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saltydog66 · 06-10-2007, 09:33 AM

I was thrilled to find out that Becker Radio will supply a cable (http://www.beckerautosound.com) that will allow a direct wire hook-up to an Ipod. I've tried the FM ipod adapters and in my city and they suck. Becker will sell you a cable that plugs into the back of the CDR 220 head unit and terminates in two female RCA jacks (I do not thave the 6 cd changer in my boxster). There are many "Mini to RCA" cables available that you can then plug into the headphone jack of your ipod. This gives you really great sound, I think as least as good as a CD plus you get all your EQ settings from your IPOD. The radio head unit displays a "AUX" when you press the "S" button and that will be your ipod.

I got the cable from Becker for around $20. it comes with fairly good instructions (http://www.beckerautosound.com/pdf_guides/Phone%20%20or%20Aux%201%20audio%20input%20directio ns.pdf) and the special keys you need to pull the radio out. The cable hook up is fairly easy, the re-install of the radio can be tricky, take your time.

My next issue was where to put the ipod? I didn't want it sliding around in the tray below the CD drawers. I also didn't want to shell out anouth $50. for a clip on mount or velcro etc... so I don't smoke and I saw this picture online and got inspired... ( http://tunertricks.com/blog/gallery/?album=boxster ) to use the dead space in my ashtray..

I had an Ipod dock adapter that I was able to cut down from "sonic Impact" speaker sales (http://www.si5.com/products.php?cID=40). You can see it in my picture, it's white, you could probably order a couple from Sonic Impact over the phone.

I ran a Mini to RCA cable from the radio up the center console and drilled a small hole in the base of the Ashtray, the switch holder and the base it sits in to get the cable up and out of the ashtray. Be careful drilling through the ash tray, its fairly brittle, use a high speed drill if possible. I removed the little metal ledge in the ashtray that covers the small orange light.

I then cut down my white (wish I had a black one) ipod dock adapter from sonic impact to fit inside the ashtray. I drilled two small holes and rivited it in place. (I tried double sided tape first but that didn't hold).

So now I just open the ashtray, drop my ipod into the dock adapter from sonic and plug in my Mini to RCA cable and set my radio to "AUX" and I have all my ipod music in the car. I can still close the ashtray when it's not in use and no one will know it's wired. The only real effect on the car is a hole in the ashtray and it's holder for the the cable but if you really wanted to restore the car to stock you could buy another ashtray.

Here are the pictures. Really easy, effective and it's easy to hit the skip button on the ipod while driving.

06-10-2007, 09:33 AM	#1
saltydog66 Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: vancouver Posts: 7	Ipod install in ashtray I was thrilled to find out that Becker Radio will supply a cable (http://www.beckerautosound.com) that will allow a direct wire hook-up to an Ipod. I've tried the FM ipod adapters and in my city and they suck. Becker will sell you a cable that plugs into the back of the CDR 220 head unit and terminates in two female RCA jacks (I do not thave the 6 cd changer in my boxster). There are many "Mini to RCA" cables available that you can then plug into the headphone jack of your ipod. This gives you really great sound, I think as least as good as a CD plus you get all your EQ settings from your IPOD. The radio head unit displays a "AUX" when you press the "S" button and that will be your ipod. I got the cable from Becker for around $20. it comes with fairly good instructions (http://www.beckerautosound.com/pdf_guides/Phone%20%20or%20Aux%201%20audio%20input%20directio ns.pdf) and the special keys you need to pull the radio out. The cable hook up is fairly easy, the re-install of the radio can be tricky, take your time. My next issue was where to put the ipod? I didn't want it sliding around in the tray below the CD drawers. I also didn't want to shell out anouth $50. for a clip on mount or velcro etc... so I don't smoke and I saw this picture online and got inspired... ( http://tunertricks.com/blog/gallery/?album=boxster ) to use the dead space in my ashtray.. I had an Ipod dock adapter that I was able to cut down from "sonic Impact" speaker sales (http://www.si5.com/products.php?cID=40). You can see it in my picture, it's white, you could probably order a couple from Sonic Impact over the phone. I ran a Mini to RCA cable from the radio up the center console and drilled a small hole in the base of the Ashtray, the switch holder and the base it sits in to get the cable up and out of the ashtray. Be careful drilling through the ash tray, its fairly brittle, use a high speed drill if possible. I removed the little metal ledge in the ashtray that covers the small orange light. I then cut down my white (wish I had a black one) ipod dock adapter from sonic impact to fit inside the ashtray. I drilled two small holes and rivited it in place. (I tried double sided tape first but that didn't hold). So now I just open the ashtray, drop my ipod into the dock adapter from sonic and plug in my Mini to RCA cable and set my radio to "AUX" and I have all my ipod music in the car. I can still close the ashtray when it's not in use and no one will know it's wired. The only real effect on the car is a hole in the ashtray and it's holder for the the cable but if you really wanted to restore the car to stock you could buy another ashtray. Here are the pictures. Really easy, effective and it's easy to hit the skip button on the ipod while driving. Last edited by saltydog66; 06-10-2007 at 09:46 AM.