Having the opportunity to compare the two different systems in identical cars, I like the simplicity of the discreet climate control and Alpine entertainment components verses the all in one radio/climate control with navigation plus I have never used the navigation ever. My question is has anyone ever tried to swap the two systems and was it successful? If it can be done, how difficult is it and is it really worth it? since I am parting out the Florida car and it has the discrete pieces, I have all of the parts I just do not have any experience with the optical cable setup these cars have and I do not want to get myself in a position that I will not have AC or an operational sound system. The system in the Florida car that was wrecked was fully operational and everything worked great so I know I have working components to start out with and I would then sell the Nav/Audio components. I have done some comparisons of the visible parts and all of the part numbers on the amplifier(s) are the same and all of the cabling in the rear also seems to be the same including the optical cable.
Is this a reasonable idea or should I just leave everything alone and just sell the working parts from the wrecked car and continue to live with the original system?

 

Georges Jag, having a parts car with what you want is going to make this a lot cheaper (notice, not easier). In short, you are going to rip the dash out of the car that you want, rip the dash out of the parts car, now, replace all the heater-A/C stuff from the parts car into the good car, finish replacing the dash. You have a very big project ahead of you and you are going to be spending tons of hours moving stuff over. There is not a lot that is shared between the two systems. Can it be done. Sure. But I think you are biting off way more than you are thinking. This is not a simple swap out the screen, piece above the basic radio, move a few wires and tada, done. Not that simple.