Music Streaming using Bluetooth A2DP

In this guide I will show you how you can enjoy the comfort of stereo audio over Bluetooth on your Lexus.

Lexus models built before 2010 with Bluetooth support are limited to phone functionality only. The models built after this should have the A2DP Bluetooth profile, which allows for mobile phones with A2DP to wirelessly stream music to the car.

My Lexus does not support A2DP. Therefore, in this guide I will show you how I've integrated A2DP into my Lexus by utilizing the factory OEM 3.5mm stereo jack auxiliary port in the central armrest.

Things you will need:

  1. Mobile Phone that supports A2DP (iPhone, HTC, Blackberry, etc.)
  2. Blackberry Bluetooth Music Gateway
  3. Mini Blackberry Car Charger.

The setup consists of a Blackberry Bluetooth Music Gateway device that resides in the central armrest. It is connected via a 3.5mm stereo jack to the auxiliary port and a blackberry mini car charger. This is paired to your mobile phone.

Once the initial pairing is complete, the device will then auto-connect with the phone every time the car is turned on. You can stream music wirelessly by selecting the AUX source on you car stereo.

At this point you're probably wondering if the bluetooth phone functionality of the car will still work. The answer is YES.

That's it you're all done. You can now enjoy wireless audio streaming in your car.

Below is a video demonstration followed by some pictures of the blackberry device.











  The Picture below shows how the gateway is wired in the central armrest


58 Comments

  1. Rod Ferris20 January 2011 at 19:47

    Are you not going to share HOW you did it? I am in the same scenario and dying to know how you connected the gateway to a power source and hardwired it to the car.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ahmed20 January 2011 at 22:47

    I've added an extra picture at the bottom that shows you how the Blackberry Music Gateway is connected.

    It's connected to the AUX port of the car in the central armrest

    Hope that helps.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sailon5 December 2013 at 15:55

      Do you also have, or know of, a process for streaming video as well?

      Delete
    2. Unknown16 September 2016 at 20:07

      HELLO PLEASE WILL THE STERING CONTROL CHANGE MUSIC WHILST USING THS SETUP

      Delete
  3. Rod Ferris21 January 2011 at 01:35

    Very easy install.. I have a 08 RX 350 so it didn't come with those ports. I appreciate the quick follow-up!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Unknown28 January 2011 at 21:25

    Hi,
    This looks very interesting.
    Is the white cable the 'Mini Blackberry Car Charger'? If so, can you give me a link on Internet for this cable?

    Thanks..

    Najah

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ahmed28 January 2011 at 22:15

    Hi Najah,

    I didn't actully use the Mini Blackberry Car Charger. I had a spare USB car charger and a spare USB cable (camera, mp3 player, portable hdd ones). I just plugged in the usb charger and then connected the blackberry gateway via the USB cable.

    Here are some eBay links for the two seperate items that I used:

    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170594194643

    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330518574759

    ReplyDelete
  6. Unknown8 February 2011 at 12:03

    Buy Used Lexus Is250 Engines, Transmissions, and OEM Parts. Find parts for Lexus Is250 2006, 2007, 2008 Please visit this: http://www.alltoyotalexusparts.com/lexus/is250.html

    ReplyDelete
  7. Unknown22 February 2011 at 09:19

    What is name of the item.
    I would buy one! If have this item can use the music and the call at sema time?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Ahmed22 February 2011 at 12:00

    The product is called a BlackBerry Bluetooth Stereo Audio Gateway. You can listen to the music and use your phone if you have bluetooth phone functionality in your car. The music will automatically pause while you are on a call and resume when call is ended.

    ReplyDelete
  9. dz22 March 2011 at 23:21

    Based on your success, I purchased the exact same equipment for my IS 250. Pairing and streaming music through my Android phone works flawlessly. However, I hear a significant amount of clicking noises during phone calls while my phone is connected to the BB Bluetooth Gateway. The clicking immediately ends when I power off the BB gateway. Have you experienced similar issues while on the phone?

