I'm debating on what to do with the stereo and surround and wanted people's opinions.

 

A bit of background to why it looks as it does. Basically the previous owner had the aircon in the radio surround using several buttons. The display was in the square bit too. I rewired stuff back to the good old pods. But that's left holes and a very messy stereo surround.

 

The setup is a stereo and DVD/Sat nav screen in the normal place, then there's the DVD/SatNav unit in the centre console.

 

If I change the stereo, then I possibly lose or have to change the centre console. So I'm after opinions on what I could/ should do.

 

What I'm toying with is either:

-keep the existing units which seems pretty decent, but very yesteryear. Would need repositioning in the surround or just the surround fixing.

 

-change to something more modern. Most likely a double din that has build in dvd and satnav. Not sure what to then do with the centre console, possibly put a single din size speaker in it.

 

-Ipad install in the normal place that stereos go and have the air vents back. I could then use the centre console to house a normal stereo for CD's and could run the sound through the stereo via a back plug or something.

 

Any thoughts would be awesome.

Edited April 19, 20187 yr by bird

I'd rip it out and start again with a double DIN fascia if you wanted to go that route. Why is there a screen and a separate single din audio? What's that under the arm rest? Please don't tell me that's another head unit? :lol:

I'd rip it out and start again with a double DIN fascia if you wanted to go that route. Why is there a screen and a separate single din audio? What's that under the arm rest? Please don't tell me that's another head unit? :lol:

 

Didn't you reard this bit haha....

The setup is a stereo and DVD/Sat nav screen in the normal place, then there's the DVD/SatNav unit in the centre console.

 

 

So top is the screen for the sat nav and DVD player, which is in the centre armrest bit. The other one in the face is the stereo

Yeah, I get that, but you could get a head unit that does everything, that's what I'm suggesting and they're not that expensive. You'd get back a centre armrest which I'd suggest doing in a leather that matches the seat centres. You'd be able to remove all the unnecessary wiring and smarten up the interior a lot.

.....just don't paint the replacement centre console blue as it looks a bit "Modified-Saxo-from-the-early-2000s"

 

I'd also probably change back the steering column cowls with standard black ones.

I agree with everything Simon has said, you need to introduce back some black or oe.

 

You can get a single din 7 inch screen don't you know that'll give you everything you need.

 

https://www.dynamicsounds.co.uk/pioneer-avh-z7000dab-single-din-motorised-with-dab-carplay-and-android-auto.html?search=pioneer%20single

Edited April 20, 20187 yr by phutumsch
Link added.

As above from me too. I think it would go a long way to classing up the interior. :cool3:

.....and also put original headlights in without the KitKat foil inside them!:)

.....and also put original headlights in without the KitKat foil inside them!:)

 

They're actually metal inside lol

Thanks all.

I have a double din that does everything in the black one. Just wasn't too sure what to do in this one. Kind of like the idea of an apad or maybe app radio. Just not sure I want to spend much on it tbh. This is because im not sure I have the love for this one like I do my black car.

 

I agree on the steering column covers, I might even have some sat somewhere

This is because im not sure I have the love for this one like I do my black car.

 

[video=youtube_share;WpYeekQkAdc]

I agree with everything Simon has said, you need to introduce back some black or oe.

 

You can get a single din 7 inch screen don't you know that'll give you everything you need.

 

https://www.dynamicsounds.co.uk/pioneer-avh-z7000dab-single-din-motorised-with-dab-carplay-and-android-auto.html?search=pioneer%20single

 

As above from me too. I think it would go a long way to classing up the interior. :cool3:

 

I have to agree also.....

 

....And whilst I am not a fan of the multi-gauge thing either, yours do have that OEM+ look, so keep them if you desire. However ditch the current ICE set-up and go for a combined double-DIN unit; reinstate the centre air vents (I could not live without them, personally) and return your centre console to how it was originally.

 

All IMO of course mate....:cool:

I have to agree also.....

 

....And whilst I am not a fan of the multi-gauge thing either, yours do have that OEM+ look, so keep them if you desire. However ditch the current ICE set-up and go for a combined double-DIN unit; reinstate the centre air vents (I could not live without them, personally) and return your centre console to how it was originally.

 

All IMO of course mate....:cool:

 

It's opinions I'm after so thank you. I'm going to give it some real thought.

