Adding an MP3-player port to car stereo - How much $$$?

[Pseudolus]

If I were really motivated, I'd take my car somewhere that does this sort of thing and ask professionals. I'm not that motivated. But I'm motivated enough to throw the question out to a bunch of actuarial types and hangers-on.

So, what kind of ballpark are we talking? Does the whole in-dash system need replaced, or can a little doohickey be added on? How much does this depend on exactly what the existing system is? Mine has a button for some kind of device that did not come with the car - digital tape or something. Does it make it easier that there's some kind of button/circuitry in there that could be repurposed?

[Pseudolus]

PS - I know about the casette-adaptor systems, and the transmit-over-FM-radio systems. I'm specifically asking about physically plugging an MP3 player into the dashboard with a wire.

[GadgetGeek]

A little help here. Year/make/model of this car?

depending on the manufactuere, there are thinging you hook up to the back of the radio and the run a line into your glovebox or wherever to hoop up your MP3 player.

[Pseudolus]

Mazda MPV. (Chick magnet!) 2005, I think. Radio console features unused buttons for satellite radio and for DAT, as well as for the actually-existing-and-hooked-up AM/FM radio and CD changer.

[Kool-Aid Man]

Have your car defeat a boss car with MP3 playing capability, and your car will gain its MP3 playing capability. I've heard this also works for rear-view cameras, but for the life of me I just can't beat the boss with the rear-view camera!

[Runner]

My car stereo was wired for an optional CD changer. I bought a doohickey online that could plug into where the CD changer would have plugged into and I hooked up a 1/8" stereo plug to it. I plug that into my mp3 player or DVD player or DS or whatever and I select the CD changer to play it over the car speakers. You need the right doohickey for your car model. And you need to be willing to take stuff apart and put it back together.

[Ferb]

I would google your car and MP3 player. If your car has unused buttons, there must be some sort of input port back there for DAT and Satellite radio. There would have to be some sort of adaptor to make it compatible with an MP3 player. It wouldn't surprise me if there were an iPod kit that would let you also control the iPod from your dashboard.

[Inconceivable]

Why are you set against the radio transmitter?

[Pseudolus]

I've used one. Two, actually, from different makers. Didn't get very good reception all. Don't know if it's because the spectrum around here is too crowded, or if they just intrinsically suck.

[ajstudies]

I recently priced car stereos and you can get one with an MP3 plug in (sorry don't know the technical term) in the range of $200 installed. I have a really great radio transmitter thingie for my ipod, but can't find another one of the same brand for DH. We have tried a couple others, including a Belkin, with lackluster results. So I decided I need a new stereo.