C30 General : BluePower BLP-990A

[spacenase]

I've just finished installing the new Android version of the BLP-990 in my C30 and I thought I'd give some early impressions.

Like the older BLP-990 it's a neat installation that looks factory. I like the fact that the DVD/main control unit fits into the glovebox and that it's mostly plug-and-play. Even the ribbon cable for the screen is not too difficult to fit. I thought that they could have found a better way to do the power tap for the screen, but that's nit-picking.

In use, the screen is clear and responsive and the fact that you can download and install lots of Android apps on it makes it very customisable. I'm still finding the best apps for each of the functions so it's not quite how I want it yet. Waze is working fine though, as is the wi-fi and Bluetooth connectivity. It's replacing the basic Performance system and the internal amp gives a definite improvement in sound. Again, it'll take me a bit of time to get it exactly how I want it and I'm considering some speaker upgrades to improve it further.

I have had a few issues with it and with BluePower though, that I'm trying to get resolved.

I ordered the DAB+ USB stick option and whilst I received the stick and a choice of 2 aerials, there's no written instructions or information provided with it, so there's nothing about the app it requires to work. Since it's a generic device with no manufacturer information, it's hard to find any useful information on the net. I've found DAB+ app that works with it, but I'm trying to find out if there is an "official" app from BluePower.

I also ordered a OBD2 connection option that was not provided and there is no information on why. It is no longer listed as an option either. I've asked BluePower about this a couple of times and not had a response yet.

A (badly translated) user manual came with the unit, but no installation instructions. I asked BluePower for some and they sent them for the wrong factory unit. Fortunately I found some online for the original BLP-990 unit and they proved to be the same.

Overall, I'm not really impressed with the support provided by BluePower, especially given the cost of the unit. There are also a couple of issues with using it.

The unit seems to randomly decide whether it is going to fully power on or sit in standby when you turn the ignition on. Not a major issue though.

My reversing sensors no longer beep, so I can't use them. I've asked BluePower for help on this as I don't want to lose the use of them. I've also noticed that the loud seatbelt warning beep no longer happens, so it looks as if sounds do not come through from the factory interface to the head unit. The climate information pops up on the screen though, so that part works okay.

The screen switches to the reversing camera when I put the car into reverse, even though I don't have one fitted. It means you end up with a black screen with a "No Signal" error whenever you put it into reverse. I have not found a way to disable this and have again asked BluePower for help.

Overall, I think it is a good unit and is a good option for the C30. It just feels like the version 1.0 it pretty much is and needs some tweaking and updates to make it excellent. My main disappointment at the moment is the lack of useful responses from BluePower, but hopefully they'll help get the outstanding issues resolved with a bit of nagging.

[phutyle]

Thanks for the writup. Always good to hear first hand experience of things like this.

It’s a real shame that Bluepower don’t seem to have their customer service at the level you would expect for a product of this price. I’ve heard a few reports of missing components and slow/non response. My impression with the old version was that people felt that it too was ok fir a version 1.0, and needed further refining. Unfortunately that never materialised, so hopefully that won’t be the case with this version.

One quick question: Did your car have Bluetooth for phone calls installed from factory, and if so, does that still work? Mine does, and I would rather not lose it if I installed the Bluepower (mic is already installed and steering wheel has call control buttons).

[spacenase]

No it didn't have Bluetooth unfortunately. It was the most basic system available I think.

[Missing Lincs]

Originally Posted by spacenase

Overall, I think it is a good unit and is a good option for the C30. It just feels like the version 1.0 it pretty much is and needs some tweaking and updates to make it excellent. My main disappointment at the moment is the lack of useful responses from BluePower, but hopefully they'll help get the outstanding issues resolved with a bit of nagging.

Don't hold you breath on the fixes, I'm still waiting after 4 years for fixes to the original BLP. Bluepower seem to loose interest once you've paid your money. It's a real shame because these units could be quite outstanding, as it is you end up with a nearly but not quite.

[andy_d]

its a shame when they have a "almost just a few tweaks" product, that Does ~nearly~ what folk want as an u/g to the factory one but crap/no customer service.
given that replacing the radio systems in these cars has Very very few options you'd think they could clean up the market with a bit of CS and some updates to address customers issues, or at least provide manuals (even badly translated ones) for the Items With the items, Especially for the £

[spacenase]

So I've found the root cause of the reversing sensors not working. In the original system the signal goes from the main control unit (CEM?) into the CD/Amp unit via the optical cables. Since the basic Performance unit does not have a separate amplifier, the instructions say not to connect or reinstall the CD unit, so the optical cables are not connected into anything with the BLP-990. I presume they say this because you would effectively have 2 amplifiers feeding into the speakers. In systems with a separate amplifier, the problem would not occur because the CD unit is left in place.

My temptation is to take the risk and reinstall the CD unit to get the sensors working again. If I can work out how the signals from the controls on the waterfall dash get through to the CD unit, I can turn it off then disconnect the appropriate wires to effectively disable it. If I can't do this, I'll just have to leave it on AUX or CD.

Thinking about it, this problem must have existed in the original BLP-990 unit too, since it is installed in the same way. I would therefore expect BluePower to know this by now and have a warning within the item details on their website. Of course there is nothing there, or in the installation instructions. Given it effectively disables a factory fitted function in the car, I think I'd have the right to return it for a refund if I wanted to, as it's not fit for purpose.

Very disappointed!!

[Missing Lincs]

You can get a parking sensor interface for most models so that when you replace the HU you can continue to use the sensors. On the original BLP there was no support for parking sensors as I presume they assumed you would fit a reversing camera. I've never checked to see if there is an interface for the C30/V50 parking sensors, Volvotech might be the place to look.

It looks like BluePower have made the same assumption with the Android BLP and reversing, that you will fit a camera.

[spacenase]

Thanks for the suggestion. I tried VolvoTech and they seem to sell reversing camera interfaces but not sensor interfaces. I found another site that does do them, but not for the C30.

I did wonder if I could piece something together with a DAC, small amp and speaker, but I think it's probably too complicated for me. I still think I'm going to reinstall the CD unit and see what happens.

One other thing I've found, the Music Player does not show tag info for AAC/M4A files when playing from a USB stick. I tried downloading a couple of other players and they didn't either, so I don't know if it's an Android thing. I'm just going to convert everything to MP3 as that works fine.

I hope I'm finding out all the issues up front and my experience will improve the more I use it!

[Sarabakari]

Hello, i also bought and installed a BLP-990A unit for my Volvo V50.
Installation was embarassing, they referred to online videos, wich also didn‘t show some important steps needed for installing the correct connectors.
Online support seems like a one-man-show and not answering my clear questions. There were also parts missing, like the DAB+module and wrong antenna cable. They promised to send... well, we will see.
But most thing that confuses me is that there is no DVD drive installed, the unit has an eject-button for that, first i thought they had forgotten to install the drive but they told me that the unit doesn‘t have one. Can you confirm that?

[Sysyphus]

The previous version was a WinCE based machine that did have an optical drive... can’t remember if it was a DVD or just CD... the new android based one does not have a drive, but it still comes in the same 5 1/4 inch computer CD drive type case with slot and buttons. Would have made life a lot easier if it had been in a smaller box that didn’t take up nearly all the glove box... but it does run very warm so probably needs that much space for airflow