Doblo (Mk1/Mk2) Help choosing aftermarket stereo please

[Onions]

Good afternoon everyone, please forgive me if this is in the wrong place, I'm a bit useless. I have a 2018 Doblo Cargo, with the factory fitted Bluetooth stereo. A couple of weeks ago, it decided to stop working, and just show "welcome" upon start up, without going any further than this. It doesn't respond to anything, and I've had the battery earth disconnected for half an hour for a reset, but to no avail.
Now I've looked for replacement stereos, like for like with a code. These are like hens teeth and would be very expensive. Could anyone please recommend a replacement, with Bluetooth, and one that my steering wheel controls would still work with? I've read that the double din ones require messing about with wiring etc, which I really don't want. So a single din plug and play would be ideal. Sorry for the long post, but I'm going around in circles. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks everyone.

 

[portland_bill]

I've been recently considering a similar swap, done some research, but then aborted as suddenly no longer need the vehicle. I have however, just fitted a double-din unit to the Panda.
To fit a double-din unit needs a fascia adaptor. These seem to be no longer manufactured, so supplies are getting scarce. So if you want one, act soon. Be careful, it needs to be the 'post-facelift' one, as earlier, with the round headlamps, seems different. Looking at these it will involve a little modification behind the radio, as the space is not quite double-DIN size. Some double-DIN radios have a single-DIN housing behind the fascia, but that might not align with teh original, and the fascia may still need the modification. When you find a fascia, read the instructions, usually available before purchase.
A simple plug and play is not possible, as the car communicates via the CAN-bus system. Plugging this dirctly inot an aftermarket stereo will cause issues, from just not working, through to damaging the vehicle systems. You'll need an adaptor, that plugs inot the car, and then into the new radio, and turns the digital car signals into analogue for the radio. Have a browse of the Connects2 website to determine the one for your van. One of these should then allow use of the steering wheel controls.

I've recently fitted a Kenwood unit into the Panda, and am slightly disappointed.
Good points:
It follows DAB stations well, even where my other vehicles have struggled.
Telephone calls work well, using the microphone in the stereo.
Annoying features:
Any touchscreen can be irritating, especially over slight bumps where the touch point is missed, giving the wrong results.
The control/menu system does not seem as logical as I'd expect, but I'm getting used to it.
It presents a default screen, with alternatives, but accessing any menu returns to the default, not the previous display.
You cannot turn it on without the ignition on. So no listening while awaiting a passenger, unless the engine is running.
It comes on with the ignition, every time, no choice. If you want it off, you can turn it off. I'm beginning to accept this, but it will always annoy.

I considered a Pioneer unit, which I would now go for if had to choose again. The Pioneer unit can be used without ignition (I think, after reading the manual online), but does still come on with ignition, every time.
You'll need a DAB aerial if choosing a DAB unit. Some come with a simple screen stick-on job, which can work well in most areas. There's still one stuck to the Panda screen, but currently not used as I fitted a new roof aerial, requiring dismantling half the car to feed the wires through from the back of the roof. I looked at the Doblo, and would probably have gone with a stick-on.

If I think of anything else significant, I'll come back.

 

[portland_bill]

Thinking about the orginal issue, is the bluetooth built in to the radio, or is this Blue&Me that uses a separate B&M unit? The separate B&M units are sometimes troublesome, but can be disconnected, restoring normal radio use, but losing the hands-free.
Showing Welcome is usually when it needs the code inputting. But that usually only needs doing once for each vehicle, so something has disturbed it. Was there any 'event' that immediately preceded the failure?

 

[Onions]

I've been recently considering a similar swap, done some research, but then aborted as suddenly no longer need the vehicle. I have however, just fitted a double-din unit to the Panda.
To fit a double-din unit needs a fascia adaptor. These seem to be no longer manufactured, so supplies are getting scarce. So if you want one, act soon. Be careful, it needs to be the 'post-facelift' one, as earlier, with the round headlamps, seems different. Looking at these it will involve a little modification behind the radio, as the space is not quite double-DIN size. Some double-DIN radios have a single-DIN housing behind the fascia, but that might not align with teh original, and the fascia may still need the modification. When you find a fascia, read the instructions, usually available before purchase.
A simple plug and play is not possible, as the car communicates via the CAN-bus system. Plugging this dirctly inot an aftermarket stereo will cause issues, from just not working, through to damaging the vehicle systems. You'll need an adaptor, that plugs inot the car, and then into the new radio, and turns the digital car signals into analogue for the radio. Have a browse of the Connects2 website to determine the one for your van. One of these should then allow use of the steering wheel controls.

