn't seal and totally isolate you like lot of earbuds.

 

[mdram]

I live in Georgia like OP and it's not illegal here. Plus, you can still hear all your surroundings with the AirPods in your ear. It doesn't seal and totally isolate you like lot of earbuds.

check again

http://www.headsupgeorgia.com/handsfree-law/

as of 7/1/2018, its illegal

 

[BarkingGhostar]

Problem with ear-wear is that you still need to be able to work the phone without holding it in your hand. Not sure how +$150 Apple ear wear can do this (but that could be my ignorance). I think for the equal amount of money replacing the stock no-frills head unit is a better option. But I could be proved wrong.

 

[ponyo]

check again

http://www.headsupgeorgia.com/handsfree-law/

as of 7/1/2018, its illegal

Where does it say having AirPods in your ear is illegal?

 

[mdram]

Headsets and earpieces can only be worn for communication purposes and not for listening to music or other entertainment.

 

[ponyo]

Problem with ear-wear is that you still need to be able to work the phone without holding it in your hand. Not sure how +$150 Apple ear wear can do this (but that could be my ignorance). I think for the equal amount of money replacing the stock no-frills head unit is a better option. But I could be proved wrong.

I can answer phone calls by simply tapping on my earbud. And I can end the call simply double tapping the earbud. And if I want to call someone, I just double tap the earpiece and ask Siri to call that person.

 

[ponyo]

Headsets and earpieces can only be worn for communication purposes and not for listening to music or other entertainment.

And that's what I use it for. So how is that illegal?

 

[mdram]

And that's what I use it for. So how is that illegal?

as long as ther eis no music streaming your ok, but the minute you start streaming, which 99.999995 of the people use earpods for, you are illegal

 

[ponyo]

as long as ther eis no music streaming your ok, but the minute you start streaming, which 99.999995 of the people use earpods for, you are illegal

No, I rarely listen to any music. I bought it because it's useful for my work and then Georgia passed the dumb law. So it's now useful while driving too.

 

[mdram]

hands free is gaining ground in many states. with reason
using a phone while driving is just as bad as drinking and driving

 

[local]

I have an Alpine headunit with bluetooth and a remote mic in my 2000 F-250, works better than most built-in solutions.

 

[Raincity]

I used the GROM unit in my Pilot. Was really a waste of money and time installing. Two much line noise in music playback. The $20 FM stereo blue tooth adapter i using was better handling cell calls.

 

[Raduque]

https://www.crutchfield.com/

get an android/apple compatible stereo, they are not that expseive

Cheapest one worth buying is $300. I would not spend that much on a stereo for a 15-17 year old car. Not to mention the cost of the equipment needed to interface the vehicle another $50-100. I would just a Bluetooth FM transmitter device with a mic that runs off the cigarette lighter instead.

I'm putting a new stereo in my 00 Buick but I'm spending a max of $200 including the wiring - and I'm only doing that because the lights on it are completely dead. Even the main display, which includes the clock. :/