Volvo 480 Club Europe

Want a decent, hardwired handsfree car kit - but don;t want to pay the installation costs!

Anybody got any suggestions?
I'm not afraid of creative soldering/electronics etc and I have a Nokia with the new pop-port handsfree connector on the bottom.

Hmm, I installed a bluetooth set on the S40. I'd imagine it's easier on the 480 as I always found it easier to take apart. Basically find a mount for control box, under all the centre dash board is easy to access from the carpet that comes up, and has options for securly mounting the box. Run wires up to Stereo, run microphone up the A frame generally through or behind the fusebox on the way, and place it somewhere nice. I installed mine on the interior light pannel, however this is at the front on the S40, so I'm not sure where would be good on a 480. I guess a gooseneck Microphone would be better, placed on the sun visor, usually this is an additional cost a basic one comes with kits.

If you have a hard wired system instead of bluetooth, you also need to mount the cradle and run cables through for this, but no major job once you've found a home for the actual cradle. Again you may want to install an antenna booster, I've never found it necissary really with mine. Only problem I get is the Mic isn't in the best position and sometimes people have problems hearing me, that said I get crystal clear sound myseld. Most I needed was to cut/crimp a few wires with bullet connectors, no soldering involved or needed. About an hour to get it in tidy should do it. Good luck.

Thanks for the help - - have now got half way through a solution. Murdered a second-hand bluetooth headset (the ones you see people walkin around talkin to themselves on) - and as part of the grand summer ICE install - have got it powered along with the phone via a murdered in-car charger. Just got to get the mic fitted and a small amp to drive the Tweeter from the new door speakers and mute the head unit - I reckon that'll be a good-un then!!
Mic location is interesting - but sun visor seems best bet!

As you don't seems to be willing to change your head-unit it won't help but, you should consider that more and more radio companies are now providing products with integrated bluetooth connectivity for phone usage.

There is an example over here