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!

[Sysyphus]

I typed up a big reply to this the other day then the forum software ate it


I upgraded from the old BLP-990 to the A in May. It's a quantum leap improvement but still a very long way short of perfect.

I have the high-performance audio so the BLP goes thru the existing system as the AUX input. You can still use the existing radio, Bluetooth phone and CD changer (although ejecting CDs is a major project once you have the screen in place)

Install is more or less the same as the original... for the C70 you actually have to remove the back seat(!) to remove the rear cupholders so you can slide the center console back to can get to the two screws at the base of the waterfall. Although there is no disc unit in it anymore the main unit is still a CD burner box. The lead from main unit to the display is only just long enough... would be so much easier is it was a couple of inches longer.

Most irritating thing remains the fact that the Volume knob/power button operates on both the BLP unit and the factory system. If you use the power button to turn things off, the BLP unit will start up again automatically when the ignition is turned on, but the factory unit stays off...then when you push the power button the BLP shuts off and the factory unit starts up. Only resolution is to shut the car off and start again. Also the volume controls both the output level of the BLP unit AND the amplification of the factory unit,so there's only about a quarter turn between can't hear a thing and blowing the windows out.

There's an awful lot of digital processing going on when playng music... the BLP unit and the Volvo both have volume adjustments based on road speed... I had to turn everything off in the BLP unit to avoid some very tinny sound.

The supplied software is very sucky... I've messed around with a few loaders and now settled with one called Car Web Guru... I'm still auditioning music players: haven't found one that does everything I want.

I've never managed to get the steering wheel controls to work with it.

I paid for the OBD and Carplay adapters. Both were "backordered" when my unit shipped. OBD arrived over a month later, it was one of those blue ELM327 clones from China that you can buy on eBay for less than a fiver. Within seconds of me inserting it and turning on the ignition the dash lit up like a Christmas tree with all kinds of warnings in the DIM display, and there was a strong smell of burning plastic. I shut the ignition and removed the dongle and thankfully the car returned to normal. Bluepower refunded the price I had paid for the dongle but I still ended up a little out of pocket after paypal fees and exchange rates.

The carplay dongle arrived even later... that did seem to work well at first, although on my first long trip with it it seems to cut out after about an hour or so. Think it might be a thermal issue.

Even more annoying is using my iPhone hotspot I have to go through a bunch of hoops resetting the BLP wifi and stopping/restarting my hotspot every time I leave and re-enter the car. I'm led to believe that may be an Apple issue rather than a problem with the unit, but it certainly doesn't improve my feelings about it.

Worse than that, just recently, intermittently, the unit seems to arbitrarily just shut it's wifi connection off altogether. I turn it back on and it shuts off again after a few seconds. Bluepower were unable to assist beyond offering to send a replacement... the issue went away for a bit so I declined for the time being since I had no desire to reinstall all over again in the height of summer while it's 90F (30C) in my garage.

The issue is back again now so I might have to take them up on that offer.

All in all I am going to soldier on with it, since it is a big improvement on just about anything else available... it would be nice to think BluePower might actually get around to sending out some upgrades one of these days, but given their track record I'm certainly not going to hold my breath waiting

[spacenase]

Originally Posted by Sysyphus

Even more annoying is using my iPhone hotspot I have to go through a bunch of hoops resetting the BLP wifi and stopping/restarting my hotspot every time I leave and re-enter the car. I'm led to believe that may be an Apple issue rather than a problem with the unit, but it certainly doesn't improve my feelings about it.

Thanks for your review, in a way it's good to know it's not just me that is having some issues.

I'm about to reinstall my CD unit to get my reversing sensors back, but I've decided to connect it to a couple of small speakers to keep it separate. I suspected there would be issues with the physical controls working both units, hopefully the separate speakers will minimise the problem for me.

I had similar wi-fi issues with my iPhone (not just on my Volvo) and overcame the problem by buying one of the wi-fi/4G USB sticks. It needs an adapter to prevent the BLP from making a data connection to it over USB (it doesn't like this for some reason), but it does work reliably. I bought a SIM card with 6GB data included which lasts 12 months, only £17 on eBay, so a cheap way to get 12 months of data.

I haven't had any problems getting my steering controls working or seen the wi-fi shut off yet, so maybe a replacement unit will fix that for you too. I hope you get your main issues resolved.