Headunit

Author
Discussion

8potdave

Original Poster:

2,280 posts

212 months

Friday 22nd January 2016
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Hi all. I picked up a 2004 9-3 Vector yesterday and would like to do something with the headunit. I understand they are hard to swap due to fibre optic connections? All I need from it is a jack output so I can plug in my phone and use Spotify (all my music is on there, I don’t own a CD!) I know there will be a way to do this but what is the best way?

griffin dai

3,194 posts

148 months

Saturday 23rd January 2016
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There's no actual head unit in the 03-06 9-3 mate, it's just an ICM (infotainment control module) they come in 3 flavours either icm1 (just buttons, no display) ICM2 (small green lcd) or ICM3 (satnav) the actual 'headunit' is called the EHU (entertainment headunit) and it's hidden behind the dash and is indeed fibre optic and a pain in the ring piece to upgrade, the systems a sort of active set up so you get high/mid/low from the individual tweeters, mids & subs...but it's still crap!! The newer 07 onwards cars come with a more traditional set up and dead easy to upgrade.

Depending on what ICM you have fitted you might just have ICM 1 with the basic 4 speakers (2x 3.5" in dash & 2x 4" shelf mids)....and no amps, icm1 plus AMP1 (under passenger seat) which powers an additional 3 speakers (6.5" door woofers & 4" centre dash mid) icm2 with the above or icm2 plus a larger amp in the boot (pull the right side cover off in the boot and it'll be here) and this powers 6x9 subs in the shelf plus additional tweeters in the dash and shelf. Or the full shebang icm3 sat nav with all the speakers, both amps plus the nav player which I think is in the left side boot cover? The nav looks the best of the 3 but speaking to others who have it, as an actual satnav it's very poor!! Cheers Saab!

For aux to work you need the aux kit fitted, open the centre arm rest and it lives here:



Im pretty sure you also need tech2 to activate it? Parts for Saab used to sell the kit but it's not there now, maybe eBay or a scrappy would be the best bet if you need it?

To get an actual head unit in there, you can remove the CD player in the dash, bypass the fibre optics here then run an independent system from the new HU. I'm 90% done with mine, just haven't bothered finishing it! It's all wired up & working but haven't touched it in ages! Just needs the amps & speakers wired up. With this system you basically ignore the ICM and just use the head unit.


8potdave

Original Poster:

2,280 posts

212 months

Saturday 23rd January 2016
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Thanks mate, wow that's a lot of work just to plug my phone in, I wonder why the hell Saab chose to fit their systems in this way! I'll give my radio bluetooth device a a try and see if that will do the job. I think I have the most basic system as you mention above as I have no Jack output, just a blanking plate.

griffin dai

3,194 posts

148 months

Saturday 23rd January 2016
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I don't think it's too difficult to add the aux in kit, swapping HU for a single din is a bit of a ball ache (but if I can do it!!)

I'm sure there's a few guides for adding the aux cable, I'll take a peak now. You might have the icm1 plus amp1 which will be a bonus, take a look under the passenger seat, there should be a small silver amp there. This one powers the door woofers and center dash mid. Btw all speakers are 4ohm bar the door 6.5's which are 2ohm incase you fancied upgrading these.

8potdave

Original Poster:

2,280 posts

212 months

Sunday 24th January 2016
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Fair enough, I've seen a few guides on youtube so I may well have a go at it. I'll look into changing the speakers too thanks bud, they are a bit lame!

Tycho

11,554 posts

272 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
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8potdave said:
Fair enough, I've seen a few guides on youtube so I may well have a go at it. I'll look into changing the speakers too thanks bud, they are a bit lame!
Dai is correct, it is a pain in the arse to work with. It really does sound rubbish. If you have the aux in in the arm rest then you may be better getting a bluetooth adaptor and using that with your phone, this is how I play music in the car.

8potdave

Original Poster:

2,280 posts

212 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
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I've got a Bluetooth adapter plugged into the cig lighter which connects to my phone, it seems to work quite well. It's a second car and so is only really used locally so don't have an issue with the radio signal changing all the time.

The speakers are awful though, there is absolutely no bass what so ever, I need to fix this.

bakerstreet

4,755 posts

164 months

Monday 22nd February 2016
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You can add an aftermarket bluetooth kit such as a Parrot MKi9200.

I have never seen a pre 2007 Saab 9-3 with an aftermarket head unit and looking at the work required, I'm not surprised! Its one of the reasons why 2007> cars are usually more expensive that the early 9-3s.

My 9-3 had Satnav and it actually worked quite well. Yes the display was ancient, but it was quick to pick up a signal in the center of London.

griffin dai

3,194 posts

148 months

Monday 22nd February 2016
quotequote all
bakerstreet said:
You can add an aftermarket bluetooth kit such as a Parrot MKi9200.

I have never seen a pre 2007 Saab 9-3 with an aftermarket head unit and looking at the work required, I'm not surprised! Its one of the reasons why 2007> cars are usually more expensive that the early 9-3s.

My 9-3 had Satnav and it actually worked quite well. Yes the display was ancient, but it was quick to pick up a signal in the center of London.
There a few done now, mainly in the states though.

Heres a really nice job with an old Nak HU fitted, basically hacked up the old CD players fascia and fitted this as a surround



Fair bit of work to bypass the fibre optics but can be done in a couple hours....if I can do it!!!

Here's mine with a Pioneer DEX-P99RS fitted:



Everything's working just have to finish the fascia (old CD player was busted anyway is its getting cut) fit the amps & speakers, probably spend a couple hours tuning it, and it's done. The ICM will be redundant then so it's getting binned for a small tablet to keep an eye on some gauges with dash command or torque and satnav (my summer project!) I'll pick up a dead ICM1 and cut the fascia to fit the tablet.

RedLeicester

6,869 posts

244 months

Tuesday 23rd February 2016
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Cor blimey you brave man.

I think my head unit is on the way out so need to start researching what to replace it with. I can't seem to get any straight answers about how the crappy BOSE system works - in the current head there's a menu option to turn the DSP on and off and whether I can find one which will interface with it or not is a minefield!

bakerstreet

4,755 posts

164 months

Thursday 25th February 2016
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griffin dai said:
There a few done now, mainly in the states though.

Heres a really nice job with an old Nak HU fitted, basically hacked up the old CD players fascia and fitted this as a surround



Fair bit of work to bypass the fibre optics but can be done in a couple hours....if I can do it!!!

Here's mine with a Pioneer DEX-P99RS fitted:



Everything's working just have to finish the fascia (old CD player was busted anyway is its getting cut) fit the amps & speakers, probably spend a couple hours tuning it, and it's done. The ICM will be redundant then so it's getting binned for a small tablet to keep an eye on some gauges with dash command or torque and satnav (my summer project!) I'll pick up a dead ICM1 and cut the fascia to fit the tablet.
Fair play to making it work.

However, Please don't say you are going to leave it looking like that? If you are, I'd say the value of your car has just been greatly reduced.


___MIKE___

2,769 posts

183 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2016
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___MIKE___

2,769 posts

183 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
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RedLeicester

6,869 posts

244 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
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Is there an echo in here?

___MIKE___

2,769 posts

183 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
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RedLeicester said:
Is there an echo in here?
Echo