"Pounded" new stereo in...

[skeebypuffer]

Quite literally. Yesterday the bf and I spent a total of 4 hours installing my new Blaupunkt Key West MP36, and let me tell you we had a rough time getting all the crap to go in! It seemed there were simply too many new wires that we had to install that space was limited severely.

2 hours and 2 cut-up hands later (owie), I managed to manuever the wires into random spaces and got the system in (a.k.a. forcefully shoved) far enough to snap the Beetle trim ring thingy around it. Hooray! And it looks fabulous.

However...(always there's a catch...) the flip down cover is packed in so tight with the beetle adapter trim ring, it doesn't automatically flip down by itself. I have to push the button and pull it down myself, and even then I can't get it to come down all the way.

I was wondering if anyone else with an aftermarket flip-down cd/stereo had this same problem? Should I put the original trim ring for the stereo back on and use the type "B" (second in the pic) beetle adapter trim ring? The one I have on now is "A" (includes the first and third in the picture).

[blaquea8]

I had the same problem with a Sony flip that I had installed. What I ended up doing was not sliding the mounting sleeve all the way up on the deck. I used a few low profile screws that I got at Lowe's and put one screw in on each side to lock the sleeve to the deck. The end result was that when the sleeve was pushed in all the way the deck itself actually stuck out about a half an inch which allowed room for the flip face to clear the trim ring. It took a couple of tries to get it just right but it all worked out in the end and you couldn't really tell that it was installed that way once I was done. It looked as though that was the way it was supposed to be. The one thing you have to look out for is the screw hitting any of the internals - or in my case the screw getting in the way of the motorized face mechanism. Give it a try and see if that works for you as well as it did for me.

[HaloUmpaLumpa]

i did my install with the type b ring b/c my headunit had a nice black trim ring on it. But i have a flipdown face just so i can change cd's but it hasn't interfered with anything and works just fine. if you have to much wires to try and push back there try and cut some of the excess of the adapter that goes to the Head unit. switching over to the type b will probably be the easiest one to try first, but no matter what you're going to have to take it all out again , i had a hard time fitting it all in there when i did the swap too.

[Bob]

I have the same problem with exhibit "A". However the more I use it the more often it will just pop open by itself, so it must just be making it's groove thang or something. As far as the troubles installing and stuff I can give no comment. I had the man with the plan at Visions install it for me, but it only took him 20-25 minutes, so maybe there is a secret.

[skeebypuffer]

Well now I don't feel so alone anymore!

I think at first I'm going to see if mine will "get its groove" eventually, although I'm not entirely sure it will be -it- so much as -me-; just eventually getting used to not being able to reach the number presets or open the hatch well.

Hmm....taking all the trim stuff off seems a slightly daunting task because I got the two pieces stuck together before we got the stereo in and ended up breaking part of the trim piece trying to pull them apart. Whoopsie. Well I guess it doesn't matter anyway since I'm switching them out.

It pains me to think of ripping everything back out and switching the trim plates around, but there is a price for perfection. I just wish someone would've given me a perfection gift card or something lol.

I kept trying to tell my boyfriend to see if we could trim the wires on the adapter to have more room but he wasn't up to the task. Which I guess I don't blame him, since he had already spent several hours crimping and was just ready to get the darn thing in. And hey, I had no clue about putting in stereos so I figured if you cut wires the car was going to explode so I just went with him on it Heck I was happy he took time out to put it in for me (and he even put "I Love U" in the "on" welcome message!).

[cal dez rat]

I hope this helps you guys but the panel underneath the radio that houses the seat temperature unscrews and you can reach in and pull excess cables from the radio slot and clear more room! That way you don't spend hours trying to smash your radio into an impossibly small hole.

[Silver04]

skeebypuffer,

I have attached a photo of my dash face and stereo for your info. I have a flp-down face Pioneer (http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pn...874695,00.html) with the type "B" trim ring from your photos. The car came with a different Pioneer (non-flip face) when I bought it, but since then changed it to the one in the pic. I have never had any problem with the face getting stuck or anything, but then again, I had a local stereo shop remove the old and install the new one.

Good luck with your situation and for installing it yourself!!

BTW: That is a nice stereo you selected!

Gus
Silver04

[skeebypuffer]

Silver, the one you have is the same one my bf just got for his Jetta. I love the animations But alas, his doesn't fit either *sigh* Darn those wires.

Originally Posted by cal dez rat

I hope this helps you guys but the panel underneath the radio that houses the seat temperature unscrews and you can reach in and pull excess cables from the radio slot and clear more room! That way you don't spend hours trying to smash your radio into an impossibly small hole.

