It's good to be able to post/reply/search again!
While I have been inoperative I have fitted a very nice double din JVC DAB stereo into my Croma. The sound is a massive improvement over the already good standard system, plus I now have loads of digital channels to choose from, plus 3.5mm and USB inputs.
I am now running a set of 19" Fox Racing alloys with 255/35 tyres, which fill the arches properly now. Surprisingly there is no detrimental effect on the comfort or road noise.
Therefore I now have 3 x Prestigio 18" alloys for sale (check out the forum classifieds) and a standard stereo c/w changer and leads.

We need photos of your new wheels and stereo!

Will do as soon as it stops raining!

A picture of the stereo

Looks good. I'm more of a cheapskate, so I've just bought a 3.5mm socket that I'm going to use to break into the CD Changer connection. I should be able to wire it so if the MP3 player's plugged in you get the sound from it. If not you get the CD changer.

Don't know where to put it though - I'll have to drill a little hole somewhere.

Yours is the better solution though - it looks like you can stick a USB stick in and control it directly, which is good.

Am I right in assuming you've lost the use of the steering wheel controls though, or do they magically work via CANbus or something?

Edit: Radio 1, you yobbo. Get The Archers on Radio 4 on. Call yourself a Croma driver?

In my marea I ran the aux lead into the glovebox, so my mp3 player was out of sight.
You can get an adapter to use the steering wheel controls but at £20+ I thought that it wasn't worth it. Plus the unit comes with a remote control as well!
The stereo controls my Wife's ipod thru the usb (when I allow) and even displays the track info on the screen, which is pretty cool.
As for Radio 1, I must have inadvertently knocked a preset or something

And the wheels......

Very nice Hal'.

Like the idea of the stereo change - I am still waiting for Nokia lumia series to be mirror link compatible so I can display and use Nokia Drive, and then will be seriously looking into this...

... after the new tyres ...... after the wheel refurb........ after the DPF removal.....

I know what you mean Evo! The wheels were purchased because I would have needed new tyres in the next couple of months, plus the wheels need a lick of paint to make perfect. It was considerably cheaper to get another set of wheels with good tyres - plus it's a good excuse for an upgrade

evo-number-one said:

Like the idea of the stereo change - I am still waiting for Nokia lumia series to be mirror link compatible so I can display and use Nokia Drive, and then will be seriously looking into this...

Click to expand...

You made me google it...

http://www.techradar.com/news/car-tech/use-your-phone-to-control-your-car-using-mirrorlink-1090628

Interesting. Open standard - sounds far too sensible to catch on. I can't see the car makers being very happy about not getting to charge £1000 extra for sat nav and various other minor features.

looking good buddy, now it needs a drop

Cheers m8. That's next on my list, after 4 wheel tracking and taxing it lol!

I have now put one of the original 18's in place of the spare and it fits ok. Just needed to remove the plastic ring that the space-saver sits on. The space-saver still has bobbles on it, so might sell it if anyone's interested? I also have a comprehensive tool kit, 2 x coats and 2 x pairs of walking boots and some other bits stowed away in the lower compartment, leaving me a completely empty boot. Very good piece of design IMO!

I found the carpet didn't sit nicely on top of my 18" spare, so I made a three-sided frame out of 1" thick wood, then covered it with rubber sheet glued on. This goes around the sides and front. The carpet and adjustable floor sit almost perfectly after this - it flips up a little at the back until you put a bag of shopping on it.

Just watch your back getting it in and out - it's a killer with the weight, awkward angle and the fact it only just fits.

Tell me whether I imagined it, but I thought the handling improved with an 18" spare. It needs that bit of low-down weight at the back.

And then they were black....

The head unit and dash adapter are now up for grabs! I'll stick an ad in the classifieds