Q's about Monsoon in-dash CDs, CD changer cables, PhatBoxes in '04-'06

[JBWinSLC]

I have a number of questions involving Monsoon stereos for the newer model New Beetles ('05s and '06s) that I couldn't get answers for after searching the forums; I'll ask them all here, and if I don't get answers for some after a while, I'll just post each unanswered question separately in its own dedicated thread here on the Car Audio board.

My first two questions have to do with my current car, an '04 New Beetle Convertible with the OEM Monsoon in-dash cassette head unit...

1) I bought an '05 OEM Monsoon in-dash CD head unit (WITHOUT the satellite capability; instead of a "SAT" button, mine has a "CDP" button) to replace the Monsoon in-dash cassette head unit in my '04 NBC. I got it off of eBay, and at the time I bought it, I didn't realize I'd need a security code to activate it, and the seller can't provide it to me. Does anyone know of some way I can obtain the security code without paying my VW dealer for it? My local dealer charges $85 (!) for security codes. (My local dealer also said they wouldn't do the swap for me, because they'd tried and failed to do it for other NB/NBC owners -- huh? I thought these were plug-and-play items! -- but that's another story.)

2) Regarding swapping out my '04 OEM Monsoon in-dash cassette head unit for the '05 OEM Monsoon in-dash CD head unit, will it make any difference if the CD head unit I bought to put in my 10-speaker NBC came out of an 8-speaker NB coupe? I don't know if it did or not (yeah, I know, another important detail I should have checked out before buying it! I'm also crossing my fingers that it has the standard blue backlighting, and not the white backlighting like the OEM head unit in the Turbo S), but if it's not going to be a plug-and-play situation to put it in my NBC, then I guess I won't be trying to install it after all.

My other questions have to do with the fact that I'm considering trading in my '04 NBC on a '06 NB TDI with DSG (!)...

3) Do all 2006 New Beetles equipped with the Monsoon stereo (in other words, with either option Package #1 or Package #2) come prewired with a CD changer cable routed to the trunk, like the early model year NBs did?

4) Will a PhatBox plug right into the CD changer cable that terminates in the trunk on the '06 New Beetles, without an adapter of any kind? (This question is pertinent even if the only '06 NBs that have a CD changer cable running to the trunk are those equipped with the optional trunk-mounted CD changer, because one of the cars on my local dealer's lot that I'm considering has the OEM trunk-mounted CD changer option -- which I'd sell and replace with a PhatBox if I got it.)

5) Can '06 New Beetles equipped with both the Monsoon stereo and the OEM satellite radio option also run either:
a) a PhatBox? or
b) an iPod using the OEM iPod adapter that mounts in the glovebox? or
c) both? (not that I'd probably want to -- if I had a PhatBox in the trunk and I actually wanted to use an MP3 player in addition to it on occasion, I'd likely just use the dash-mounted auxiliary audio jack -- but I'm curious if both a PhatBox and the glove-box-mounted OEM iPod adapter could work off the same head unit)

6) Same question as 5C, above -- both a PhatBox and a glovebox-mounted OEM iPod adapter? -- only regarding an '06 NB equipped with the Monsoon stereo WITHOUT the OEM satellite radio option.

Thanks for reading through all this, and for any help you can send my way!

[Steinola]

1. Ooooh... bad eBay seller... baaaaad eBay seller. They should've provided the code. Oh well. Lesson learned. You could try other dealers. Some dealers don't charge for the code. So it's possible you could find a sympathetic dealer in your area. The owners manual used to have a clause in it that said the dealers would provide the code for free. If your manual still has that clause, you could plop it down on the dealer's service desk and demand you get your code free of charge. They might still balk (especially since the headunit wasn't originally from your car). And subsequent printings of the manual have deleted that clause anyway... so no guarantees that it's in there. Short of going to the dealer, though, no, there's no other way to get the code.

