Help: MK5 aftermarket stereo wiring adapter confusion!

[Emeye]

Hello,

I've done plenty of searching and asking but I'm still confused about exactly what wiring adapters I will need when fitting my Alpine 9812RR Headunit into my MK5 Golf Gti.

I already have the VW fascia adapter, and I believe I can get either an expensive CAN BUS adapter or get a cheaper std adapter and wire a switched live feed to the fusebox or just not bother having the unit switching itself off. So which is best? Is it worth spending the money on the Can bus adapter? Oh I don't have steering wheel controls to worry about.

My biggest confusion is what aerial adapter I should be buying - do I need a double one, does it need to be powered?

Advice and some links to the products you have used would be much appreciated - thanks!

I've fitted loads of aftermarket stereos into my previous cars but never had this much messing. around!!

[Emeye]

Well looky what I found!

http://www.nexxia.co.uk/Car_Stereo_fitting_kits/volkswagen/golf.htm

Hoping this is the right stuff.

Still not sure if I should splash out for the CAN BUS adapter though..... 

Oh, but I would add DON'T buy the single din fascia adapter from that link! The VW one is much nicer and almost half the price!!!

[AlanD]

You have near enough makes no difference the same HU as me. I just run a standard adaptor as they wanted silly money for the CANBUS. I remove the front of the HU every time I get in and out the car and it auto turns itself on and off when put on / remove the unit so not much difference there. As for the ariel adaptor Im not too sure which one I bought, I went into a local Audio Specialist place and he gave me the adaptor I needed, if you go into any audio shop or maybe even Halfords and say you have a MK5 golf and want an ariel adaptor (id recommended one with a signal booster like mine) Im sure they will point you in the right direction. Its not a double one, I just used eni meni minei mo technic and choose one of the two at random to plug in and I seemed to have chosen the right one as my reception is aright.

Hope this helps.

[Emeye]

You have near enough makes no difference the same HU as me. I just run a standard adaptor as they wanted silly money for the CANBUS. I remove the front of the HU every time I get in and out the car and it auto turns itself on and off when put on / remove the unit so not much difference there. As for the ariel adaptor Im not too sure which one I bought, I went into a local Audio Specialist place and he gave me the adaptor I needed, if you go into any audio shop or maybe even Halfords and say you have a MK5 golf and want an ariel adaptor (id recommended one with a signal booster like mine) Im sure they will point you in the right direction. Its not a double one, I just used eni meni minei mo technic and choose one of the two at random to plug in and I seemed to have chosen the right one as my reception is aright.

Hope this helps.

Thanks AlanD,

I remember you posted about using an standard wiring adapter on my other thread - I was thinking that our Alpine head unit automatically presented the fascia as the power was switched off, but I think that may have been my last Pioneer HU!  My Alpine HU has been in the box for a couple of years.

I did read on one forum (which I can't find now) that there is an adapter for the aerial that uses both aerial connections - I'm wondering why there are 2?

I do like the idea of your advanced decision making using vorsprung durk eni meni minei mo technique !

[AlanD]

Im not sure really why there are two either, maybe someone else on here knows what thats all about (TT seems to know everything). Iv not really looked into it anymore as mine is working with one lol . It does get a bit staticy sometimes which it never did with the original HU but other than its fine.

As said your best option (and fastest) would be to go into an Audio specialist and say right I have this this this and this and I want it in my MK5 Golf, what do I need, any place worth its salt will just say you need this this this and this (they will try and sell you the CANBUS as its more money but as said, you dont NEED it).

Its not as complicated as it first looks. The way I did mine was removed the original headunit, (there is a how to guide online) if you are going to do this yourself give me a PM and I can try and give you some pointers e.g try as hard as you can not to unplug the airbag sensor as it will require VAGCOM to reset it (found out the hard way lol). It was then a case of connecting the CANBUS to the £10 ISO adaptor and plug that into the HU, take the ariel and plugging that into the adaptor with the signal booster and then sticking that in the back and then wire the amp / sub into the back of the HU and hey presto.

Hope this makes sense lol

[jphealy]

Can someone explain what this CANBUS thing is/does?  I'm thinking of changing my RCD 300 for an Alpine HU and iPod lead.  I'm a bit clueless.  Thanks!!

[AlanD]

The CANBUS system is the just a connection which links all the cables to the headunit. Using the CANBUS allows you to use all the extras that a modern cars has e.g auto dimming the HU when your light turn on / off, increasing the audio level as your speed increases etc. Using a standard ISO adaptor like I have only incorporates the critical audio cables required to run a different HU.

I have lost all these extra functions in bypassing the CANBUS system. When I did my audio install the guy wanted £110 for the adaptor. I found them for about £90 online at the time. Not sure if they have come down in price or not. Its a lot of money for what is effectively some plastic with a bit of metal and some cables.

[Emeye]

Cheers Alan, that does make sense, what doesn't is that I'm sure when I last fitted the Alpine HU it had (as I think I mentioned in the other thread) a power lead that the instructions insisted should be attached directly to the battery - now I guess this is just a precaution for older cars with lower gauge wiring, but I'm sure this is separate to the main connector. Guess I'll have to just order the bits and see how I get on!

Thanks.

[AlanD]

I do remember you mentioning this in your other thread. There is NO need to attached the Alpine HU to the battery, no idea what your manual is going on about ( lol you actually read a manual ). The HU gets its constant supply from either the CANBUS or the ISO adaptor (which ever one you decide to use).

[rugbymad]

i've just got a jvc kw avx810 fitted by a audio dealer, he fitted the iso adapter facia and eventually can bus ,, oh and the aerial thing..  the aerial core is 12v to the amp at the ae, this is why we neeh an adapet otherwise no amplified signal... anyway all in all it cost £183 qiud to get fitted inc parts.. i felt well ripped off thr stereo only cost 250 quid..