Where is this exactly? I don't have the seat temp. ??? Are you talking about where the A/C, heat knobs and whatever are? I saw a lot of empty space on the bottom of the radio compartment, but it doesn't really help since the metal housing for the stereo blocks it.

[skeebypuffer]

Originally Posted by Silver04

skeebypuffer,

I have attached a photo of my dash face and stereo for your info. I have a flp-down face Pioneer (http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pn...874695,00.html) with the type "B" trim ring from your photos. The car came with a different Pioneer (non-flip face) when I bought it, but since then changed it to the one in the pic. I have never had any problem with the face getting stuck or anything, but then again, I had a local stereo shop remove the old and install the new one.

Good luck with your situation and for installing it yourself!!

BTW: That is a nice stereo you selected!

Gus
Silver04

Hmmm...I think the trim ring you used looks better than the other one. I feel so lazy after fighting to get the dang thing that I might just give in and get Best Buy or somewhere to redo it for me.

*comes back to reality* Oh wait, I'm poor....

In any case, this weekend if I can steal my bf's equipment I'll try to redo the wiring. I will have to crimp everything all over again, mane.

If the left side will go in about inch or two more, it will be flush enough so as not to interfere with the flip face.

*puts on super suit* I ken do eet!

[arbiter]

I'm having problems getting my new Dual unit installed. I think the wiring harness block is hitting the back of the stereo when I slide it in. I'm going to have to try to get it to stay up in the void between the air blowers while I slide the unit in.

Cable ties & duct tape to the rescue.

[bhppy101]

FYI......there is a plastic brace on the inside of the center console.....If you remove the whole center part....(takes about 10 minutes and about 6 torx screws that you have to remove) Than you can remove the brace. If you still don't know which brace I'm talking about.....just remove your stereo and look straight back....you will see a plastic brace with 1 screw holding it. This gets in the wat of the stereo wiring harness and RCA outputs and doesnt allow the unit to be pushed all the way back. I removed my brace a long time ago....and I can easily remove and install my stereo without any hassles at al.

Hope this helps.

[arbiter]

I got it in. Turns out it was the block on the wiring harness that was hitting. I used my dremel and a keyhole saw to cut a small square opening on the left side of the radio compartment. This let me put the harness block in the void space in the dash on that side (under the dash forward of the bud vase). I tucked the antennae adapter electronics in the opposite compartment, but did not need to make an extra opening as they're smaller.
Next I trimmed down that "brace" that holds the factory radio at the back...but left the bottom of it. So I basically just took the upright tab off about halfway up. Once this was removed, I could wrap the cables underneath that brace, and it kept them from springing up in the way of the radio.

After doing this, the Dual head unit slid in easly, and everything is working great. I ended up using the "B" faceplate adapter, and the included trim ring. I think it ended up looking pretty nice since the radio is black. I'll post a picture as soon as I can get a good one.

[arbiter]

Ok, I had the chance to get some pictures taken and cropped.

I ended up putting in a Dual XDM6830.

The corners of the trim ring look weird due to the lighting in the first picture, but it looks fine in person. I was concerned about how the shiny ring would look when I ordered the unit, but I think it's fine now that I have it installed.

If you look in the lower right of each photo right above the power adapter, you can see the "iPlug" input that comes with this most of the Dual stereos. It's just a 1/8" aux input, but I like the fact that this one included it. Most of the Sony and Kenwood units I found in the same price range were trying to sell a generic cable with no mounting hardware as an accessory for an extra $20.

I'm planning on adding an iPod mount of some kind in the center cup holder soon.

[r0nd3L]

My Alpine didn't fit so I had to remove the whole console to help slide it in. It also had sepearate box for pre-amp so it had to be hid. Having removed center console many times, I'm really good at it now, only takes a min or so.

[JEGSSR]

Originally Posted by cal dez rat

I hope this helps you guys but the panel underneath the radio that houses the seat temperature unscrews and you can reach in and pull excess cables from the radio slot and clear more room! That way you don't spend hours trying to smash your radio into an impossibly small hole.

I've been trying to get that panel off, but it appears I have to take the center console out first. I have an 04 with the swiveling cupholder.

[OldSkoolVWLover]

Originally Posted by JEGSSR

I've been trying to get that panel off, but it appears I have to take the center console out first. I have an 04 with the swiveling cupholder.

should be 2 screws in the bottom of the seat heater/hazard panel to remove it. then it drops down.



As far as the OP's problems.... I would go with trim ring B, not sure why you said you would have to recrimp wires though..... just unplug switch it out and plug em back in.

Other than that my advice on the trim ring issue is this, motorized faces have a different issue then spring loaded faces. When a motorized face has to continually fight to try and flip down, you are adding wear to the motor. So personally I would go with the install that allows the face to operate in its intended manor without the extra wear of creating it's own groove in the trim piece.