Thread: Defender double din install

I'm doing mine right now. I found this guys experience to be helpful...

Land Rover Double DIN dashboard fitted | Landroverweb.com

Thank you for that link, it's just what I'm looking for.
Ken

I found with my install today that the head unit was too deep to fit without some mods.

1) I had to remove the steel bracket directly behind the head unit. This was easy to do and doesn't compromise the structural interigty of the dash.

2) The head unit was fouling on the plastic ducting for the windscreen vents also directly behind the head unit, so I used a heat gun to soften the plastic and pushed it in with a block of wood and held it in position until it cooled and hardened. The plastic bent easily and after three cautious attemps I found the right depth I had to push the plastic in to get the head unit to fit. A bit of a pain in the ass but it's all in now and looks good.

3) In the link I posted, the bloke said after he had re-installed the dash he was getting light spill from the dash bulbs due to the dash sitting about 1mm futher out. In anticipation of this I stuck sponge foam tape (Raven brand draft stopper from bunnings) on the back of the dash anywhere I could see light getting through. Worked perfectly.

Great tips, thanks.
I was aware of the depth issue with CD playing Double din head units, so will be after an Alpine Apple Car play unit without DVD function. They aren't as deep due to no CD mechanism.
The foam is a good idea.
I'll post my install here as well.
Ken

I fitted mine a few weeks ago, I put in the pioneer avh-x8850bt, with car play and android auto, I wanted it for the android, don't have an apple.

I know all up it is an expensive upgrade, but boy we all love it, even my 3 year old daughter who shouts out "play frozen music" she does not know that you have to press the mic button first..

The pioneer fitted in well, had to take it out a few times to get the cables in better, and it does sit on the air duct slightly so is pushed out a few mm, but at the moment that is no biggy as I still have the hazard light plug/cable sticking out the corner between the clock and dash part, I managed to get all switches in bar that one without having to use the extra switch bezel, I saw a post somewhere of someone cutting and smoothing switch bezels out of the old dash and placing them on the cubby box, so i am thinking of trying this with the hazard light bezel, that way I just have one switch on the side dash, or maybe I will just bite the bullet and put in the big side panel for future expansion..

If I did it again I would get some spare metal clips that go on the panel, it is a pain getting the old ones off and I think it made them weak, also with having to remove the panel a few times the broke so don't hold as well, I will be ordering some soon. Or as I read somewhere do a dry fit first without putting the clips on.

Either way a great upgrade!!

I notice Britpart advertising a double din kit in the latest Land Rover Owner International mag. Not sure if it is the same as the German kit.

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Originally Posted by patclan

I fitted mine a few weeks ago, I put in the pioneer avh-x8850bt, with car play and android auto, I wanted it for the android, don't have an apple.

I know all up it is an expensive upgrade, but boy we all love it, even my 3 year old daughter who shouts out "play frozen music" she does not know that you have to press the mic button first..

The pioneer fitted in well, had to take it out a few times to get the cables in better, and it does sit on the air duct slightly so is pushed out a few mm, but at the moment that is no biggy as I still have the hazard light plug/cable sticking out the corner between the clock and dash part, I managed to get all switches in bar that one without having to use the extra switch bezel, I saw a post somewhere of someone cutting and smoothing switch bezels out of the old dash and placing them on the cubby box, so i am thinking of trying this with the hazard light bezel, that way I just have one switch on the side dash, or maybe I will just bite the bullet and put in the big side panel for future expansion..

If I did it again I would get some spare metal clips that go on the panel, it is a pain getting the old ones off and I think it made them weak, also with having to remove the panel a few times the broke so don't hold as well, I will be ordering some soon. Or as I read somewhere do a dry fit first without putting the clips on.

Either way a great upgrade!!

That's the same HU I installed. There's no way mine would have fitted with taking out the bracket and modding the aircon ducting. Odd.

I absolutely agree re the clips. I lost a few in the black abyss behind the dash when they popped off removing the dash. Hell of a pain trying to find them and get them out.

I mounted my hazard switch in the center of the (pen holding?) tray ontop of the dash. The switch has its own slight bezel so it dropped without any gaps. There is no need to lengthen the wiring to mount it here.

Originally Posted by alittlebitconcerned

That's the same HU I installed. There's no way mine would have fitted with taking out the bracket and modding the aircon ducting. Odd.

I absolutely agree re the clips. I lost a few in the black abyss behind the dash when they popped off removing the dash. Hell of a pain trying to find them and get them out.

I mounted my hazard switch in the center of the (pen holding?) tray ontop of the dash. The switch has its own slight bezel so it dropped without any gaps. There is no need to lengthen the wiring to mount it here.

Ha yeah I should have said I took the metal bracket out, forgot about that bit as I did it as part of the pull out of the dash.

I lost 2 clips down the back also, found 1 ok, the other I could see but when I went for it it disappeared took me hours to find it.

I will check out putting the hazard up there sounds a good idea cheers..

It's a great head unit so far. Picking up a lot more radio stations too, I upgraded the Fm aerial a while back which made a slight improvement but this is now on par with the misses little Mazda which stops her comparing.

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