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oz11 April 2011 at 01:41

    Fantastic device and thanks for all your hard work really well done. Can you please advise if you can still shut your center console when plugged in and charging....I haven't been able to find the "slimline" in car charger...yet!!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Unknown12 April 2011 at 12:19

    While streaming music can you still use the nav.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Ahmed14 April 2011 at 14:51

    dz, it seems like you have the ground loop noise. if the car is still under warranty there is actually a TSIB for this issue. If not then you can simply buy a inline 3.5mm Noise Filter from eBay which will cost you about £5 and that should do the job. Hope that helps.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Ahmed14 April 2011 at 14:53

    Oz, I am using something like the Belkin USB Car Charger. This is a very low-profile compact usb charger which then lets you plug in a usb cable. It's small enough to allow the armrest to close

    ReplyDelete
  14. Ahmed14 April 2011 at 14:54

    Daniel, yes you can still use the nav and everything else while streaming music. It's just the same as listening to music from the car's CD player or Radio

    ReplyDelete
  15. Oz16 April 2011 at 00:14

    Thanks Ahmed.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous24 April 2011 at 06:24

    Does this work with the screen controls or steering wheel controls? IE can you skip tracks and do things like that through the nav screen/steering wheel or will this only work using the phone itself? And does the play button work as well?

    I currently have a motorola t505 (fm transmitter) and if I hit the play button it will automatically start playing a random selection of my music. I am looking at getting a lexus is and doing this to play music (because I do not like having to constantly turn my t505 on and then turn the fm transmitter on.... would prefer to have it always connected). But having transport controls is crucial to me and that will have to work with the solution I use.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous15 June 2011 at 03:45

    how did u get the video to work? is it the vaistech sl2vi?

    ReplyDelete
  18. Ahmed16 June 2011 at 10:06

    ixnfsxi, no i did not use the vaistech product. although its just as good. when i did this mod, vaistech didnt have such a product. i used a product called navtool

    ReplyDelete
  19. eightysix2 September 2011 at 10:07

    Hello there!

    When i hook up the blackberry stereo gateway i get terrible disturbing bluetooth noises through the speakers (through aux in), I can even hear the car accelerating through the speakers.
    I have this with my ipod and phone as well, but only when I charge them while playing music. Otherwise everything is fine. It's like the electricity in the car is not grounded or something? any idea? thx!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Ahmed2 September 2011 at 12:29

    If your car is still under warranty, then there is a TSIB for this issue and Lexus will repair it for free. This is what the TSIB says about the issue:

    Some customers may notice noise in the auxiliary mode of the radio when using an MP3
    player or other external audio source connected to the 12V power port of the vehicle. An
    improved auxiliary port and in-line filter has been developed to improve this condition.

    If however your car is out of warranty then you can just buy a filter yourself which doesnt cost much. You'll need a Ground Loop Isolator Noise Filter (with 3.5mm Jack). This should do the trick

    ReplyDelete
  21. eightysix7 September 2011 at 15:20

    Thank you so much Ahmed!!!
    Unfortunately my car is out of warranty, do you have a website where you have found this information so I can see what filter is necessary?

    thanks again!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Ahmed12 September 2011 at 13:11

    the full PDF TSIB can be found on the following URL:

    http://www.clublexus.com/forums/es350/300320-auxiliary-audio-input-port-noise-tsib-l-au001-07-finally-released.html

    ReplyDelete
  23. LOnG17 September 2011 at 13:56

    Hi Ahmed, Im from Australia and the BlackBerry Remote Stereo Gateway is not available here and the ebay site not deliver to Australia. Do you know how can i get it here. Also what equipments i need to buy to watch the videos contents on my iphone on the lexus screen? and TV also?
    Thanks a lot

    ReplyDelete
  24. Faisal Rahman28 September 2011 at 04:28

    Hi Ahmed, I am very impressed with your "Apple iPhone integration into my Lexus IS250" video in YouTube, do you have steps how you have installed the components? Thank you so much for the awesome video.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Carlos V.13 January 2012 at 01:58

