Got rid of wifes Saturn Vue for a CX-9 Touring!

[steinfire]

She loved her Vue but we did not have enough room in it and could not find anyone to work on it anymore. All the dealers around here are closed.

We decided to trade it for a 2007 CX-9 Touring (she did not want to do the minivan thing) and we love it! Our 8 and 3 year old boys love it too.

We ordered a overhead DVD that should be here this week, and I plan on having the front windows tinted as soon as the weather is warmer than it is now. I also was thinking of installing some aftermarket HIDs but that is just a maybe.

Well here are a few pictures of out CX-9.....why did I not know anything about these sooner?(dunno)

 

[ceric]

Welcome to CX9 forum.
The roofrails are not factory ones. Are they?

 

[steinfire]

The roofrails are not factory ones. Are they?

Thanks, I did not even notice that until you caught it. I looked at them this morning and do not like how they are mounted. I also do not know who makes them.....I would like to have the cross rails but not really sure where to look.

 

[vikefan7]

Welcome.

 

[steinfire]

Has anyone here ever installed a overhead dvd or should I just let the local Home Audio/Video shop do it for $150?

 

[SeCX-9]

Entire system and installation for $150? Sounds like a duct tape job to me...

 

[tonyj]

Let them do it, we personal went with the Dual Headrest for our local Car Toys, complete package w/ install, connect to stereo, and 4 year warrnty for $500. And that is for 7 inch monitor on one side and monitor/ DVD player on the other. It was a very close match to the factory leather, you have to look real hard and have the correct light to tell

 

[steinfire]

Entire system and installation for $150? Sounds like a duct tape job to me...

I have the DVD system already but I'm not sure if I want to try and install it myself. I bought a 10.2" flip down monitor with a built in PS2....includes 2 wireless dualshock controllers, 2 wireless headsets, one remote, and a wireless fm modulator. The kit comes with 2 PS2 games (Hot Shots Golf 3 and one of the Rachet and Clank games) and 3 different bezels to match the interior color. Three year warranty is included also.

They said they could do it for 150 bucks. This is not a Best Buy or something like that, they have been doing professional home and car installs for over 20 years around my area.

I'm just saying that I do know a good bit about home theater installs and I have installed a system in my truck..... but that was a 98 full sized chevy over 10 years ago. I'm not as patient as I used to be and don't want to mess anything up like breaking or cracking the trim around the radio, screwing up my bluetooth, or worse.

Does 150 sound right for a overhead dvd monitor install?

Thanks

 

[tonyj]

that sounds like a good price, if you think about your time to do it yourself, trust me avoid the headache adn scraped knuckles. I am like you. I have installed quite of few systems back in my day. But looking at the "9", (as we call ours). I wouldn't even dare pull that headliner down, with the 3 row curtain airbag.
I installed our last overhead system in or 2005 MPV, no curtain airbags, and it was still a PITA.
I paid $125 for the labor on our Dual Hearest system, yeah sure I could have done it. But they were able to do it in 3 hours, and we were on our vacation in Portland for Thanksgiving. and I double check their work, before I left there, to make sure it was to MY standards. No issues could be found.....
So you do the math =)

 

[Davicho]

I second that ^

...but if you are fixed on an overhead unit, $150 is a good price. I paid $100 back in 2006 for a simple overhead DVD screen/player combo to be installed in my wife's 2004 Ford Escape.

 

[tonyj]

We seriously thought about the over head as well, but we have the moonroof. So I had the tech bring the overhead unit out to do a mock up, adn um yeah, it blocked the rearview entirely. Which isn't necessary a good view anywas w/o the OH installed

 

[steinfire]

I didn't even think of the dual headrest but I already have the flip down. This happens to be the first car we have without a sunroof so I don't know if they will mount up a little closer to the front.

We were leaning towards a minivan before we bought the CX-9 and all of them that we looked at had the flip down or dual flip down monitors. I wonder if they have ever considered the safety issue in a crash?

Easy to return to stock. Just undo the wires and pop the original headrests back in. Take the DVD system with you for the next car.

Less chance of damage to the headliner or air curtains. (The headliner is a brittle foam that's VERY delicate and easy to break, creating a visible crease)

Won't come loose in a crash and hit someone.

Won't block the driver's rear view.

Easier DIY install.

We plan on keeping this car for awhile so I'm not too concerned about returning it to stock. If the curtain airbags get messed up then I will have the shop to take care of their mess up.I pray that we will not have a crash and I don't know what to do about the blocked view.

that sounds like a good price, if you think about your time to do it yourself, trust me avoid the headache adn scraped knuckles. I am like you. I have installed quite of few systems back in my day. But looking at the "9", (as we call ours). I wouldn't even dare pull that headliner down, with the 3 row curtain airbag.
I installed our last overhead system in or 2005 MPV, no curtain airbags, and it was still a PITA.
I paid $125 for the labor on our Dual Hearest system, yeah sure I could have done it. But they were able to do it in 3 hours, and we were on our vacation in Portland for Thanksgiving. and I double check their work, before I left there, to make sure it was to MY standards. No issues could be found.....
So you do the math =)

I pulled the headrest out of my 98 chevy truck and covered it with suede and it was not fun at all. I do remember cracking the back rear panel too. After remembering how much of a pain it was to do this I think I will let someone else deal with the headache.


I'm taking it to get the windows tinted tomorrow. Going over the factory sides and back with 15%, adding the brow/visor strip, and keeping the front two legal.

Thanks again for all the help

 

[tonyj]

Since you don't have a moonroof, yes it will be mounted further forward, and it will be higher of course. So pretty good chance it may not block your view through the rearview mirror.

 

[steinfire]

Thats good to know about it being mounted closer to the front.

I just got it back fro getting the windows tinted and it looks really good. It is overcast now so I wonder how they will look in the bright sun.

The back has 5% over the factory and the front driver and passenger windows are legal for Georgia 35%.