Head Unit Upgrade

[McBAIN Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close McBAIN]

Well, i've got through part of the install steps.

(NB this is in relation to this thread
http://www.pradopoint.com/viewtopic.php?t=1384)

it's all uploaded here
NB: not too dialup friendly... there are 33 images, total approx 1.8MB)

i'm building another page with details on the unit itself.

cost of install
$<500AUD for unit including UPS courier (courier costs were high, only bought 2 units in the first run and it wouldn't have been that much different had i bought 5 of them.
$<20 TV antenna
$ 17 for wiring harness

The last picture in this one is where i stopped on the day, i'm missing a few pics of the FM antenna install and i was going to take them tonight but the wife has taken the prado out west (i'm left with the gokart today which is lots of fun!) since then i i've been down to strathfield and they don't have a double din surround for the head unit so toyota is the next place to check. in the meantime i've bought some balsa wood from bunnings, covered it in black felt and double sided taped it either side to cover the gap. given the lack of light that hits the area i've almost forgotten the gaps where there when using he unit..

more to come.....

[McBAIN Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close McBAIN]

uploaded some pics of the menu operation

HERE

[Damien Parker Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Damien Parker]

Good stuff!!!!

Let me know how it all performs as that looks like the exact unit i want for mine.

Do you still have the details of the seller??

Is that the one that had the GPS unit come with it? or was that an extra purchase?

[Chippy Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chippy]

Awesome post Mc. The detail in your instructions is brilliant.

Toyota could do their manual a huge favour and replace their instructions with yours ... for a hefty royalty fee, of course.

... and the unit itself looks fantastic.

Cheers
Chippy

[McBAIN Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close McBAIN]

Good stuff!!!!

Let me know how it all performs as that looks like the exact unit i want for mine.

Do you still have the details of the seller??

Is that the one that had the GPS unit come with it? or was that an extra purchase?

GPS unit came with it. there are two models at the seller i found, one with, one without. (they have a lot of other cool stuff like dvd/lcd sun visors, and headrests with built in lcd/dvd which is pretty cool (but leather and i have cloth, so they are on my next todo list and test out my sewing skills to cover them with something that fits the car)

seller was one i found on www.alibaba.com (thanks Piggy) it's a business to business site so if you're looking to purchase and you don't have access to an ABN let me know as i'm going to order another couple of them and hock them off on ebay where they seem to be selling for around 500-700. i'll do a heap cheaper than that for people on here if anyone is interested but can take that to PM if anyone's interested.

[Damien Parker Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Damien Parker]

I would be definitely interested.

[Byrnsie Member Find all posts View Profile Close Byrnsie]

Great work McBain and excellent write up. Glad the wiring harness worked for you as well.

A good cost effective way of integrating GPS, stereo, reverse camera display, handsfree car kit without cluttering up the dashboard with separate items. (To say nothing of the DVD player and mobile TV!)

I am definitely going to get one of these! :lol:

Cheers - Byrnsie

[MTpockets Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MTpockets]

Bloody brilliant McBain. What side of the river are you? I woud love to check yours out one day, and am very interested in doing the same.
cheers

[Strahan Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Strahan]

Sign me up for one!!

[McBAIN Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close McBAIN]

Bloody brilliant McBain. What side of the river are you? I woud love to check yours out one day, and am very interested in doing the same.
cheers

Southside. and work in the city, i'm around over the weekend if you want to have a looksee.

[emptyman Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close emptyman]

great tips

great tips on installation. thanks. I have ordered a similar unit last week. But mine is a 7 inch double DIN unit, whereas this unit looks like s 6.2 inch unt. The url is http://www.sunrisen.com.cn/Product_View.asp?ID=190.
I paid just under $AUD600 door to door including TV arial and GPS arial. It should arrive in a week, and then I will be getting someone else to install it. Alberts have quoted $200 for install sight unseen, so it may change a little once they see it.

I was looking at the Pioneer AVIC but that was $4000, so I figure this unit could break totally 4 times before I lose out. (I know the specs are slightly different, but it is difficult to justify $4000 for a player to the financial controller in the family)

[McBAIN Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close McBAIN]

Re: great tips

I was looking at the Pioneer AVIC but that was $4000, so I figure this unit could break totally 4 times before I lose out. (I know the specs are slightly different, but it is difficult to justify $4000 for a player to the financial controller in the family)

i looked at the pioneer unit also, was $2999 from WOW, but when you add on a few other bits it would have been closer to the $4000 you suggested (can get them on ebay for around $1300 though)

i found a reseller of them that was going to ship them to me for $500USD each unit and i was minutes from sending the cash but after i got delayed for a few days he had a go at me for not sending the money, i told him why i was delayed and he offered to throw in 2 free units for my trouble... that was when i though, nobody throws a grand of free stuff in, this must be dodgy!

[MTpockets Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MTpockets]

Southside. and work in the city, i'm around over the weekend if you want to have a looksee.

Me too, however I work 1.8 klms from home. :shock:
Will catch up with you soon, club committments this weekend. :wink:

[clifton Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close clifton]

That is great stuff Mc Bain, It will be interesting to see how the unit performs after a few trips on corrragations. Will be watching with a view to order.

[StormyKnight Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close StormyKnight]

Excellent installation guide 'McBain' - top notch!