Apple Ipod - audio connecter

Having just bought a 2012 Freelander 2 XS, I want to play my Apple Ipod through the car's speakers. At L/Rover today they say they do not do a jack plug lead (even though there is a female 3.5mm hole near the handbrake. Go to Maplins they said, pay £6 and Bob's your uncle. Bought it, only to find I have no control through the radio or steering wheel buttons. This particular jack fit's into the car whilst the other end fit's into the headphone socket of the Ipod. With the police being so hot here in the UK with Phone user's, I find I am in the same boat - having to control the Ipod each and every time I want to change tracks.
Q: Is anyone aware of a lead that will fit and allow control via the car's controls

Having a quick google, throws up it has iPod/MP3 connectivity.

so exactly what you have, and audio input for connecting an MP3 player/Ipod/phone whatever you want.

there is, as far as i can tell, no data connected through this port, a simple 3.5mm to 3.5mm lead would have given you the same, the lead you bought simply uses the line out on the ipod multiplud.

Sorry, no way of controlling it from the steering wheel, or if there is, not a singe review mentions it.

ah, I may be wrong with that, further googlage gives me this part number

Part No: VPLFE0002

Discreet link lead installation to integrate iPod Nano Gen 1, 2 and 3, iPod Video 30 + 60 + 80Gb, Classic, iPhone and iTouch into the vehicle audio speaker system, using the steering wheel controls (where fitted) for track selection and volume. In addition the link lead also acts as a charger for your iPod device. * iPod not included

however, if you have the touch screen ents unit, you dont get any track info, just track selection etc.

the ipod connection also appears to be in the glovebox.

now quick,. go say hi, and dont tell anyone I helped you before you introduced yersen.

I believe that if the iPod/iPhone is mounted to the dash then it's classed as an audio device and can be controlled whilst moving same as a CD player or any other device, worth looking into but pretty sure that's correct

I have done loads of research on this and you can't do what you want. Best you can do is play your music via the 3.5mm analogue jack. You can't control the iPod off the console. Don't even bother looking for a solution as there isn't one.

I do use a 'blue trip' I sent for from the states. It is a blue tooth receiver with a 3.5mm output so you can plug it into the cigarette lighter and use a short 3.5 to 3.5mm cable to connect to the car. Simply pair with the iPhone and at least you don't have to plug in a flipping cable!

Another tip is that you can use voice control (sometimes) to control the music. Set yourself up as above and also pair with the phone blue tooth. Yes you can link to both. Then you can use voice tag dialling to control the iPhone by using 'voice control' on the phone. So instead of saying "dial such and such" you can say "play music by Lady Gaga" or what ever floats your boat!

Scrawf

Well they do make some bold statements

Ipod / MP3 Connections

Due to a high volume of requests we are very pleased to offer our latest development: Direct Ipod / MP3 /iPhone connection by means of our stereo 3.5mm radio face Aux jack... for virtually all Land Rover OEM sound systems. It’s the perfect solution for those Land Rover owners that want state of the art technology in their factory head units.

With our discrete 3.5mm Aux. jack solution you do not lose any system functions, but gain Ipod/MP3/Serius/Satilite/iPhone, etc direct connectivity to your OEM sound system. So throw away those junk sound dropping, noise making cassette adaptor and trash sounding FM modulators. Our 3.5mm Aux. jack is a direct connection, so no drop in volume or fidelity. Just plug and play!

You get: Our discrete 3.5mm Aux. jack professionally installed in your OEM radio and a 4’ double ended 3.5mm stereo cord that fits all Ipod/MP3/Serius/Satilite/iPhone, etc



iPhone

When connected through our Aux. jack and enjoying your iTunes/music should you get a phone call through the same device, the music will gently fade out and the phone ringing will be audible direct through your car speakers, simply answer the call and talk, they hear you fine (no need to pick the iPhone up even) and you hear them through the car speakers, so is hands free without buying ear phones etc. Once you end the call the radio / music gently fades back in. I say gently because it is subtle (won’t scare you to death while you drive) and gently increases back to the volume you had before the call. It's brilliant!

After hundreds of requests and hours of research and testing we have it solved. We can now add this feature to any OEM Land Rover stereo for $129 + $12 shipped back to your door in the USA, $141 total.

This service requires that you ship us your OEM radio head unit to install.

Note: As a special courtesy we offer this same option at near ½ price to customers that are shipping a unit in for repair anyway, just ask for an Ipod Jack too. $79

GB 4x4 RADIOS

The nearest you're going to get to an "elegant" system for connecting and controlling an iPod to the sound system in your Freelander is the Harman Kardon Drive+Play.

It looks like a reasonable device with a dash mounted display and a small(ish) spherical control unit which I believe sits down on the centre console near the gearstick.

Got to warn you though, it ain't cheap!

Or you could go down the route of shufffling your music playback, instead of trying to select tracks on the move.