Advice on double din install in cubby space

[tangcla]

I'd probably recommend you don't sell the double DIN facia just yet

The determing factor is the mounting plates, and whether that is currently angled enough. I have a feeling you may need new plates anyway. That's the easy part; sheet metal + pliers = win

[teflon]

I'd probably recommend you don't sell the double DIN facia just yet

Yeah I think I will hang onto the fascia in case I need to put it back... we'll see how it turns out next week!

[tangcla]

Yeah I think I will hang onto the fascia in case I need to put it back... we'll see how it turns out next week!

Good luck, I'm keen to see how it turns out.

[teflon]

1) Depth shouldn't be much of an issue, AS LONG AS your headunit is angled the right way.

Just to clarify Clarence, do you mean angled up, down, towards the driver or away from the driver? Just want to give the installers as much information as possible before they attempt it next week. Thanks.

[tangcla]

Without measuring depth, you will definitely be able to get it to clear if you angle the back of the unit downwards (i.e. tilt the screen upwards). The reo beam is at the top of the dashboard.

[teflon]

Thanks Clarence... I'll mention it to the installers on Tuesday... will post up pics tuesday night if all goes well.

[teflon]

Ok an update. The unit fits if you cut out the plastic. The issue is the centre console panel hole would need to be bogged and painted and I was quoted too much labour to make this worthwhile...and with Clarence's warnings in my ears re the screen brightness I decided to abort and cut my losses.

Might try in the future once I get back to adelaide where a mate of mine could help... Unless there are qlders who think they could help at cheaper labour rates?

Otherwise parts up for sale... Should have just got the dp! Oh well worth a shot in the end...

[tangcla]

Now you know why I ditched the project as well

Actually having the headunit down low isn't such a bad thing. It makes it much easier to change settings and input addresses, the screen is closer to your hand.

[teflon]

Now you know why I ditched the project as well

Actually having the headunit down low isn't such a bad thing. It makes it much easier to change settings and input addresses, the screen is closer to your hand.

True Clarence - I did have those thoughts over the last couple of weeks when doubts crept into my head about it all... leaning arm on gear knob and reaching out to change things was easy... I was close to asking them to give it a go, but cost of install vs risk of what it might look like bog and painted didn't quite sit right with my gut feeling.

The only other option I thought about was the single din console panel and the head units that have the retractable screen (eg: http://alpine.com.au/showItem.php?item_id=171)... at least that way I know it would work and I could retract the screen if needed... could then sell off the Eclipse to offset the cost. Downside is with that alpine unit the gps is an expensive add on (although, when I move back to Adelaide I doubt I would need GPS anyway!)..

Decisions decisions... will save the pennies a bit longer while I think about it but at the end of the day depends what puts more of a smile on my dial - Phat DP or ICE? Will update member profile whichever way I go.

[tangcla]

I have the Alpine NVE-M300P and I can say it's pretty good.

Although Alpine should hopefully be releasing the INA-W910 in Australia soon, if that comes out I'll be selling my M300P

[mihai]

My mate has a retractable single din screen in his RX-8. His is mounted up high where our cubby hole is. Its all well and good when the screen is inside the unit, however once the screen comes out, he loses quit alot of visibility. He hardly ever brings the screen out anymore.

Personally, I say scrap the McIntosh and just replace it with the Eclipse in the standard location. You already have the fascia kit (from before) and personally to me I think it looks better than the stock McIntosh.

[teflon]

My mate has a retractable single din screen in his RX-8. His is mounted up high where our cubby hole is. Its all well and good when the screen is inside the unit, however once the screen comes out, he loses quit alot of visibility. He hardly ever brings the screen out anymore.

Thanks for the input Michael... that's the kind of info I needed to know... yeah, the Eclipse is back where it belongs now. Agree, I think the large screen popped out would be annoying/distracting and doesn't look that great. Will save the pennies... if I get the urge to change the ICE I might look at upgrading the head unit itself a la Clarence (again )

Time to put those parts up for sale I guess!

[bugli]

My mate has a retractable single din screen in his RX-8. His is mounted up high where our cubby hole is. Its all well and good when the screen is inside the unit, however once the screen comes out, he loses quit alot of visibility. He hardly ever brings the screen out anymore.

Thanks for the input Michael... that's the kind of info I needed to know... yeah, the Eclipse is back where it belongs now. Agree, I think the large screen popped out would be annoying/distracting and doesn't look that great. Will save the pennies... if I get the urge to change the ICE I might look at upgrading the head unit itself a la Clarence (again )

Time to put those parts up for sale I guess!

If you see the eclipse i might be intested haha

[teflon]

Haha Michael... I think you're pretty happy with the Alpine though right?

I've actually gone a bit crazy and thought about a car pc mod because the lilliput screen would fit perfectly with the subaru centre console panel (well the one I didn't buy so I would still flog off the one I have)... the reason for this is (and I should have listened to Sean's advice earlier!) is that I forgot I had an Asus eeepc lying around that we hardly use now since we got the ipad!

So all I would need:
1. The other centre console panel
2. Nokia microphone
3. USB GPS dongle
4. Software (free version vs paid version)
5. A reliable solution for the pc to hibernate when on battery - someone on the legacygt forums said this is possible in centrafuse without any fancy switches or soldering etc...
6. Lilliput screen (About $200-$250)

I could always use the second aux in of my fsl-21 as my music backup with an ipod nano whilst I get the project sorted.

Have asked another friendly brisbane member who is good with these installs for some advice as I would rather attempt this as a diy since there seems to be little extra expert fabrication needed since most of the parts fit... just a matter of running the cables and ensuring power to the pc and the monitor...

If my interest in this project gains steam then yes, I would probably sell the eclipse! (But at the moment would need to have it around as a back up)

Will decide in the next day or so because it will affect the items in my for sale thread... haven't decided if it's in the too hard basket yet.

[The Sean]

Car PC! Car PC!

Look into the Centrafuse software, it looks like they've thought about the power challenges etc (when I last looked)

It's a shame your initial way of doing things fell through, I was pretty keen to see how it panned out