Aftermarket stereo into P38

[v8kenny]

Hi Guys
Anyone ever fitted a non standard stereo into their rangie or have any tips ?
The cd changer is acting up on mine and I can't be ar*ed trying to fix it as it won't play my mp3 cd's anyway
I have pulled the original head unit out for a looksee prior to attacking it this weekend and it appears to have two amplifier leads going into the back of it - do I just not bother connecting these to new stereo and will it work OK ?
where are the amps anyway - I have heard in the doors but this seems a strange place for them ?
Any help, advice, diagrams or even abuse welcome !  

[waveydavey]

Have a look at this one:

http://www.rangie.com/articles_model.php?id=234&modelId=2

[waveydavey]

I thouhgt you would get more replies than that; if you look around the rangie.com site there is another article in much better detail but as I am on a sattelite connection at the moment my internet is very slow. It doesn't help when the ship is moving so the link is a moving target!

[v8kenny]

I thouhgt you would get more replies than that; if you look around the rangie.com site there is another article in much better detail but as I am on a sattelite connection at the moment my internet is very slow. It doesn't help when the ship is moving so the link is a moving target!

Yeah, so did I Dave - I guess it's not that common a thing to be doing to a P38
I spoke to a local auto electrician yesterday who is going to come and have a look - problem is I don't want to be paying him a fortune and I really don't want to start cutting wires willy- nilly
Why can't Land Rover just have ISO connectors the same as everyone else !
Iwill have a look round that site and see if it can help me more than here
Cheers

[Timi]

I thouhgt you would get more replies than that; if you look around the rangie.com site there is another article in much better detail but as I am on a sattelite connection at the moment my internet is very slow. It doesn't help when the ship is moving so the link is a moving target!

Problem is I don't want to be paying him a fortune and I really don't want to start cutting wires willy- nilly
Why can't Land Rover just have ISO connectors the same as everyone else !
Iwill have a look round that site and see if it can help me more than here
Cheers

I had conversation with BMW engineer who said that one of the apprentices attempted to fit an I-pod into an X5 which uses canbus technology and fried the wiring system because of an earth connection to a signalling wire, which resulted in about £2000 worth of repair work.  So be very careful when chosing who to do work! as the canbus systems in modern 4x4's are similar.

[v8kenny]

had conversation with BMW engineer who said that one of the apprentices attempted to fit an I-pod into an X5 which uses canbus technology and fried the wiring system because of an earth connection to a signalling wire, which resulted in about £2000 worth of repair work.  So be very careful when chosing who to do work! as the canbus systems in modern 4x4's are similar.

Thanks for the warning Timi - I think that's why I am leaning more to this auto electrician - he is supposed to specialise in ICE installations
At least if he balls up the thing he will be sorting it !
Just hate the thought of spending a fortune fitting a relatively stereo - maybe ask him for a quote when he comes for a look

[Grant]

Loads of threads on RR's.net

http://www.rangerovers.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=422&highlight=stereo

I've got a nak system with the amp etc in the spare wheel

[gords]

Have a look here to see if anything suits.

If that's not quite right, give Karl a ring and ask him as they don't list every possible product on the site - he's a very nice guy :D

By the way, I built their web site.

[v8kenny]

Thanks Grant & Gords
Some useful info in there - still feel it's a bit of a grey area so will take my time and research properly
I will post any worthwhile info I get on here for future reference !

[Range Rover Blues]

I replaced the system on the LSE because of the same thing and I just bypassed all the original wiring and started again.  I put an amp in the boot and ran heavy speaker wire forewards into the doors, I wired the sub striaght up to my amp because it's bridgeable.

The factory amp turned out to be behind the glovebox :? and the sub had it's own.  anyway, i'm more than happy with how it soounds now.