2. Shouldn't matter what the headunit came out of, no. Hardtop or 'vert. It's the Monsoon amp/crossover that delivers the signal to the speakers. So the headunit really doesn't know (or care) how many speakers you have. It just delivers the separate channels to the amp, and the amp gets 'em to the right place.

3. Yes... all '06 NBs have the CD changer connector in the trunk.

4. Yes, the PhatBox should connect to this CD change connector... no adapter needed.

5.a. I'm fairly certain, yes. All headunits that have ever been in the NB are CD changer compatible. Hence, they'd all be able to drive a PhatBox as well.
5.b. That's a somewhat sketchier area. I think all '06 headunits are compatible with the iPod connector, yes. As you get older and older headunits, though, you might start running into some that won't work.
5.c. Someone else would have a more informed answer for this. I have not personally installed one of the OEM iPod connectors... I don't know if they disable the CD changer connector or not. There are third-party products, though, that would allow you to do this, though. So either way... yes, it's definitely possible (it's just a question of whether you can do it with the OEM iPod interface or not).

6. just as the question is the same, the answer is the same as 5.c above


And for what it's worth... I've replaced a 2004 Monsoon cassette deck with a 2005 in-dash CD headunit with no problems whatsoever. It was quite literally plug-and-play. Took all of 10 minutes... and 8 of those 10 was spent trying to get the new deck to seat properly in the dash (the wiring harness kept slipping down and blocking the rear of the unit from fully sliding back into the mounting bracket).

The dealers who say they won't do it either a) don't have a clue what they're talking about, or b) simply don't want to be bothered with it, so they come up with some cockamaymy story. But, then, I'd always opt to do it myself rather than have the dealer do it anyway

As long as you're replacing Monsoon with Monsoon, or non-Monsoon with non-Monsoon... it's a piece of cake.

[JBWinSLC]

Thanks for all that very helpful info, Steinola! I really appreciate your taking the time to give me a very detailed response, including telling me about your own successful experience swapping out the HU in your NBC.

I guess I only have two remaining concerns, then.

First, regarding the "question 5C vs. question 6" thing, I'll ask it another way:
Are either of the following configurations possible in an '06 New Beetle without resorting to any third-party workarounds?

A) A NON-satellite-ready Monsoon head unit operating both a PhatBox (or CD changer) and an OEM iPod adapter

B) A SATELLITE-READY Monsoon head unit operating both a PhatBox (or CD changer) and an OEM iPod adapter and an OEM satellite tuner

Second, anyone have any leads on helping me acquire the security code for the Monsoon in-dash CD head unit I bought off of eBay?

Thanks in advance!

[Steinola]

Originally Posted by JBWinSLC

Are either of the following configurations possible in an '06 New Beetle without resorting to any third-party workarounds?

A) A NON-satellite-ready Monsoon head unit operating both a PhatBox (or CD changer) and an OEM iPod adapter

B) A SATELLITE-READY Monsoon head unit operating both a PhatBox (or CD changer) and an OEM iPod adapter and an OEM satellite tuner

First, they aren't "work-arounds". They're third-party solutions. But, for that matter, so is the VW iPod interface (VW doesn't actually make it). So, either way, you're going to be installing additional hardware.

But there have been a number of threads recently about folks who installed the VW iPod adapter. We just need one of them to tell us if the CD changer still works. If they don't chime in here, do a search in the forums for threads about the adapter install and send some PMs.

Originally Posted by JBWinSLC

Second, anyone have any leads on helping me acquire the security code for the Monsoon in-dash CD head unit I bought off of eBay?

Asked and answered. There's no way to get the code other than going to the dealer or calling VWoA (and VWoA will typically just tell you to go to the dealer).

[RobynWow]

NBC 2004
Sound system is terrible...absolutely no Base at all!
Remembering I am a girl, what is the least I can do to make it sound better.

I will have to go to a regular store like "Best Buy" or "Circuit City" to have something installed.

