I know there used to be a thread about this in the VZ section but I can't seem to locate it anymore. Either I'm blind or it's been moved or buried. To all you guys who have put in aftermarket head units into a VY or VZ, what menu functionality did you lose and was it able to be rectified? Also, what kind of experience have people had with doubledin aftermarket head units? I know I could put a single DIN unit in but from the photos I've seen, those blank cover/false plate things look pretty tacky. I've missed the mp3 functionality I used to have in my old VS (Pioneer DEH-5550MP) so I'm pondering doing a head unit upgrade. I've pondered over Phreddy's AUX-in mod (great work btw) but I'd still need to buy an ipod or something anyway so either way it's an expensive exercise. ************** Edit: sorry, the menu I'm referring to is the car's dash menu, not any menus or other functionality of the head unit itself.
Hiya Davo - as far as I know the menus from your HUD (the display in the cluster) will be lost forever. Units can be bought which will allow some A/M head units to work with the steering wheel buttons (as I'm sure you're aware), but the data which is displayed in the HUD comes via the BCM. The Blaupunkt was designed to talk to the BCM, whereas I'm not aware of ANY A/M head unit which is capable of doing this. Then again, I could be wrong too! (I did say "as far as I know"....) Cheerz!
Well, I finally bit the bullet and installed a new head unit so here's the final verdict. I installed a JVC KD-DV6105 DVD/CD/MP3 head unit without screen as I wanted the giga-mp3 functionality (mp3 playback on DVD discs - 1000+ songs on a single disc), not movies. I wired it up using an Aerpro ISO - Kenwood harness as they didn't have a JVC one but they use the same DIN plug and the only wiring I had to change was the 12v constant and 12v accessories on the ISO side of the plug - everything else was the same (oh the front/rear speakers are reversed as well but since I have the fade at zero anyway it's fine and it's no big deal to change later if I ever feel the need to - left/right is correct - and I'm only running factory speakers). As for the HUD menus, all fine, no problems whatsoever. It's omitted a few options such as (obviously) the stereo ones like speed dependent volume and distortion limiter (neither of which I ever used), oh and I think there may be a couple of others missing too but I'm not 100% sure, I'll have to make a note of what's showing and compare notes with someone else to confirm - but the majority are still there and accessed as per normal and not slow like someone reported experiencing with a VY. So overall, no problems at all. MUCH better sounding head unit. Kicks the arse off the Blaupunkt unit - the factory speakers are a lot better quality than I originally gave them credit for. The whole system can go a lot louder with more intensity before hitting the point of distortion. And for $499 from JB it was a bargin.
Well I'll be buttered on both sides! Thanks for that info Davo - it seems I was incorrect! Cheerz. :thumbsup:
Great news on the option menu still working, My VY still has all the menu functionality (except anything to do with the stereo obviously) but as you mentioned it is slower to scroll through it all, you have to hold the buttons in for a tad bit longer that usual to go to the next function, once you exit out of the options menu it is the same as before so its weird but all is good, interesting to hear your story having done it to a VZ as there were people complaining that they lost all their start up options, but I was wondering what they would have changed between VY and VZ to make this happen, but obviously nothing if yours is all ok, gives the other VZ people with problems something to think about eh!.
i have replaced my standard 6 stacker in my VZ with and aftermarket one and have had no problems at all. Still have all the options on start up except the ones that deal with the standard unit. Also scrolling through the options is normal unlike other has stated to be a bit slow. So all in all a good investment
all you will loose from the menu are the audio ones, the bcm is clever enough to know the data is not available so it will not display anything. the speed of the displays will not be affected, dont know whats going on there Rob
