Anyone got a WK Statesman?

[statey1975]

Hi guys.

Thinking about buying the above. Can anyone tell me if there are any dramas about replacing the standard head unit with something a bit more beefier? I heard somewhere that some features of the car rely on the head unit, and it upsets things like climate control etc.
Also wondering where the '10 speakers' come in. Does it have Subs already installed?
I haven't had a close look at this type of car yet, so I have no idea!

[SuperSixty6]

I don't own one, But work with them Often!

Sound system Contains:

x2 tweeters up on Front dash ---
x2 Mid range in Front Doors --- Both part of Component set
x2 Mid range in rear Doors (These are a 2way co-ax)
x2 Tweeters in rear roof (Near rear vanity mirror lamps)
x2 Mid woofers on the rear Parcel shelf

The front unit can be quite a pain, Generally speaking the rest of the system needs the front H/u to work properly!
For one, The upper dash LCD screen receives all information from the headunit, Remembering; time adjust, volume displays are all shown via the synced screen. Removing the H/u, Will result in that top screen only showing Air con control settings. (Date will also be Jan [Of when car was released])
The rear screens, and DVD player both also link to the front H/u. There maybe a way to sync the H/u to the screens and DVd player, But like many have said it just wouldn't be worth the cost. Put it this way, There is no simple solution!
If you are after addition sound, Your better of throwing a Bit one or the likes and keeping it all factory!

Cheers,
Super6

[statey1975]

Thanks for the reply and info.
I thought the rear DVD screens only came in the Caprice? I don't really know - as I've said, I haven't done a huge amount of research.
Reason I was asking, is I've got quite a nice Kenwood unit with integrated GPS, and a 7 inch touch screen. Be a shame to let it go to waste, but if it's going to upset everything else, I won't be installing it.

[SuperSixty6]

My Bad, Yes Screens only came in the Caprice - May have been a factory option though for Statesman?

In short yes, The Kenwood would not be worthwhile. In you are after GPS try finding Factory fitted, Or buy the separate unit.

Cheers.

[statey1975]

Bit of a shame, the Kenwood setup cost about 2.5k. But, I'm in love with the WK, so if I buy one, it'll stay stock. Might see what I can set up if/when I get one.

Thanks again.

[SuperSixty6]

Sorry, I am still thinking Caprice.

Wiring it into a "WK Statesman" shouldn't be too hard. First thing you would need to do, Is sort the low outputs on the Headunit (RCA) and make / buy suitable adaptors to fit the stock Amplfier (Providing you will use stock). You don't have the rear DVD player to sync to, So no drama's here.

I run a WL interior in my VY, So i have the top LCD dash with an aftermarket H/u. I wired the Alpine wiring harness to a stock plug, And have kept the original Headunit for adjustments on the top screen. You will have to perform a 'live swap' if you want to keep the time correct. This means for any disconnect of the battery, You will need the stock headunit to calibrate time etc.

By 'live swap', I fit the WL H/u as stock, With the battery connected i swap the factory H/u with my Alpine one (As said, with stock harness so its: Unplug -> Plug in), And the top screen works fine.

Hopefully we'll see a WK in your Threads soon enough

Cheers.

[statey1975]

So it should all work ok then, as long as I have the wiring for the outputs on my Kenwood right?
I bought an adapter from Super Cheap when I installed this unit in my current car, so I'm presuming I should be able to get one for the WK then....
No, wait. You said to use the low outputs on the Kenwood, so you wouldn't wire it into the normal speaker outputs, right? Hmmmm....it's been so long since I looked at the back of my Kenwood unit, I'm not 100% sure what outputs are there. I do know it has the sub outputs as I'm running a sub in my boot from them right now....

[Peach89]

Sorry, I am still thinking Caprice.

Wiring it into a "WK Statesman" shouldn't be too hard. First thing you would need to do, Is sort the low outputs on the Headunit (RCA) and make / buy suitable adaptors to fit the stock Amplfier (Providing you will use stock). You don't have the rear DVD player to sync to, So no drama's here.

