How can I connect my old MP3 player through the stock Harley stereo? I have a 2012 Ultra. Connecting a 3.5mm plug wire to it won't work.

 

Should work.
Been doin it for years. Plug it in , select aux if it hasn’t already defaulted, turn volume up on device and then control it with bikes volume.
Btw I’d post this in the audio section, you’ll get more responses.
Ride safe

 

 

why won't it work? your head unit is the same as mine, and i have my gps routed that way. get turn by turn directions, and use the memory card on the gps for tunes.

 

If it isn't working it is possible you have something faulty, hopefully just a cable. If you have a friend with an MP3 try theirs on your bike. Hopefully you will get it figured it out on the cheap.

Just remembered I had a cable that went bad on me once. I was using an el cheapo cable and it ultimately pinched in the door of my fairing box lid. Grabbed one (heavy duty) from a dealership and I was good to go. Price was pretty cheap as well, considering it was from a dealership.

 

Another great option is getting a cheap BlueTooth adapter and plugging that into the aux port. I use one of those with my phone and it works great

 

These do work well. I used one for a while before switching out the radio. I did have Iron Cross radio tell me that even the smallest adapter will crack the circuit board over time though.

 

As others have said, the cable into the aux port should be the easiest way with best sound quality. If for some reason that isn't working, I can think of a couple other options:

1) blue tooth receiver plugged into aux port on head unit, send music to that via BT on mp3 player. However, if aux cable isn't working due to problem with aux port on the bike, this isn't going to help. Also assumes you have BT on your 'old' mp3 player.

2) FM transmitter plugged into MP3 player. I haven't used one of these in many years, they used to be ok but not great. But it will bypass the aux line in on the bike if that has an issue.

Good luck...

 

I have noticed on my 07 Ultra that if I plug in the device before turning on the ignition, it sometimes won't work, not sure that is the issue though. Try turning it all on and then plug it in. If that doesn't work I would guess the port on the radio is messed up. Bluetooth would be an option but if that port is messed up, won't work either.

 

Hogtunes has a bluetooth device that you can add and it works great with you phone to stream music...I have this and love it.