New Owner

[WilkoP38A]

Hi Guys,
I've just picked up my first range rover and I think I may be hooked for life. I can't believe no one told me what I was missing out on for all these years.

Only one small hiccup - It came without a stereo head unit. I have found out it's an Apline units i'm seeking (Thanks Allan H and Andrew E) but looking further into it tonight I've also found that the kind person that removed the old head unit has cut the end off the CD changer cable at the head unit end (between the FM 13 pin din and the head unit). :wasntme: I also think I'm missing an ariel cable. Can anyone mail me a photo of the back of a head unit connected up so I can get it straight in my head what I need before investing in a head unit only to find out I can't connect it up. I have the the grey and brown ISO plugs that cover the speaker outputs and the power inputs for the head unit (and i think it does power out to the door amplifiers, also a small 8 pin yellow connector that has only two wires which I think are something to do with sending a "fire up" signal to the cd changer, i'm guessing that the missing end of my cut wire went into another ISO plug and may have also split off to make the missing ariel (amplifier?) plug.

Or a suggestion about an alternative head unit (radio/cd) that has appropriate low line level outputs, also what effect will the missing (2nd) ariel plug , can't afford a professional audio upgrade - I'm saving up for my first vechile service :D

How many ariels should I been looking for on this thing? There's also no subwoofer on this model MY1999 4.0S with Bosch electrics.

Still love the car but you can only spend so much time enjoying the roar of a V8, sometimes it's nice to have a little background music.

Cheers
Rob

[Aussie]

Still love the car

Another Brother from a different mother.

Ahh I see the bug has bitten. I will be upgrading my headunit and removing my CD player in approx 1 months time. If you are still in need of these parts then for a small fee they are all yours my friend.

Oh and yes its an Alpine head unit

[big guy]

May I suggest you upgrade to a new alpine unit with inbuilt Bluetooth etc.
They are more reliable and the cd changer will bite the dust soon anyhow if it hasn't already.
Try TRS in SA if you are after original parts. They have plenty in stock.
If you do upgrade, they charge only a small install fee for wiring up radio/cd players.

I did mine in a Disco and they did great job and sounds so much better.
Even consider changing speakers as standard Land Rover ones are crap unless you have the H/K upgrade fitted.

The guys at the audio shops know exactly what goes where and do it in half the time we could ever do it.

[Junosi]

Hi Rob, welcome to the club.

I'd definitely be fitting a new head unit rather than pursuing any of the original ones, they're pretty dated now... and as BigGuy said if the cd player goes at all it'll be on its last legs.

I fitted a new Alpine digital only unit to mine - meaning it has no cd/dvd input, only mp3, ipod and radio. Which I love as I can throw all my music on a memory stick and just plug the stick into the stereos USB.

If you need any adapters to make an after market head unit work then Range Rover Car Stereo Fitting Kits - Nexxia (http://www.nexxia.co.uk/Car_Stereo_fitting_kits/range_rover.htm) has a good selection.

Here's my Alpine - I got some little wood finish inserts to fit either side of it too to match the rest of the dash.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/02/1598.jpg

[Razza's Rangie]

Hey mate,

many happy years driving...

now on to the Radio, I recently had mine die on me, after a quick visit to my local stereo guy he said that i can fit any head unit, All i needed was an inverter/converter, thingy ( if you tell them each door has its own amplifier they will know what to provide) and then in an afternoon, i fitted it myself, the instructions were pretty easy and like the other guys say, just get a head unit with features your likely to use, bluetooth etc... this was only a temp fix but works really well.



Ill be posting new pictures of mine soon, I have got the factory sat nav which is getting replaced with an Alpine Sat nav/dvd/radio head unit and a UHF in the radio slot.

Hope that helps a little bit
RAz

[PaulP38a]

I really don't understand why people want to stick with the original head unit... they weren't that good. I have this Kenwood unit in mine which I'm pretty happy with and it was fairly simple to install myself... and when the screen is retracted it doesn't look out of place at all. You'll pay around $2k including the GPS and bluetooth modules.
http://paulp38a.com/gallery/d/2620-1/IMG_1537.jpg
http://paulp38a.com/gallery/d/2622-1/IMG_1539.jpg

Beware the $500 eBay specials like the one below. Performs poorly and looks pretty average too. iPod integration is very clumsy.
http://paulp38a.com/gallery/d/2487-1/IMG_1441.jpg

Predecessor to the eBay and Kenwood units was this JVC unit. Arguably still the best (hidden) iPod control but no bluetooth or GPS. Tilt screen was handy for glare.
http://paulp38a.com/gallery/d/886-1/0907-RR-Misc-001.JPG

Cheers, Paul.

[WilkoP38A]

Hi Guys

Many thanks for the posts and PMs with adivce and suggestions. I have just installed an after market Sony HU into the existing speaker set up - works like a charm.

I have a 10 stacker Sony that I removed. Don't know what condition it's in, but it's free to a good home.

Cheers
Rob

[p38arover]

I really don't understand why people want to stick with the original head unit... they weren't that good. .

Plenty good enough for me. :)


I have this Kenwood unit in mine which I'm pretty happy with and it was fairly simple to install myself... and when the screen is retracted it doesn't look out of place at all. You'll pay around $2k including the GPS and bluetooth modules.

Another good reason to stay original! :angel:

[p38arover]

If you need any adapters to make an after market head unit work then Range Rover Car Stereo Fitting Kits - Nexxia (http://www.nexxia.co.uk/Car_Stereo_fitting_kits/range_rover.htm) has a good selection.

Nothing there for cars with the Clarion radio/CD.