Car Hifi - DIY or "get a man in"?

DoubleCheese · 13 Oct 2009 at 21:50

Its an 06 Focus with a factory fit double din CD/Radio.
Their price breakdown is roughly something like £240 for the 103BT, £30 for the adaptor cables, £35 for the iPod cable and £30 for the steering column adaptor cables.
The 104BT is £270 as its just a silver 103 with cables included...apparently.

SoliD · 13 Oct 2009 at 22:34

So easy I would only ever get someone in if you have to dismantle the dash/doors to do anything, a simple hu swap over would be diy every day of the week!

Will · 13 Oct 2009 at 23:07

True that, its pretty straightforward though the Mk1 is easier. Hardest part is getting the bloody unit out, even with the correct (4) keys its a PITA....cut the hell out of my hands doing my Fiesta at the weekend

mattyprice4004 · 14 Oct 2009 at 09:36

Janesy B said:
My HU blew the stock speakers

I managed this in my Fiesta with a radio from Aldi

Reality Bites · 14 Oct 2009 at 10:00

Gav said:
5 quid for a double din fitting plate? from halfords? you obviously don't know the price of things.

harness adaptor - £10-£15
Fascia adaptor - £35-40
antenna adaptor - £5

total
£50-60 for parts alone.

I paid £15 for my single din fasica adaptor from halfrauds. I don't think i even needed a harness adaptor....the alpine unit i had fit straight on.

B@Th*nG · 14 Oct 2009 at 10:11

£100 to fit! bloody hell mate, i'm surprised you even asked! do it yersell, even if it takes a bit of reading then it's a skill you'll have and will be able to do it again and again

B@

waso_dude · 14 Oct 2009 at 12:11

DIY it, take a free afternoon and do it! Save £100 and learn about your car.

check out focus forums, there will be 100s of guides on how to do this.

Gav · 14 Oct 2009 at 20:27

Reality Bites said:
I paid £15 for my single din fasica adaptor from halfrauds. I don't think i even needed a harness adaptor....the alpine unit i had fit straight on.

double din plates are more expensive.. for example... bm5 5 series.. £10 for a single din and £100 for a double din.

Some cars don't need a harness adaptor - older vauxhall, vw etc...
Ford's do require one.

I would normally charge £50+parts to install one so the guy who quoted £100 including parts was pretty spot on.

MikeHunt79 · 14 Oct 2009 at 20:28

Janesy B said:
My HU blew the stock speakers

You must have had it turned up to 11 to manage that!

Janesy B · 14 Oct 2009 at 20:34

MikeHunt79 said:
You must have had it turned up to 11 to manage that!

35 actually

Howard · 14 Oct 2009 at 21:19

MikeHunt79 said:
You must have had it turned up to 11 to manage that!

Le_Petit_Lapin · 14 Oct 2009 at 23:30

DIY, hell I managed it!

Only takes about an hour too even if you've no idea where to begin.

DoubleCheese · 14 Oct 2009 at 23:52

ok, parts ordered and arriving tomorrow. Is there a special or part number for the flat "keys" that release the standard head unit? Would halfords stock them or anyone here fancy lending me theirs for a few days?

Sin_Chase · 15 Oct 2009 at 00:00

the Ford unit is the rounded barbed type is it not? My Mk1.5 was.

These:

If it has 4 holes in the front of the HU, it will be them.

You can half-arse it with a wire coathanger if you are apt enough with some fiddling.

Also, The MK1.5 is not Double din. It is like 1 and 3/4s.

DoubleCheese · 15 Oct 2009 at 00:04

Its a 2006 Focus and the slots are definitely flat/

BigglesPiP · 15 Oct 2009 at 00:06

Who would pay someone to install a HU? In fact, halfrauds are so good at it, they have burned out 2 cars over at fiatforum...

Just do it yourself, it's a piece of ****. I even found money in the dash when I changed mine.

RoysonBobson · 15 Oct 2009 at 00:53

I'd spend a few hours looking up guides on the internet before spending money on having someone else install it. It's (normally) by far the easiest job in car audio, and I'd certainly only pay someone if they were cheap, quick and the car was particularly notorious for HU replacement.