Hello!

Apologies if something like this has been asked before.

I'm a new owner of a 2010 Fiat Panda. Needed to get back on the road quickly after moving home and this popped up and ticked all the right boxes. So far, it's driving like a dream. It's a great little car.

The only two things I'm a little annoyed by are the radio and the lack of remote central locking. The latter isn't too much of a bother and I imagine is a lot of work / money to put in place. However, from looking around, I feel like changing the radio is an easy enough job.

Ideally I'm looking for Bluetooth connectivity and I've seen a lot of cheap radios on Amazon and eBay. I have very little car knowledge so I'm debating wether it's possible to get one (if they're any good, I'm not sure!) and try and install it myself. Halfords want over €100 for the radio and fitting which isn't a lot of money, but I'm broke at the moment.

If anyone has any suggestions on how I'd go about this, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks for your help!

cclovisn said:

Hello!

Apologies if something like this has been asked before.

I'm a new owner of a 2010 Fiat Panda. Needed to get back on the road quickly after moving home and this popped up and ticked all the right boxes. So far, it's driving like a dream. It's a great little car.

The only two things I'm a little annoyed by are the radio and the lack of remote central locking. The latter isn't too much of a bother and I imagine is a lot of work / money to put in place. However, from looking around, I feel like changing the radio is an easy enough job.

Ideally I'm looking for Bluetooth connectivity and I've seen a lot of cheap radios on Amazon and eBay. I have very little car knowledge so I'm debating wether it's possible to get one (if they're any good, I'm not sure!) and try and install it myself. Halfords want over €100 for the radio and fitting which isn't a lot of money, but I'm broke at the moment.

If anyone has any suggestions on how I'd go about this, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks for your help!

Click to expand...

I've changed numerous factory fit radios in the last few years. If you you take your time it's pretty easy (20-30 min) all you really need is an adaptor plate/console.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FP-01-06...013940&hash=item3f03996b07:g:KosAAOSwyHRaxNcV

a radio of your choice and possibly a wiring adaptor to mate the radio wiring to the pandas wiring. I bought a nice alpine stereo complete with console adapter, removal tools and wiring adapter as a kit for £120 with bluetooth connectivity and usb for mp3 files.

Thanks for your reply! My current radio seems to have the fascia you've linked to, it's just the storage space is on top and the radio below. So I'm not sure if that's fine or if I would need a fascia like you suggested? I'm not too sure either about wiring adaptors but I'll look into them. If I don't need a new fascia, is the process as simple as taking the current radio out with the removal tools and connecting the new one in? Thanks again for your help.

Do you actually have the OEM radio?



Some models have bluetooth and other gubbins. The big advantage is nobody wants to steal them and they're cheap on eBay. Just be sure to get a version with the bells & whistles.

A lot of the lower spec Pandas had a single-DIN radio, not the double-DIN as shown above. That is why you already have the fascia.

If you obtain one like the pic, it will need to come with a code, or the car will refuse to accept it. The higher spec units with bluetooth had a microphone built into the car by the interior lamp. Replicating that might be a challenge too far. An aftermarket unit with its own microphone will be better.

Your car electrics are managed by a computer system called CANbus. The wiring to the back of the radio will not have all the wires an aftermarket radio expects. It will want a permanent live, a switched live, and also wish for lighting input to dim the display, and may also like a speed input to increase the volume with speed. What you will find though is a permanent live, an earth, and two little wires which are the CANbus data wires. DO NOT connect the data wires to an aftermarket radio.

Many people add a switched input from the cigar lighter, but you probably do not have one of those either. It is not bad news, only for your pocket. What you need is a CANbus adaptor.
I bought a universal adaptor many years ago, for use on a Corsa C, it was then used in a COrsa D, and is now happily performing in the Panda.
http://www.connects2.co.uk/products/can-bus-adapters/universal
Mine is a CAN-01
You might get away with an IGNI-GENCAN.2 if wll you want is the ignition feed.

I'm sure a microphone can be fixed up somewhere separate from the one by the ceiling light


The ICE section will have lots of advice on aftermarket radios.

cclovisn said:

Thanks for your reply! My current radio seems to have the fascia you've linked to, it's just the storage space is on top and the radio below. So I'm not sure if that's fine or if I would need a fascia like you suggested? I'm not too sure either about wiring adaptors but I'll look into them. If I don't need a new fascia, is the process as simple as taking the current radio out with the removal tools and connecting the new one in? Thanks again for your help.

Click to expand...

Depending on the make of your aftermarket radio, just search on ebay/amazon for the type of wiring adaptor. For my wifes Toyota Aygo I just searched for a Toyota - Alpine wiring adaptor. you will find some ebay suppliers will supply the fascia adaptor, wiring adaptor, removal tools and radio all together. I paid £120 for the lot all in, it took me about half hour to install it start to finish. If you wanted you could install a double DIN stereo but the fascia plate wouldn't have a little cubby hole for odds and ends. Halfords or your local motor factors might the wiring in stock although you will probably pay more for the convenience. Regarding the radio being at the top or the bottom of the fascia adaptor probably just comes down to preference on your part. Good luck!