AFTERMARKET STEREOS

[daphantom]

Hi guys

My HU 801 in my 03 vOLVO S80 has CD Error showing and wont play any discs at all now, radio works as normal. I rang my local Volvo dealer in Belfast and they quoted me the guts of £800 to replace the unit! Im looking at double din replacements in the likes of Halford etc - is this straightforward replacement or are there hidden nightmares (i'll be getting them to fit it) ? Im not fussed if the steering wheel controls work, i just want to listen to music of my own choice instead of the crap radio

cheers

[MJG280]

The radio is programmed into the security system so an aftermarket radio may be a problem unless you wire it direct from somewhere.
You could try one of these as it fits the earlier model and should be ok for yours. Do check though

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUX-Adapter-Android-USB-...


Disconnect the battery when fiddling about as being Canbus an ECU somewhere might not recognise your radio or anything else you disturb. Then you have to go to Volvo to get it sorted so try not to disconnect anything.

[martinrpeachey]

Providing yours isn't an amplified system (look for the amp under the drivers seat) you can simply wire any replacement head unit in with an adapter loom. The loom will cost a few quid mind but it should give you steering wheel controls.
Then go to a dealership and get a police spec double din fascia plate for about £30.

ONLY BUY THE HEAD UNIT FROM HALFRAUDS! They will rip you off for fitting and wiring but they are widely known for having the best prices when it comes to head units.

I'd recommend a Sony for ease of use and sound quality.

[daphantom]

martinrpeachey said:

Providing yours isn't an amplified system (look for the amp under the drivers seat) you can simply wire any replacement head unit in with an adapter loom. The loom will cost a few quid mind but it should give you steering wheel controls.
Then go to a dealership and get a police spec double din fascia plate for about £30.

ONLY BUY THE HEAD UNIT FROM HALFRAUDS! They will rip you off for fitting and wiring but they are widely known for having the best prices when it comes to head units.

I'd recommend a Sony for ease of use and sound quality.

Thanks for the replies guys. Martin, ive never noticed an amp under my seat in the 4 yrs ive had the Volvo so, im assuming it doesnt. I'll take your advice and just get the unit for halfords, they never fill me with confidence in anything they fit/touch tbh

[martinrpeachey]

daphantom said:

Thanks for the replies guys. Martin, ive never noticed an amp under my seat in the 4 yrs ive had the Volvo so, im assuming it doesnt. I'll take your advice and just get the unit for halfords, they never fill me with confidence in anything they fit/touch tbh

Have a look under the seat, you can't miss it.

If your current head unit is the one with Dolby Pro-Logic, it'll definitely have an amp. If it is an amped system, there's a wiring loom for that but you may lose the function of the center dash speaker.

With the correct wiring and fascia etc. the install is a 20 minute job for a novice.

[daphantom]

martinrpeachey said:

Have a look under the seat, you can't miss it.

If your current head unit is the one with Dolby Pro-Logic, it'll definitely have an amp. If it is an amped system, there's a wiring loom for that but you may lose the function of the center dash speaker.

With the correct wiring and fascia etc. the install is a 20 minute job for a novice.

Mine has the Dolby Pro Logic so obviously it HAS the amp. Just checked under the seat + theres a black box with fins on it so, assuming in my incredible ignorance, thats the amp! Cheers again

[martinrpeachey]

daphantom said:

Mine has the Dolby Pro Logic so obviously it HAS the amp. Just checked under the seat + theres a black box with fins on it so, assuming in my incredible ignorance, thats the amp! Cheers again

No biggy - you'll need a loom specifically for the amped model. This will also give you the option of having an extra 4 speaker outputs if you wanted to increase the output in the car.

Plan B would be some moderate rewiring (the amp under the seat runs all the speakers except the center dash speaker) to connect the new head unit directly to the speakers, bypassing the amp all together. Not a hard job but time consuming.

[blueacid]

daphantom said:

Hi guys

My HU 801 in my 03 vOLVO S80 has CD Error showing and wont play any discs at all now, radio works as normal. I rang my local Volvo dealer in Belfast and they quoted me the guts of £800 to replace the unit! Im looking at double din replacements in the likes of Halford etc - is this straightforward replacement or are there hidden nightmares (i'll be getting them to fit it) ? Im not fussed if the steering wheel controls work, i just want to listen to music of my own choice instead of the crap radio

cheers

What's the price for a new double din + fitting? Gotta be £150-200 odd surely.

Consider the alternative: get an aux-in adaptor (such as the GROM systems or competitors) for about £50 which plug into the CD changer connection on the radio. It thinks it has a changer, while in fact you've got an aux in cable and potentially control over an ipod / phone. Use the remaining money to buy a second hand iPod, or to upgrade the storage on your phone to hold your music.

You'll therefore keep the 'look' of your car, avoid any wiring issues or problems and have all your music to hand in the car. It's certainly been my approach, even though my head unit's CD Player is still in good working order.

[martinrpeachey]

Good idea that.

[wiliferus]

blueacid said:

daphantom said:

Hi guys

My HU 801 in my 03 vOLVO S80 has CD Error showing and wont play any discs at all now, radio works as normal. I rang my local Volvo dealer in Belfast and they quoted me the guts of £800 to replace the unit! Im looking at double din replacements in the likes of Halford etc - is this straightforward replacement or are there hidden nightmares (i'll be getting them to fit it) ? Im not fussed if the steering wheel controls work, i just want to listen to music of my own choice instead of the crap radio

cheers

What's the price for a new double din + fitting? Gotta be £150-200 odd surely.

Consider the alternative: get an aux-in adaptor (such as the GROM systems or competitors) for about £50 which plug into the CD changer connection on the radio. It thinks it has a changer, while in fact you've got an aux in cable and potentially control over an ipod / phone. Use the remaining money to buy a second hand iPod, or to upgrade the storage on your phone to hold your music.

You'll therefore keep the 'look' of your car, avoid any wiring issues or problems and have all your music to hand in the car. It's certainly been my approach, even though my head unit's CD Player is still in good working order.

This is what I'd be doing. Much less risk of buggering up and CANBUS issues, dash stays original, and you drag the cars music system into the 21st century

[daphantom]

Cheers guys

Those adaptors seem just the ticket but,none of them seem to mention my HU801 on any compatibility list. I'll investigate further

Daphantom

[morgrp]

800quid? pfffft! Volvo is having a laugh :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VOLVO-HU-801-RADIO-ORIGI...