Finally got the TV Headunit fitted! :-D

[kylewc]

I started looking on here a while ago for advice on how to fit a headunit to replace the Bose Concert system. Without much luck i decided to give it ago and just see how i'd get on.

I ordered 2 things from Car Audio Direct - Wiring Adaptor and Facia Kit. They both turned out to be the wrong ones!

The wiring adaptor kit has two bits; ISO extension and Pre-out converter. i only needed to use one (the bit that converts the headunit preouts to the Bose amps). There should be two sets of pre-outs (front and rear) the ones CAD sent only had rear pre-outs with the fronts running off the headunit amp - USELESS! The facia adaptor they sent was also wrong - even tho the box it came in was labelled for an A4 1999-2001 (mine is 2000). it turns out the right one for my car is the Autoleads FP-05-03 just in case anyone else is going thru the same thing. I dont think this one looks too bad even though i was warned that they do look really crap.

So apart from that, the fitting was pretty easy - brain was hidden away, and now i have my Navi, DVD doobrywhatsit all in one.

So some pics:

Radio Mode:


Dials:


Screen Rolled In:


It was straight forward in the end - as long as you get the right parts in the first place. Drop me a line if you need any help/want any advice on getting an aftermarket unit into your car. will do the best i can to help out.

Kyle

[Jez]

Looks good

What info can be displayed on the dials?

[GrahamS4]

Do have BOSE?

[kylewc]

Yeah, had the BOSE Concert system before - so all i had to get was the right Pre-Out converter - still using the Bose amps etc. But now considering puttting in a 12" sub, ive got 3 kicking about, and a JL Audio 500/1 amp which is awesome - just need to make it easy to pull out the installation in casethe need arise.

The dials can do:
Speed (GPS)
Direction (Compass)
Accel (Long and Lat)
Clock
Batt Voltage
Cant remember the others off the top of my head

Need to work out a way of zeroing the sensor though, i got the brain as flat as possible but G Long reads 0.3G when its still... Guess its a minor point tho...

But one of the good points is that it tells you traffic reports and plots them on the map - if you are on a route and traffic appears it can divert you around it. Has saved me hours on the M40 by going round an accident before!

[s4gilly]

How does the new unit sound going through the bose amp?

I was thinking of upgrading my head unit but wasnt sure if there would be much of a difference in sound.

Also I have a 1999 facelift so any idea what wiring i should use?

[ashleyadam]

Great work love the dials

[kylewc]

the sound hasnt really changed much; meaning there is no noticable improvement/loss. It was the functionality if the unit that i wanted.

You need:
1) pre-out adaptor - one with four pre-outs (front pair and rear pair) car audio direct sent me the wrong one (got from Auto Audio in Park Royal)
2) facia adaptor - i needed Autoleads FP-05-03 for my Bose Concert headunit (car audio diret also sent me the wrong one got from Sextons in Wandsworth)
3) FM aerial adaptor - got from halfords was 3.99 they should bge able to help (310997 was the number on the receipt if it helps)

That should be all you need. I am assuming that your headunit has front and rear pre-outs as it will need them (Guess you could use a Y splitter if it doesnt to replicate the output to both front and rear outputs but you will loose the fader)

hope that helps

[s4gilly]

Cheers, will prob leave standard concert unit in if there is no real increase in sound quality.

[s4-99]

I'm currently thinking of upgrading my head unit. I have just had an Amp & Sub fitted and changed the speaker's in the rear shelf for upgraded ones with tweeters and it sounds nice, but lacks the clarity inside the car to match the B-Line. I also have a Phatnoise fitted at the moment too. I'm going to upgrade the front door speaker's for component speaker's also, but leave the rear door's as they are.....

Anyway my dilema is: Do i keep the original bose head unit and 20gb Phatnoise, or do i upgrade to an Alpine or pioneer Dvd unit with ipod connection. Or do i just upgrade to a Alpine Or Pioneer Mp3 unit with ipod connection and sell my Phatnoise???? It's been on my mind for a few days now and i cant make a decision

I think to myself how often would i watch a dvd in my car, and my answer to myself is: "well i wont know unless i try one" lol..... I just keep going round in circles. I think i definately want to upgrade but to what who know's.....

Any opinions or experiences would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[Russ,greys4]

T.V in a car! for me dont c the point, have changed all the audio in my car. got 2 subs, 2 amps, components in the front ect. Alpine head unit is v.good sounds like theres an orchestra in my S4.......

[s4-99]

Russ,

Did you keep your original rear door speakers and are you still running your bose amp on the rear speaker's?

[Russ,greys4]

Did you keep your original rear door speakers and are you still running your bose amp on the rear speaker's

no mate BOSE amp gone! all speakers run from ALPINE V12 "gold". my car a saloon, no speakers in the rear doors! VERY loud and cristal clear! hard 2 explain but sounds like my stereo in my house!

[s4-99]

It seems like this might be the plan...... Alpine head unit with Ipod connector. It will run the the front component speaker's. My bose amp stays to run the rear door and upgraded rear shelf speaker's. My sub runs on it's own amp.

I thought a little more about the dvd head unit, and i dont really think i would be sitting in the car watching a movie all that often when i have a big TV at home to watch movies on....hmmmm!!! Would it just be a novelty thing that would wear off after a couple of times???

If anybody else has dvd in their car, how often do you use it?

[h8cak]

I have a pioneer dvd player in my s4 and the mrs watches films all the time when we go on trips. Also very good for traffic jams and when your waiting for ferrys ect. Would not swap for anything. You will find that only people who havant got one will say bad things about them. Prob because they arnt alloud to buy one!!

[s4-99]

I have a pioneer dvd player in my s4 and the mrs watches films all the time when we go on trips. Also very good for traffic jams and when your waiting for ferrys ect. Would not swap for anything. You will find that only people who havant got one will say bad things about them. Prob because they arnt alloud to buy one!!

Does your dvd player play Mp3 discs and what would you say the sound quality is like? Now i cant make my mind up again...lol. You say the mrs watches films all the time. How often do you actually watch a movie in your car. Do you ever pull up anywhere to watch a film or do you just wait until your in a traffic jam etc...

Decisions decisions