Radio Head Unit

[jims-terrano]

So should I stay factory and put up with the LCD segments starting to fade or replace the unit, fancy something with Bluetooth Hands Free and Streaming capability.
Got hold of the factory surround by chance when I went to get some bits from a bloke that was breaking his truck. I saw it and asked him how much and he said a fiver so it would be rude not to at that price, bet Banshee hates me now :augie

What's everyone's opinions?

 

[don simon]

New radio, that one that britrb is setting up doesn't look too bad for £200.
I'm on the lookout for something that has DAB built in.

 

[Blocky10]

Go for it I say. I fancy a unit like Bumbleing Brian has fitted which will also free up room for my c.b

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

I say, keep the original radio, and I'll give you a tenner for the surround, just because I am nice like that... :lol

 

[Barrbeast]

Go aftermarket, I stayed with the Y61's factory unit for ages and once I did change I wished I'd done it sooner.

 

[Blocky10]

:lolI'll give you £12.50

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

:lolI'll give you £12.50

:doh

 

[johnb5177]

£15.00........:sly

 

[rustic]

£15.00........:sly

Plus postage to France lol...

 

[panelbeater]

it might have been covered but factory radio is coded to truck i think,will after market one cause a problem.
only saying as i put after an after one in to fill the hole £16,in my 98 terry with no problem,my 99 terry i think is coded,also not much on the screen.
interested as my 3ltr one has broken up on the radio head so i just use the multi cd that was full with good music when i got it,they forgot to empty it,when driving.
will an arfter one drive the multi cd.

 

[johnb5177]

I changed my fading lcd screen original for an after market Panasonic with no NATS problems.......:nenau

 

[johnb5177]

Plus postage to France lol...

Bien sur m'sieur......:thumb2

 

[jims-terrano]

Yeah I've heard of this possible NATS problem too but I really don't understand why on earth any manufacturer would try and stop you from using an after market unit. I can understand that as a security feature once a stereo is coded to a particular vehicle it wouldn't work in another vehicle as it has been paired with one ECU. My Skoda radio gets it's code from the ECU so this confirms it has been paired and would need diagnostic software to pair to another vehicle.

My 1999 project truck which is the older shape hasn't caused a problem since fitting an after market radio but the 3litre is the later style vehicle.

Thinking about it my old 05 plate Terrano had an after market Sony fitted to it, it always bugged me that the steering wheel controls didn't work because that particular model of Sony did not have this feature.

I guess there will always be a niggle and maybe just for safety sake keep the old radio in the boot.

First things first I'll get it through the looming MOT firstly and then think about the radio.

 

[Blocky10]

Not sure how but I've had mine out several times for a day or two and it still retains the stations. My concern is when the battery(?) flattens or whatever it is that keeps the memory.
Will it then disable the truck? :nenau

 

[don simon]

Not sure how but I've had mine out several times for a day or two and it still retains the stations. My concern is when the battery(?) flattens or whatever it is that keeps the memory.
Will it then disable the truck? :nenau

No problem with mine when I had the battery out for a week. Radio worked, car started, radio stations remembered.

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

My 1999 has a Panasonic radio in it for over 4 years now, and has run for several journeys with both the original, and the Panasonic radios removed, when I have been working on that part of the dash.

Suz's 2002 T2, still has the original, but I took it out for several days, while I sorted out some issues, and that drove with no problem.

I am sure, that when I looked into it the first time, I read it worked exactly as Jim says, the first time the radio is turned on, it picks up it's code from the NATS, and then will only work with that NATS unit, unless it is reset by a Blaupunkt/Alpine specialist. If you try to put a radio in from another car, that has not been reset, it will not work, but ultimately, it will have no impact on the NATS even if you put a radio in from another car, just the radio won't unlock.

The CD changer is a Blaupunkt Alpine as well, so it will only work with a different unit, if that unit can drive a Blaupunkt/Alpine CD changer.

 

[Blocky10]

I feel better now.

 

[johnb5177]

I've suffered flat batteries, and the change in head unit with no ill effect.....:nenau

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

I feel better now.

Does that mean you are going to withdraw your bid that beats mine? :lol

 

[Blocky10]

Does that mean you are going to withdraw your bid that beats mine? :lol

Woah. Now hang on a minute... got to keep options open:lol