How do I convert my Non-Bluetooth stereo into Bluetooth?

RoadRambo · 24th February 2025, 15:56

Hi BHPians!
I am currently taking care of my grandmothers 18 year old Chevrolet Aveo, which I plan to drive to college after 6 months.
Naturally like any crazy car enthusiastic teenager , I am already planning what all changes can I do to it to make it a bit more suitable for me!
So a bit of background is that I am saving up to buy a Super Meteor 650 , so naturally I am hesitant to spend my savings on modifying the Chevy as its old and wont be used much. So , I want to know how I can convert the retro, Non-touch stereo it has and enable Bluetooth in it so that I can pair my phone and enjoy songs I love

The main criteria for all this is that I dont have to spend too moolah on the car

Would love the advice of BHPians !

d.w.w. · 25th February 2025, 14:35

Almost 14 years back my ex-colleague came up with the exact same problem. And the solution he found was an aux(3.5mm jack) to Bluetooth adapter; the 3.5mm jack will go in to the aux port of the stereo and the phone will connect to the BT receiver. These adapters should be pretty cheap now.

saket77 · 25th February 2025, 14:46

You need something like a a car FM transmitter. It fits to the 12V cigarette lighter socket and you just got to tune your OE stereo to the preselected FM frequency. The FM transmitter device (eg: https://www.amazon.in/Ambrane-Transm...zcF9hdGY&psc=1)
can connect to bluetooth & you can play through an SD card or USB flashdrive- all by your OE stereo. It is also good alternative for handsfree BT calling and works very well. I have used 2 of these and both worked well. The only small drawback is that the bass drops a little during the transmission.

fiat_tarun · 25th February 2025, 14:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoadRambo

...I want to know how I can convert the retro, Non-touch stereo it has and enable Bluetooth in it so that I can pair my phone and enjoy songs I love ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by d.w.w.

... the solution he found was an aux(3.5mm jack) to Bluetooth adapter; the 3.5mm jack will go in to the aux port of the stereo and the phone will connect to the BT receiver. These adapters should be pretty cheap now.

Like mentioned above, I got one of these for my wife's Alto K10 where she wasn't a big audiophile and just needed the basic requirement of connecting her phone to the audio system to take calls and play music seamlessly.

We used this - https://amzn.in/d/dbXQ3E6 which worked brilliantly well and will highly recommend it.

vedantpatkar17 · 25th February 2025, 14:57

If you want to make your regular car stereo Bluetooth compatible, I recommend using a Bluetooth receiver. You can order one on Amazon, plug it into the USB socket, and connect it to the AUX input. However, the music quality may worsen.

RoadRambo · 25th February 2025, 15:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by d.w.w.

Almost 14 years back my ex-colleague came up with the exact same problem. And the solution he found was an aux(3.5mm jack) to Bluetooth adapter; the 3.5mm jack will go in to the aux port of the stereo and the phone will connect to the BT receiver. These adapters should be pretty cheap now.

Thanks a lot to all the BHPians for their advice !
Would surely try these and hopefully they will work

Thanks everyone

aggressive_anush · 25th February 2025, 16:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiat_tarun

We used this - https://amzn.in/d/dbXQ3E6 which worked brilliantly well and will highly recommend it.

I have this on my old jazz and i agree.
Its super convenient, and the inclusion of the mic also gives you handsfree calls when needed.

Torque_Curve · 25th February 2025, 18:26

I was in the same dilemma less than a year ago. I was handed down an Amazon Alexa Echo Auto and I haven't looked back since!

Goes without saying that I'm happy with the product and would recommend it to people looking for such a solution.

Apart from the fact that it is leagues ahead of most other brands that I tried (Portronics, Ambrane, etc, all of which had low volume issues), the fact that it can change music with just voice inputs is the icing on the cake!

An Amazon music account would be required and that would help your case too if you purchase the above.

Doge · 25th February 2025, 18:31

I got a blutooth DAC by Astell and Kern for around 2k and have plugged that into the aux. The sound quality is even better now than before and it's the only jugaad that maintains the sound quality IMO.

Yuvuz · 27th February 2025, 22:18

I have been using toreto Tor-651(500rs) bluetooth receiver in my k-10 and 10' Camry since 5-6 years. No issues so far.

nova.19_exe · 27th February 2025, 23:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torque_Curve

I was in the same dilemma less than a year ago. I was handed down an Amazon Alexa Echo Auto

I'm pretty sure the Echo Auto isn't available anymore. I think Amazon may sell refurbished ones, but new isn't available AFAIK.

dhruvagarwal · 28th February 2025, 10:50

I drive an old Maruti Ritz and was faced with the same challenge a few years ago. If you have a working charging port, you could use the Bluetooth-FM Transmitter that most of us have spoken about.

In my personal experience, I have used Crust and Portronics. This one specifically and find it to be of good quality, way better than the Crust one I used earlier. No buzzing sound, better connection quality, decent charging, and has been working reliably for 1+ year and I've no complaints. Would definitely recommend.

