Is new to old Exec standard radio swap possible?

[Steveo]

Hi Gents

I'm just taking possession of a new D9 2001 2.0 HDI Exec and selling my old D8 1998 2.1TD Exec.

Dissapointingly, the standard stereo in the new car (Clarion RM2 radio/cassette with Clarion CD changer in boot) is very poor compared with the old car's standard Phillips 4050 radio/cassette with Phillips CD changer in boot.

I would ideally like to keep tape function if possible.

If I can get hold of a second hand Phillips 4050 do you think it would fit into the D9 OK? Would there be compatibility/fitting issues with things such as the indicator stalk and the actual aperture size for the unit?

Would the old head unit be compatible with the Clarion CD changer in the boot?

Many thanks

Steve

[mjb]

You would lose the stalk control, would have to do some re-wiring of the ISO connector to remove the VAN lines and source the lights on/off line from the ashtray light, and more likely than not you'd have to get a new CD changer and lay the wiring for it if it's not possible to do a solder job and replace the connectors. You'd also lose the display output.

[Steveo]

Thanks MJB...

I think this all adds up 'don't bother'!!

Had a chat with a car audio place today, and it seems like I should be able to get a CD player head unit supplied and installed that can maintain stalk functionality, so one day when I can afford it, I'll go for that.

The guy in the shop suggested that the JBL speakers weren't necessarily all that...

Based on the standard set up I've got (RM2 head unit and JBL speakers), which do you think is the weaker link i.e. might it be worthwhile upgrading the speakers first?

Thanks

Steve

[highlander]

A set of JBL GTO938 3-way 6x9 speakers can be had for under £40 new on Amazon. I got them and they are brilliant, a noticeable improvement over the JBL speakers originally fitted to my Coupe.

[Steveo]

Thanks Highlander

And are these speakers also likely to fit the parcel shelf of my saloon?

Do you know if the signal quality from the standard RM2 and Clarion CD changer is of a high quality, even if not very powerful i.e. if one added an amp and better speakers could it sound very good?

It looks like a fair amount of hassle and expense to replace the standard RM2 unit, and apart from anything else, I'd very much like to keep the tape player function.

Cheers

Steve

[highlander]

The Executive-spec Saloon and the SE-spec Coupe both use the same JBL speakers on their rear parcel shelf, so the JBL GTO938 after-market speakers will fit both cars just fine.

Installation of the speakers is a bit fiddly in the Coupe because there are no rear doors and because the rear windscreen slopes downward at a narrower angle than the Saloon, so there was less room for me to work than you'll have. The only thing I found frustrating was the little metal clips that stop the screws from scratching the paint on the parcel shelf - they're not held on to the car in any way, and at the bottom of the speakers is a big magnet, so these little metal clips kept pinging off a small piece of Blu-Tak sorts that issue out.

The car doesn't use normal "spade" connectors for connecting the speaker cabling to the speaker; it has a proprietary connector on it, as does the JBL speaker itself. The GTO938 just has spade connectors. Rather than cut the proprietary connector off the car's built-in speaker wiring, I bought these cable adapters off eBay - cheap as chips, and no cutting/soldering required. Makes it easy to return the car to factory standards too.

Replacing the factory Clarion HU tape-deck head unit is a bit of a hassle, but it is worth it. I noticed a difference in audio quality (especially with FM radio reception) when I did that, and that was before I replaced the rear 6x9 speakers. The Sony MEX-BT3600U bluetooth CD head unit I used has a much better graphic equalizer than the Clarion HU. Even more reason is that the Clarion units are known to be of poor quality manufacture; dry solder joints are known to cause loud "pop" and "bang" noises as you drive along. I bought the Sony head unit for my old car (a non-JBL 406 saloon) and Halfords fitted it for free. But I ended up paying about £80 (including parts, labour, and VAT) for an audio specialist to install it into the Coupe.

They used a pair of 2-channel speaker-level to line-level converters to take the amplified audio from the Sony HU and export it along the cars' built-in wiring to the JBL amplifier in the boot (you'll find it nestled in behind the CD autochanger) - the speaker wiring comes from the JBL amp, so this was the quickest and cheapest way to do it. The audio quality is superb, and I'm very happy with the result.

The Sony HU I picked gives you hands-free mobile phone calling via the car's built-in speakers (the HU has a small but sensitive mic built-in to the face plate), and lets me stream music to it via Bluetooth from my phone. It also has a USB port on the front, so I can put MP3 files on a USB stick and it'll play from that. It also has a slot-loading CD drive instead of a tape deck. The Clarion CD changer cartridge in the boot is now defunct, but I'm sure you can buy after-market head units with their own CD autochanger cartridges if that is important. I could have bought an adapter which lets me use the car's steering column control stalks to control the Sony HU, but I didn't bother (it wouldn't have worked when I took it from the old car to the new car anyway, as the new car is COM2000-equipped and the old car wasn't).

As for tape - I haven't owned any audio tapes since about 1995, so losing the tape deck is of no consequence to me at all.

Replacing the factory unit is totally worthwhile.

[Steveo]

Many thanks for your time Highlander, lots of useful info there.

What sort of money should one pay for a good quality head unit these days (with a built in CD player)?

The guy in an audio shop yesterday implied that they've all (all makes) got the same amp in them these days!

I'm a bit of a luddite, so don't give a damn about bluetooth or graphic equalizers (the more understated looking the better - as as it's less likely to be nicked) but I really do care about sound quality - and I don't want booming bass or tinny treble, but an overall powerful, smooth, mature, sound with a bit of a slam to it.... any recommendations?

He reckoned Alpine were the best of the lot....?

And do head units still come with a removable fascia these days?

Thanks

Steve

[highlander]

No idea about them all having the same amp, but I'd doubt that a great deal - they do differ a lot in sound quality.

If you like your sound quality, you need one with a good graphic equalizer as this is how you set the bass, middle, and treble levels. That way you can tell it how much bass or treble you want, and you can adjust the balance (front-rear as well as left-right) to get the best out of the speaker system built in to the car. Without a graphic equalizer, you don't have the ability to choose these settings, and it just sounds flat or tinny.

Alpine stuff is supposed to be very good, but can be quite expensive.

I like Sony's stuff as you get a lot of features for your money, and I specifically wanted BlueTooth hands-free so I could answer calls while driving. Mine was £125 out of Halfords back in 2008, but that included free fitting.

The MEX-BT3600U is no longer made, but they have other similar units, some with proper iPod connectors on the front. They all have detachable front panels.

As it happens, streaming music via Bluetooth was just a nice feature I didn't know I was getting with it, and now I never use CDs in the car - my phone holds hundreds of tracks and so I never have to worry about what CDs I'm taking with me, and how much space the boxes take up in the glove box or the boot.

[Steveo]

Thanks Highlander

Steve