Bypassing Blue&Me

[Rockburner]

Has anyone attempted to get bluetooth connectivity from the car ICE to a phone that does NOT use the Fiat/Microsoft Blue&Me system?

All I actually want to achieve is having my phone wirelessly (or wired) connected to the car's ICE so that I can play music and sat-nav directions through the car's ICE system, and maybe take calls, but I don't want to use the (incredibly hard to use and unreliable) Blue&Me system.

I'm assuming that the best solution will be a new head unit, with it's own Bluetooth systems. Has anyone managed to connect an aftermarket device to the built in microphone in the dash, and the control buttons on the steering wheel? If so - do you have any recommendations for the head unit? (I'd prefer one with a decent DAB tuner as well if possible).

 

[Eklipze3k]

Connecting to the steering wheel controls is easy, as long as you buy a headunit which supports steering wheel control and the appropriate adaptor (Connects2 seems to be the defacto supplier of these).
As for using the built in mic, most aftermarket headunit will obviously come with their own so you could either install this in the same location as the OE one, or do a little cable splicing to attach the OE mic to the aftermarket cable.

 

[Rockburner]

Connecting to the steering wheel controls is easy, as long as you buy a headunit which supports steering wheel control and the appropriate adaptor (Connects2 seems to be the defacto supplier of these).
As for using the built in mic, most aftermarket headunit will obviously come with their own so you could either install this in the same location as the OE one, or do a little cable splicing to attach the OE mic to the aftermarket cable.

I didn't know that - very useful to know, thanks!

(I don't think I've bought after-market ICE in over 30 years).

 

[Stonemason2]

Hi Rockburner
Let me know how this works out for you. My fiat 500 blue and me does not work hence has the flashing odometer, and drains the battery after 48 hours.
Hoping that if I disconnect the convergence unit and change the head unit to a much better One with blue Tooth With steering wheel control button capabilities, the odometer will stop flashing and battery will stop draining.
Have you changed yours as yet?

 

[Rockburner]

Hi Rockburner
Let me know how this works out for you. My fiat 500 blue and me does not work hence has the flashing odometer, and drains the battery after 48 hours.
Hoping that if I disconnect the convergence unit and change the head unit to a much better One with blue Tooth With steering wheel control button capabilities, the odometer will stop flashing and battery will stop draining.
Have you changed yours as yet?

Not yet. Living with FM at the moment.

 

[AndyRKett]

Hi Rockburner
Let me know how this works out for you. My fiat 500 blue and me does not work hence has the flashing odometer, and drains the battery after 48 hours.
Hoping that if I disconnect the convergence unit and change the head unit to a much better One with blue Tooth With steering wheel control button capabilities, the odometer will stop flashing and battery will stop draining.
Have you changed yours as yet?

If it doesn’t work anyway you can always unplug the blue and me unit for the time being and at least solve the battery drain issue.