DIY Kits. Difficulty level??

[Macca86]

Ok so I was thinking about purchasing the DIY Combo kit for my VZ SV6 so I can have some RCA leads to hook my amp/sub up to and also be able to hook my ipod up to the standard system directly and not have to use the crappy FM transmitter im using atm. lol.

My question is exactly how hard is it to install the DIY kit? Im reasonable handy at doing things myself. I do all my own mechanical work on my cars and have hooked all my previous sound systems up myself but they were all after market head units.

[one_and_only2004]

You'd need an electronics degree to put the thing in - it's very specialised work. There's a fair whack of soldering in very tight spaces and I dare say you'd probably kill the head unit before you got it installed - Don't think I'm calling you an idiot or anything.

[wrx884]

have u done any electronic disasembling and soldering b4?

[Macca86]

Yeah Ive done soldering before but what one and only said is what I'd be most afraid of, killing the unit by stuffing up. So for the sake of $235 DIY or $270 installed Im much better off waiting til I can get to Sydney and get it installed by the pro im guessing?

[wrx884]

Its up 2 u man, Greg does provide excellent instructions but at the end of the day if ur not that confident then yeah might b best 2 wait till u can get 2 Greg or if u cant wait post it 2 him and im sure u could finish the last stage of the installation easy.

[Macca86]

Cool. Cheers for the advice guys I really want to get a dash lighting conversion done as well so I might just keep saving and get it all done in one hit and it will be worth a trip to sydney just to get it done.

[Essassin]

Just out of interest, why not just get an aftermarket H/U? The factory H/U sucks balls anyway, and for $270, you could get a decent aftermarket one with 2x RCA, aux and iPod connection. Then hold on to the factory one for resale or whatever.

[Macca86]

Yeah thats what Ive done with all my previous cars. In the VZ the stock unit just looks nicer though IMO, putting an aftermarket single DIN unit in just cheapens the look of it i think. If I had a grand to spend Id put a nice double DIN touchscreen unit in but thats out of my range atm.

[TMM]

Whack a single DIN in until you can afford a double DIN in.

I'm not trying to discredit Phreddy's kit (i have one) but for $270 you can get a way better single DIN headunit. Changing songs on an MP3/iPod is a major pain in the arse on a daily basis. Maybe if the car was a special weekender, but it's too much sacrifice in a daily just for better looks.

[wrx884]

Whack a single DIN in until you can afford a double DIN in.

I'm not trying to discredit Phreddy's kit (i have one) but for $270 you can get a way better single DIN headunit. Changing songs on an MP3/iPod is a major pain in the arse on a daily basis. Maybe if the car was a special weekender, but it's too much sacrifice in a daily just for better looks.

mayb so but u'll also lose the use of the steering wheel controls which costs more on top as nearly every1 wants them 2 work with their unit.

[Auzziephoenix]

Personally the original unit aint that bad, its just missing so much, itneeds mp3 playback, an aux, and the extra channels. But what i would love is a big touch screen, which fits in perfectly, and it flows with the dash, coz the head unit matches and from an asthetic veiw, thats important.. but the controls on the steering wheel... i've owned my car 3 months, havent used the unit controls once yet :P