How to install an entire ICE system

[Swindon Japster]

First off, many thanks for the inspiration of previous 'How To's' especially Pottsy for head unit removal and speaker replacement as well as those contributors for iPod icelink.

Firstly, I replaced the existing speakers, front and rear with Kenwood 17cms (Components in the front). An improvement but basically the headunit is just not up to it. Amplification was required.

Power cable run from the battery, fed in to the the battery termination 'box' with a carefully drilled hole.
battery terminal.jpg
terminal 2.jpg

Although not close to the battery, I ran the cable through a main loom grommet found in upper drivers footwell.

grommet.jpg
inner grommet.jpg
dist block.jpg

Because of a lack of pre-out in the headunit, speaker cables were run front to back, through amp 'high inputs' and then back to pick up again at the headunit (I used an Autoleads SOT lead to save cutting the original wiring).

speaker wire.jpg

The amps (a Sony 4 channel for the front and rear speakers and an amplied Pioneer active sub box) are mounted neatly under the seats. Although the routing of this volume of wiring takes time in order for the seats to return to their 'down position'. However, this way none of the boot space is taken up and the sub is more effective as it is within the cabin space.

amps2.jpg

Th Pioneer box has a bass controller, which is a nice feaure but another wire to run. This is housed within the roll top draw that is home to cupholders.
bass controller.jpg

With the sound system sorted my attention turned to entertaining the children.

As I wanted to put a DVD player and hook up for a Playstation 2 in the glove box, it was easier to take the glovebox right out - 2 screws, 2 plastic studs in the front lip, 2 'bolts' under the end panel of the dash, another that is exposed with the cetre console removed and a 'hidden' screw/bolt that secures the rear of the glove box to a 'hanger'

stripped.jpg

'Hidden' screw on rear of glove box

hidden screw.jpg

My kids have a 'Buzz' game which have specific conrollers for PS, requiring a USB connection, which was a bit of a pain as wireless controllers that suit most games are literally plug and play. Whilst I was fitting the USB I also fitted a remote reset button for PS. The remote infrared eye for the DVD is run down the centre console to the rear.
DVD gbox.jpg

USB and reset in drivers armrest cubby.
reset button.jpg

I had the 6.5" screens professionally fitted by Veba with some 'flush mounts'. These screens have an infrared transmitter for wireless headphones and also link with an 'AV switcher' (mounted above passenger kick panel) that allows either video source to be shown on either screen (no arguing from the back hopefully).

Headrest.jpg

The screen cables were awkward to run down the inside of the seat backs as the clips that hold them on are delicate ( 3 large and stiff fixings at the top, smaller clips down the 'non airbag' side) If fact, although I was careful, my dealer managed to break them when I had a seat cover changed recently!

Earthing points for most of the visual kit was picked up on a stud located on the passenger side inner wing.

earth.jpg

Finally Dension icelink was installed with lead through to silver cubby under radio.

Pod.jpg

No doubt I have been short on detail at times and would welcome any questions.

A happy SJ.

[apemonkeyman]

Originally Posted by Swindon Japster

The amps (a Sony 4 channel for the front and rear speakers and an amplied Pioneer active sub box) are mounted neatly under the seats. Although the routing of this volume of wiring takes time in order for the seats to return to their 'down position'. However, this way none of the boot space is taken up and the sub is more effective as it is within the cabin space.

If you put the backs of the seats down, don't the amp & sub get in the way when the seat bases collapse to the floor?

[Bog]

WOW! That is very good and thanks for writing it up!

[l-noel]

Very impressive !

[basegreen]

I bet the kids do get a buzz with those bad boys under the rear seats

[Swindon Japster]

Apemonkeyman,
Don't use this facility as carry kids around and also have access to a van.

SJ

[Swindon Japster]

Originally Posted by basegreen

I bet the kids do get a buzz with those bad boys under the rear seats

I only go nuts with the bass controller when they are not in situe. However the missus loves it!

SJ

[apemonkeyman]

Originally Posted by Swindon Japster

Apemonkeyman,
Don't use this facility as carry kids around and also have access to a van.

SJ

It wasn't a criticism, just a question to bear in mind if I chose to install similar - I do need to be able to fold seats down so wondered if the amp & sub got in the way of that, thus making this unsuitable for me...

[basegreen]

Originally Posted by Swindon Japster

I only go nuts with the bass controller when they are not in situe. However the missus loves it!

SJ

Good stuff

[sco77harris]

nice job

[Harps]

nice work mate looks good!

[Parky]

Remember to tell your insurer that you have made all those modifications or you could find them or the whole car is not covered.

Ian

[Meino]

Can you be more specific about how you run the power cable into the car?
I have to check for the main loom grommet... Is it left or right?
I asked my dealer recently how I could get the power cable inside. They told me I had to drill a hole to run the power cable through....

[Swindon Japster]

Originally Posted by apemonkeyman

It wasn't a criticism, just a question to bear in mind if I chose to install similar - I do need to be able to fold seats down so wondered if the amp & sub got in the way of that, thus making this unsuitable for me...

No worries AMM, didn't take it as a criticism. I originally considered a new Blaupunkt 4 channel for its size, perhaps mounting behind glove box, but information regarding the new, car specific, small units is scarcer than their avaialability, so I gave up. The underfloor area in the boot was another favourite for a while, seat backs are a common mounting place but again all of these will limit practicality.

SJ

[Swindon Japster]

Originally Posted by Parky

Remember to tell your insurer that you have made all those modifications or you could find them or the whole car is not covered.

Ian

Thanks Ian, intestingly I have just changed insurers and Elephant cover up to £750 worth of kit as standard (also much cheaper than the AA).

SJ

[Swindon Japster]

Originally Posted by Meino

Can you be more specific about how you run the power cable into the car?
I have to check for the main loom grommet... Is it left or right?
I asked my dealer recently how I could get the power cable inside. They told me I had to drill a hole to run the power cable through....

Meino,

Pictures I took were of a RHD car, guess yours is LHD, but also guessing that the grommets etc are in the same place? The one I used will be behind your glovebox close to the centre console line.

SJ

[Meino]

Originally Posted by Swindon Japster

Meino,

Pictures I took were of a RHD car, guess yours is LHD, but also guessing that the grommets etc are in the same place? The one I used will be behind your glovebox close to the centre console line.

SJ

Mine is indeed a LHD.. So will check behind my glovebox... Do you think I have to take the glovebox apart?

Thanks again!!

[Pottsy]

SJ, very nice job! I have put a couple of hi-res versions of his photos here:

www.civinfo.com/forum/dismantled.php

[ayasystems]

Because of a lack of pre-out in the headunit, speaker cables were run front to back, through amp 'high inputs' and then back to pick up again at the headunit (I used an Autoleads SOT lead to save cutting the original wiring).

How many cost this amp? Could you give me a model description to search it in spain?

Best regards

[Swindon Japster]

Sony Amp 4 channel ('Stream'-design XM-SD14X) sells at about £130, Pioneer active sub (TS-WX11A) sells at about £200. I rate these componenets very highly in terms of price v. performance especially the Pioneer box in this install as space was at a premium.

SJ