My wife has a 2000 VW Beetle, I just bought a '98 A4. The two cars have the exact same CD changer. Last year, I hardwired my wife's car for her iPod and and am about to do the same in my car. It is fairly simple and the CD changer can be plugged back in simply by switching plugs in the trunk. The whole thing took a couple of hours and used about $18 worth of materials. You do need a soldering iron and know how to use it.

If anyone wants detailed instructions/pics, let me know.

 

Well if you hardwire without using either the dension kit, blitzsafe adapter, or some other adapter, you will be using the ipod's headphone jack as your audio out. The sound will be a bit better than using a tape player connection, but it will not be the best. The tape player method significantly reduces bass. If you listen to the same song through that and then through a cd, or even the radio..you will be like "wow i am missing out with the tape player"

the dension kit is very well designed, it has the holder that your ipod sits right on top of the plug, but it is a hefty $200. For me, i decided to go with this:

http://www.discountcarstereo.com/detail.aspx?ID=816

It has been posted on here before, but not much. I found it on a different site for $69.99. Basically this just plugs into the back of the stock headunit, where the cd changer plugged into(you lose that), and then you just have to run the white wire to where your ipod is going to be. Personally, i do not like to see any wires showing...so I will make sure my white wire is tucked under trim, then inbetween trim and the passenger seat, and then into the little compartment next to my e-brake i decided to keep my ipod in. I just have to figure out how to keep slack on the wire on that end so i can lift the ipod to eye level and change songs, etc whille driving or at a light, etc. In the future I might get an ipod holder that fits onto one of the air vents, but i am not sure if I would rather have it there or just sitting next to me in the open compartment.

This method, along with the dension, will provide the best quality sound you are going to get out of the ipod. There should be virtually no quality loss because the sound comming out through the bottom dock connector on your ipod.


I will probably take pics when i do my install.

 

Hey... thanks for that link. That actually looks like a good alternative to Dension.

 

I have the dension, its very nice but until its able to display text on the hu its not worth the money imo

 

i think im the only one without an ipod

 

nope, i dont have one...................

no need for one.........

just going to get a phatbox for my a4

 

I got several responses to my post about hardwiring. Here are some instructions that I put together. I'm sorry that I do not have the wire colors for the Audi and I'm not sure if they are the same as the VW.

This method does use the headphone jack, but knocks it down to line level. The only loss of quality that I have been able to detect is a very slight "hiss" in the background that is perceptible if a very quiet song is on, but turned up very loud.

Also, the price of the line level converter went up since I did this, so the cost will probably be close to $30.

For those that are interested, I have attached two files.

 

FM transmitters suck if you live in the city or drive in it .
I was using a tape deck adapter in my B6 for 3 months , then got the Blitzsafe hardwire.
Its much better . Less bass distortion. Worth the money . And it charges it too .
If you can afford the Icelink , get it , its the best .

 

Selling my icelink for 175. I looked on ebay and they are 220...I need mula!!

 

i have the alpine HU and the ipod interface. Worth the money for it. The HU makes everything sound better than it did stock, even cds, and it charges my ipod and i can control it from teh HU and have my ipod out of sight in my glove compartment.