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Technical How to change the head unit

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Technical How to change the head unit

Ok, so my new fascia has arrived and I will have it fitted next week.

Thing is, I don't like the glossy finish that much and it won't match the matt black on the rest of the dash.

Can I spray glossy plastic with a matt spray? Hmm, better not, it might look worse than ever.

Might get it fitted first and then spray it afterwards if it looks awful.
 

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It's not good, but I still think I will have it fitted before tampering with it.

I'm wondering if Plasti Kote spray in matt black will calm it down a little...
 
It may not look that bad after fitting.
If it does just paint it matt black.
 
RUI said:
It may not look that bad after fitting.
If it does just paint it matt black.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Do you have experience of painting plastics at all? Can you recommend a spray paint and primer?
 
Make sure you prep it by rubbing it down then use a plastic primer and then a matt paint and it should be OK...or take it in to a bodyshop and they will do it for you...if you pay them.
 
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Sutts said:
Ok, so my new fascia has arrived and I will have it fitted next week. Thing is, I don't like the glossy finish that much and it won't match the matt black on the rest of the dash.
Can I spray glossy plastic with a matt spray? Hmm, better not, it might look worse than ever.
Might get it fitted first and then spray it afterwards if it looks awful.
Click to expand...

:yeahthat:
I had a look at my old Sport and the interior is quite similiar to the Twin Air Plus that was posted by Ferrari500. If you had the Lounge model it has a shiny black centre boss and the gaiter and gear plastic knob (which are kinda shiney) would have blended in.
My hunch is not to spray since you will have to 'blend' in the Kenwood headunit and it will have a 'shiney screen' with the Sat Nav, etc. Plus if you spray the plastic matt black it might be hard to clean with a sprayed matt surface plus it will be more inclined to 'hold' the dust.
 
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Well, I have had a bit of luck. Was talking to a guy at work tonight, and his father just happens to own a professional spray shop. He's taking it to him to spray it satin black. Pictures next week and pictures after the new unit is fitted.:)

I think the fascia plate is cheap and tacky looking, but I'm determined to get my system in there! I quite like those single din unit sat navs and stereo systems with the full double din size screen. They pull out like a tray and then they flip up in front of the unit. That's what I would have bought had I not had this unit from the other car...:rolleyes:
 
I have had my double din Kenwood unit fitted back in. The glossy fascia was sprayed satin black and I think it looks ok.

It involved cutting away part of the air vent pipes behind the unit, but the air vent works fine.
 

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Thanks! Let's hope the chavvies agree, they might not nick it then lol.
 
You should casually chuck something over it when you are not in the car - I suspect very few 500's have non-standard stereos so if the cannot see it they probably would not think to look closer....

Out of interest, what did this exercise cost you, did you do it yourself, and have you lost any of the Blue & Me or other functionality? (Sorry if the answers are further up the thread but I can't be bothered to re-read it if I am honest.)
 
RobinPJ said:
You should casually chuck something over it when you are not in the car - I suspect very few 500's have non-standard stereos so if the cannot see it they probably would not think to look closer....

Out of interest, what did this exercise cost you, did you do it yourself, and have you lost any of the Blue & Me or other functionality? (Sorry if the answers are further up the thread but I can't be bothered to re-read it if I am honest.)
Click to expand...

I didn't do it myself, no. I would have tried it if I understood what leads to buy (although I could have found out online without a doubt) and what to do in the event of a canbus error. This happened on my last car (where this stereo came from) in that the odometer started flashing. That sort of a thing on a new car would bother me because I wouldn't really feel good about going back to the dealers to put it right!

The stereo, new door speakers, underseat sub and fitting cost around £1200 initially I think. It then cost £70 to have it stripped from the old car and £220 to put back in today. It seems expensive, but when you consider that they have to strip out the lining from the pillars to change the tweeters and the roof lining for the new microphone, it seems worth it to have a good job done (again on a new car, would maybe try it on an older one myself). Also included in the fitting was the cost of the steering wheel functionality cable that apparently cost about £50 alone.

Funtionality, yes, everything works on the steering wheel, well the Blue and Me doesn't because I don't want it to, the system on the Kenwood is in my opinion better.
 
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That's it I have started looking for a double din sat nav for the 500....
 
That looks nice!
To be honest, if I didn't know that you'd upgraded, I'd have thought it was built that way by Fiat.

Are the vents adjustable horizontally as well as vertically?
 
RUI said:
That's it I have started looking for a double din sat nav for the 500....
Click to expand...

I would seriously consider a single din unit with a flip up screen. Those vents had to be hacksawed away. With a single din unit that isn't necessary. I'm not sure I would have had a new car hacked away if I didn't already own the unit.
 

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eco sTAr said:
That looks nice!
To be honest, if I didn't know that you'd upgraded, I'd have thought it was built that way by Fiat.

Are the vents adjustable horizontally as well as vertically?
Click to expand...

Thanks. No the vents are just vertical. :(
 
A little bit of hacksawing never killed anybody, OK it may have but it is not going to put me off
 
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