[Abraxix]

Hey guys just been to repco and investigated a new head unit for STELLA...
The folk there made a phone call and advised that the rig will only support a single DINN head unit were interested in a DOUBLE DINN reverse camera DVD player type unit!!

is it true the rig will only fit a single DINN unit??

Anyone here seen or heard of or fitted a double DINN head unit to their rigs??

[henno]

I'm interested in this myself, actually. They can fit a double-din width (the stock radio is technically a double-din) but there is not much depth at the top and you need to take to the facia with a dremel or something in order to fit it over the front as it is rounded instead of square.

All of the aftermarket facias are simply a single din with a useless little pocket.

[Abraxix]

the owner of our rig has a custom for single DINN unit, and left the outsides with really cheap black plastic looks horrible and the unit is impractical!!

[henno]

Yeah they look woeful. I plan to try and find a HVAC/Facia at a wreckers somewhere to chop to pieces without risking the one in my car.

[Sco-tie]

henno you've seen this
viewtopic.php?f=37&t=44032

[henno]

Sco-tie wrote:

henno you've seen this
http://www.auszookers.com/forum/viewtop ... 37&t=44032

Yep. Plus, those photos come up on any Google search. Neither of those solutions is neat though... at least my opinion of "neat".

[Sco-tie]

really? the units fascia covers everything. unless you are wanting the factory flush look i think its great and will be going that way when funds comply

[Chop]

Soo many hack jobs, hows the chunks out of the wood grain one!

[Abraxix]

hahahahahah yeah that hack job's not what we're looking for or at!!! so probably not goign to go that route!!!

i did find this though: what do we think?

http://www.pioneer.com.au/au/products/2 ... /page.html

[Sco-tie]

I dont see the problem with the so called 'hack' jobs? unless I'm close minded and missing something... The holes cut are covered by the facia and if you hadn't seen the install pics you wouldn't know they were there. What would you do with the hole created by using a single din? if the holes cut were properly sealed again then cracking shouldn't be an issue down the track. I guess if you want the flush look without any protruding facia then the single din with a specialised pocket would be the way to go. no reason it shouldn't work and would give you another pocket for storage with the same size screen.

[henno]

The idea is fine; the execution is awful. I could't stand knowing such a hack job was being concealed by the front facia of the head unit. Also, something tells me that the (head unit) facia wouldn't sit perfectly flat so from extreme left and right angles the shoddy workmanship would still be visible.

That said, if I can source a replacement dash unit I plan to do something along the lines of this one and spend a good many hours with a dremmel making it perfectly square:

[henno]

Then again, if I had the woodgrain dash I wouldn't care. It already looks like a pile of ass.

[Chop]

Sco-tie wrote:

I dont see the problem with the so called 'hack' jobs? unless I'm close minded and missing something...

We know, coz we seen your inverter and switch install

Sco-tie wrote:

if you hadn't seen the install pics you wouldn't know they were there.

Owning a GV with the original double din means you don't need to see the install pics to know they've been hacked!

[Sco-tie]

haha I've fixed my switches all neat and not cheapy crappy ones. Inverter is hidden and secured, the rear of the glove box is never seen it works and fits well. Each to their own.

[Abraxix]

so i called back Repco and asked them to find out off another mob if it's possible to fit a double DIN unit in the dash - they called back within 20 minutes after speaking with s few other mobs.

they've need to have the car and do some measurments.. - guess i'll have to see: or ask if anyone has a standard head unit in their XL7's?? and OR a book of how to use them as i would imagine it'd say clearly single DIN / Souble DIN unit!!!

so does anyone have one ? lol

[henno]

henno wrote:

In the interim, I highly recommend spending the cash on a decent FM modulator (in-line one so there is no FM interference). 2 minute job to install and a ten minute job if you want to "do it right" . Mine (jaycar) is better than I'd ever expected, if not kind of ugly in design. (To quote my girlfriend: "This was clearly designed by a man and not a woman." Me: "Yep. It actually works.")

That said, I took rough measurements on the depth of the head unit as that is the biggest inhibitor to a double-din install (apart from obviously cutting open the facia/HVAC to fit and making it look pretty).

The standard double-din is actually smaller in depth on the top than the bottom. This pic shows what I mean:




What I measured was what I considered a "safe" maximum depth for each tier, or in the case of a proper double-din the overall max depth based on the smallest DIN (the top).

Top: 145mm
Bottom: 160mm

Be aware that those measurements were entirely guestimated as there was no facia attached (and after more than a few cricket-inspired beers), so it was from the front of the face (facia unattached) to the rear with some "wiggle room" for cables etc. In reality it could probably be deeper than that, but I wanted a line in the sand to work out whether it was feasible in the first place. So if I find something tomorrow that is 161mm deep I'll be doing more research it it's $1000 but I'd just buy it if it was 100 bucks.

