timmus
A2OC Donor
Exactly how is this better for Bose?
Double-DIN dash?
- Thread starter dan_b
- Start date
Exactly how is this better for Bose?
dan_b
A2OC Donor
Hi Dan,
not being next to the car I cannot confirm the cubby hole thingy, but my memory tells me that the cubby is now in the middle with the air con unit placed at the bottom and the pioneer at the top. What I don't appear to have, although again that needs further investigation, is the 6 CD changer in the boot. Again, I notice an empty slot (in the boot), but thought that the other grey box was it.....This later turned out to be an air pump....So although I have the head unit, I don't think I have the CD changer....Unless it's somewhere else in the car. I really need to play some more with it....Damned work....gets in the way!
not being next to the car I cannot confirm the cubby hole thingy, but my memory tells me that the cubby is now in the middle with the air con unit placed at the bottom and the pioneer at the top. What I don't appear to have, although again that needs further investigation, is the 6 CD changer in the boot. Again, I notice an empty slot (in the boot), but thought that the other grey box was it.....This later turned out to be an air pump....So although I have the head unit, I don't think I have the CD changer....Unless it's somewhere else in the car. I really need to play some more with it....Damned work....gets in the way!
timmus
A2OC Donor
Ok!
Given that all the Audi head units use the same DAC and pipe that signal out of the pre-outs, it makes no difference whether you're using a Concert or a Symphony unit in combination with Bose. The only differences are the obvious ones; the Symphony unit has an integrated 6CD changer and can play cassettes!
timmus
A2OC Donor
The Symphony unit which we believe was originally in your car had the CD changer integrated, meaning you could load 6 CDs into the head unit. Boot-mounted CD changers also exists (both Dan and I have got one), but they're not fitted under the floor where you're looking.
It sounds like someone has put an aftermarket stereo in your car and then 'encouraged' the single-DIN cubby hole to fit into a space it's not designed for. I think it's probably best if you take a photo or two and upload them for us to have a look at. Hopefully a previous owner hasn't made a meal of your double-DIN dash by hacking at it!
Tom
Yes...that would be unfortunate....See what happens when you get a novice car buyer going out there into the big bad world??
dan_b
A2OC Donor
Agree - post a photo or two up, sounds like a bit of a mysterious install you might have here!
The boot-mounted CD changer is actually located in its own piece of boot trim on the right hand side of the boot.
See this photo, you can see the CD changer at the top right of the boot area
: http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQM_I2UN_54NI7khP8S-FD79dbtQIowwiYkqT1ofAnootjsmJoIT33VUbYn
What you see under the battery flap is a space used for the air compressor, and, if fitted, the diversity aerial package...
The boot-mounted CD changer is actually located in its own piece of boot trim on the right hand side of the boot.
See this photo, you can see the CD changer at the top right of the boot area
: http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQM_I2UN_54NI7khP8S-FD79dbtQIowwiYkqT1ofAnootjsmJoIT33VUbYn
What you see under the battery flap is a space used for the air compressor, and, if fitted, the diversity aerial package...
dan_b
A2OC Donor
Yes, what you have there is the genuine Audi Symphony Head unit and a double-DIN dash. Someone has retrofitted an aftermarket head unit in and bodged in a cubby hole to fill the space. How odd!
If I were you, I'd drop the Symphony back in ASAP - it's a nice unit, has the built-in 6xCD changer as described above, and then if you're keen on the RNS-E upgrade, begin your hunt for parts in the meantime.
Do you have the security code for the Symphony unit?
If I were you, I'd drop the Symphony back in ASAP - it's a nice unit, has the built-in 6xCD changer as described above, and then if you're keen on the RNS-E upgrade, begin your hunt for parts in the meantime.
Do you have the security code for the Symphony unit?
timmus
A2OC Donor
I'd also be inclined to get the aftermarket stuff out of there and put the Symphony unit back in. The aftermarket products appear to use fascia adapters, so hopefully you'll find the dash itself still in its original condition. Hopefully no re-wiring was required when the stereo was swapped, meaning going back to the original Audi unit will just be plug-n-pray!
no....which could be a problem unless there is a clever software work around...
dan_b
A2OC Donor
Love that!
plug-n-pray!
I'd also be inclined to get the aftermarket stuff out of there and put the Symphony unit back in. The aftermarket products appear to use fascia adapters, so hopefully you'll find the dash itself still in its original condition. Hopefully no re-wiring was required when the stereo was swapped, meaning going back to the original Audi unit will just be plug-n-pray!
I am aware that the unit that's in there now is wired for bluetooth hands free phone. There is a mic on the rear view mirror. I tested it and it works with my phone....so I can only assume that there have been some mods behind to make this happen. I quite like the idea of handsfree though..especially for the wife, although it's so damn complicated to pair that I doubt she will ever use it....That and the fact that she always forgets to take the pioneer facia out with her, so ends up in silence in the car, much to my sons' disgust.
chumsofmanutd
A2OC Donor
It should be noted that only Symphony 2's have the 6 disc changer integrated (your example IS a version 2). The earlier first version Symphony only accept one disc/tape.
Cheers
Rob.
Cheers
Rob.
On another note, I assume that to change the worn out buttons on the climate control I need to buy a whole new unit? Now that I've learnt that the dash is a double Din this would suggest that I have to find one with curved bottom edges - so not like this one:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150957659396?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2648
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150957659396?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2648
dan_b
A2OC Donor
There are several options you could take.
1. buy some of the stickers that are occasionally for sale on Ebay. These sort of don't really match, but look better than scratched to bits ones.
2. try and source a double-DIN unit from a breakers/ ebay - but they don't come up that often
3. source a single-DIN one and attack it with a dremel to shape it.
4. wait a couple of months until I the spare double-DIN one I have will be availble for sale...
Note - until about 2001, the A2 had a darker black, hard plastic surface on the controls. After then, they changed to a more pleasant tactile "soul black" dark grey, slightly rubbery finish. It's this latter finish that rubs off. The unit you've seen on Ebay is an early one with the hard black plastic
1. buy some of the stickers that are occasionally for sale on Ebay. These sort of don't really match, but look better than scratched to bits ones.
2. try and source a double-DIN unit from a breakers/ ebay - but they don't come up that often
3. source a single-DIN one and attack it with a dremel to shape it.
4. wait a couple of months until I the spare double-DIN one I have will be availble for sale...
Note - until about 2001, the A2 had a darker black, hard plastic surface on the controls. After then, they changed to a more pleasant tactile "soul black" dark grey, slightly rubbery finish. It's this latter finish that rubs off. The unit you've seen on Ebay is an early one with the hard black plastic
timmus
A2OC Donor
5. Buy any unit (whether it's got curved edges or not) with decent buttons and swap the buttons into your existing unit.
kinda like this one?:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281035690529?_trksid=p5197.c0.m619
oh and don't go bidding against me...pfffff
timmus
A2OC Donor
Yeah, that'd do the trick. Although the fascia for the A4 is different, the buttons are the same.
Note that this A4 unit uses the slightly darker black that Dan describes. If you swapped the buttons, there'd be a slight contrast between the buttons and the fascia, which may or may not bother you. The darker black buttons won't wear out, though!
In my car, the whole climate control panel pre-dates the use of the dreaded soft-touch coating, exactly like the panel you found on eBay: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150957659396
Although this panel has square edges and is therefore designed for a single-DIN dash, the corners can be rounded using a fine-toothed saw, a file and lots of patience to create a perfect fit for the double-DIN dash.
Tom