Thread: Double DIN Defender dashes - anyone done one?

Originally Posted by enchappo

Hi Mick,

There are a bunch of different people who re-sell the double DIN defender fascia units, but I believe almost all are manufactured in Germany (not sure if Nakatanenga is actually the manufacturer or just the primary distributor). I bought mine (online) from Land Rover Tuning here in NSW. As far as I could tell when I was looking, the landed cost is pretty much around the $600 mark regardless of where you buy it from. Which is bloody steep for a bit of plastic! If someone can easily replicate them for less there's a market there I would have thought...

You have to cut off (and keep, so cut it neatly ) the part at the top with the air vents and clock. That gets reinstalled above the new double DIN fascia. You also have to trim back the base of the clock housing, which would hit your new stereo/navi unit otherwise.

I think it takes any 7" unit, but I don't know so double check this. I installed the Alpine INE-W957A, which is great (but not cheap). Lots of options on ebay though.

Really the only reason it was a PITA is because I kept trying to take shortcuts... I thought I could get away without separating the wiring loom to the switches (and then with only separating it less than ended up being necessary), and without removing the metal bracket which sits directly behind where the new stereo unit would go. Lesson: you do need to do these things. Otherwise you've got to disconnect all your switch wiring and pull the bloody thing out again. Multiple times. I did manage to do it without extending the loom though, so that was a big plus.

Another thing to watch out for is to make sure you've got compatible plugs to connect the new unit to the old loom - should ideally be mostly plug and play, but there are lots of different connectors out there (even in the same brand stereo) so just check. May need to wire into the handbrake warning lamp circuit (or just earth this wire) depending on what sort of system you install.

Other than that, cutting dash panel beside the steering wheel to fit the new relocated switch panel took me some time to get right... I erred on the side of cutting it too small to start off with, and it took a lot of fiddling to enlarge to exactly the right size. That's probably just operator error though!

Anything else just ask.

Nick

Thanks for that detailed answer - very helpful. I'm just trying to figure out if I will do it. I like the idea but I can see the costs mounting, particularly if I got an installer to do it.

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Thanks for that detailed answer - very helpful. I'm just trying to figure out if I will do it. I like the idea but I can see the costs mounting, particularly if I got an installer to do it.

Yep - essentially it's pretty much an expensive way of decluttering the dash. For the money I spent, I could have bought other kit that would actually help make the Defender better at doing what it does best... a winch, etc. But most of my cost was the Alpine unit I put in, and you could do it a heap cheaper. Still, I think you've got to weigh up how much it really matters to you. (Personally I'd definitely still do it if I had my time again... hopefully I'd just do it quicker second time around...)

Unless you can find an installer who has actually done this install on a Defender previously -and there wouldn't be too many around - I reckon you're better off to do it yourself (unless they guarantee a fixed price beforehand that you're happy with). The tricky/time consuming bits are the quirky things that you'd already know more about from reading these and other threads (lots on Defender2 btw) than they would. And there's nothing challenging electricallly or mechanically.

I bought the kit straight from Germany 'cause at the time it seemed cheaper than Oz stockist. Was probably just a currency fluctuations thing.

I got Northfield car sound at Nundah to fit it, along with purchasing an Alpine unit and reversing cam from them, which they did for a very reasonable price, IMO not worth the time spoken of on here. They did a good job. I think the profit on sale of the unit probably cross subsidises the install.

Northfield can also source the kit, but at similar price.

I'm very happy with the result

Ive just spent a sheet load at Freeway audio in Dandenong.
Funny how a query on Reverse sensors/camera turns into a conversation about 2-din install. I put a grand down to lesson the burden come payment time, which hopefully is next week when they do the install.
I'll post pics when its done.

I ordered:-

• Alpine INE-W987D
• Stinger 2 Din Fascia
• Reverse camera integrated into the Alpine Head unit (turns on when reverse selected)
• Reverse Sensors (drilled into rear bumper)
• Fitting included etc..

Just put in a flip out sat Nav deck. That's what I did. Alpine make a great one

I was going to so the same but was concerned with the effect of corrigations, vibration etc on the flip out mechanism.
Do you think its an issue?
Ken

Originally Posted by D90 orkney

Just put in a flip out sat Nav deck. That's what I did. Alpine make a great one

Originally Posted by Baytown

I was going to so the same but was concerned with the effect of corrigations, vibration etc on the flip out mechanism.
Do you think its an issue?
Ken

Yeah I worry about it when off road. I just flip it back in when it's rough road. I don't need the sat Nav when I'm off road. I like to use maps and iPad

I am interested in doing this

I thimk I'll get my wireless from this mob...
( direct from factory in most cases)

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