Hello! I have an oem radio in my mk1, and i was thinking what options does it have? Like aux, some kind of phone connectivity, usb, or CD storage from factory. Wanna keep the car OEM as possible (i like the look, but the audio is kinda terrible with fm). Any advice, or some onfo about the radio head unit? Thanks in advance! 

You should have the option of fitting a 6 CD player unit in the boot as that was an OEM option or you can buy an adapter unit on ebay that plugs into the blue socket on the radio that will give you an "AUX" input capability or if you want "Phone conectivity" look for a Parrot Bluetooth unit (9200) as that connects between the main radio connectors or something like the nextbase DAB units as that will give you DAB and Phone handsfree  

On 25/01/2020 at 14:58, Foka said:

oem radio in my mk1

Which trim level? At least some Elegance and L&K models had a radio-cassette head and a 6 CD stacker as standard. The stacker if fitted is mounted in the boot, on the left side.

Is there any kind of adapter that will facilitate a USB flash drive or an SD card?

9 hours ago, Ttaskmaster said:

Is there any kind of adapter that will facilitate a USB flash drive or an SD card?

Not really. You'd need something to read the USB drive/SD card, do the decoding and then output the analogue signal (i.e. an mp3 player, phone etc.) so you would need power as well.

 

Fitting an aftermarket head unit is quite an easy DIY job and is easy enough to swap back if/when you sell the car. Used ones can be picked up quite cheap. There are plenty out there with a green (or changeable) backlight so they don't look that out of place.

On 27/01/2020 at 11:50, Ttaskmaster said:

Is there any kind of adapter that will facilitate a USB flash drive or an SD card?

IIRC there was some sort of cable that plugged in to the CD wiring that allowed a 3.5mm connection, so to a phone or MP3 player

You can buy a tape that has jack on it it slots into the casset player and allows you too play eg mp3 player or your phone, id just stick another unit in it itd take you 20 minutes and a cheap head unit from a good make will make your speakers sound so much better, you can get a pretty decent bluetooth head unit for about £50 and itl plug right into the old wires. 

On 27/01/2020 at 21:16, petrolbloke said:

Not really. You'd need something to read the USB drive/SD card, do the decoding and then output the analogue signal (i.e. an mp3 player, phone etc.) so you would need power as well.

 

Fitting an aftermarket head unit is quite an easy DIY job and is easy enough to swap back if/when you sell the car. Used ones can be picked up quite cheap. There are plenty out there with a green (or changeable) backlight so they don't look that out of place.

 

This sort of thing?

https://mp3mycar.com/mp3-auxiliary-interfaces-for-original-car-radios/41-usb-sd-auxiliary-interface-for-volkswagen-gamma-beta-mfd-original-car-radio-bora-passat-golf-polo-t5-sharan-3701111401782.html

 

I was considering swapping my Symphony out for something OEM-looking, such as the double-DIN VW Radio Navigation MFD, as I believe you can also play videos on it?

 

 

10 hours ago, Gavinj said:

You can buy a tape that has jack on it it slots into the casset player and allows you too play eg mp3 player or your phone, id just stick another unit in it itd take you 20 minutes and a cheap head unit from a good make will make your speakers sound so much better, you can get a pretty decent bluetooth head unit for about £50 and itl plug right into the old wires. 

 

I've used the tapes many times over the years. They always break and generally suck.

I'm also trying to avoid having to connect loose external devices/players, even wirelessly, so Bluetooth is not an option either.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-AUX-MP3-Adapter-Interface-VW-Passat-B5-3B-3BG-Bora-Golf-4/263094536444?epid=1370308639&hash=item3d41a808fc:g:e9IAAOSweM1Z5xJ2