Convert old OnStar buttons to Bluetooth

[Tom Sawyer]

Just wanted to share my success story 'converting' my defunct OnStar function in my RS 6 to Bluetooth. I considered going with the Audi BT setup (esp. when I had my RNS-E) but not having a MFSW with a convenient button to access the phone (place/answer calls) was a downside. I know I could just click the answer button on my phone, but to me the draw of having a BT setup in the car is leaving the phone in you pocket and never needing to fiddle with it.

I came across this post:

Convert OnStar to Bluetooth (http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/348746-Interest-in-Bluetooth-module-to-replace-OnStar-module?p=7038967&viewfull=1#post7038967), reached out to Keith and worked out the details which involved simply pulling the OnStar 'button board' in the overhead console and shipping it to him to modify. He shipped back the board, the Costar module and everything needed to install.

Pulling the OnStar module was a PITA without a doubt. On the C5 A6 platform, it's in the passenger footwell which is easier to access than others that are under the passenger seat but still a bit of wrestling. If you are working on an A6/S6/RS 6, there are 3 nuts that hold the module in so once it's exposed it's easy to remove but the carpet is the bear of the job. There are 11 wires that need to be moved from the Audi harness over to the two Costar plugs, the instructions detail how to do that, very straightforward. There is also a GPS antenna connection that goes to the old OnStar module, so when I get another RNS-E, I'll have an easy spot to extend the GPS antenna in the shark fin.

Once the Costar unit was plugged in, turned on the ignition, went to bluetooth settings in my iPhone, synced up and everything works beautifully. Incoming calls mute the music and rings through the speakers as expected, press the white OnStar button and you answer. You can access voice dial (and of course SIRI if you have a 4S) via the white button, issue voice commands etc. The LED is fully functional and lets you know the status (synced, on a call, pairing/discoverable, etc). Voice quality is great and people I've talked to say it sounds clear. The unit has a USB port for tweaking the settings as well.

It also supports A2DP streaming for music (requires Line IN on the head unit) but a nice bonus there and something the Audi unit can't do.

[VroomVroom]

Outstanding. FWIW, I went this same route (although Costar had a box...no stock modification necessary) on my old GM SUV. It was a magnificent PITA accessing the Onstar module, so reading your post brought back memories. Functionality was pretty darn good, although I struggled with volume issues from day one, and ultimately it was easier just pressing buttons on the phone as opposed to guessing whether or not the old Onstar buttons would do anything. Nonetheless, nice to hear a Costar success story...I wish those guys the best.

[keithwbloom]

Functionality was pretty darn good, although I struggled with volume issues from day one, and ultimately it was easier just pressing buttons on the phone as opposed to guessing whether or not the old Onstar buttons would do anything.

FWIW, the default line out on the BlueSTAR module turned out to be too low for effective volume control range, so part of the VW/Audi adaptation is the addition of an op-amp to the voice audio out on the HFP (hands-free phone) channel. Now the volume and mic level controls are both clearly audible and perfectly functional.

[wrench]

[Dan McBoost]

How is everything going now with this device? Any other updates ( I did email you).

Thanks for the help!

[keithwbloom]

It goes very well. Will respond to your email tomorrow (traveling)


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[lorensson]

Well here's another success story.

Successfully installed CoStar in my 2004 S4 sedan. As reported, accessing the OnStar box (under passenger seat) is a right pain in the ass, but well worth it!

I have not experienced any volume issues - Keith sent instructions on how to change default volume anyway. Tested that and it works. In fact, everything works as advertised.

I am now streaming stereo music from my iPhone 5 to my stereo wirelessly. It turns on and off with the car. Swapping the harness pins was no biggie. Accessing the button module was a piece of cake.

In my book, this is a must-have upgrade for us with dead OnStar modules! There's even a mini-USB firmware upgrade in the CoStar box, so it's never outdated, and can stay up-to-date with mobile phone technology. A win/win.


Chris
Black 2004 Audi S4 saloon,
R.I.P. silver 1995 Subaru Legacy saloon

[lorensson]

I wanted to add some info to my OnStar -> CoStar experience after having lived with it awhile.

First of all, and most importantly, when this install is done right, it's by far the best way to get your bluetooth phone to stream music and take calls in your OnStar equipped Audi. It is seamless and clean.

Here are some pro's and cons from my point of view:

The Pro's
• Seamless installation, no extra buttons
• GREAT microphone quality using OEM OnStar hardware (for calls / voice control)
• the 'white dot' OnStar button works with Siri, flawlessly
• Connects / disconnects to phone automatically with car on/off
• CoStar support are great (when you eventually get a reply)

The Cons
• only one BT connection at a time
• CoStar hardware is a little delicate for automotive applications
• CoStar is a young company and support is slow, forums are near useless (right now)
• software updates are slow to release and cumbersome to apply
• (for B6) requires a relatively high-effort installation


My biggest issue was with the build quality of the CoStar box. I somehow managed to break the USB receiver off the logic board, and I still can't manage to get the audio cable (for A2DP) to sit properly, so when I go over bumps I get static from a bad connection.

However, after having emailed CoStar they got back to me after a few days offering to repair/replace the unit if I sent it in. Win for CoStar.

For us at AZ, Keith Bloom is a great resource. He is reliable and his service is top-notch. CoStar should hire him! My process of getting the modified CoStar box through Keith was a joy. He is highly recommended.


Regarding installation, this is where the nightmare comes in. After days of trying to find out where the OnStar brain was, I realised the only way to get to it was to remove the passenger seat, lower passenger door trim and (maybe even) the passenger A-pillar trim, then the carpet.

The labor-intensive nature of this did not inspire me. I didn't like the fact that, if I had installed it this way, it would require the same process to get to the CoStar box again if I needed to do anything. So I went another route.

