159 Stero

[SKP555]

I'm looking at replacing the bog standard radio/CD in my 2007 159 (it doesn't have blue and me) and wondering what people recommend.

I'm not massively into my music so the standard speakers and stuff are perfectly good and sound quality is not my main concern, though obviously better is better.

Main priority is Bluetooth for phone and media streaming, and ideally GPS on screen. I would really like to keep the steering wheel controls and dash display if possible.

So far I've looked at:

Cheap Chinese ones which have everything for under £200 but heard a couple of horror stories too.

Brand ones (Kenwood, JVC, Sony, Alpine, Clarion etc) which seem to be minimum £500 for what I want.

Then this sort of thing

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ALFA-ROMEO-159-2-DIN-car...

which seems to be made for the car, however despite having picture of a nice looking new reader the advert is mostly nonsensical to me. Does this just plug straight in and replace the original?


Any recommendations? Am I missing something or just being too cheap in thinking that £500 is a lot of money for a stereo and GPS?

[Ben91]

I'm also looking at replacing the stereo on my 159.

I looked at the Chinese ones that are direct replacement (double din front and single din back) but I tried a windows based one and it was terrible. I've heard the Android ones are really good and about £300 posted from China. They are plug and play, just remove old stereo and plug in. Might be tricky to route the GPS antenna without some disassembly.

I'm considering a branded one or one with Apple CarPlay for using Maps etc.

I'm not sure the best way to go now as the android Chinese radio looks the closet to standard but there's only a couple reviews of them. The branded ones should be easier to return/get repaired in the uk rather than sending back to china.

There is a thread on Alfaowner in the 159 section about how to fit an aftermarket unit as it needs the centre dash front removed.

This is the one I'm considering

159 Radio

Edited by Ben91 on Thursday 17th November 08:56

[lb3nson]

Have you got an Iphone? If so the Pioneer SPD-DA120 is the only sensible choice! Will be £400 by the time you include a fitting kit but will do everything you need including satnav using Apple Maps from your phone. Just fitted one to my 159 TI and it modernises the interior immensely.

[SKP555]

I'm Android but it looks like they do a similar version for that.

Thanks

[ZX10R NIN]

They do I use the Android Pioneer & it's great.

[Ben91]

Has anyone had problems with the radio reception being crap on aftermarket radios? Would connecting a wire into the cars wiring for a aerial amplifier then onto the stereo wiring resolve this?

[ZX10R NIN]

Check they wired up the amplified aerial

[StescoG66]

Ben91 said:

Has anyone had problems with the radio reception being crap on aftermarket radios? Would connecting a wire into the cars wiring for a aerial amplifier then onto the stereo wiring resolve this?

On the ISO connector block there should be a switched positive out (blu & white often) which connects to the aerial amp. The Alfa wiring loom has a couple of differences - despite using an ISO block - which may be your problem