430 F430 - PIONEER SPH-10BT - Installed headunit

So finally got the headunit mostly installed on the F430. They hadn’t started selling it here in the US, but found one on Ebay that was shipped to me from the UK for about $130. Honestly, I love the unit and I wish cars had more of a setup like this, but a few pros and cons.

Pros:
- Love the fact that I can clip my phone and use it as the screen while I’m driving.

- Big icons, fairly easy to use

- Can flip the phone vertical or horizontally.

- Connecting it is fairly straight forward.

- Focal speakers sound great with this headunit. Night and day from stock.

- I can actually use the radio. I could barely figure out how to turn on the original headunit (which I’ve kept).

- Bluetooth microphone for calls works great when I can connect to the unit.

Cons:
- Although it connected easily the first time, I’ve had issues the second and third time I was home to try out it with my iPhone XS. Whenever I’m home again, I’ll have to see how serious this issue is. I haven’t had much time to play with it.

- A more serious issue is that I can’t sit the headunit flush with the dash when when the iPhone holder is utilized. I’m not sure how or if I will be able to solve this. However, I find this unit so useful, I may be willing to deal with a less attractive look in return for utility.

- I have to find an adapter for the antenna, so I cannot use the radio at the moment.

- Unit insists on playing Apple Music as a default player. So I’m always having to manually switch back to Spotify.

I have a few other things to mess around with, but I thought I’d at least get the conversation going for anyone who has considered this unit for their F430. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login


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A few more pics. I have video but can’t figure out how to post it from my phone. Also included a pic we took for the stock antenna and the head units input. Will have to get an adapter of some sort to plug it in.


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Found a way to post the video.

 

Nicolory, wish I could help, but it seems the previous owner had an aftermarket unit at some point because I did not have to purchase an adapter for mine.

 

Awesome! Let me know how it works. My bluetooth started having issues after about the third time I used the car, now I'm relegated to the USB cord which is very annoying. Pioneer told me to reset the unit, so I did, but then I had issues getting it to even do the search. I need more time near my car to troubleshoot, but eventually I hope to address the issue or replace the unit again.

I like that Alpine btw! I'm going to consider if I continue having issues with my unit.

 

Updated -

I can’t recommend this unit any longer. I never did get the Bluetooth to work. I purchased a replacement unit that came in yesterday, and had the same issue. Called tech support, they walked me through both units setting Bluetooth and neither worked. Tried it on both an IPhone 12 and IPhone XS. I even went through the whole firmware update instructions on the old one, and nothing. Then rep tells me it won’t work with the iPhone 12 until the next firmware update. So neither the old or new units work with my old iPhone, and neither my old or new phones work with the new unit. The idea is great, it just doesn’t work (for me). Seems geared towards non iPhones as it comes with Alexa, maybe that’s the issue.

I’ll copy and paste this on the other thread with the head unit conversation.

 

Udpate -

Okay, time to eat my words. Now that the car is with me, I’ve had a lot more time to sit in it and finagle with things. After three days of sitting in it while letting it run a bit, I finally got the Bluetooth to pair on the original unit (I returned the second unit). Now, I consider the unit great!

Here’s what I had to do:

• Update the firmware to the latest version upon purchase
• On iPhone, at least the new one, I had to shut down the phone, then restart it. Followed by turning off the Bluetooth on the phone for 5 seconds, then turning it back on. After which it picked up the the Bluetooth (SPH-10BT), I clicked on it, and it paired. I had the Pioneer unit in the system setting -> connect app -> Bluetooth
  • That tidbit on the iPhone I found by searching google and running into someone who had that same issue (a bit after I did my initial attempts in 2019).

The only thing I have left is figure out how to lock the unit in place since I don’t have the box with me anymore with what I’m guessing is a bracket to helps it lock in, and how to keep the mic wire tucked away behind drivers side pillar. Also, I think I need an adapter for the antenna, which I’m not worried about since I hardly use the radio.


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Very nice! Glad you got it all hooked up. I used that same antenna adapter. They sent two in the package, I think I still have the extra in case anyone needs one in the future. I probably should have placed the mic on the steering wheel, but ended up running the wire up the dash and setting it on the pillar.

 

Hi Dimitar, let me try and answer your questions, unfortunately it may not be much help since my model didn't have many options:

1. Mine is a 2005, and it did not have a mic (that I know of) or parking sensors. I'm assuming that if they share the same plug you should be able to, and I don't doubt that if they don't match there must be some adapter sold for it.
2. Mine had the (stock?) two woofers between the seats. We just plugged in the harness as directed in the instructions. There weren't any special steps or extra work done other than what was shown on the instructions. I did have to get an adapter for the antenna, but that's it.