Hello all!
I'm a new P38 owner (4.6 vogue year 2000) in White Gold.
Noisy loud clicking noise when I bought it, thought it may be the alternator but discovered a close to disintegrated tensioner pully. Fitted a new n and quietness rules.

Too quiet, head unit wasn't functioning, Alpine unit wouldn't allow me past the 'code' screen to input the code. I didn't want to get a modern head unit but wanted bluetooth and media player connectivity so bought a nice little unit from Grom Audio, plug n play Bluetooth that plugs where the CD multi changer usually plugs in so now have Bluetooth music streaming from my phone and steering wheel controls on a replacement original Alpine head unit. Next to repair the sub speakers... new foam surrounds arriving soon.

Also done a little leather restoration.

Really pleased with the new bus!!
Grom bluetooth thing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18VP9CMZ_caexgR15QVPi5nYgUXaeheP-/view?usp=drivesdk

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18ZXfoJ8hm3NFSexc6PMKS7S4txkCEJj6/view?usp=drivesdk

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18_5jQN8ULbfdm_nXlfn5coGB8PdXb1xE/view?usp=drivesdk

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18a_692MdFuRiHMZ0Qm31WieAezLvwUnm/view?usp=drivesdk

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18arMTOEv1tIb5OEvjrP_K2AVt9mwlz2P/view?usp=drivesdk

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18dYQ2mG68nULq_enZwQ64HBvMG6tXs8X/view?usp=drivesdk

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18iTgZl4AEpR2gk-aF_iH4Wlq-wr2vsnl/view?usp=drivesdk

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18jG4NVGV8wvO4l0xcv6De6R03n6l-oKx/view?usp=drivesdk

Blimey that was quick, welcome, hopefully you'll find a much friendlier, helpful bunch on here.

Your pics are still set to private though......

Hopefully rectified!

Yup, we can see the pics now by clicking on the links. Not quite sure how you have done it but I wasn't able to edit the post so the pictures appear in the post though. I would normally just right click the picture to get a direct link but for some reason right click does nothing on yours. This https://rangerovers.pub/topic/2304-hosting-your-images-on-google-drive is a way of doing it using Google Drive, although most of us use www.imgur.com to host pictures then post, see https://rangerovers.pub/topic/1021-inserting-an-image-from-imgur (now made into a sticky as it seems many people have problems with this). It doesn't matter what hosting you use as long as the link to the picture ends in .jpg.

However, what did you use on the seats? That looks to be a really good job.

I see you have connected a GROM BT3 unit but do you have full functionality? I had trouble with mine (mine would not run playlists and a couple of other functions) and GROM informed that the latest GROM BT3 firmware does not provide full functionality for the old Alpine unit in the P38. The firmware needs downgrading to previous version BMWv21 available on their web site. Downloaded it, rename it as per the instructions and load on a microSD card in order to downgrade the GROM unit. This involves unplugging the RVR cable, removing the GROM circuit board from its housing and inserting the microSD card into the slot on the circuit board, reconnecting the RVR cable to the bare board and waiting for some flashing lights on the board to then go steady and, voila, it's done.

Oh, I don't think there are any issues with it.
I stream through Amazon music and don't tend to put playlists together..
It all seems to work fine.

If you are just connecting via Bluetooth then probably OK. I did not have Bluetooth connection problems but did have direct wired connection issues to MP3 players and phone . . . but they are ‘elderly’ units and GROM did state that the firmware was continuously updated to work with latest iPhones and the like.

Ah, I am straight from android, Samsung A52s via Bluetooth.
I don't have an mp3 player so will be unlikely to have anything hard wired in to the unit.

That's a great job on the seats!! Welcome :D

What's the deal with a GROM BT3 unit in a P38? The documents on their website only state support for 2002-2004 Range Rovers with a note that some earlier models may work so to contact them. I emailed them but have had no reply.

I use a £10 gadget that plugs in the cigar lighter, connects by Bluetooth & transmits on a relatively free frequency (108.00 MHz) which is OK but a bit susceptible to interference. I would prefer a proper Bluetooth unit that plugs into the radio. I have a 2001 Vogue with SatNav & CD-changer.

See https://rangerovers.pub/topic/287-grom-bt3-in-alpine-system

The ‘deal’ with the GROM BT3 unit is that the latest firmware it ships with does not support the full functions with the Alpine HU and depending on the external phone cum MP3 player being used as it is, unsurprisingly, set up for much newer vehicles and HUs.

The basic Bluetooth worked fine for phone and streaming music. However, it would not provide the full functions as advertised - the HU controls and the steering wheel controls would not work for selecting and running playlists and for direct connected MP3 players. I found the support from GROM extremely good and they directed me to download and install a previous firmware version (see my previous post above). With this ‘downgraded’ firmware installed the unit works flawlessly with all functions and controls available and the sound quality is astonishingly good. There is no interference and the SatNav functionality is unaffected.

If it all works I wonder why GROM don't list their BT3 unit as working with a P38 emulating the CD changer? Their market for Bluetooth add-on units must be diminishing as modern cars have Bluetooth built in. Still at least there is an add-on Bluetooth unit available for the P38. My 2007 Jaguar S-type has built-in Bluetooth for connecting a phone but only for making phone calls & no add-on Bluetooth units are available from GROM or any other company so I have no option except to use a £10 device that plugs into the cigar lighter.

GROM don’t advertise it for the P38 as the BT3 unit they sell is a standard unit (same firmware) covering a range of more modern vehicles. It will work with a change of firmware but the market for P38s is tiny so not worth their while having a specific variant for it.

The firmware change is trivial (but you do need a MicroSD card) and, when installed, and with the BT3 unit plugged into the ‘blue’ ISO connector in place of the CD player it works extremely well. GROM responded to my emails very quickly and I just told them what I wanted to connect to the BT3 unit and they pointed me at the correct version of firmware and how to download and install it.

You will lose the CD player unless, like myself, you rig up a changeover switch in order to select the CD or GROM unit! I have also made use of the USB connection to the BT3 unit in order to provide a handy charging point for phone, MP3 player etc.