New TDI Golf - iPhone Question

RoninTech

Member
Joined
May 14, 2006
Location
Calgary, Alberta
TDI
06 TDI Golf
We picked up our 2011 Golf TDI DSG last night. Love it! Currently trying to figure out how to get the best usage from our iPhones. Have them paired and like how it integrates with the stereo and info center when its plugged into the console cable. The downside here is that since the console cable is so short, the phone has to stay hidden away and we can't use the great GPS software (we have TomTom on them and no nav stereo). I'm thinking the best solution is a longer console cable so it'll stay well integrated and yet we could have it dash mounted to use other software as well?
An obvious option is to use bluetooth for music as well but then we lose the great integration with the stereo, info center and steering wheel controls.
Am I missing something here? How are others setting up there iPhone's for best integration with the car and usage of phone, music and GPS?

Thanks!
 

DieselNerd

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 16, 2011
Location
Nashville, TN
TDI
2011 Jetta TDI
I was going to sugges Bluetooth, but I've never done more than play with it. I have a 160GB iPod that I leave in the glove compartment.

The easy answer might be to either pick up a cheap used iPod, or get an SD card of suitable size and dump your music to it and take advantage of the SD slot.
 

RoninTech

Member
Joined
May 14, 2006
Location
Calgary, Alberta
TDI
06 TDI Golf
Hi DieselNerd,
Yeah I tried bluetooth but then you lose the slick music integration with the stereo, info center and steering wheel controls. Unless I'm doing something wrong and others have figured out how to show song info and control the music via bluetooth?

I have many thousands of songs on the phone. When I was reading the manual it said something about a limit (in the hundreds??) to how many songs the stereo can access off an SD card or hard drive. I'm hoping that this limitation does not affect me accessing all the songs on my iphone via the console cable? If this is the case then an SD card or USB drive would be pretty limited for storage.

I actually do have an older ipod touch that I could dedicate to the car but I was hoping to sell that and it seems daft and a waste to have to use 2 devices when the phone really can do it all.
 

getfast

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2009
Location
Richmond VA
TDI
10 GTDI (sold), 12 GTI, 98 M3/4, 95 M3
I tried this sort of stuff with my iphone but couldn't make it work. Went to dedicated ipod under the armrest which also didn't really work well, then to SD card method which is the best yet.

I'd say a cable extension is probably your best bet. They look to be $10-$20 on amazon, make sure you get one that carries data not just power.

As for the windshield mount idea, keep in mind the huge dashboard and how far away the glass is. Might be a reach to touch the device, or see the screen. I bring this up because the Ram suction cup mount for my iphone is pretty useless in my Golf... can't reach it with the seat belt on. Maybe one with a longer arm in between would be better.

ps- shouldn't your post be here instead? http://forums.tdiclub.com/forumdisplay.php?f=81 (Golf VI not Jetta VI... unless it's different in canada?)
 

RoninTech

Member
Joined
May 14, 2006
Location
Calgary, Alberta
TDI
06 TDI Golf
I think I'll go with one of those dash mounts rather than a windshield one. Thanks for the tip on the cable extension, that should do what I need as everything's working great, I just can't access the other programs with it in the console.

If a mod could move this to the Golf forum, that'd be great. :eek:
 
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