Kia Nav system updates and Bluetooth Acc.

smerkal · 03-01-2010, 04:32 PM

Wondering what information is out there on the Kia Nav system/ Infinity sound system in the '09 Optima SX sold in the US. Who is it actually made by? How do I get updates? Is it compatible with the Kia Bluetooth accessory? Any mods discovered for it yet?

bjmendenhall · 03-01-2010, 08:27 PM

I am replacing a head light every 6 to 8 weeks!!!! how do i stop the $17 head light from failing???

Rick_Magentis · 03-02-2010, 07:14 AM

There has to be a short somewhere...a wire catching on a sharp body panel or something.

Rick_Magentis · 03-02-2010, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smerkal

Wondering what information is out there on the Kia Nav system/ Infinity sound system in the '09 Optima SX sold in the US. Who is it actually made by? How do I get updates? Is it compatible with the Kia Bluetooth accessory? Any mods discovered for it yet?

I am not sure about the Nav system but I am also interested in map updates. I will post if I can find anything.

Regarding the bluetooth option, not sure what you mean by Kia Bluetooth accessory. When we bought our 09, although we actually called ahead and went to the dealership to look at an 09 demo, the sales guy walked us through the options in the 2010 showroom car. I specifically asked him what the "little hole" was for in the headliner near the sunvisor. He replied,"it's for the bluetooth hands-free system".

When we got the car home, I looked all over for some instructions of how to activate the bluetooth and pair my phone. When I couldn't find anything I called the dealership back and spoke to the service manager, who then told me that the 2009 model does not come with bluetooth built in. That "little hole" is actually for the microphone for the voice-actuated nav system.

So I called the sales manager and told him that we were not happy as one of the main options we were looking for was built-in bluetooth (Ontario had just put that law into effect). He called back to say they were willing to install a "Bluetooth Accessory" no charge, which they had been doing for many of the Kia models in 2009. When I pushed for further details, I found out that they were just purchasing a visor-mounted bluetooth speaker box from a local electronics store.

At this point I told him that there is no way that I would accept this solution as I had already bought and tried 4 or 5 of these so-called bluetooth solutions in my truck and none of them were a worthwhile alternative to the built-in bluetooth system I now had in my truck (JVC CD/DVD/Nav/Sirus/BT).

Anyway, after much discussion they finally agreed to install a built-in aftermarket bluetooth solution. What we ended up with is a Motorola T605, which has performed flawlessly since it was installed.

Sorry to be so long-winded but to get back to your original question, the current Infinity/Nav system in the 2009 Magentis is NOT capable of bluetooth in any way shape or form. You must look for an aftermarket solution and in my experience, I would spend the extra money for a built-in solution over any "portable" unit, hands down.

smerkal · 03-02-2010, 05:46 PM

Thanks for the info Rick. I knew it wasn't natively capable of bluetooth, however Kia makes/sells a bluetooth accessory module that hardwires to the car. What I am trying to determine is if it's compatible with the Nav system or just the non-nav system. Some of the 2010 models have bluetooth native to the nav head, might be another possibility.....

Tell me more about how the Motorola solution works. Does it automatically mute the factory audio? Does it play sound through the factory audio system? I have the wiring schematics and connector pin-outs for the nav system and am unable to find a mute trigger (although it does have an aux video input and connection for a back-up light trigger, presumably for a backup camera.....) or a second aux/phone audio input. Any info you can provide about how it is connected/intergrated would be great.

Erik

Rick_Magentis · 03-02-2010, 07:35 PM

The Motorola unit was installed by the shop that sold it to the Kia dealership so I am not exactly sure of the connections. I had them install the control module on the dash, just under the left-hand climate control knob.

It is about 2.5" wide by about 1.5" high, so it is quite unobtrusive and has 5 buttons. Answer, hang-up, volume up, volume down and the menu/control button. There is no display on the control unit but it is not necessary if your phone has the voice dial feature as my wife's does.

Once your phone is paired to the unit, every time you start the car it connects to the phone automatically (provided bluetooth is on on your phone). When a call comes in, the music mutes and the ring comes through the factory speakers. Just tap the answer button on the control unit and the call is connected. When done, just tap the hang-up button and the call is terminated and the music resumes.

The unit also has options such as last number redial, conference call, mute etc. The only drawback is that the sound only comes out of the speakers on the right side of the car. I am not sure if the installer was just lazy or this is a quirk with the Motorola or the factory head unit, but it's not really a big issue.

Hope this helps.

smerkal · 03-02-2010, 10:46 PM

Can you submit a photo of your nav head? From what I am reading, the Canadian version uses a different one (pioneer built) than the US version.

Does it mute all speakers and just out put to the right or mute only the right side?

Thanks!!

Rick_Magentis · 03-03-2010, 06:43 AM

That's the funny thing. Even though the BT sound only comes out of the right speakers, the radio sound does mute from all speakers. This is why I said I think the installer was just lazy. It appears he just made a connection to the right channel but not the left.

I will try to take a picture later today when my son gets home from work with the car.

Oh, and one other note regarding the sound. The installer put the microphone on the front window pillar, driver's side. I would advise anyone to have them (or you) mount it somewhere in the centre, a few inches back from the windshield.

The reason I say this is because in my truck, I have the microphone mounted on the left side of the overhead console, about 8-10" back from the windshield. During use, it is evident that picks up less noise and vibration while driving at highway speeds than the one in the Kia.

buruko · 03-03-2010, 02:44 PM

According to my dealership here in Georgia they can install the navigation and blue tooth features separately. I was quoted pricing for each to be installed in my '09 Optima.

If you find out otherwise I'd love to know, each was about $550 a piece to install.

Rick_Magentis · 03-04-2010, 10:04 AM

I just had a look in my 2009 Magentis new car brochure and listed under the Comfort & Convenience section it says, Bluetooth Hands-Free Cell Phone Capability. It is listed as an Accessory under all trim levels but there is a note at the bottom saying, "Late Availability".

I find this interesting because when I got into the heated discussion with the sales manager about the fact that the sales rep told me "my" car had bluetooth built in, he denied it was even available in 2009 models. Uninformed? I wish I had taken the time to read the options page when I was there because I would have not settled for an aftermarket solution.

Anyway, it's water under the bridge now and the Motorola unit does work very well. Here is a pic of my Canadian head unit and the Moto BT control unit.