I've recently fitted a Kenwood unit into the Panda, and am slightly disappointed.
Good points:
It follows DAB stations well, even where my other vehicles have struggled.
Telephone calls work well, using the microphone in the stereo.
Annoying features:
Any touchscreen can be irritating, especially over slight bumps where the touch point is missed, giving the wrong results.
The control/menu system does not seem as logical as I'd expect, but I'm getting used to it.
It presents a default screen, with alternatives, but accessing any menu returns to the default, not the previous display.
You cannot turn it on without the ignition on. So no listening while awaiting a passenger, unless the engine is running.
It comes on with the ignition, every time, no choice. If you want it off, you can turn it off. I'm beginning to accept this, but it will always annoy.

I considered a Pioneer unit, which I would now go for if had to choose again. The Pioneer unit can be used without ignition (I think, after reading the manual online), but does still come on with ignition, every time.
You'll need a DAB aerial if choosing a DAB unit. Some come with a simple screen stick-on job, which can work well in most areas. There's still one stuck to the Panda screen, but currently not used as I fitted a new roof aerial, requiring dismantling half the car to feed the wires through from the back of the roof. I looked at the Doblo, and would probably have gone with a stick-on.

If I think of anything else significant, I'll come back.

Wow thank you for all your information. I have a stick on dab that I installed and it worked pretty well via the auxiliary input. Would any aftermarket stereo be a plug and play? A simple one without touch screen? I'm just about given up on the steering wheel controls, but Bluetooth is a must. Thank you very much again, much appreciated.

 

[portland_bill]

Wow thank you for all your information. I have a stick on dab that I installed and it worked pretty well via the auxiliary input. Would any aftermarket stereo be a plug and play? A simple one without touch screen? I'm just about given up on the steering wheel controls, but Bluetooth is a must. Thank you very much again, much appreciated.

Due to the CAN-bus, no aftermarket unit will be plug & play.
Older stereos, and aftermarket ones, all communicate in analogue. The power plug will have power, ignition, and ground connections, plus an output for aerial amplifier, and can often have speed lighting and reverse inputs. The CAN-bus sysem will have four wires, power and ground, and a pair of signal wires. These get upset when connected to analogue signals.

 

[Onions]

Thinking about the orginal issue, is the bluetooth built in to the radio, or is this Blue&Me that uses a separate B&M unit? The separate B&M units are sometimes troublesome, but can be disconnected, restoring normal radio use, but losing the hands-free.
Showing Welcome is usually when it needs the code inputting. But that usually only needs doing once for each vehicle, so something has disturbed it. Was there any 'event' that immediately preceded the failure?

The Bluetooth was via the radio (the sticker on the body if it says F263BT). Nothing that I know of happened prior to it failing. I have my original code, but there's no way if inputting anything, as the only button that responds, is the power button.

 

[Onions]

Due to the CAN-bus, no aftermarket unit will be plug & play.
Older stereos, and aftermarket ones, all communicate in analogue. The power plug will have power, ignition, and ground connections, plus an output for aerial amplifier, and can often have speed lighting and reverse inputs. The CAN-bus sysem will have four wires, power and ground, and a pair of signal wires. These get upset when connected to analogue signals.

I may have to go to a specialist as I don't want to cause any problems with messing around. And not sure if Halfords would be competent in fitting. Who knew technology could be such a pain???

 

[portland_bill]

Have a search for radio repairs. There are a few. Give them the details of your unit, and ask if they can repair it. Might get a result.
Otherwise, find a good car radio specialist (getting a bit scarce) and talk to them.

 

[Onions]

Have a search for radio repairs. There are a few. Give them the details of your unit, and ask if they can repair it. Might get a result.
Otherwise, find a good car radio specialist (getting a bit scarce) and talk to them.

Yeah I'll do that, worth a shot anyway. Thanks very much for your help

 

[bugsymike]

Due to the CAN-bus, no aftermarket unit will be plug & play.
Older stereos, and aftermarket ones, all communicate in analogue. The power plug will have power, ignition, and ground connections, plus an output for aerial amplifier, and can often have speed lighting and reverse inputs. The CAN-bus sysem will have four wires, power and ground, and a pair of signal wires. These get upset when connected to analogue signals.

I had similar problems recently on a Citroen Dispatch (Fiat Scudo) that a chinese double din radio had been fitted damaging half the facia, luckily I managed to get an original radio as without it I couldn't access the cars own diagnostics or set the clock/kms to miles etc.

 

[Onions]

I had similar problems recently on a Citroen Dispatch (Fiat Scudo) that a chinese double din radio had been fitted damaging half the facia, luckily I managed to get an original radio as without it I couldn't access the cars own diagnostics or set the clock/kms to miles etc.