[clyde]

had a problem with my headunit last month. a new one would have cost £480 + vat from the deal. and you can only use compatible equipemt even though it's made by clarion. was told be several car audio companies to replace the head unit and bypass the amplifiers wiring (mine has a harmen cardon system) and then change the cd-changer cos it wont be compatible with any new head unit and kiss the steering wheel controls goodbye. which i tought was a little too much to due and it may devalue the car. so i went to audio electronics in bradford and handed over my headunit which they sent direct to clarion, they fit a complete new circuit board and replaced the front panel (basically left just the chasis) for £145 all in. i've spoken to them and the can do the same with landrover auto changers. have you tried ebay for a replacement ?

[v8kenny]

had a problem with my headunit last month. a new one would have cost £480 + vat from the deal. and you can only use compatible equipemt even though it's made by clarion. was told be several car audio companies to replace the head unit and bypass the amplifiers wiring (mine has a harmen cardon system) and then change the cd-changer cos it wont be compatible with any new head unit and kiss the steering wheel controls goodbye. which i tought was a little too much to due and it may devalue the car. so i went to audio electronics in bradford and handed over my headunit which they sent direct to clarion, they fit a complete new circuit board and replaced the front panel (basically left just the chasis) for £145 all in. i've spoken to them and the can do the same with landrover auto changers. have you tried ebay for a replacement ?

I have been watching ebay for ages but have never seen my particular head unit - I don't even know if it is the head unit that is faulty
The cd changer loads up OK but I can't access any of the discs via the head unit - the display on the head unit has stopped lighting up since I took it to see what wiring was behind it  :roll:
Mine is also the harmon cardon set up - I am still waiting on the local auto electrician to come and have a look and will need to make a choice from there
Don't know much about ICE - if I bypass the original amps will my new unit have one built in ?

[clyde]

allmost all "normal" headunits have built in amplifiers
i thought the harmen amplifier was in the boot above the auto changer. could be wrong though. so if you bypassed it, you'd have to run new speaker wire from the headunit to each speaker cluster and de-activate the amplifier and any new "normal headunit wont be able to use your original cd-changer.

[waveydavey]

I am not 100% certain on this but I am fairly confident that all the head units are Clarion.
Clarion dot the Head units and autochangers then the speakers are Harmon Kardon, basically that is what both companies do best.

[v8kenny]

allmost all "normal" headunits have built in amplifiers
i thought the harmen amplifier was in the boot above the auto changer. could be wrong though. so if you bypassed it, you'd have to run new speaker wire from the headunit to each speaker cluster and de-activate the amplifier and any new "normal headunit wont be able to use your original cd-changer.

Not too bothered about not being able to use the cd player as it won't plat all the mp3 cd's I have anyway
I thought the amps were in the front doors ? - wouldn't be surprised if I was wrong though !  

[v8kenny]

I am not 100% certain on this but I am fairly confident that all the head units are Clarion.
Clarion dot the Head units and autochangers then the speakers are Harmon Kardon, basically that is what both companies do best.

Not sure what it is although it does have a little land rover oval on the flap for cassettes - think I will whip it out again and see if it says on the back who makes it or any model nos.
I wish someone would come up with a wiring diagram for the amps speakers etc. - rave cd doesn't have much info - does the workshop manual if anyone has one ?
Oh Davey, - just reading in my local paper that your ship is due to berth in Greenock Ocean Terminal on 20th September - don't forget to give me a wavey err Davey as you sail past my house in Dunoon !  :lol:

[waveydavey]

I would give you a wave but it's the wrong ship; that is QE2 going back to where it was builty for it's birthday.

I am now on the second queen and I get my third queen at the end of the year - that doesn't sound good really does it?

I do have the manuals as PDF's but they are huge and I can't Email them via satellite. If you are not in a rush I can send them in MArch when I am home.

[v8kenny]

Ooops - sorry Dave, I thought that was the one you were on ! :lol:  :oops:

[Yoshi]

I thought Land Rover did use the standard ISO connectors?  I know they did on my 300tdi which still had the standard tape player when i got it and just swapped it for a cd player, straight swap!  Even the cage was a match!