2003 Disco Car Audio Quote

[Ripper]

If anyone has ever gone through a Circuit City or Best Buy to have their Disco car audio upgraded, I would very much appreciate your thoughts.

I have a 2003 Disco SII with 28k miles. It's a base version without a factory subwoofer. I went to a Circuit City today to see if they could perform an install of a new car radio/sound system. I did that because the factory radio is crap - AM only, as the FM does not work (don't know if something like this would be covered by the manufacturer's warranty). They told me the job would take about 7 hours to complete because the Disco's require that type of labor. I am looking for a radio that has MP3 capability and, obviously, an FM frequency because I will be putting in XM Satelite radio. They laos told me that I will have to replace the speakers, as the factory speakers only work with the factory radio.

The total cost will be $600.

Does anyone have any experience with new radios in Disco's? If so, your thoughts on what I have posted with my own experience?

Thanks

 

[bdog]

If your Disco has a factory amp you will have to bypass that with the new head unit, running new speaker wires to the speakers, you don't have to replace the speakers. I'm in the same boat as you, looking to get this Alpine CDA-9857. I want to keep my steering wheel controls and 6 disk changer. They said I can do everything but it will be kinda expensive. $350 for the headunit, $100 for the XM Direct main unit that plugs into the headunit, $50 for the steering wheel control setup and at least a couple hundred in labor.

Here are some pics of a guy that did a stereo change, you do need a lower trim plate with any stereo you pick.
http://www.xmfan.com/viewtopic.php?t=3270

 

[Ripper]

Thanks for the response. The guy at CC told me that I would need new speakers (I think they were called Dolts or something like that) at $99 a pair. He did say they would have to bypass the amp, so, your right about that. I don't have steering wheel controls, so I don't have to worry about that. I did have to pay for a kit, which will help the new head unit blend into the dash better. I am getting a Pioneer head unit that costs around $200 and am thinking about the XM satelite direct main.

Sounds to me like $600 isn't that bad, but him telling me that I have to get new speakers sounds odd.

 

[bdog]

Thanks for the response. The guy at CC told me that I would need new speakers (I think they were called Dolts or something like that) at $99 a pair. He did say they would have to bypass the amp, so, your right about that.

I still don't know what's up with him telling you that you need new speakers, but I think he meant Polk, which is better than the factory ones anyways. I have the 12 speaker system in my 03 SE, I guess you have an S model and I'm not sure how the system is lined up. Anyway, for a new deck, speakers and labor installed, $600 isn't that bad.

 

[john65b]

AUX Jack

As long as we are on the topic of LR stereos, I want to install a AUX jack on my standard radio/amp setup of my 02 disco II. I think the standard issue head unit/amp/CD player sounds great (I have an SD, not an SE, but I may have the primium radio setup - don't know) Now I have the radio/amp/cd schematics and I know which 4 wires are the analog out from CD to the amp. I was thinking of splicing a two way switch on these 4 wires (left channel +/- and right channel +/-) and connect a 1/8" AUX jack. I could then place the head unit on CD playback, and then switch between the CD and the AUX connector - so I can plug my Sirrius radio analog out or IPOD analog out directly to the amp....I would then still have volume control on stering wheel for the AUX jack input....anyone done or thought about doing this?

I do not wanna hear how the FM transmission works good enough, cause It doesn't - I want to direct wire a sirius/IPOD AUX jack to the head unit/amp/cd unit/speakers.

 

[bdog]

^

You will need an RCA adaptor like this one. It will plug into the factory radio plug and allow you to have an RCA imput jack, for XM, Sirius, Ipod or anything with RCA cables.

http://www.installer-data.com/item/display_item.php?it=lralpx

 

[john65b]

Well heck, that makes it real easy...$100 is doable too.

Thanks

 

[john65b]

But after further review, I think this will prevent me from using teh factory CD player under the passenger seat...



Product Name: LRALPX 1998-02 Land Rover to Alpine Changer Interface/Aux. Input Adapter
Product ID: LRALPX

Availability: In Stock
Manufacturer: Peripherals
Sale Price $149.95 $92.98
(Savings: $56.97)


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Description: The LRALPXv2 allows the integration of any *Alpine 6 disc changer to Land Rover OEM (factory) Radios. All functions are retained and the interface and changer are controlled via the OEM (factory) radio controls. Included with the interface is the exclusive X-Path circuitry, which provides an input for an auxiliary audio source [ iPod, MP3 Player, XM Radio, DVD Player, X-BOX, Playstation etc], to be fed in through the factory system and does not need the addition of a CD changer to function. If only the Auxiliary option is desired, simply accessing the CD changer functions will activate the X-path circuitry and allow audio to be heard from the auxiliary input device through the factory system.
Compatibility & Notes: ( please read before purchasing this part )
1. Compatible with all 1998-03 Land Rover vehicles listed above.
2. Installation of the LRALPXv2 is a simple plug-n-play affair.
3. Vehicles must have an 8-pin CD Changer port behind the OEM (factory) radio [factory pre-run CD Changer cable (if present) must be disconnected]
4. The LRALPXv2 interface can be used with or without an Alpine CD Changer (does not work with the factory installed CD Changer).
Footnotes:
*Alpine CHM-S634 will require the KCA-130b cable (sold separately)
† Not compatible with Freelander radios with 10-pin rectangular changer connector.