Replacement Monaro stereo head units in 2018

[Capri_Ghia]

Hi all,

I know this topic has been covered in the past but has anyone changed their Monaro's stereo head unit recently?

My stock Blaupunkt 6 CD changer ate a disc today and although I fished it out of the top of the unit the loading mechanism has seized. It's time for a replacement.

I've seen some original NOS units on Holmart for silly money, and that's before shipping and import duty. I've also found a few double DIN adapters online to allow for aftermarket options.

I'm not after anything fancy, just a radio / CD player with aux input / USB or SD card reader that looks fairly stock. I'm not keen on ripping out centre consoles and rewiring. Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.

Cheers.

[maccavvy]

ive got the kenwood dab headunit.

so you've got normal radio. dab radio ,cd player and ipod control or memory stick with hands free Bluetooth or play music via Bluetooth

halfords do it for less than 150 I got a single din trim and it plugs and plays too

[Lincsls1]

I am soon to do this but with a single din unit. The Pioneer I'll be using meets all your requirements (SD/USB/MP3/CD) and is one of their 'high grade' systems.

This is what I will be using and have already got. The kit looks/feels of high quality.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AERPRO-VEHICLE-INSTALL-...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PIONEER-16-PIN-TO-ISO-H...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pioneer-DEH-X9600BT-Hig...

This will allow me to fit the new unit and retain the steering wheel controls. There will also be no butchering of any wiring although I may need to swap the live/switch live connectors around as I've read they may be different in our cars, but these are on bullet connections so will just pull/push together.

[Lee20k]

I have this one in mine: https://www.halfords.com/technology/car-audio/dab-...

Easy to fit no butchering just remember to buy the DAB aerial as well.

[jet_noise]

Lincsls1 said:

I am soon to do this but with a single din unit. The Pioneer I'll be using meets all your requirements (SD/USB/MP3/CD) and is one of their 'high grade' systems.

This is what I will be using and have already got. The kit looks/feels of high quality.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AERPRO-VEHICLE-INSTALL-...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PIONEER-16-PIN-TO-ISO-H...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pioneer-DEH-X9600BT-Hig...

This will allow me to fit the new unit and retain the steering wheel controls. There will also be no butchering of any wiring although I may need to swap the live/switch live connectors around as I've read they may be different in our cars, but these are on bullet connections so will just pull/push together.

I fitted the double DIN version of this to mine...
...in 2009!

IIRC the following:
The fitting kit I bought was purely a fascia.
I didn't get around to buying the restore-the-steering-wheel-controls gadget.
All other connectors came with the unit except for an antenna plug converter - the ISO connector was included but the antenna cable plug/unit socket was different. I bought an adaptor on ebay.

It was a bugger to get the old unit out. Fought it for 1/2 and hour and gave up.
After cup of warm brown stuff, AND ordering the proper keys I thought I'd have another go.
Gritted my teeth, girded my loins etc, tried again and itso presto out it came first attempt! Never needed the keys in the end.

You lose the in-dash display of station.

the_ferret82 is the man for electrical stuff. Very helpful but rarely pops in these days.

[jameshsv]

I have a original unit going spare

[Capri_Ghia]

Lincsls1 said:

I am soon to do this but with a single din unit. The Pioneer I'll be using meets all your requirements (SD/USB/MP3/CD) and is one of their 'high grade' systems.

This is what I will be using and have already got. The kit looks/feels of high quality.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AERPRO-VEHICLE-INSTALL-...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PIONEER-16-PIN-TO-ISO-H...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pioneer-DEH-X9600BT-Hig...

This will allow me to fit the new unit and retain the steering wheel controls. There will also be no butchering of any wiring although I may need to swap the live/switch live connectors around as I've read they may be different in our cars, but these are on bullet connections so will just pull/push together.

Thanks Lincsls1. That single DIN install kit looks like just the job. It's good to know the kit is high quality too.

The stock unit came out pretty easily with some double DIN keys from Halfords when I rescued my CD. It's back in the car for now as the radio still works. It's my daily driver so I need something to keep me amused whilst crawling through traffic

[Capri_Ghia]

jameshsv said:

I have a original unit going spare

Thanks. If it's working and you've got the PIN code I could take it off your hands. How much do you want for it?

[jameshsv]

Capri_Ghia said:

Thanks. If it's working and you've got the PIN code I could take it off your hands. How much do you want for it?

I will look for the pin code im sure I have it cost wise not a lot.where abouts are you

[SturdyHSV]

jameshsv said:

Capri_Ghia said:

Thanks. If it's working and you've got the PIN code I could take it off your hands. How much do you want for it?

I will look for the pin code im sure I have it cost wise not a lot.where abouts are you

If you can't find the pin code, I've got mine going spare too.

But James got there first, so over to him for first go

[jameshsv]

SturdyHSV said:

If you can't find the pin code, I've got mine going spare too.

But James got there first, so over to him for first go

Thank you mr sturdy im in malta at the moment and will be back wednesday

[Capri_Ghia]

jameshsv said:

will look for the pin code im sure I have it cost wise not a lot.where abouts are you

I'm in Nottinghamshire, east midlands. Let me know what you want for it when you're back.

Cheers.

[jameshsv]

Capri_Ghia said:

I'm in Nottinghamshire, east midlands. Let me know what you want for it when you're back.

Cheers.

Ok no probs will do m8

[Melchett]

One thing you might want to look into is getting metal mounting brackets instead of using the plastic ones.

Some more info here (but it was a while ago)

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=13...

[vxr2010]

I may be able to help with the pin code , pm me if you need it , as i don’t want to post it for obvious reasons lol

[Capri_Ghia]

I finally got around to sorting this out. I went for the AerPro kit from Australia as recommended by LincsLS1. I've now got a Kenwood single DIN unit with CD, USB and AUX.

I wasn't too keen about taking out so much interior trim to remove the cage of the original stereo but that all went smoothly. Getting the new stereo and fascia thingy back it was the hard part. The Cradle on the fascia kit is too tight for the new stereo and cage, I just had to screw the unit straight onto the mounting bracket. It's all a really tight fit.

It looks good now it's done and it's ace having tunes on the commute again.

[Lincsls1]

Yeah, I fitted my Pioneer single din over Xmas and didn't have any problems.
Screwed my unit so it butts up to the rear of the facia opening with the provided brackets and proper flush screws and it slotted straight in. The removable front panel then just clips on/off and looks nice and flush.
It is a tight fit though, but not too tight. And the steering wheel adaptor loom/box works a treat too.

Edited by Lincsls1 on Saturday 12th January 19:14