24th February 2025, 15:56	#1
RoadRambo Newbie Join Date: Aug 2024 Location: CHANDIGARH Posts: 21 Thanked: 13 Times	How do I convert my Non-Bluetooth stereo into Bluetooth? Hi BHPians! I am currently taking care of my grandmothers 18 year old Chevrolet Aveo, which I plan to drive to college after 6 months. Naturally like any crazy car enthusiastic teenager , I am already planning what all changes can I do to it to make it a bit more suitable for me! So a bit of background is that I am saving up to buy a Super Meteor 650 , so naturally I am hesitant to spend my savings on modifying the Chevy as its old and wont be used much. So , I want to know how I can convert the retro, Non-touch stereo it has and enable Bluetooth in it so that I can pair my phone and enjoy songs I love The main criteria for all this is that I dont have to spend too moolah on the car Would love the advice of BHPians !
	(1) Thanks

25th February 2025, 14:35	#2
d.w.w. BHPian Join Date: Jan 2023 Location: KL Posts: 90 Thanked: 1,021 Times	Re: How do I convert my Non-Bluetooth stereo into Bluetooth? Almost 14 years back my ex-colleague came up with the exact same problem. And the solution he found was an aux(3.5mm jack) to Bluetooth adapter; the 3.5mm jack will go in to the aux port of the stereo and the phone will connect to the BT receiver. These adapters should be pretty cheap now.
	(2) Thanks

25th February 2025, 14:46	#3
saket77 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: India Posts: 4,835 Thanked: 14,709 Times	Re: How do I convert my Non-Bluetooth stereo into Bluetooth? You need something like a a car FM transmitter. It fits to the 12V cigarette lighter socket and you just got to tune your OE stereo to the preselected FM frequency. The FM transmitter device (eg: https://www.amazon.in/Ambrane-Transm...zcF9hdGY&psc=1) can connect to bluetooth & you can play through an SD card or USB flashdrive- all by your OE stereo. It is also good alternative for handsfree BT calling and works very well. I have used 2 of these and both worked well. The only small drawback is that the bass drops a little during the transmission.
	(5) Thanks

25th February 2025, 14:57	#5
vedantpatkar17 BHPian Join Date: Feb 2025 Location: ‎ Posts: 46 Thanked: 164 Times	Re: How do I convert my Non-Bluetooth stereo into Bluetooth? If you want to make your regular car stereo Bluetooth compatible, I recommend using a Bluetooth receiver. You can order one on Amazon, plug it into the USB socket, and connect it to the AUX input. However, the music quality may worsen. Last edited by libranof1987 : 25th February 2025 at 15:42. Reason: Broken quote tags
	(1) Thanks

25th February 2025, 18:26	#8
Torque_Curve BHPian Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: MH04 Posts: 248 Thanked: 699 Times	Re: How do I convert my Non-Bluetooth stereo into Bluetooth? I was in the same dilemma less than a year ago. I was handed down an Amazon Alexa Echo Auto and I haven't looked back since! Goes without saying that I'm happy with the product and would recommend it to people looking for such a solution. Apart from the fact that it is leagues ahead of most other brands that I tried (Portronics, Ambrane, etc, all of which had low volume issues), the fact that it can change music with just voice inputs is the icing on the cake! An Amazon music account would be required and that would help your case too if you purchase the above. Last edited by graaja : 28th February 2025 at 04:38. Reason: Minor typos, paragraph spacing
	(1) Thanks

25th February 2025, 18:31	#9
Doge BHPian Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: NCR/Turin Posts: 788 Thanked: 2,050 Times	Re: How do I convert my Non-Bluetooth stereo into Bluetooth? I got a blutooth DAC by Astell and Kern for around 2k and have plugged that into the aux. The sound quality is even better now than before and it's the only jugaad that maintains the sound quality IMO.
	(2) Thanks

27th February 2025, 22:18	#10
Yuvuz BHPian Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: AHM/DXB/MCT Posts: 28 Thanked: 64 Times	Re: How do I convert my Non-Bluetooth stereo into Bluetooth? I have been using toreto Tor-651(500rs) bluetooth receiver in my k-10 and 10' Camry since 5-6 years. No issues so far.
	() Thanks

28th February 2025, 10:50	#12
dhruvagarwal BHPian Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Bangalore Posts: 40 Thanked: 61 Times	Re: How do I convert my Non-Bluetooth stereo into Bluetooth? I drive an old Maruti Ritz and was faced with the same challenge a few years ago. If you have a working charging port, you could use the Bluetooth-FM Transmitter that most of us have spoken about. In my personal experience, I have used Crust and Portronics. This one specifically and find it to be of good quality, way better than the Crust one I used earlier. No buzzing sound, better connection quality, decent charging, and has been working reliably for 1+ year and I've no complaints. Would definitely recommend.
	(2) Thanks