    Hello I want to know if this would work on any car that has aux in them?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ahmed13 January 2012 at 08:59

      Carlos V. yes technically this method would work with any vehicle that has an aux input

      Delete
  26. Kevin25 January 2012 at 15:31

    Interesting and an easy hack. However, for those of you who'd prefer a more 'integrated' solution there's this module from GROM audio that plugs into the CD changer port (CD changer still works after install) and integrates A2DP through that. I just had this installed in my IS250 SE-L a few minutes ago and it works great. It also works with steering wheel and dash buttons e.g. next, prev etc. Volume can also be controlled from the phone (mine is an HTC Evo 3D).

    http://www.gromaudio.com/store/all-toy.html

    You'll need to take the headunit out though (here's a guide): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIcwVnj88VU

    You'll need to connect it to a spare CD/DVD changer port on the unit similar to this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ht7EmPS9hhQ&feature=related

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unknown3 September 2013 at 14:22

      Hi Kevin, can you please confirm which of the Grom modules you used and if it worked with iPhone?

      Delete
  27. JT18 March 2012 at 20:31

    I bought one of these, but sound only comes from one speaker in my lexus. I've used different wires and phones, but same result. I've tried this on my home stereo and again it only works on one speaker. Is this the way it is supposed to work or do I have a defective BB stereo gateway? I purchased from amazon.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Ahmed18 March 2012 at 22:02

    JT, if the sound is only coming out of one side channel then that means either the socket on the bluetooth gateway is faulty and both channels are not connecting or the most likely problem is that the 3.5mm cable you are using is faulty. The BT gateway is stereo so should come out of both channels

    ReplyDelete
  29. JT19 March 2012 at 05:08

    Thanks Ahmed. I've used multiple 3.5mm cables and same result. I'm returning this BB Gateway.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Huang24 March 2012 at 15:33

    Hello Ahmed,I come from taiwan,my english is not good.There is a question.This "Blackberry Bluetooth Music Gateway "
    is used to play iphone music,but if I want to watch the movie from iphone,what cables do I need to link----->AV1??
    and how to buy it?
    Thank you so much!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ahmed26 March 2012 at 09:01

      Hello Huang,

      If you want to have iphone video integration. You either need to get a iphone integration kit. Or install an AV unit for the Lexus IS250 which provides me with the facility to add DVB and 2 additional RCA auxillary inputs. I made a simple iPhone/iPod dock that is hard-wired directly to one of the RCA AV input sources. These days you can get very good ipod/iphone itegration kits. Have a look at the following website: www.vaistech.com they have very good kits.

      Delete
    2. Huang2 April 2012 at 07:30

      Thank you to provide me with these information ,
      I'll try it!

      Delete
  31. Eric Goldstein16 June 2012 at 14:59

    While this is a good video explaining what to do if you have a pre-2010 Lexus and are trying to connect via A2DP, I've been searching to try and understand how to connect my 2010 IS250C via A2DP and couldn't seem to find it.


    I FINALLY figured out what I was missing and why couldn't seem to stream music wirelessly via A2DP. I had been able to pair my phone and make calls, but not stream audio. I have an iPhone 4S with an 2010 IS250C this video didn't really match my situation.

    For those that are curious, I finally figured it out..

    The key missing thing is to go to the AUDIO section under settings and connect via audio! So, basically, you need to connect TWICE to your phone. BOOM. All good.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Unknown7 November 2012 at 22:26

    Hi Ahmed,
    Does this work with the screen controls or steering wheel controls when the phone connected with the car by A2DP? Or you still need using the phone to change music, which just like connect the phone to the car by AUX.
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ahmed12 November 2012 at 10:49

      It does not work with the screen or steering wheel controls, it's just operating through the AUX port. I do however find Siri very useful to voice control the music.

