Product Review: Blaupunkt Car Multimedia Costa Mesa 900

Some background: I purchased a Honda BR-V VCVT a year back. The car came with a factory-fitted 2-din audio system. More about the car in a separate post, but I will dedicate this write-up to review my impressions on the head-unit (HU).

Multi-media centre usage: I drive around 65 km a day through the heart of Hyderabad and depend extensively on google navigation. On a day-to day basis, I depend on this for best route. On weekends, I use maps to take me to newer places. Because my evening commute is around 90 minutes, I also use this time to talk to friends and relatives. If I am not talking, I like listening to music (my taste varies greatly depending on my mood). 

Requirements: 

1. A HU that I can use google maps in or connect my phone with ease for mirroring (I use iphone). 

2. Bluetooth capability for clear hands-free calls.

3. A good, easy to use music system that I can shuffle and play from.

4. A screen to show reverse camera feed. 

5. Of course this needs to be easy on the pocket

The OEM in BR-V looked very out-dated. I asked this to be exchanged to a touch-screen system. On talking to the accessories manager, I was given an option for an android kit-kat player that Honda typically suggests. This was about Rs. 38,000 including camera, rear audio parking sensors, wiring and installation. This sounded costly to me, but I could not find any better prices online for a reliable make. Understanding that I could load google maps in this, I opted for the one suggested. The biggest mistake I did was not to check the OEM player at all. 

Experience of Honda suggested Chinese System: 

The look of the new HU was good and integrated well with the piano-black finish of the console panel around. Day-2 and the screen was not working. I got this replaced by another brand-new player. Another day passed and this became sluggish. Google maps took around 10 minutes to fire up. Reverse camera sometimes just returned a black screen. No one could hear me on the bluetooth. I could hardly live with it for a week and complained again. The accessories team were patient enough and sent a service engineer to help with the software. Nothing helped and after a month, they replaced this again with another system. This had similar problems. I gave up, asked them to remove the system, fit the OEM and get back to me when they have a better alternative. I was given a screen in IVRM for reverse-camera feed. 

Surprisingly, the OEM system was excellent, except that it was not touch-screen. The bluetooth worked like a breeze. I forgot about the touch-screen. 

After almost an year, I remembered that the Honda guys are due to me for the player. I reached back and the manager (Anil) immediately told me that he had a new arrival: Blaupunkt Costa Mesa 900, sent me images and asked me to check if I would get it fixed. I could not find any review for this particular product but it looked impressive. I got it fixed. 

First Impressions on Blaupunkt System: 

Maps: The system looks very good. The interface is also pretty. One could connect to wifi using hotspot; download google maps from Playstore. Once this is done, the navigation could be routed to make google maps as default. An option for MapMyIndia is also available; a maps SD card can be purchased and put in the slot. 

Telephony: Bluetooth works very good and flawless. The only issue - not with the HU, but with BR-V is that the steering wheel controls do not have option to take the call. The HU telephone answer button on the touch screen is little too small; it takes some time to adjust to its placement and answer the call without taking eye off the road. There is an option though - the steering wheel keys can be re-mapped to whatever is desired. I do use channel toggle button and volume ones; the only one I have is the MODE button, that I mapped for "answer the phone". 

Music: The music system is also par; as good as the OEM, if not a little better. In-bulit music player for USB is also pretty straight forward. An interesting addition is the bluetooth music player option (playing from the internet players from the phone (gaana, wynk, etc.). I found this very useful. There is an FM/ AM radio - each screen can hold 6 FM channels (total of 18 FM and 12 AM pre-sets possible). 

Connections: The system comes with three USB slots; the master USB is added to the USB slot in the car (near the power plug). I had the other two dropped in the glove box, just in case. They do hang as ugly wires in the glove box, though. 

Mirroring: The system comes with PhoneLink. One could mirror android phone (only high quality cables can be used), and on the master USB only. iPhone can be connected as well via PhoneLink (actually easier to connect this than android phone), using same wifi hotspot. The only glitch is - only the screen is mirrored, you cannot control using the HU screen (one way). This is not a big deal for me; I am happy with the google maps capability of HU. I ensured unnecessary settings are switched off that could slow down maps - satellite view, notifications, etc. 

Others: There is also an option to add rear-seat AV modules; I have not tested them though. 

Conclusion: It has only been a couple of days, but the system looks very good and practical at "not so very costly" price point. Do leave your comments on your experience.

Edit: May 2019: The android has been slow, and unusable at time. I understand this is a normal phenomenon with any (or most) Android HUs. I figured out that it is best to use google maps on phone for practical purposes - on long drives, for example, if the car is switched off for a break, there is no memory to take you along; you will need to feed in the destination again.