They do sound a bit of a nightmare to be honest

 

[Onions]

Just another question if anyone could help please. Are factory stereos from Vauxhall Combos a straight swap into a Doblo? Obviously same shape vehicles and if there's a code? Many thanks

 

[racitup]

Just another question if anyone could help please. Are factory stereos from Vauxhall Combos a straight swap into a Doblo? Obviously same shape vehicles and if there's a code? Many thanks

I don't know but would guess at a yes physically, but because you had a trimlevel with a fancy radio I assume it is CAN-connected. Which means if you fitted another Fiat/Vauxhall one I think you need to code it to the car's VIN. It looks like MES can do that but you need the radio security code.
AFAIK if you buy an aftermarket stereo and want to use the steering wheel buttons you will need a Connect2 to read the signals from the CAN and an adapter cable from them that fits your radio. It does this somehow without being coded.
I'm currently doing a lot of research on this for a 2014 Doblo cargo ex-Royal Mail. Mine is a lowest spec so the stereo does not have CAN and there are no steering wheel buttons. From what I understand though, if it did have them, the SWS would be connected to the BCM/fusebox which puts the signals onto the CAN for the radio (ISO A pins 1 and 3)
So your options appear to be find an official radio with the security code and take it to a dealer or techy that can code it in, or aftermarket and mess with adapters, wiring and configuring the steering wheel switches.
I'm going to fit a 2nd hand steering wheel with leather and switches and wire them directly to this:

DAB+ Carplay Android 14 4+64G Car Stereo Head Unit GPS Radio USB C 1 DIN Camera | eBay UK

DAB+ Function ( DAB+ receiver and antenna is included. ). 178x108x50(50mm) installation size, fits for most car with 1 DIN openning. With the rear microphone input, you can add a microphone to make your voice clearer (optional).

www.ebay.co.uk

Wish me luck!

 

[Onions]

I don't know but would guess at a yes physically, but because you had a trimlevel with a fancy radio I assume it is CAN-connected. Which means if you fitted another Fiat/Vauxhall one I think you need to code it to the car's VIN. It looks like MES can do that but you need the radio security code.
AFAIK if you buy an aftermarket stereo and want to use the steering wheel buttons you will need a Connect2 to read the signals from the CAN and an adapter cable from them that fits your radio. It does this somehow without being coded.
I'm currently doing a lot of research on this for a 2014 Doblo cargo ex-Royal Mail. Mine is a lowest spec so the stereo does not have CAN and there are no steering wheel buttons. From what I understand though, if it did have them, the SWS would be connected to the BCM/fusebox which puts the signals onto the CAN for the radio (ISO A pins 1 and 3)
So your options appear to be find an official radio with the security code and take it to a dealer or techy that can code it in, or aftermarket and mess with adapters, wiring and configuring the steering wheel switches.
I'm going to fit a 2nd hand steering wheel with leather and switches and wire them directly to this:

DAB+ Carplay Android 14 4+64G Car Stereo Head Unit GPS Radio USB C 1 DIN Camera | eBay UK

DAB+ Function ( DAB+ receiver and antenna is included. ). 178x108x50(50mm) installation size, fits for most car with 1 DIN openning. With the rear microphone input, you can add a microphone to make your voice clearer (optional).

www.ebay.co.uk

Wish me luck!

Good luck with your install. In the end I bought a used fiat stereo with a code from ebay. It doesn't have the Bluetooth or the auxiliary that I wanted, but it's better than silence and it was an easy swap. All the best.

 

[racitup]

Good luck with your install. In the end I bought a used fiat stereo with a code from ebay. It doesn't have the Bluetooth or the auxiliary that I wanted, but it's better than silence and it was an easy swap. All the best.

Did it just ask for the security code?

 

[Onions]

Did it just ask for the security code?

Yes, dead easy. And I've since tried to see if my original radio has decided to work again (it doesn't). And when putting in the replacement radio (for a second and third time), it just plays automatically without asking for the code again

 

[racitup]

Yes, dead easy. And I've since tried to see if my original radio has decided to work again (it doesn't). And when putting in the replacement radio (for a second and third time), it just plays automatically without asking for the code again

Hmm, will have to find my code out if I sell it. There are threads on here about it.

It might remember its code for a certain amount of time, for changing the battery for example.

 

[Onions]

Maybe so. Definitely find the code if you're selling it, I think they're pretty much dead without

 

[racitup]

Maybe so. Definitely find the code if you're selling it, I think they're pretty much dead without

It doesn't look like mine has a code. Maybe non-CAN radios don't have them. I put the radio back in after being disconnected for several days and worked fine, didn't ask for anything. Mine is a basic CD/Radio, see picture.

Could you post a picture of your old and new (if they're different) radios for a visual on which ones have CAN please?

 

[Onions]

It doesn't look like mine has a code. Maybe non-CAN radios don't have them. I put the radio back in after being disconnected for several days and worked fine, didn't ask for anything. Mine is a basic CD/Radio, see picture.

Could you post a picture of your old and new (if they're different) radios for a visual on which ones have CAN please?

The one that's in mine is this shape/model