      Delete
  33. Ryan Nelson3 May 2013 at 21:32

    Thank you so much - I've been trying to figure out forever a solution to AD2P on my wife's IS250.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Kkarman19 May 2013 at 22:44

    Hi, is the Bluetooth adapter permanently on charge? What if you don't use the car for a week? Will I have to pair the phone to the adapter again?

    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ahmed21 May 2013 at 08:50

      The Bluetooth gateway is NOT permanently on charge. It only turns on when car or ignition is turned on. Once you pair the phone to the gateway, the device will store this into it's memory and hence you wont need to re-pair it at all. even if you leave your car for a month it's not a problem.

      Delete
  35. Unknown20 May 2013 at 20:50

    Hello there!

    Everything worked fine but my bluetooth in my car for my phone is not working now or am i doing something wrong

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ahmed21 May 2013 at 08:56

      Is the bluetooth in your car factory fitted or is it an optional accessory?

      Delete
  36. Tim P12 October 2013 at 09:22

    Hi Ahmed - I've heard that some of these bluetooth gateway products have poor sound, especially in the bass range. How does the sound compare with the Blackberry device compared to plugging the iPhone directly into the AUX?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ahmed7 November 2013 at 08:09

      Sorry for the late reply Tim, i have not had any sound quality issues with the Blackberry device to-date. I've had it since Jan 2011 and have had no issues whatsoever with it. I've stopped using the in-built cd/dvd player and 100% depend on my phone playlists via the blackberry gateway. Hope that helps.

      Delete
  37. Unknown24 February 2014 at 17:40

    Hi Ahmed, Thanks for your solution.

    Would this work with my Android Powered Nexus 5?

    Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Unknown10 June 2014 at 07:15

    Hi what is required to be connected iphone as in this video? http://youtu.be/4BsnydB7Gfc
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  39. Herrmann2 September 2014 at 15:24

    models built beforewith Bluetooth support are limited to phone functionality only. ... 2radiobluetooth.blogspot.de

    ReplyDelete
  40. B CROWN2 October 2014 at 15:17

    Do you also have, or know of, a process for streaming video as well?

    ReplyDelete
  41. Unknown24 May 2015 at 03:07

    Hi Ahmed,

    I just bought an Lexus IS250 and I would like to mirror my iPhone 6 display on the car's screen, I've seen that you drive a right had car also maybe you can help, I am in London.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Unknown22 February 2016 at 08:33

    Hello Ahmed, do you think that BB a2dp is working on my lexus? or i must to buy a a2dp BB like yours but white 200€
    link http://www.amazon.com/BlackBerry-ACC-41596-001-Music-Gateway-Packaging/dp/B008736UWO

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/BlackBerry-Music-Gateway-/381328369652

    or this one like yours http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-in-BOX-BlackBerry-Remote-Stereo-Bluetooth-Gateway-Music-A2DP-Audio-Adapter-/221068734189

    THX

    ReplyDelete
  43. Unknown22 February 2016 at 08:39

    or this one is only 15€ http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MJMV0GU?psc=1

    ReplyDelete
  44. Unknown28 February 2016 at 06:47

    is there alternate device for Blackberry Bluetooth Music Gateway

    ReplyDelete
  45. Unknown22 October 2016 at 08:33

    Ok so I've connected the A2DP but the display doesn't come up on the screen...how do I fix this?

    ReplyDelete
  46. Unknown11 April 2017 at 20:12

    Please could you send me the link for:
    Apple iPhone integration into my Lexus IS250

    ReplyDelete
  47. Unknown22 September 2018 at 04:13

    Would this work in the 2008 Lexus IS250 that has the regular radio (no navigation system integrated)???

    ReplyDelete
  48. marc burlace3 August 2021 at 05:17

    Hey Guys. Thanks so much for the (in hindsight obvious) answer to my problem of having no built in bluetooth in my 2012 CT200H. I had a bluetooth receiver in the house (previous project) Hooked it up......Done Deal!!

    https://www.amazon.com/Bluetooth-Transmitter-Receiver-Wireless

    ReplyDelete