One of the things that stops me changing my ICE unit from standard fit FIAT thingy to anything better is the steering wheel controls. a) I think they are an excellent safety feature, and b) I can't stand the thought of having them there and they not working.

Since every ICE unit in the world has a volume up/down control and a prev/next control... is it not beyond the wisdom of mankind to standardise on an interface for these functions so that the steering wheel controls on any car, operate these functions on any ICE.

... or.... forum members..... has it already been done, can I fit something like the great looking

http://www.cmctech.co.uk/index.html?lang=en-uk&target=p26.html?lmd=38560.448611

(discussed elsewhere) and still use my steering wheel controls.

Guy

(Fiat Marea Weekend 115 ELX "W" reg)

Can get adaptors for pioneer head units :

Pioneer steering control adaptors

a lot of ice manufacturers do interface adapters to keep the standard controls active.
kenwood do a fair few.
they wont do a standardise the functions as they want you to buy their specific brand

A Company called auto leads do such a lead its now been made a bit better too.

Its a two part lead for eg if you were going to put a kenwood(or any other leading ice brand) as long as you make sure its remote compatible before you buy it you can buy one lead that is for your fiat then you buy a second part being say for kenwood. which will link all this up not hard to do its all plug and play


the reason i say its a better design in two parts is cause the fiat part costs say £25 and the kenwood lead costs about £5 so if you decide a year down the line you want to change your headunit to a sony then you just buy the sony part for £5 and thats it beats paying £30 odd each time

auto leads is a trade only place but most ice shops have accounts with them hope that helped a little

Thanks all for your responses ... so it IS possible then to change the ICE unit and carry on using the steering wheel remote controls - GOOD NEWS

Guy