OEM IPhone cradle review

[swoardrider]

Received my new Iphone cradle today from OemPlus. This is a genuine European Audi part that apparently the morons at AOA don't import to America. The freak'n Phone was designed 40 miles away from me, yet I have to import the cradle for it. Go figure.
Anyways, the cradle is simple plug and play. It snaps right into the armrest storage compartment of the B7 A4 and charges the Iphone while also connecting it to the car's external phone antenna.
The signal strength is now greatly improved, which means less dropped calls and more range (AT&T is crappy in Santa Cruz). I gave it a simple test in my garage. Without the cradle, my Iphone gets 1-2 bars. As soon a I plug it into the cradle, it gets max bars. Now if someone could just design a plug-in harness to make the Iphone's music play from the cradle to the RNS-E, I'd be a happy boy

[BLKDA4]

Does it work in B6?

[brownishwater]

Wow, that looks really good. I might have to do this.

[A4_cabrio]

how did you connect it? I assume you had to wire it somehow.

[swoardrider]

how did you connect it? I assume you had to wire it somehow.

It's plug and play OEM stuff. All the connections are already there. Don't you have this connection plate inside your armrest from the factory?

[apatchin]

thats sweet man!

do know the part number by chance?

[JMG]

Now if someone could just design a plug-in harness to make the Iphone's music play from the cradle to the RNS-E, I'd be a happy boy ]

I use bluetooth to make calls and a DICE to charge and play it through the radio:



The crade looks cool, and I like that it boosts the signal, but putting your cellphone in the armrest is so 1980's.

[AudiWxGuy]

Does it charge the iPhone 3G? Also...how much was it?

[RandyQUATTRO]

Nothing but the best for my B7. Ultra portable too.

[sider1681]

It's plug and play OEM stuff. All the connections are already there. Don't you have this connection plate inside your armrest from the factory?

NO, it's not there... must be an option that got left out

[scoobycarolan]

Yeah, I don't think anyone has that plate. Whatttyou a secret agent? Is that part of the phone prep tech package?

['mk4-turbo]

Yeah, I don't think anyone has that plate. Whatttyou a secret agent? Is that part of the phone prep tech package?

i have it...its prob part of the tech package

[scoobycarolan]

AGGGGH! that pisses me of.

[datskat]

I use bluetooth to make calls and a DICE to charge and play it through the radio:

The crade looks cool, and I like that it boosts the signal, but putting your cellphone in the armrest is so 1980's.

I am considering this for the signal boost only, the DICE can't do that.

Drop a business call on a major highway/road 3 times in 30 minutes and you start to question just how much AT&T's service can possibly suck more.

[A4_cabrio]

I dont have that in my arm rest either.
Must be some package on a different year than 2005.5

Anyway, here in Austin, TX - ATT has great signal so I would have only used it for charging the phone.

But I know areas where ATT sucks balls - NY being one of them.

[smartass]

NO, it's not there... must be an option that got left out

In later model 06 cars it's part of the tech package, 07+ it's included with bluetooth.

[Sly Raskal]

Good to hear someone else likes it. I picked mine up earlier this year and Love it as well. it's expensive, but simple solution. Haven't had any issues with it.

[datskat]

Good to hear someone else likes it. I picked mine up earlier this year and Love it as well. it's expensive, but simple solution. Haven't had any issues with it.

What's the cheapest price on these?

[Kid Red]

Any way the plate piece (I don't have it in my arm rest either) can be bought and then wired? Or would that and this cradle end up costing more than it's worth?

[smartass]

Any way the plate piece (I don't have it in my arm rest either) can be bought and then wired? Or would that and this cradle end up costing more than it's worth?

Yes, although it's not gonna be cheap. The cradle is expensive to start with. The kit to retrofit bluetooth WITH the base plate can be found here: http://www.kufatec.com/

They have full kits to do the conversion (including the in-armrest base plate) but the site seems to be down at the moment.

IIRC the kit was about $1500.. then you'd still need the cradle. Not really worth it..

