head unit problem

[mmosquera89]

Before I start, I wanna say hello to everyone. I am new to the forums and I wanna get a question dealing with a flip screen head unit.

I have a 96 318ti and I had bought a Clarion VZ409 from the internet, brand new never opened. When I went to have it installed yesterday at a car audio place, they had installed it but it was a sloppy job, the surroundings on the head unit was falling every time that I flip out the screen. They had first explained to me that the only way that it could fit correctly is that they had to get rid of some wire(?) that is for the ac, but I believe that it's bull****. I am taking it back on Monday since they forgot to put the iPod cable, so is there any way that it can be fixed without having to get rid of anything that is vital to the car?

[tiFreak]

sounds like BS to me, that or the people working there are too dumb to figure out that you have to jiggle the wires out of the way, it's definitely a tight fit in these cars but nothing has to be removed

[pdxmotorhead]

Sometimes its better to just move on than let a bad shop "fix" their own work.

If they damage the harnesses up in their its no fun to fix them....

Dave

[mmosquera89]

Thanks for the input, guys. I will be updating with new info tomorrow after I get out of the shop. I really don't want to have to part ways with this new head unit since I have been waiting for a long time to have it put in.

[mmosquera89]

It turns out that there are clips that are in the panel since i had bought a new one were broken and the head unit wasn't put in right because of that. Any ideas where to find one?

[mmosquera89]

Sorry to bring up such an old topic but i had felt that I had wanted to update on this matter again. Well I had my clarion swapped for this one instead. http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PU...s/AVH-P5200DVD

Love it better than the clarion, but the installation is still crappy. I can put up with it for a while until I find a better shop to see if anything can be done. I think I found one and I found the owner seem to know what he was talking about since he used to work in places like best buy and circuit city, but i hope he doesnt say the same thing. I don't want to have to part ways with it but I don't know the first thing of car audio installation, otherwise i would've done something myself.

To clarify again on why it wouldnt be installed correctly is because of too many wires and because the heater core is in the way, which I know it sounds bs.

[yoda]

I did my own install and all you really need to do is to try and keep the wire splices clean and thin (w/tape), then you grup together the wires by taping them in grups (sound, power), then you have to pull these as much as possible when placing you HU into position. For this you have to take the glovebox off (passenger side G-box and bottom cover), there you'll have a better view of what you're dealing with and where to pull the cables or stash them. It is not that hard to do, so get to it and quit wasting money on shops!

[mmosquera89]

Thanks yoda for the advice and sorry for being a pain in the ass about this. Just hate having it look like a sloppy install, but for now I can put up with it until i find the time to actually do this. It is an embarrassment to have such an awesome hu having a sloppy set-up. By the way, how does that Kenwood treating you?

[yoda]

It works flawlessly, I just wish I had an all-in-one HU!... Mine has to have all the goodies separate (Nav,Sat-radio, Bluetooth), which makes for a messier install sine you have to look for places where to hide these units and makes for more cables as well... But having Navigation, being able to watch a DVD, hook up my iPhone and listen to Music or watch movies stored in it, and to make/receive calls (Bluetooth)... it's pretty damn cool if you ask me...

[mmosquera89]

I was gonna buy a Kenwood unit like that, but after seeing the video on the pioneer's website for the head unit, I was convinced. I guarantee that you will be convinced too after watching the vid on the link. Trust me, aside from the sloppy install, it is phenomenal, hell you may even someday switch to that pioneer.

[rcair3d]

If you want the cleanest most reliable wiring just solder it. put heatshrink over the soldered splices. Then no wires need to be crammed. I have installed many head units and that is the ONLY way to do it in my opinion

Good luck, Nick

[mmosquera89]

Will it be a problem for later since I do plan on replacing my stock speakers and putting in subs and an amp, possibly two amps?