I was thinking new head unit?????

Originally Posted by Steinola

1. Ooooh... bad eBay seller... baaaaad eBay seller. They should've provided the code. Oh well. Lesson learned. You could try other dealers. Some dealers don't charge for the code. So it's possible you could find a sympathetic dealer in your area. The owners manual used to have a clause in it that said the dealers would provide the code for free. If your manual still has that clause, you could plop it down on the dealer's service desk and demand you get your code free of charge. They might still balk (especially since the headunit wasn't originally from your car). And subsequent printings of the manual have deleted that clause anyway... so no guarantees that it's in there. Short of going to the dealer, though, no, there's no other way to get the code.

2. Shouldn't matter what the headunit came out of, no. Hardtop or 'vert. It's the Monsoon amp/crossover that delivers the signal to the speakers. So the headunit really doesn't know (or care) how many speakers you have. It just delivers the separate channels to the amp, and the amp gets 'em to the right place.

3. Yes... all '06 NBs have the CD changer connector in the trunk.

4. Yes, the PhatBox should connect to this CD change connector... no adapter needed.

5.a. I'm fairly certain, yes. All headunits that have ever been in the NB are CD changer compatible. Hence, they'd all be able to drive a PhatBox as well.
5.b. That's a somewhat sketchier area. I think all '06 headunits are compatible with the iPod connector, yes. As you get older and older headunits, though, you might start running into some that won't work.
5.c. Someone else would have a more informed answer for this. I have not personally installed one of the OEM iPod connectors... I don't know if they disable the CD changer connector or not. There are third-party products, though, that would allow you to do this, though. So either way... yes, it's definitely possible (it's just a question of whether you can do it with the OEM iPod interface or not).

6. just as the question is the same, the answer is the same as 5.c above


And for what it's worth... I've replaced a 2004 Monsoon cassette deck with a 2005 in-dash CD headunit with no problems whatsoever. It was quite literally plug-and-play. Took all of 10 minutes... and 8 of those 10 was spent trying to get the new deck to seat properly in the dash (the wiring harness kept slipping down and blocking the rear of the unit from fully sliding back into the mounting bracket).

The dealers who say they won't do it either a) don't have a clue what they're talking about, or b) simply don't want to be bothered with it, so they come up with some cockamaymy story. But, then, I'd always opt to do it myself rather than have the dealer do it anyway

As long as you're replacing Monsoon with Monsoon, or non-Monsoon with non-Monsoon... it's a piece of cake.

[Pelican18TQA4]

Here's some answers for ya...

Originally Posted by JBWinSLC

1) I think you're SOL regarding the security code and you just may have to pay the dealer the $85 they're asking for to get you a working code. As far as plug-and-play goes, it is just a matter of unplugging the cassette radio and plugging in the CD radio.

2) On my previous car ('03 NBC) there was a yellow warning sticker on top of the radio that read "Convertible Only". I recently replaced the radio in my car ('05 NB w/CD Monsoon radio) with a Pioneer AVIC-N3. I installed my factory radio in my friend's '03 NBC w/Monsoon. When I removed her radio, there was no yellow warning sticker on it and I installed the CD radio from my '05 NB. Though the radio works fine, the sound output is not ideal. There is a TON of bass and the mids/highs seem a little muttled. Basically, the sound isn't quite as clear as with the NBC radio.

3) The CD changer cable on mid-'03 - present NB/NBC is located in the center console, not in the trunk.

4) For NB/NBC with the console-mounted CD changer cable, there's an extension cable that you have to run to the trunk where the Phatbox mounts.

5) You can use a Phatbox and the iPod adapter, I think. It depends on how the iPod adapter hooks up. If it hooks into the Aux input then you can have both. If the iPod adapter hooks up to the CD changer input, then it's either/or. Of course, if the car has Sat radio, I'm pretty sure you can only have the Phatbox or the iPod.