I've got an MY97 with the standard dreadful radio-cassette unit crackling away in the dashboard. I would really like to fit an MP3 CD player, and have seen various very good deals on line (MCS-Direct sell cheap units), but have reservations on fitting the unit myself.

I would like some advice, help etc. on how easy this is to do, what extra fitments are required, and what I need to watch out for? E.g. will I need to disconnect the battery? Will the alarm hinder the installation etc?

Any advice would be appreciated greatly!

Cheers,

Duck.

 

It should be a case of unplug old one and plug in the new one (all at the ISO connector)...

If u are that concerned best of getting a local ICE shop to do it - most charge around £30, it is a lot for not a lot of work, but its peace of mind aswell. If you bought the unit from a local shop then they may fit it for free , so taking into account postage and fitting costs it may be better for your wallett to go local rather than WWW.

 

Cheers for that - I take it that the connectors behind the units are no longer the mass of tangled wires, like I had to contend with in my really old X-reg MG Metro?

If it's no more hassle than say fitting a CD ROM drive to a PC, then I'll give it a go.

 

Everything should be on an ISO Connector block which has all wires in it from the car loom ready to be plugged into the Stereo loom, really easy just - and def not a mass of bullet connectors and black tape like it used to be... that is unless someone has been chopping before u got the car, but unlikely if standard stereo.

 

If you're interested in maintaining friendlier relations with your local ICE shop you could ask them to pricematch the MCS stuff.

I tried this and no, they wouldn't pricematch exactly but I did get about £40 off and that was for the unit fitted.

Depends if you want to go to one place if it stops working or have to get into a bun fight between the supplier and the installer too.

Vindaloo.

 

What about the actual physical casing? Do they all fit the same "hole" now?

(I'm a terrible worrier aren't I? )

 

So long as Single DIN size which its going to be i'd expect you will be fine.

The cage that hold it in will be different tho.

[Edited by goonasuk - 6/17/2003 4:15:24 PM]

 

Cheers - hopefully I'll have no problems.

Duck.

 

i just bought an alpine 9807
i had to buy a harness for the iso cost tenner
it plugs in2 iso then in2 original block,,,,
easy job
butttttttttttttttttttttttt
its a high powered unit and i had to run the live to the battery which i got a m8 to do cuz it wouldnt reach lol
but sorted now and sounds gr8

daz

 

if you want to fit one properly do as follows if its an import you will need a unit capable of being bolted in the best units for this fitment with decent sound quality are kenwood if its a uk spec then you can fit any din size cd/mp3 also scoobys arnt iso plugged so if you go to your nearest hi fi specialist they can supply a wiring adaptor for £10 the fitting is really easy also if its a bolt in type you will need four screws max 8mm in length to hold your stereo to the original brackets also the facia surround must be able to come away as bolt in units sit back about 10mm further than uk spec

p.s also kenwood mp3 players play any format of mp3


loosecannon

 

Can anyone tell me what the part number is, for this ISO connector thing please? And is it likely to be available from Halfords / Motor World?

I've ordered a Sony unit, btw. Cheap and hopefully cheerful.

Cheers,

Duck.

 

the ISO Connector will be available from any local ICE shop

 

Cheers for the help peoples... It fitted in about 30 mins - 20 of those were taken up getting the other stereo out.

However, I have one last issue.

The old unit had an Earth wire (I assume - was connected to the case of the unit), but the new system has no such connection, or mentions any word of it in the installation instructions.

I basically tucked the wire away with the rest of the "redundant" ones.

The unit works fine (so far).

Should I be concerned about not earthing the unit, or does the aerial connection do that for me?

Thanks in advance,

Duck :<>