Bluetooth FM Transmitters - streaming music

Yes I could upgrade my craptastic 13 year old radio in my Focus to something aftermarket, but then the methheads in my hood would just get to tweak for an extra 10 minutes after busting my windows. Any recommendations on those gizmos that allow you to connect to an iphone via bluetooth and then tune to an unused FM station to hear it?

I want to install something under my dash, not use something I have to physically plug into the charger every time. Wiring the gizmo from the charger permanently would be a fine scenario as long as I can hide the gizmo.

Plus would I be able to use the speakerphone on my phone and have the sound come through the stereo? Or would the phone turn off the bluetooth streaming for a phone call (assuming I did not get a specific phone ready bluetooth adapter.)

Would a Bluetooth cassette adapter work, or is your car too new for that?

This is the radio I put in the Cherokee. I liked it because it had two knobs and kept a "retro" feel. It has bluetooth and a built-in mic for handsfree calls, and it was $35. It doesn't look expensive so no one will steal it, and if they do, you are only out $45.

Radio

I haven't cared for any of the FM adapters I have tried. Would it be possible to hard wire something into the back of the stock head unit?

Be careful wishing to hide the unit. At some point you will need to change the channel.

The electronics shop we farm things out to will hardwire FM units directly to the radio. I know on a deep-seated intellectual level that there is a simple way, but the rest of me zones out when the details happen in conversation. I'm a wrench and welder guy not a soldering iron guy.

I've been looking into getting a Grom adapter for my Volvo. Plugs in to the OE radio's CD changer harness port and gives me bluetooth/USB connectivity. I don't see them as making one for a 2003 Focus though.

Looks like you might be in luck if your car has the factory Blaupunkt radio. There's an adapter that goes into the head unit and adds AUX input on the CD Changer input. You could then add anyone of the many AUX in bluetooth units out there. It's pricy but in my opinion it's worth it to retain the factory look and have line in aux.

Convertor unit http://www.discountcarstereo.com/PXDXFB.html and the connection cable http://www.discountcarstereo.com/PXHBLAU.html

You can see this guys solution to your very problem.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/l0-y4EFFWrE

Then the bluetooth option he chose.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/16tsaG29VEQ

I used to use an FM transmitter. It was a pain on road trips due to the clear frequencies moving around. Different markets have different radio stations, and I'd invariably find my chosen frequency was now talk radio or classic rock.

If you have an aux in, put a cable with a 1/8" jack on it. Works with just about anything, uses no power on the device or the car, interference free, bombproof. Or buy a stereo with an aux in.

I did the CD changer aux-in conversion on my Civic, and have one of these guys:

http://www.amazon.com/Wirecutters-Hands-Free-Multi-Point-Convenient-Activation/dp/B00GJFGE0K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&keywords=bluetooth+car+kit

The sound is nice & clear, and it has a noise canceling mic built in for hands-free calling. I've used it in 2 different cars now and have been very happy with it.

I have bought a few ebay sub $5 fm transmitters and bt receivers, also fm transmitters with an sd flash card/aux jack.( I used them in rented crown vics that didnt even get the cassettes just radios.) The fm transmitters work in until you get some new radio frequency coming in over the one you are using, as already mentioned.

Bluetooth recievers with 1/8 audio jacks dont have that problem if you are transmitting a bt signal. All they need is a usb power source and a plug on the radio to jack into. You could use a hidden usb powersource behind your dash ie hidden cig lighter and usb adaptor socket.

With bluetooth if you get a call your phone should stop the music altogether.

OK now I see the flaw with the FM transmitter. Probably OK as long as I don't leave my neighborhood, then the other radio channels mess it up.

In reply to t25torx I unfortunately do not have the blaupunkt. I have the audiphile which appears to be the most problematic. I found I guy on Ebay who said he could do the BT conversion on Focus radios, up until I sent him the radio and he said 'audiophile, hmm, maybe not' and had to ship it back to me.

You could get a mini 4 channel motorcycle amp and just stash it out of site. You could use a few styles of plug with those, usb, 1/8, sd or plug in a bt reciever...

But hard to beat the cheapness and simplicity of the cig outlet powered fm transmitter tho

Zombie thread, canoe removed