We started researching the Bluetooth expandability of vintage head units more than a year ago. Since several types of factory Clarion systems were made for Saabs (including the NG 900), we first examined these models.
The goal is the usual: plug and play expandability with most available features.
We targeted Clarion models from the 1990s that are capable of controlling an external CD or CD changer. It quickly became clear that this wouldn’t be an easy task. Clarion uses a unique communication system — we can be glad if we manage to get it to talk to us at all. From the beginning, it was clear that we wouldn’t have many options for extra features. In fact, in the case of certain head units, there aren’t even suitable buttons for activating some functions. Custom texts, metadates are also hopeless too.
We were surprised to find that even models that look and operate similarly communicate differently. Let’s not go into the details — suffice it to say we worked a lot on this, but by now, I can say it’s done.
Currently, we support four types of Clarion head units. The greatest joy is that the factory NG900 head unit is among them.
We also had to make some hardware changes to the BT Changer, so we are introducing a VINTAGE version that is only usable with the old head units. However, the software is universal with other BT Changer models — version 2.3.6 already supports the old Clarions.
The cable harness connects to the head unit via a 12-pin DIN connector. You plug it in it works right away.
Button functions for PU-9904A:
- Pairing – button 3
- WiFi setup – button 6
- Bluetooth mode – CD function
- FF – skip forward
- REW – skip backward
Supported Clarion head units
- PU-9903A – 9000 RDS head unit (4518924)
- PU-9904A – 9000 head unit without RDS (4518932)
- PU-9715A – NG 900 head unit (4232765)
- ARX4670R – universal head unit
- CRX73 – universal head unit
We also plan to support the factory Alpine head unit of the 9000 in the future.
Unfortunately, the cable harness is not yet finished, so the product is not available at the moment, but I hope it will be ready within a foreseeable time.
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