As the title says - I've managed to remove the old stereo, but my new Blaupunkt Los Angeles won't fit in the aperature as my new headunit is marginally too big - Do I have to cut the main silver surround??
The car is a new shape blob eye. Please help!!

You shouldn't have to cut it, it may be removable.

I wouldn't advise cutting it off. Speak to blaupunkt and get their advice - tell them its for a japanese car, as they'll be aware of the problem and should be able to suggest a solution.

Thanks I'll give that a go!!

I had a Blaupunkt Bremen - doesn't fit any which way I'm afraid. I wouldn't cut the surround.

Ive just fitted a Blaupunkt Woodstock and its a bit of a tight fit but no cutting required. Have you removed the surround bit from the headunit?

Tony

No I haven't, but even the rear of the unit won't go through the opening...

Jamesemt

The rear of the head unit is bigger than the opening in the dash. Try removing the surround from the headunit.
Heresa link to some pictures of my headunit fitted. Not sure if it will help you though.

Tony

Hang on, hang on!!!!! You don't fit the unit through the hole, you remove the whole of the trim!

And you need to remove the surrounding frame on the unit itself.

See the faq for installation instructions - http://www.chiark.com/scooby/icetoc.asp

Cheers,
Nick.

Yeah I've worked that out - don't know if I even can on the Blaupunkt Los Angeles - it doesn't look likely...

Which Los Angeles model is it? Is it the MP71 or MP72 or one of the earlier ones?

It's the MP72 - The front comes off but its still too wide. The local ICE shop didn't want to know - what do I do?? It is only a couple of mm too big - the front WILL push through the hole, but the tabs bend inwards as it too much of a tight fit.
My options are:
Swap head unit with scoobyneter (unlikely??!!??)
Cut front silver face (doesn't have to be perfect as the stereo surround would cover any dodgy cut marks)
Errr put the original factory unit back in (please, god no!!).
I can't phone Blaupunkt as they are closed til the 5th...

Any ideas greatly appreciated!!

Cheers

Can u post pics of the problem, as I can't visualise it at the moment :D

Lemme see if I get this right. You have taken the silver surround panel off, have fitted the double DIN brackets to the new headunit plus whatever else you are using to fill the extra space, have fitted the headunit with brackets back in to the car and now are trying to replace the silver surround. The surround panel is not wide enough to accomodate the front of the new headunit, even with the HU trim removed.

What are the 'tabs' that you mention? I can see two ways

1. remove the trim around the headunit. If it's anything like my old Blaupunkt this will be imposssible.

2. Cut the silver surround. As the surround is fitted AFTER the install of the HU, any holes you cut will still be visible as far as I can make out.

I'm sure you should be able to sort this, I've got a Los Angeles in my 03, and fitted it using chiarks excellent instructions.
You have to remove the collar from the unit but then it fitted fine.

OK the collar (the bit which surrounds the removable face plate) IS removeable. It fastens to the HU by two 'tabs' which have holes in which then screw the collar to the HU. The tabs are on either end of the collar and are positioned so that when I push the collar against the heater control panel silver surround thingy they screw to the headunit (hence making the stereo 'fit' into the hole). The problem is that as the stereo is designed for a European car, the tabs are too close together - the heater control panel (DIN panel) hole is slightly too narrow (the tabs can be forced through but result in a slight bend as the fit is too snug).

Hope this clears it up!!

Defo shouldn't be a problem. I've had the Los Angeles MP72 in my 02 for well over a year, and the Dash moulding is the same for the 02 as the 03, just a different colour. You do have to remove the bezel from around the facia, mount the unit with the trim removed, and replace the trim. It will need some careful adjustment to precent the motorised front door just brushing the trim and slowing itself down, but that was the only issue I had.

There are some blaupunkts which don't fit as the bezel is built into the facia panel. I can't remember the model names off-hand, but I know I ruled out their skyline tape / in dash CD changer package as it wouldn't fit. Fortunate, as I'm sure MP3 is much more useful than tape anyway. ;)

As an additional thought - I think I may have removed the spring loaded bit from the side of the head unit (next to the screws required to remove the bezel). These are only necessary if you're mounting the stereo into a blaupunkt "cage". Removing these might give you the clearance? I'm assuming you aren't trying to use the mounting cage that came with the HU - if so, that's probably the problem.

nah i'm not using the Blaupunkt cage lol!!
My bezel or 'collar' seems a bit big - the mounting lugs bend when i try and push it through from the front??This means that I can't screw the unit together.

You shouldn't be refitting the bezel at all, if you mean the same bit as I do. Don't suppose you could post pics showing where the problem is - do that, and I'll probably be able to give you an answer.

I did post some pics up of mine in the car a while back, see here That might help?

Hades - the picture doesn't display. By 'bezel' I mean the silver bit around the edge of the headunit - the 'frame' for the motorised front panel - if you are telling me I don't need to fit it, then I am going to look very daft :o

I can see the pic and it does look as if Hades hasn't fitted the surround at all....

Ive had a mp72 fitted in my 03 wrx and you do not use the silver coloured plastic bezel or the half length metal cage supplied by blaupunkt, remove both of those and it was a good fit.

Sorry m8, you might just look very daft ;) You don't fit the "frame", only the bits that are motorised.

My picture displayed OK for me, but I'll see if I can find a copy and mail it to you (assuming you've got email addy in your profile?)

James - YHM

Cheers - guess I'm looking very daft :D

Could you mail me the piccie too?? I was looking at a Woodstock DAB head unit but a little wary about the above concerns...
Many thanks!
:)

Yes the unit does fit - however the front panel sticks out a little...shame the front bezel/collar/thingy doesn't fit - it would make it look so much neater...

Stuart, YHM also.