2012 C4 Picasso - Change Stereo Headunit to add Bluetooth

[yourguitarhero]

Hello
I have recently bought a 62 plate C4 Picasso which I am quite enjoying in a relaxing way!

While it is much newer and higher spec than any car I've ever owned before, there is a glaring omission - the stereo doesn't do bluetooth and I'd like to play music and make phonecalls.

The stereo in it is, I believe, an RD4. Comme ca:



FWIW, the central info screens have a bluetooth option, however it is greyed out.

From some research, it seems I have a couple of options.
1. add a little bluetooth transceiver to the cigarette lighter and tune the radio to it.
2. add a piggyback bluetooth module into the wiring harness. Something like this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174258438840
3. get a second hand RD45 stereo and install that.

Some questions:
1 - cheap, but won't display anything on the info screens
2 - seems simple, cheap and discreet. Will it display caller ID/track listings on the screens?
3 - Is this straight swap? Or does it need "coding"?

I know there is another option of adding a bluetooth/aux module in the glovebox (currently absent) but that just seems like 2 but more hassle?

Any thoughts?

[GiveMeABreak]

Pop your VIN up for me so I can see what the vehicle was fitted with. For a 2012, there should be a Bluetooth unit I would of thought - some of the vehicles with RD4 units may have had a hands free option, but I'll know once I check.

[yourguitarhero]

VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff]

[GiveMeABreak]

Ok, so this one has a bit of a basic specification, just a mono tuner RD4, no telematics unit or bluetooth.

Unfortunately on these the RD4 head unit is also more than a radio - it interfaces with the vehicle to change vehicle options - so replacing the head unit is doable, but if upgrading to a non-PSA unit will likely mean losing functionality.

So consider something like a Yatour unit that can mimic a CD player and can be wired into the RD4. From there you then attach a USB or flash card to the yatour to play MP3s and it treats it like a 6- CD changer. Depending on price and option, you may also get one with a bluetooth module for calls - so depends on the options you want. This way you can maintain the original head unit and have at least some additional functionality.

[yourguitarhero]

The RD45 radio I mentioned in point 3 is an OEM one?

Like this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/303754747250

[GiveMeABreak]

You can buy Chinese units of these from Aliexpress and other Chinese sellers. Your existing display screen needs to support bluetooth, so needs to be and EMF-C compatible screen with later software.

Here's a chap that bought both from Aliexpress - and it fitting it to his Peugeot:

[antonioprm]

It's odd, my own C4 Picasso is from 2008 and it is BT capable for calls (not music streaming, though).

I was thinking of getting an RD45 in order to have the most 'native' solution for streaming. Since I currently have call support, so there's already a microphone somewhere and the screen does have a BT menu, I was hoping it would be just a matter of swapping the head units. The current one (RD4N1M-02) has 1 antenna cable plugged on the left and a square with bundle of wires attached to the right, and the RD45 looks just like that's what it accepts (it would be evil if the wires had different functions between models).

But that sounds too good to be true...

[GiveMeABreak]

@ antonioprm: You probably have a basic RD4 system with separate Hands Free Kit (which is the bluetooth module). The later RD45 system has the bluetooth module integrated into the head unit. So your wiring will be different as the microphone will likely be wired to the hands free kit and the connections form that to the Head Unit.

Changing anything here will need telecoding to change the configuration parameters in the MFD screen / BSI. As the microphone is wired to the Hands free kit and not the head unit directly, you may need to add a separate microphone too.

[antonioprm]

Thank you, @GiveMeABreak

Yes, I do believe my bluetooth-for-calls is the factory 'Hands Free Kit' that was available in 2008. I thought all C4 Picassos came at least with it, but maybe not.

Regarding the microphone, everyone complains that it's difficult to hear on the other end, so probably it would always be a good idea to install a new one in a better location.

As to Lexia / Diagbox, I guess that besides programming the VIN I'll have to enable the rear parking sensors? I don't even have a Lexia thing, but having a number of Citroens it may be a good idea to get one anyway.

My concern is the screen. Unlike those in the regular C4/C3/etc, the one in the Picasso is not at all easy to upgrade. I know that with mine I'm able to pair the phone for bluetooth calls (turn key with radio off -> select CITROEN on the phone -> answer YES on the head unit or steering wheel -> enter 1 2 3 4 on the phone -> phone asks what to sync -> done). But I hear people saying they are unable to do it on their cars.

I'm unsure whether to order an RD45 I've found in my country (sw 4.1.01.00) or one of those that can be found on Aliexpress, in the hope that it has a more modern bluetooth implementation. I have no idea about the age of these head units.

[xantia_v6]

I believe that all RD45s are essentially the same, except that some have dual tuners, and there are many variants of front panel to suit the dashboard.

You will need a central display screen with a later software version that was introduced about 2010.

[yourguitarhero]

So, after using an FM transmitter for a while, I thought I'd try something else - lots of interference with the radio thingy

Got one of these bluetooth modules:



Supposedly it goes behind the drivers kick plate. I've taken that off (I think it's the right one anyway) and can't see anywhere to connect it.

[Paul-R]

Did you try driver's side for LHD cars? I.E. Our passenger side.

[yourguitarhero]

Did you try driver's side for LHD cars? I.E. Our passenger side.

That's a good point, the bonnet release is there

[GiveMeABreak]

It probably won't just work. The BSI will need configuring if you are installing this (I assume you have an RD4 system and are trying to install the Nomad Hands Free unit) here? Secondly and more importantly, you won't have the correct fascia wiring harness to connect all this, and thirdly the factory fitted microphone won't work as it needs to be connected to the hands free unit and again the wiring won't be there for it I suspect.

[yourguitarhero]

^ I was getting that feeling.