New owner here - please point me at a FAQ or previous thread if it’s already been covered.
The audio kit in my car (2009 2.0 litre Sport Roadster/Coupe) appears to be well and truly integrated into the dash (i.e. when looking at the dash there doesn’t appear to be a removable “radio unit” as such). I think that what I’ll need is a new fascia panel which incorporates a single (or double) DIN opening to allow a replacement radio unit to be installed. It doesn’t appear to be a Bose unit (I assume there would be some visible labelling if it was)
Can anyone advise what lies behind the existing dash? Is there a removable stereo unit with fairly simple (and standard) connections, or is everything fully incorporated into the dash structure and wiring loom? I didn’t think I’d miss the DAB radio that I had in my previous car, but I do - hence the questions.
I’ve ordered a Haynes manual which (hopefully) will guide me in dismantling/removing the existing kit when it comes to it, but in the meantime is this a fairly straightforward job?
I have no experience of a BOSE Stereo but mine was Sanyo and the following is true.
There are online instructions on how to remove the radio.
You start at the back of the transmission tunnel and move forwards. It does come out.
I had a double DIN unit in mine which was not BOSE and it looked OEM fitted but was original. The cabling may look bespoke but follow it back and you will eventually get to a mazda connector for the Stereo. Mine was taped and foamed up and I missed it and thought it was part of the wiring loom.
You can then fit the radio using an adaptor to make the steering controls work. Facia adapter kits are available off the internet.
If you are unsure Halfords will charge £50 to fit plus parts and they can get all of them.
What type / size of radio do you have fitted?
Next Project Upgrade the Speakers between the seats.
Believe it or not, it’s only held in with 2 screws and a small bolt.
On each side of the unit, see those triangle shaped pieces of trim. Pull those forward and off to reveal the two screws.
Under the steering wheel, remove the trim piece and look up to the left, towards the radio, and you should spot the single bolt.
I can’t remember if its a 10mm or 8mm head.
It takes no more than about 10 minutes to get it out.
It does have hot pluggable connectors, but these are not standard ISO fitting, so anything other than an OEM head unit, and you’ll need an ISO convertor.
A double din fascia can be bought on line for around £30 - £40, but make sure that you buy the correct one, as there was a subtle change around 2009.
Thanks for the helpful replies - It has given me the basic info I needed to come to a decision and do the job (or possibly take it in to have someone do it). I think my first move will be to simply remove and replace the existing unit so I can get a feel for what’s involved.
The car is a Mk3 RC (not a 3.5) as far as I am aware - i.e. no fancy trim round the foglights, no smiley face grille.
Helpful - Thanks again. Although the author of that video really needs to think again about his technique - 8 minutes of which at least 7 minutes was waffle.
Any road - it tells me most of what I need to know. Now to source the parts (and decide on the head unit I want to use!).
Having only had ours about 10 weeks we are not changing things rapidly but have had the radio head unit out to put in a usb fly lead into the CD connector at the back so we can have a usb full of music (even though it’ll only see 6 folders - hint = lots of tracks in each folder).
Anyway, don’t do what we (and some others) have done which is spend a lot of time searching for the damn 10mm bolt only to find that it isnt there …