[Abraxix]

so Henno, if i'm reading this properly..
the picture, the device on the top is a standard double DIN?
and the bottom device is what has come out of the XL7 doubel DIN?

OR

is that entire thing in the photo what is classed as a double DIN and that's the side of what has come out i'd have to check what the back of the unit is that i'd be wanting to install correct?

i'll attach a photo of what i have currently,

[Abraxix]

so this is the unit that i have and as you can see they just used cheap o' plastic to fill in the blanks!

[henno]

Gross.

The "best" single-DIN one I have seen yet (although still not ideal, because I have no idea what you'd use the tiny slit for) is this one:

[henno]

Abraxix wrote:

so Henno, if i'm reading this properly..
the picture, the device on the top is a standard double DIN?
and the bottom device is what has come out of the XL7 doubel DIN?

OR

is that entire thing in the photo what is classed as a double DIN and that's the side of what has come out i'd have to check what the back of the unit is that i'd be wanting to install correct?

i'll attach a photo of what i have currently,

It is classed as a double-DIN... although you are also right in saying the top is a single-DIN and the bottom is a single-DIN... hence the double

Remember, a single DIN is not a collection of dimensions (length, width, depth, etc); depth has nothing to do with it. It's only the shape of the front opening, really. The problem with the Suzuki double-DIN is that the top is quite shallow so deeper double-DIN head units will extend too far (about the same as the bottom) and simply won't fit.

[Abraxix]

oh that's wonderful - news so if i am looking at the head unit i want i'd really need to see the size of the doubel din unit i want to buy to find out dimansions if it will fit or not??

in theory!!

[Abraxix]

http://www.pioneer.com.au/au/products/2 ... /page.html

this is the unit we're looking at getting at least so going to have to go back to the shop with the info you've given me and see what they think i reckon

[henno]

Looks like it might be a little deep:

http://docs.pioneer.eu/Manuals/AVH_X550 ... l/?Page=93



Bear in mind that my measurements were on the conservative side "just to be sure" so maybe take out your existing head unit and they might be able to dummy-fit (i.e. slide it in) to see if the depth is a problem.

[Abraxix]

so with risk of being the complete n00b...

my old suzuki x90 to get my facia off, i had to undo the entire centre console and slip over the hand break and gear stick...
it's not the same in the XL7 is it? as in the wood grain dash just comes off or somethign yeah???

[henno]

Yeah, it's rather easy if you take your time. Just the woodgrain bit. Maybe 5 minutes and half a dozen screws at best to get it off, even with taking your time.

[Abraxix]

where's the starting point? as pretty obviously it's all "hidden" and the screws are well can't see them anywehre obvious?

[henno]

Honestly, I can't remember. I think I started under the drink holders (that just pops out). I didn't actually take it completely off though, more just "out of the way" (left all of the wires attached to the aircon etc) as the DIN unit slides out between the gap easily.

[henno]

It's really not that difficult though. Just get started and take your time and it'll all be clear.

[Abraxix]

so this afternoon I got creative..

see below for any one who googles this hopefully these TAGS will help

how to remove an XL7 facia
how to remove an XL7 CD Player
how to remove an XL7 Radio
Grand Vitara CD removal
Grand Vitara Radio Removal


so basically there are 2X screws under the facia - well basically get down to Gear Stick level and you'll see them take them out and then get a screw driver (FLAT) and just slightly wedge in and pull out like a lever and there are little solid clips in there that will... unclip

once this is done vallah the whole unit basically slides out really easily..

1 question I have is how do you actually unclip the bottom of the unit??? seems to be attached to the "REAR" section of the air conditioning... seen in pic's "Rear" dial - i'll get a good chance with it on the weekend see if I can reach the plug and undo it

next pics hold the question I have

[Abraxix]

so my question is

I know it's hard to see in the photos but the whole "HOLE" where the device is seems empty and blank literally ALL over there is a massive hole if I as to take out the facial all together and then my HEAD UNIT. (will do this weekend)

but see measurements below.. the blurry one i'm sorry but it says 22cm's

basically tape measure butted up and parallel to the whole back of the dash. the ONLY thing that is in the way of the tape measure when measuring the square is the "wire harness" is looks like (pics are the blue cables)


this was tested and researched in an entire square with tape measure only thing in it's way was the wireing harness - measureing 17cm... (again see pics)

so with that in mind, short of pulling it all out and getting a positive good look at it.. looks like a 2004 will support a double DIN unit??