Coming soon to a Saab 9-5 near you....

[sgould]

At least, it will be coming if I can work it all out and the weather improves.....

[Audax]

You have an Edna right? Did it require a chisel, hammer and superglue to fit or not?

[sgould]

I only picked it up this afternoon!!  So it's still on the floor in front of me....

But I have a Saab fitting kit that looks to be right.  I will check it tomorrow, if it's not raining too hard.

There's a bit of soldering to do (or crimping) as there's no fitting harness for the OE Satnav.  Only for the radio.  And I want to use the pre-outs rather than the speaker feeds.

[philg]

Yes, I'm still waiting for a break in the weather to have a stab at mine that's been put off for about 2 months now.

I have the older Kenwood unit that I used to have in my 9-5 saloon...how I wish the OEM satnavs had simple ISO connector blocks!!!!! 

[Geoff1951]

Nice one! I only wish I hadn't then gone and looked at this -

http://www.talkaudio.co.uk/index.php/index.html/_/reviews/av/kenwood-dnx4210dab-two-din-head-unit-r1284

Look at the length of the specs list !!!

Will, you HAVE to let us know when it's all fired up.

[bgentles]

Hubba hubba. That is the dog's danglies!

[sgould]

It looks as if it will fit OK.  We shall see in the morning!!

Here's a couple of rough pictures taken on the floor at home...

[sgould]

A few comments so far.

I think it will fit.  I've identified all the wires and i think I know where they go. 

I plan on using the pre-outs which are 2v standard as is the Saab/HK amp.

I have the iPod/iPhone link on order.  I don't yet know whether to route it to the glovebox or the centre cubby.

I've decided not to fit a link to the steering wheel controls.  It's expensive and it still needs soldering/crimping and in the end it will only do the volume really.  Maybe one day I will.

But the Recommended price of the head unit seems to be around £800 in the UK.  I got it from a car place in Hayes, Middx for under £650 and picked it up there this afternoon as my wife had to go down that way anyway.

What I find puzzling is that Halfords are offering this unit for around £1100!! So is Argos!!

But all that pales into insignificance when you realise that a replacement Saab Denso OE unit can be had for a bit over £2300 - daylight robbery!  And it's very out of date, and can't be customised.  Mine is broken and a new DVD drive can be sourced for around £300 from Germany.  The ribbons are bonded so fitting a new drive would not be DIY.  So I was estimating £400 to repair and end up with something from the 90's.

ApArt from all the extra features, I will be able to remove my Parrot bits and the DAB add-on that sits by the passenger's knee - she complains!!  I will also be able to customise the Points of Interest, and SWMBO will be able to use it while the car is in motion to reroute around a traffic jam.

But that's all for the future.  I have to learn to install it first!!

[Petemate]

Either my post has been taken off, or (more likely) I fouled up during the post. So please forgive a silly question. The audio unit in our facelift Sportwagon has an info button that, when pressed, displays what is playing and the artist or at least the prog and presenter. Does this indicate that the radio is digital? I ask as when I was working, our radio in the office was a DAB with this facility, also some BMW classifieds I have seen show the cars as having DAB, even as old as '57 plate.

[sgould]

I think your radio is RDS only. Radio Data System or something. It shows the station info and some other stuff, but only if it is being sent out by the radio station.

[Petemate]

Cheers Will. I've now dug a bit deeper and DAB units apparently have DAB somewhere on them. Also Beemers have it std from this year. Doh.

[sgould]

Dab logo is top right of the Kenwood unit in the pictures. Also in the middle of the touchscreen in the very top picture

[sgould]

I managed a trial fit this morning.  The kit I got is the correct one and everything is the right size.

But I'm going to have to take a while to play around and add a bit more support.  So I will need a period of open ended time when the car will not be needed.  Can't guarantee that at the moment as my mother-in-law died on Friday.  I need to be free to go here and there to help organise things.  And the weather forecast not good either.

Anyway.  Here's the picture of how it will look when done - the DAB head unit and Parrot will be gone:

[Geoff1951]

Sorry to read about the MIL.


It'll be a lot tidier without that DAB unit! My Parrot's on the right (pre-Edna model so doesn't block any heater controls).

[Norfolk Jim]

And you'll never be lost with Garmin as Sat Nav. My portable one has been the best thing since sliced bread with its Live Link system. Does that one have it Will to keep all up to date?