Haha! Thanks to you I have ordered the Pioneer mvh-x560bt too. Using the trip computer space would be a big improvement but I think the climate control unit is in the way....

You can also see in the photo that my old full-size Sony isn't all the way in. It's a real challenge getting it in with RCA cables etc plugged into the back.

 

Greg, will 90 degree cables not even fit? They were plentiful when I was a kid.
I just found some on Amazon!
(';')

 

Yes they would Lnr but its the sheer number of wires back there that's the problem. I think I'd need to use a long flat thing to manoeuvre them around while pushing the radio in...frustrating and I'm not dedicated to it since I only hooked up this head unit to have something try my new speakers on until I found a media player head unit (with no CD player). I did give it a good try when the leather was red, and very nearly succeeded but not quite.

 

My new stereo arrives tomorrow!!! i decided to pull old unit out today in preparation, when i slid the releasing tools down the side, the old unit popped about an inch forward by itself! I remember having an issue forcing it in, but didn't know i had forced it in that much!! probably explains why my sound quality fades! no room for anything to breath!!

 

I think they're spring loaded somehow, Darren.
Mine has virtually Nothing behind it and it popped out like that when the locks were released.
(';')

 

I have necounterd that too, but i have same issue as mkii250, wayyyy too much wire behind it plus its a wee bit deeper than a normal stereo, its already out now, and son wasted no time at all claiming it and installing it in his ford focus! went in easy on that car, with room to spare!!!!


New stereo arrives today, ( or so fedex says) wont be able to install tonight though as my daughter has a crew meet! I had no idea rowing took up so much time! 3 days a week for a minimum of 2 hours!!
Oh well, Its better than her sitting around playing video games!!!

 

well, its here!! havent had a chance to install it yet but its out of the box!! it is TINY!!!

there will be no issues at all installing it!!

 

when the PO put the old radio in my car they just shoved in the radio so you could pull out the entire radio whenever you felt like it
(it was also wired horribly but that's a completely different story all on its own)

i put the pioneer DEH-X6500BT in after the old radio's face kind of fell off
it does everything i wanted it to do when includes being bright and flashy

(its not that bright)
later on i do plan on putting twin 13" subs to give it more bump in the trunk

 

Awww......
Darren that's Cute! You could almost put that in one of the ashtrays! haha!
(';')

 

I got the radio installed last night! Radio itself was a breeze, it was the ancillaries that proved to be a pain in ***!! i had to drill a one inch hole between passenger ashtray and window switches to install the plug for the usb and aux plug, then running the wires was no fun, i have large hands they barely fit into the radio aperture so i got that done then onto the mic for the phone! i got it all done though but it was dark by that time and the pics i took were nothing but glare from the flash, so i will take some more tonight before its dark to post!!!

Radio itself sounds good and has so many programming options its mind blowing, you even get to change the colour of the lights!!! i went with green to match the trip computer!!

 

Hare are some pics of the final installation! looks really good! i took some of it powered on but my camera aint that good so it just made it blurry!!!


You can see the usb and aux port on the ski ramp, and also the mic for the phone up by the visor!! it comes with a clip for the visor but i didnt like the way it looked! so i ran wire backwards after i hit top of glass and then tucked body of mic behind the trim! it is pretty hidden unless you are actually looking for it!
I called the wife from it and she could hear me fine! and she was coming out of teh stereo speakers so she was plenty loud, i cannot say how it will work driving, probably less than useless if i have window open but closed and with ac on should be fine!!

 

Nice job, Darren!
It looks like you even planned it that way.
I especially like your usb port.
(';')

 

Darren, how did you secure the head unit in the hole? I'm finding that the unit is so light (weight) that it doesn't sit still where it should.

 

I just bent the little tabs in the sleeve and its nice and tight. Mind you i cut the original hole for the other radio and made it a very tight fit! Gotta love a dremel!!!

 

Bump for stereo question and moving to trip area

 

LIke your change - couple of questions: does this head support a CD player - I have one in the boot; and does the electric antenna still "do its thing" when you turn this on?

 

It’s been so long since I did the install I don’t recall if there was a port in back for a CD player/ changer, and yes antenna still goes up and down via the new radio( if it did before). I replaced the mast twice ( somehow it was getting bent and would stop going back down) before I gave up and just installed a short black rubber one!!!

btw, daughter has a vw beetle ( not that the car matters) and radio went out, because I like mine I wanted to buy one just like it, it’s NLA!!!! Unles you find a used one!
good luck with whatever you do!

 

This particular unit only has a 1/8" AUX input on the back. Specs here: https://www.crutchfield.ca/S-Zg7gq0F...VH-X560BT.html

Can't believe it's been so long since installation. Still very happy with the equipment.