[swoardrider]

For those inquiring about part numbers and dealer availability, mine tried and couldn't get it. They had never seen one before, and the part number was not in their system. They told me that if North American Audi doesn't import it, then dealers don't have the ability to order it.
The part number looks like it is 8P0051435GP. I've enclosed an up close pic of the back of the cradle with all the numbers on it. I searched the web for a while on this part, and the only American site I could find that imports it is OEMPlus. Because that's what they specialize in. Importing Audi Euro only parts.

[golfvdude]

I really really want it but damn, the price is a bit steep.

[swoardrider]

I really really want it but damn, the price is a bit steep.

Yep. It's only worth it if you drop a lot of important calls because $250 is not worth a phone car charger!

[jriddle11]

Looks great, but I'm not down for paying $250 for a charger.

[SDA4]

Ya it looks nice, I don't have that adaptor in my armrest either.

[Sly Raskal]

Looks great, but I'm not down for paying $250 for a charger.

Not much of a difference but I paid $220 for mine from oempl.us. Now I see that they list two of them. one at the price I paid, and another at $250 that says it's for the 3G/3GS; however, my 3G has been working fine with the cheaper version I have.

Anyone know if there is a technical difference between the two?

It's going to suck if I get the next version of the iPhone that comes out next year and have to upgrade the cradle :(

[Pennstate350]

So I with this cradle, i can then successfully use the speakers in my car for the phone?

[Sly Raskal]

So I with this cradle, i can then successfully use the speakers in my car for the phone?

In order to use your phone in the car, you have to have Bluetooth preparation, it is not dependent on having the cradle. The cradle simply offers the extra capability of charging the phone and using the car's antenna to boost the signal strength of the phone. And of course a cool place to dock it.

[jacx920]

i have that plate in my armrest, what other stuff can go on it except the iphone charger?
blackberry charger? ipod charger?

[jacx920]

bump, anyone answer my question?
what else can be used on that charging plate...

[Sly Raskal]

bump, anyone answer my question?
what else can be used on that charging plate...

Each cradle is specially made for a particular device. Can it be modified to work with other stuff? IDK.

[outlaw77]

cool! i have that thing in my arm rest too. same question, would this work with my blackberry bold?

[Sly Raskal]

Again, each cradle is made for a specific phone.

I don't know how accurate this list is but if your phone has a cradle available, you're in business, otherwise, you'll have to get an aftermarket cradle of some sort.

http://www.kingslynn-audi.co.uk/part...ember%2009.pdf

FYI, this list shows an older part # for the iPhone cradle (probably for the first gen iphone). A newer part # iphone cradle is available on oemplus.com. I personally have the older one and am using it with an iPhone 3G and it appears to work jsut fine, but the newer version may have something different with it that is necessary for the 3GS, I don't know.

[EuroSpec27]

Can anyone please tell me what kind of holder/cradle this is:




It's on the car I just purchased and I just noticed it now in one of the dealerships photos. Being that I bought it out of state (and still haven't received it) I never got to see it in person and check everything out. Therefore I am trying to figure out what it could be. I know the car is equipped with an OEM iPod interface in the glovebox, so I doubt it has anything to do with an iPod/iPhone. Has anyone ever seen this before? Any information would be greatly appreciated!

EDIT: Sorry for the small picture, it's the only size I have.

Thank You!

[EuroSpec27]

Bump: Anyone know what that is..?

[Sly Raskal]

how about an up close shot?

[EuroSpec27]

It's still in the process of being shipped here (I should get it by Friday) so until then I can't get any other pictures. The pic I posted above is from the dealership website. I do know that there was a subwoofer installed by the previous owner, but it was removed by Audi when they got the car. Could that possibly be a bass/volume control?

[Sly Raskal]

It's still in the process of being shipped here (I should get it by Friday) so until then I can't get any other pictures. The pic I posted above is from the dealership website. I do know that there was a subwoofer installed by the previous owner, but it was removed by Audi when they got the car. Could that possibly be a bass/volume control?

In all honesty, when I first saw it, that was exactly what I thought it was. The size and shape of it look like the bass control for an Infinity Basslink.

[EuroSpec27]

Damn, I hope it's not drilled into the plastic I wanna take that off.