I opted to carefully cut a 3-sided rectangular flap out of the passenger carpet — just inside the footprint of the floormats — to get to the box, with the uncut side of the rectangle at the front of the footwell. After having done this, I realised there was moulded foam glued to the underside of the carpet, so I had to cut through some of that as well — being careful not to chop any wires that were underneath.

In the end, I would recommend doing this. My carpet bedded down almost imperceptibly after re-installation, and when the floor mats were re-installed, you couldn't tell at all.

And I'm glad I went this route when I started having issues with the unit. I tried to do a software update and realised my PC wasn't recongising the CoStar box. After some investigation to the CoStar box, I remove it and saw the USB post had broken off the logic board of the CoStar unit. CoStar were kind enough to offer to repair/replace it if I sent it in, which I plan on doing. But it would have been better if it was just built a little more robustly like most other units designed for automotive applications.

All-in-all, the CoStar unit is still the best option available for getting streaming music and calls, largely because it uses the spectacular OnStar hardware. WHile I've switched to a temporary solution until my box is repaired, I will go back to using the CoStar later.

Hope this helps — feel free to ask any questions and I'll do my best to answer them.

[keithwbloom]

For us at AZ, Keith Bloom is a great resource. He is reliable and his service is top-notch. CoStar should hire him! My process of getting the modified CoStar box through Keith was a joy. He is highly recommended.

Thank you Chris. I'm just paying it forwards here on AZ. I'll probably be looking or a B7 S4 Avant 6MT this summer. Hope that AZ will get me dialed in on a good one. ;)

Let me know if I can help with your replacement unit in any way.

Best,

Keith


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[sbaker]

Chris - I'm also working with Keith to install the CoStar in my 2004 S4. Did you have any tricks for removing the button module? Did you have to remove the reflector in order to access locking clips on the button module? For the life of me, I can't get that button module out. Thanks!

[lorensson]

Chris - I'm also working with Keith to install the CoStar in my 2004 S4. Did you have any tricks for removing the button module? Did you have to remove the reflector in order to access locking clips on the button module? For the life of me, I can't get that button module out. Thanks!

I don't remember many specifics, but I remember removing the entire light unit from the liner, the the button unit harness had to be detached and a screw or two removed. It was a bit fiddly, but not impossible.

[lorensson]

I just replied to a PM from Sarah: I'll paste my reply here incase it is helpful to anyone else.

---
The black plastic box that holds the OnStar module is roughly 12" long by 9" wide by 4" tall. I've attached a diagram of where it is located under the carpet.
http://i46.tinypic.com/qxquxt.png
The hardest part is the edge alongside the passenger door. You need to cut just inside the footprint of the floormat. This is a rough guide, but if all your cuts are inside the footprint of the floor mat they won't be seen when it's covered back up.

As far as depth of the cut, because there is varying depths of foam moulding glued to the underside of the carpet in the area, the cut will require varying depths. My suggestion is to do what I did – start shallow and gradually go deeper until it comes loose.

Nothing needs to be done behind the dash to install the unit (or anything else for this installation). The CoStar unit will plug directly into the OnStar's existing harness, which is inside the black box. Then you run an audio cable (Optional: only needed for streaming music) and a USB cable (Optional: only if you want to do firmware updates to the unit) out of the unit. If you run the audio cable, that will plug into an AUX adapter in the back of your car stereo. If you run a USB, I would just let it sit under your passenger seat until you need it.

For the audio cable, the best way to get it behind your stereo is to route it between the carpet and the plastic trim panel near the passenger floor up into the center console. You will need to remove your stereo to grab the cable and plug it into the back of the stereo. Enfig Car Stereo have videos on Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=enfig&oq=enfig&gs_l=youtube.3...0.0.0.62.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0...0 .0...1ac.) showing this, I didn't take the time to find out which one it was, but it's on our car.
---

[mmo2player]

thanks for your post!
really help me a lot!

[sbaker]

Update: I got the CoStar installed and working in my 2004 S4 last evening. Love it! Chris's information on how to access the black box under the passenger floor was invaluable - and right on. I also opted to cut the carpet, and do not regret having done so. Getting the black box open was a bit of a trick. Otherwise, the only question I had was when the wire colors did not match the wiring diagram Keith had provided for the RS6. I realized that the pin numbers control - not wire colors. Calls are clear and voice commands work perfectly with my Windows phone. I am having trouble getting my computer to recognize the CoStar when connected by USB so I can adjust the settings, but I think that might be a Windows 7 problem. Will try later with an older Windows XP operating system. Also next, I will be tackling connecting the CoStar to the Symphony radio. Any tips people have for that are also greatly appreciated!

Like everybody else has said, Keith has been incredible to work with. Also, Chris, thank you for your additional advice. So far, I'm happy with the investment.

Sarah

[flatlinerflash]

has anyone installed this costar in a 2005 A8L yet?

[keithwbloom]

Numerous S4s and RS6s, over 40 Phaetons, and a handful of Touaregs. No A8s of record as yet, but I believe I have one order in process.

The telematics hardware and harnesses between all 2003-2006 Audi and VW chassis are functionally the same. Some harness wire colors differ, but pin for pin they are identical in function.

You should not fear being the first A8 to get BlieSTARred. ;)


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[Dan McBoost]

You should not fear being the first A8 to get BlieSTARred. ;)


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Make me a bit of a deal and I am IN:)

[keithwbloom]

Make me a bit of a deal and I am IN:)

My margin on these is very slim, and I have to do the mods to boot. I don't keep BlueSTAR inventory, I buy the core at a modest discount when you order and source the electronic components separately. If you want one, I'll do it for you at the published price, $319, including return shipping USPS Priority Mail.

[wrench]