D4 'Premium Audio' woes..

[Robocop]

If your like me and can't stand the 'premium audio' aka I wish I spent that extra 5 grand, then stay tuned. Do or die i'll find an alternative even if mines the guinea pig. I'm almost certain there is a way to get an aftermarket (not a cheap Chinese ripoff) that will fit in the space provided, run your iPod/iPhone, reverse camera, DVD and navigation and be controlled from the unit and steering wheel. From what i've seen already using the original speakers it would cost something around 3 grand.

To save me the initial trouble has anyone pulled out the OEM D4 premium audio head unit yet? and.. are there any other interested parties?

[Weird Al]

Yes, sounds good to me.

I am considering creating a car computer to do all that plus a few other things, like OBD gauges etc.

[CaverD3]

Definately a CarPC would be the way to go. The stereo is too integrated both pysically and electronically to be able to change easily.
Sick a touch screen in the main spot and either move the small screen or see if you can get it to input to the screen.

[TerryO]

A mate of mine keeps on raving about a new top of the line stereo, GPS, rear vision camera unit he just had fitted for $3,000 to his RRS.

He is blown away with how good it sounds and the functions it has plus how good it looks fitted into the hole the standard stereo was originally in.

I will find out what brand and model it is and post up here.

cheers,
Terry

[TerryO]

As promised here is the link to the unit he had fitted, as I said it has lots of other functions as well including Parrot hands free. It retails for 2k and he was charged about 1k to get it fitted supposedly.

As I said he is rapt with it and recons it fits perfectly and looks like it was a factory part.

Clarion Australia | NX501A

The LR workshop that fitted it for him in Sydney had a kit made up for fitment for D3/RRS and I think D4's.

cheers,
Terry

[curryinahurry]

Yes, sounds good to me.

I am considering creating a car computer to do all that plus a few other things, like OBD gauges etc.

+1 Watch this space.... I am going this way as well.

Looking at twin displays (one with touch screen to control the PC and the other just a dummy display.

I am researching processors and other alternates. Currenly looks like sub $800 kits from US!
Will do Bluetooth, Wi-fi, OBD dashs, Blu-ray player, check email, browse with other laptops for passengers, music, videos, GPS, etc!!

I will keep you posted.

Cheers

Bala

[Robocop]

As promised here is the link to the unit he had fitted, as I said it has lots of other functions as well including Parrot hands free. It retails for 2k and he was charged about 1k to get it fitted supposedly.

As I said he is rapt with it and recons it fits perfectly and looks like it was a factory part.

Clarion Australia | NX501A

The LR workshop that fitted it for him in Sydney had a kit made up for fitment for D3/RRS and I think D4's.

cheers,
Terry

Thanks Terry.. I haven't yet looked into the clarion units but thats what i'm talking about. I've linked the 'Alpine' alternative.

Alpine Electronics of Australia

From what i've read there are a number of add-on components. One in particular is the 'Alpine' video switcher/expansion module. I am yet to hear back from Alpine regarding how this can be applied to the oem stereo.

Alpine Electronics of Australia

[Robocop]

Has anyone pulled the factory stereo out yet? I'm very interested to see the connections behind and if it has the ability to control a CD stacker.

At the very least I could add in an iPod cable such as this hard wired via the AUX at the loom.

Clarion Australia | iPod Interfaces

[CaverD3]

Given the dash layout of the D4 I am not sure how it would fit instead of the OEM?
I think it would be too deep and wide for the screen space.

[TerryO]

I believe from listening to my mate that the Clarion unit has the CD/DVD built in and it totally replaces the whole standard stereo unit in the dash.

He said with the Parrot hands free that your phones phone book comes up on the screen and you can scan through the numbers on the stereo screen and select who you want to call or something like that. This might be nothing out of the norm with new aftermarket stereo's, that I'm not sure of.

One thing I do know is if I can only find a way of stopping him raving on about the bloody Clarion that would be good.

cheers,
Terry