15 replies to this topic

[kmidderigh]

Part of my original stereo on the VX failed a while ago and i've been putting off doing anything about it mainly because I dont really use it much and I've never fitted a car stereo so was a bit apprehensive about how difficult it would be.

However having ordered a replacement unit (Sony CDX-GT35U) and being determined not to pay someone else to install it I had a go at fitting it this morning and was pleasently suprised at how straight forward it was.

What worried me most before starting was how I would get the old unit out and what sort of mess of wires I would find connected to the back of the unit - which I would then have to connect to the new unit.

Reading the installation instructions on the new unit didnt exactly fill me with confidence either as there seemed to be a lot of possible connections - a lot of which I didnt think I needed.

Hopefully the following short photo guide will help show anyone considering having a go what they can expect :

1. Disconnect the negative battery terminal before you start

2. Take of the removalable front so your left with this :

https://picasaweb.go...379257803567042

3. Next remove the plastic surround (I wasnt worried if I broke any of the components when dismantling so just pulled it off)

https://picasaweb.go...379262635982194

4. Insert the metal removal keys on each side of the main unit (big thank you to the previous owner for keeping these safe with the other paperwork)

https://picasaweb.go...379268581742786

5. Pull out the unit

https://picasaweb.go...379282750154162

6. Once you have removed the unit the whole way you will be able to see the connections(Ariel on the right and power and speaker connections on the left)

https://picasaweb.go...379303139903250

7. Unplug the connections and remove the old 'cage'. Not sure what the correct method of removing this should be but mangling with a screw driver worked fine for me :-)

https://picasaweb.go...379298582621106

8. At this point you start fitting the new unit. Not sure how generic modern units are but fitting the Sony consisted off :
- sliding in a new 'cage' and bending down some metal tabs to hold it in place
- plug the new cables supplied with new unit directly into the ones sticking out of the dash (you cant mix up power and speakers as the connectors are different shapes)
- connect ariel using small adapter that came with new unit
- slide new unit into the cage until it clicks into place
- attach plastic surround
- reconnect battery terminal (alarm went off when this happened so have your keys handy)
- press reset button on the front of the new unit
- insert new stereo front and switch on to test!

Heres how it looked when finished :

https://picasaweb.go...379312031315058

So in summary it wasnt half as bad as I feared.

If anyone wants my removal keys for the VDO Dayton 3200 I'll happily post them to anyone whose lost them :

https://picasaweb.go...379303494013874

The front of my VDO Dayton 3200 is still working so if anyone want this as well shout and its yours.

[Wolfstone]

Good guide that man. Glad it was straightforward for you.

[Ormes]

This is the one I have. It gives the VX a clock , but unless you turn demo mode off, it will only be a clock for 30 seconds.

[Wolfstone]

I've got the Blaupunkt MP72 which has a clock which can be set to be on permanently. It was a ridiculous £600 option on new VXs. Luckily I bought the car when it was 10 months. It is a great little unit though. Has an SD card slot behind the fascia.

Edited by Wolfstone, 26 March 2011 - 05:05 PM.

[kmidderigh]

I've got the Blaupunkt MP72 which has a clock which can be set to be on permanently. It was a ridiculous £600 option on new VXs. Luckily I bought the car when it was 10 months. It is a great little unit though. Has an SD card slot behind the fascia.

that looks like the head up display from the Starship Enterprise - you can even see the photon torpedos and shields !

wheres the warp speed button ?

[Amoger]

wheres the warp speed button ?

Just under the right foot!

Sorry to hijack the thread but - the "removable" front, how on earth d'you get it off! Can't see any clips etc, been giving it some welly but any more & I'll break it..

[jules_s]

I've got the Blaupunkt MP72 which has a clock which can be set to be on permanently. It was a ridiculous £600 option on new VXs. Luckily I bought the car when it was 10 months. It is a great little unit though. Has an SD card slot behind the fascia.

I got one of those FOC after all the VDO buttons wore off

Edited by jules_s, 25 December 2011 - 03:36 PM.

[2GOOD]

I've got the Blaupunkt MP72 which has a clock which can be set to be on permanently. It was a ridiculous £600 option on new VXs. Luckily I bought the car when it was 10 months. It is a great little unit though. Has an SD card slot behind the fascia.

The £600 also got you two tiny little speakers in the front of the car, which I wanted to retro fit to my car. Well, I did until I found out the price of the replacement pods

[2-20]

If anyone wants my removal keys for the VDO Dayton 3200 I'll happily post them to anyone whose lost them :

https://picasaweb.go...379303494013874

If you agree to send it to France (at my charge of course) i'd be very interested by these tools.

Thanks

Edited by 2-20, 25 December 2011 - 11:06 PM.

[kmidderigh]

wheres the warp speed button ?

Just under the right foot!

Sorry to hijack the thread but - the "removable" front, how on earth d'you get it off! Can't see any clips etc, been giving it some welly but any more & I'll break it..

by removable front i meant the front of the stereo unit - is this what you mean ? if so i beleive theres a small eject button somewhere (at work so cant check currently) - will confirm latter.

If you meant the plastic surround - theres just some plastic tabs to push in

[kmidderigh]

If anyone wants my removal keys for the VDO Dayton 3200 I'll happily post them to anyone whose lost them :

https://picasaweb.go...379303494013874

If you agree to send it to France (at my charge of course) i'd be very interested by these tools.

Thanks

Happy to post to France (for a Vx owner ) - PM me your address.

[GeorgeBC]

I've got the Blaupunkt MP72 which has a clock which can be set to be on permanently. It was a ridiculous £600 option on new VXs. Luckily I bought the car when it was 10 months. It is a great little unit though. Has an SD card slot behind the fascia.

£600 . Ive just removed mine from the car as it looks dated and sometimes refuses to play CD's. I never realised it had an SD card slot in it either, whats the point of this? (I know im porobably being dumb) mine has a blaupunkt fey card in the slot.

[MrSimba]

I removed the Blaupunkt as it looked a cheap plastic unit stuck in the dash, The VX has not got much in the way of interior trimmings so whilst I never turn the thing on wanted something that blended a bit more and looked like it was actually meant to be there!

Went with this JVC as the brushed alloy front perfectly matches the 'VX220' dash plate next to it, eBay bargain brand 'new' at £80 as well

[GeorgeBC]

Is it Ipod/bluetooth compatable? Im on the look out for one.

[MrSimba]

Is it Ipod/bluetooth compatable? Im on the look out for one.

If your on about the JVC no neither!

[Wolfstone]

I never realised it had an SD card slot in it either, whats the point of this? (I know im porobably being dumb) mine has a blaupunkt fey card in the slot.

Remove the keycard from the slot and keep it away from the unit (i.e at home) for security. It doesn't need to be in the slot for the unit to work. The same slot then acts as an SD card slot and I put all my music in MP3 format on an SD card and use that instead of CDs.

Edited by Wolfstone, 29 December 2011 - 06:35 PM.