Bluefusion Bftak Hands-Free Bluetooth Integration for Select Toyota Vehicles

First let me say that this is a product I have been searching for for years. I purchased my 2007 Avalon in November of 2006 fully loaded - not thinking for a minute that it would not have Bluetooth. It took me a month of reading manuals and checking forums to accept that fact that a fully loaded Avalon could come without Bluetooth - especially when Camrys and Corollas were available with them. The very next year model they included Bluetooth in. To make matters worse, there was no way to retrofit the Bluetooth for the newer model Avalon into the 2007 model.Back then the only good option was the Parrot Bluetooth devices. I did not like these devices as they required separate hardware to make calls which had to be installed close to the dash and you had to reach over to make/answer calls. Also many of these devices would send sound only to the front two speakers and use their own internal processors to play music files. The integration with the factory system was poor to put it mildly.The Bluefusion BFTAK device provides the best integration possible. You can use the factory mounted steering wheel controls to place and disconnect calls and play music and skip tracks etc. I was hoping to somehow utilize the factory mounted microphone (used for voice commands) but its a small compromise IMHO to install and use the supplied microphone. If there is a Bluetooth system that works better with the 2007 Avalon with JBL and Navigation - I have not heard of it.I purchased this item from 'Open Box Sales' for the ridiculous sum of $16.64 with processing and free shipping via Amazon prime. Since I could not find any reviews that specifically mentioned my car model I called Scosche to confirm if the item was compatible and if the sound would play from all speakers. They did not hassle me (like Apple support does) at all and simply answered my questions. Inconclusive responses for both questions - the support person would not guarantee that the device was compatible with my car model and was not sure if music would play from all speakers. He advised that should I chose to buy the product from their website (for $300) I had the option to return no questions asked, if it dint work. I decided that $16.64 was less risky (cos I'm terrible at returning stuff.)Got the product a couple of days back and I decided that I would try to install it myself. YouTube was my best friend here. I found videos on how to dismantle the dashboard and remove my sound system. Tools used were a blunt plastic spatula, needle nose pliers, and a size 10 socket wrench with a 6 inch long shaft. I was prepared with my electric drill and tool kit in case I needed it but didn’t need anything else. Oh - I forgot to mention - flashlight cos I was doing this after dark in my drive way (it was 7f which was really the only pain factor.) Even the flashlight was not really necessary cos I used the cars interior lights to see what I was doing most of the time. Note on removing the dash - the buttons on the right side of the console where the music system is located do not come off with the panel. The buttons on the left side do come off but are connected with a set of cables that need to be removed. Another cable that needs to be disconnected is the hazard button. Then the front panel comes free. I mention this as I did not find any video that shows how to remove these. They are very easy to remove. Difficulty level on a scale from 1 to 10, I would rank this install at 2 - meaning it is really easy. I've read that people charge upwards of $200 for these installs. Since I've done it once, I know that this can be done in literally 30 minutes (probably less if I get a bit more practice.)OK - now for the negatives. I have it paired with my HTC One - so my review is based on paring with this phone.1) The display on the screen (the factory installed LCD in the Avalon) shows me some channel information that I don’t completely understand. Right now it shows CH0038 and it started at CH0001. The accompanying documentation does not describe this well enough.2) The sound quality of music played from the phone is somewhat muted/muffled. Some detail is lost. I had to turn up the treble a little to get some clarity. I am crazy about good sound so I could be nitpicking.3) This isn’t really a negative - in pictures of the product the Bluefusion device has an oval shaped window that appears to glow blue. The product I received has an oval shaped window but no blue glow coming from it.4) There is no way to affix the device to a spot in your car. My device is behind the music system out of sight - but I worry that it may come lose. A double-sided tape could have solved that problem but I didn’t think of it while installing it last night and am too lazy to open up the dash again to apply the double-sided tape.5) I wish it also incorporated an AUX in port – it does not.For me, this was a completely worthwhile investment. If I had to pay the Scosche suggested price and pay someone to install (approx. total $500) I would expect there to be no loss in sound quality whatsoever. This is by far the best $16.64 I have ever spent. Did I mention that the product was unopened and in its original bubble pack?

The streaming function works very well and the sound level from the device can be adjusted. It lacks a pause button/command which I have on the go groove external device and used frequently. The integration with the steering wheel controls is worth the loss of the "pause". The hands free calling profile works but the microphone does not seem to pick up as well as others I have tried. But it does work and I am not a high use phone guy, so it loses one star for mic level loss. I generally keep calls short. Pairing was easy and usually it re-pairs automatically and if it doesn't the profile is still in the phone and only takes 2 taps to re-connect. It is an improvement on the BT dongle I had hanging from the power port and velcro'd to the dash! It displays the call numbers on the radio display, has last number redial (incoming and outgoing) and says it will accept voice dial commands (phone dependant). I haven't tried that yet. I will update if I find there are any severe issues. The device is worth the $75 or so I paid as the external units run about $30-60.Mine is installed in a 2010 Toyota Tacoma doublecab with the factory 6 disc, 6speaker, sat/ready, non-nav, non-jbl radio. I stream music from an android phone with the equalizer app installed and the sound is very good, not as good as a cd, but as good or better than fm reception.I have to say the MSRP for this device was way out of line. I had decided NOT to purchase the unit until I found this seller with a price that was more reasonable. At MSRP one might be better off replacing the factory stereo with a bluetooth enabled unit. Thanks ArchetecturalDan for better pricing and fast shipment....10/21/12 Update.The device has an occasional problem where the link to the phone doesn't release. The phone will be unaffected but you must wait it out before the two can pair again (1-3 minute's). As i mentioned before the hands free mic must be quite close for decent pick-up, I relocated it to the visor with some velcro and it is improved.I still have to say there is no way this device would be worth the msrp of nearly $300 plus install! Not with the pairing glitch and weak mic. The gogroove bt dongle had no such issues BUT it did dangle from the power port. This is still worth the discounted price for integration with the steering wheel controls and hidden installation. Voice dialing works, but you first have to scroll through a couple menu's on the radio display to get to the voice prompt.

I was dubious about this, especially at the low price I found it, but the device came to me in a timely manner, and was complete. I had watched a video tutorial online before purchasing the device, and felt fairly confident, if a little nervous, but installation was no problem at all. It only took about 30 minutes to install and pair my phone, and it probably would have gone quicker if I had the proper tool for removing the dash panels... The only drawback I've found so far, and I'm not sure if it is my phone or the Bluefusion, but a couple of times the phone has stopped automatically connecting to the device when it is turned on. In those two instances, all I've had to do is delete the device from my Bluetooth settings and re-pair the phone. It's been working for over a month now without problem since the last time I had to re-pair (knock wood ;-)...)I would definitely recommend this to anyone who desires a Bluetooth solution that doesn't involve using an FM transmitter.