I run a WL interior in my VY, So i have the top LCD dash with an aftermarket H/u. I wired the Alpine wiring harness to a stock plug, And have kept the original Headunit for adjustments on the top screen. You will have to perform a 'live swap' if you want to keep the time correct. This means for any disconnect of the battery, You will need the stock headunit to calibrate time etc.

By 'live swap', I fit the WL H/u as stock, With the battery connected i swap the factory H/u with my Alpine one (As said, with stock harness so its: Unplug -> Plug in), And the top screen works fine.

Hopefully we'll see a WK in your Threads soon enough

Cheers.

When you say "kept the stock H/u", do you mean its wired up still or not? I'm in the same boat only with WL Caprice, I want to put a aftermarket H/u in and still retain top LCD display aswell as cluster, plus also have steering wheel n roof controls... Im about 70% atm that i cant have all this

[TRIMA]

i bought a 7inch double din screen for my wk stato..only dramas ive been told is you will lose date and time/ track 1 cd 1 on the screen in the center console although the climate control will still show and on ur dash underneath the speedo youll lose the above aswell. oh and im pretty sure u lose the buttons on the steering wheel.

in my opinion not a major lose - the only drama im having is getting the stock headunit out as it requires a special tool or something like that (tried the coat hanger trick)

[SuperSixty6]

When you say "kept the stock H/u", do you mean its wired up still or not? I'm in the same boat only with WL Caprice, I want to put a aftermarket H/u in and still retain top LCD display aswell as cluster, plus also have steering wheel n roof controls... Im about 70% atm that i cant have all this

The best i could work out was to still have the date, However everytime power was lost you would have to put the stock headunit back in to reset. You can maintain steering controls for certain, Roof controls 'could' be possible, I guess it would be similar unit used as the steering wheel controls, However you would need to do all the cutting soldering yourself if it is possble (Put it this way, No ready to use kits unlike for the steering wheel controls).
I'll mention it because it's now the route i have chosen, Have you thought about using a processor? You'll get better sound, And maintain the stock look (The reason i have now gone back to the stock unit).

Cheers

[Peach89]

Maybe i should use stock unit.. but not sure
I was thinking the roof controls would be connected someway to the steering wheel controls maybe.. ahwell.. all a learning process i spose
cheers for the help

[TRIMA]

getting my headunit fitted soon let u know how i go

[Dan1211]

Hey, I've recently installed a double-din head unit in my wk statesman without knowing that you lose date and time etc. At first I was really disappointed but I've started to work around it.

Firstly, I've been told you can get holden to program the centre console screen to show the correct date and time. I'll find out for sure on the 30th November as I'm taking my car in for a service then.
Secondly, your awesome double din head unit should be awesome enough to show the time and volume etc. on its own screen. This means you'll just have to deal with the top screen displaying the wrong date and time for the time being.
Thirdly, you do lose steering wheel controls, but jb sell a wiring kit which they charge around $297 for. This will make them work. It's really expensive so I've decided to go without it until I finish my sound system.

Despite the loss of controlling date and time, plus steering controls - you get a second screen to display it for you, you get bluetooth, you get ipod connectivity, you get gps, you get a better equaliser, you get a dvd player. Above all, the amount of losses does not compare to the amount of gains. I personally think its worth it, because the steering controls can be fixed, and you wont be disconnecting your battery once you get your sound system down so yeah =].

And just so you know, don't get your head unit installed at jb. I got jb to install my head unit and when they did, I lost my parcel shelf speakers - BUT me and my mate got everything re-wired and it works fine.

[nscheg]

Yeah got a sweet Alpine unit with all the above features. Autobarn sell a wiring kit that will allow steering wheel controls to work for around $100 - I bought one of these and did the install myself and it's all working well.
I'm not overly stressed about the time/date issue. Didn't have the issue with losing the subs on the parcel shelf. It all works superbly.