 

I don't really mind the centre console bit tbh. So I was kind of thinking about keeping it as it is and using it for a single din speaker. Or maybe a normal stereo if I go the iPad route.

They're actually metal inside lol

 

Last time I checked, tin foil was metal..... :lol:

Last time I checked, tin foil was metal..... :lol:

 

:lol: solid metal. In fact, I might even have some spare ones in the loft if you want to update your car pmsl

:lol: solid metal. In fact, I might even have some spare ones in the loft if you want to update your car pmsl

 

I don't wish downgrade and date my Z, but thanks, truly, from the heart of my bottom. :lol:

I agree with the previous comments from others but you may also want to consider a relatively simple ipad setup where you can remove the ipad upon sale of the vehicle rather than spending a lot more and locking value into the vehicle. If it is removable then you have the benefit of an ipad/ tablet to use at home and not just when you are in the car and at the same time making the car less of a target for thieves with a new ice install.

I would expect that a tablet would work better than the functionality of a lot of cheaper head units for satnav, movies etc. and you could ditch the armrest tech and put it back to how it was originally. With the right kind of mounting or housing to sit in it could look really nice.

I agree with the previous comments from others but you may also want to consider a relatively simple ipad setup where you can remove the ipad upon sale of the vehicle rather than spending a lot more and locking value into the vehicle. If it is removable then you have the benefit of an ipad/ tablet to use at home and not just when you are in the car and at the same time making the car less of a target for thieves with a new ice install.

I would expect that a tablet would work better than the functionality of a lot of cheaper head units for satnav, movies etc. and you could ditch the armrest tech and put it back to how it was originally. With the right kind of mounting or housing to sit in it could look really nice.

 

Thanks mate. I was having a look at the fitment/size of a couple of iPad yesterday. So a bigger one mounted upright taking up the majority of the panel or a smaller one side on, meaning I get my heater controls back.

Don’t bother with a tablet install, it’ll just give you a headache! You cannot beat the functionality of a headunit for what is needed in a car. I don’t agree that a headunit is a waste as it’s value locked in the car because if you feel that way, you can just remove it when/if you sell the car. I’d much rather buy a car with an empty stereo slot then buy a car with an “out of place” looking tablet gashed into the dash and have to spend money on replacing the trim!

This is a nexus 7 tablet install. Of the type that Vig (sumshiftyguy) started but didn't complete before he sold the car.

I watched him hack up the inside of the dash mounting area for the modified radio surround to make things fit which

wasn't very pretty. The other thing I noticed was the terrible reflections off the screen from ambient light.

 

The other thing I noticed was the terrible reflections off the screen from ambient light.

 

 

This is exactly half the reason I ditched my touch screen.

I was not offering up the idea to go for a solution that semi or permanently mounts a tablet in the car but something that you can easily take it in and out of the car with you so that you have the tablet or ipad with you to use anytime, something better than just a cradle. You may even be able to keep a stock dash mounting setup behind it without the need to modify the stock setup for a permanent tablet/screen install too much. There are a number of mounting options out there, some use magnetic bezels that you can get a built in looking effect. There are plenty of people doing it these days so you could most likely get a good looking and functioning setup for not a lot of money either.

If you just cant decide go back to the stock setup, and get a single or double din unit. Its a good point that has been raised about the ambient light, and worth looking into, see what others have done to overcome it, it may be as simple as just having some kind of screen cover film. A standard tablet or iPad will give you issues with reflections.

I was not offering up the idea to go for a solution that semi or permanently mounts a tablet in the car but something that you can easily take it in and out of the car with you so that you have the tablet or ipad with you to use anytime, something better than just a cradle. You may even be able to keep a stock dash mounting setup behind it without the need to modify the stock setup for a permanent tablet/screen install too much. There are a number of mounting options out there, some use magnetic bezels that you can get a built in looking effect. There are plenty of people doing it these days so you could most likely get a good looking and functioning setup for not a lot of money either.

If you just cant decide go back to the stock setup, and get a single or double din unit. Its a good point that has been raised about the ambient light, and worth looking into, see what others have done to overcome it, it may be as simple as just having some kind of screen cover film. A standard tablet or iPad will give you issues with reflections.

 

I knew what ya meant :)

 

Tbh, Iive had double din dvd screens in the black car for years and I've never really had too much issue with Glare, and it's not something I'm too concerned about. I want something that looks nice / cool really