CD player

[Doug W]

Hi,

Got a 2000 1.8T but has no CD player. So I phoned a dealer and they quoted me: ?245 single front loader (fitted); 6-changer (dash) ?370 fitted or ?327 not fitted; and ?445! for a 6-changer in the boot (fitted).

So I have a couple of questions for you guys:
I understand VW didn't route an autochanger cable to the boot as standard (even my Fiat Coupe had one  ) - so
How much for the cable?
Best way to route it?
What aftermarket autochangers (make and model suggestions welcome) would this allow me to link up to?
Anyone got the front 6-disk changer? (is the price of the cable to the boot plus changer is near the cost for the front 6-disk I might consider this as an option)

Look forward to your thoughts.....

Cheers
Doug

[Rally_Chris]

Hi Doug.

To answer some of your questions :

The in-dash 6 disc is good, but obviously it is not as security friendly as the hidden boot mounted changer. There is also a bit of a question mark over the durability of the dash mounted 6 disc (despite being manufactured by Sony).

There are regularly some dash mounted single and 6 disc CD players for sale on Ebay, but note that you will also require a separate wiring adaptor to tap into the feed to the head unit and provide illumination of the CD player fascia. You should also fit a triangular separator shelf between the head unit and CD player to ensure air circulation space between the units - if you buy the CD player new these will likely be included but they may not be supplied with a secondhand unit.

The cheapest way of getting a 6 disc changer for your car will be to buy a second hand VW boot mounted changer - these are relatively easy to come by from the likes of Ebay and you shouldn't have to pay more than about ?120 for a nearly new unit. If you are lucky you might be able to pick up the wiring loom and mounting bracket also from Ebay.

The wiring loom for the boot changer is pretty easy to fit and can be bought from a VW stealer with the bracket as a complete kit with instructions (of sorts!) for about ?50.

Another alternative is a non VW specific changer - Your local halfords or car audio specialist should be able to supply and fit a Panasonic/Alpine/Sony etc boot mounted changer with the requisite adaptor lead but you will be looking at upwards of ?200.

Good luck with your install.

Chris

[Doug W]

Hi Chris,

Thanks a lot for taking the time to reply so comprehensively.....

Lets see what Santa brings  

[kniterider]

got sony 6 disc changer and interface for 135 quid, fitte dme self easy get it done

[number_six]

I removed the standard front loading cd player and fitted a Kenwood player that will play MP3's.  I have one cd that has 12 cd's worth of music on it, but that is at a lowish bit rate but is still standard CD quality sound.  You can easily have over a hundred or so songs on one cd.

I'm going to drive from Lands End to John O groats one day and I still probably won't need to change the CD for the journey.

[Franko180]

I removed the standard front loading cd player and fitted a Kenwood player that will play MP3's.  I have one cd that has 12 cd's worth of music on it, but that is at a lowish bit rate but is still standard CD quality sound.  You can easily have over a hundred or so songs on one cd.

I'm going to drive from Lands End to John O groats one day and I still probably won't need to change the CD for the journey.

I think thats a bloody good solution!

In my previous 2000 Golf I had the boot mounted VW boot mounted 6 cd changer. Over the 3 years I had the car I had it swapped twice under warranty. First time it just failed one winter and kept saying "CD ERROR" (or similar) and kept switching between each disc one after the other and couldnt read any of then. The 2nd time it got swapped was when VW were fixing the infamous 'leaking rear washer' and when they were working on it a load of water emptied on to the player and they swapped it.

I've got the 6 CD dash mounted player in my current golf which is 5 months old (12,000 miles now), no problems yet. Must agree that security is questionable as you can turn the stereo on without keys, so if someone broke in I assume they could unload all your CDs without much bother. Still it looks nice and what use is that space below the cupholder anyway?

[richy]

On ebay you can pick up a geniune VW single CD player for between 30 and 100 quid.  

I've never tried to fit a cd player in a MK4 golf (as I don't have one yet - getting one soon!) but I don't suppose its very hard.  It has been pretty easy in all my other cars!  If anyone disagrees, let me know as the car I'm looking to buy (1.8 Non-turbo GTI) doesn't come with a CD player, and I was going to get one off ebay and do it myself.  

[gazzagtiT]

I would go along wiv number-six there bout the mp3's, i got southend auto electrics to remove my stereo for nothing, as i was givin them ?150 to fix my rear leccy window, then i went straight down to the courier place to collect my pioneer p5530mp( good match for the blue an red lumo's) an fitted it in roughly 2-3 mins, just be aware that you may need to swap red an yellow wires around (see post on car audio bout head unit trouble) very pleased wiv the unit very good sound great sounjd options, an of course wiv mp3 you can hav hundred hours of music. The cd i have was my first attempt at downloading an copying but still got 5 albums an 45 songs on, everything from theme from back to the future for those long straight speedy roads to nirvana, ther's so much you can get!
good  luck

[kniterider]

not changing untill me kids grow up a bit they always piss about with everything!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Danr]

I have an mp3/wma player as well much better than changers like i used to have, no more scratched cds is the best thing i can say, dosent seem to skip as much on bumps either but use 128k for when converting them should give u about 56mb per cd which is about 13 albums on 1 cd