Hello!

Sorry if this has been covered before, but I just tried a search and couldn't find anything really similar (it might just be because I'm not quite sure how to use the search yet, though).

Basically, I bought a new Head Unit for my Panda a few days ago that came with a fitting voucher, but after checking all of my local Halfords garages, not one of them within a 20 mile radius of me seem to actually do fitting, despite their website telling me they did :bang:

So I'm left with either fitting it myself, or getting someone else to do it for me.

How easy are the Panda radios to change? I've got a 1.1 Active Eco (60 plate), and I'm trying to fit a Parrot RKi8400. I noticed it's not a specific Panda stereo, instead being some generic Blaupunkt thing, so I figure it'll have standard connections, would that be right?

Also, as it's a Parrot HU, it's got some Handsfree stuff too, so it comes with a microphone and whatnot. Where would be the best places to fit the microphone, and is it easy to do?

I helped my dad change the radio in our old Rover a while back, so I've sort of got radio-changing experience, but I guess that the radios in a new Panda are going to be a bit different to that of a 20-year old Rover.

Thanks in advance

You will need a Fascia adaptor as you will notice the new HU is a different shape to the old.
There shouldn't be any other wiring needed. It will pretty much plug and play. The only thing is Fiats are not ignition fed so you will need to plug the red wire into the spare yellow one on the new loom that come with the Parrot unit.

As for microphones. They are normally situated at the top of the a pillar. It should be easy to run the wires there an a good position to detect your voice.

Thanks for the quick response

That sounds about as easy as I could have hoped, so I'll have a better look at the stereo and the car when I get home.

I didn't think I needed a fascia adapter though, as the radio that came with the car looks very close to DIN socket sized. Is it just a misleading looking stereo?

Here's a picture, for comparison purposes:



(Sorry about the poor quality...)

Hmm ive not seen one like that before. but then again i havnt seen many Panda's.

The best way to check is to shove some small screwdrivers, coat hanger wire or similar into those 4 holes and see what pops out. The unit itself looks DIN but then im confused by the part that surrounds it. Normally the clip holes are situated on a part that is removable suggesting that the outer part is connected to the inner DIN shaped bit.
Did that make sense lol.

Yeah, that made sense

Whipping it out is probably going to be the easiest way to see if it is a regular DIN socket, so I'll see if Halfords get back to me about a refund then give it a bash. I'll take some pictures too, just for future reference.

Hi

Just a thougt, will changeing the head unit yourself in any way harm your warranty on a 60 reg car ?

Cheers Chris

No it shouldn't do. It's easy enough to whip the old one back in if need be. They won't be able to refuse say the gearbox because it has an aftermarket HU.

Never seen one of those in a Panda, that standard fit now! Then again, I only tend to look at 100HPs :shrug:

I assume it's standard fit for Panda's now, the dealer didn't mention anything about it... Suppose there might be more interesting ones in the more expensive Panda's though.

I won't need to worry about voiding the warranty, either, as Halfords have offered me a Home Fitting voucher to replace my Store fitting one

Home fitting should cost 45 quid. Get in there!

Yeah but whats the betting that they turn up and say you need a Fascia and cant fit it lol.

So, the guy turned up to fit the radio yesterday.

It didn't need a fascia!

But I did have to buy some 5 quid aerial adapter

The standard radio was a normal DIN thing, the plastic bit with the holes on came out too, so the new radio just fills the entire thing up. There's a slight gap around it, where the standard radio was slightly curvy whereas the new one has straight edges, but it's not too bad. The Parrot is a really chunky unit, though. He put the microphone up by the light/mirror, and fed it round the drivers A pillar and whatnot. Looks pretty neat



Very nice screen too.

Cool a good job by Halfords standards