Stock looking flip-out head unit?

[clicknext]

Stock looking flip-out head unit? ***installed, with PICS!***

I'm looking for a head unit to replace the stock, because I really want mp3 playback, not to mention better quality sound. But I'm pretty picky about style, I don't want anything that looks too aftermarket.

Are there any that look like the one from the MSP, that look completely stock and plain until it flips out? Can be manual or motorized, but motorized would be cooler.

Thanks!

 

[chuyler1]

Motorized may be cool, but as the MSP owners know all to well, motorized faces tend to break more frequently than non-motorized faces.

Check out the websites for Pioneer, Clarion, Eclipse, and Alpine and you should get a pretty good idea of what is out there. Most units have detachable faces. Take the face off and bring it with you (or lock it in the glove box) and thieves won't bother breaking into your car.

 

[clicknext]

Motorized may be cool, but as the MSP owners know all to well, motorized faces tend to break more frequently than non-motorized faces.

Check out the websites for Pioneer, Clarion, Eclipse, and Alpine and you should get a pretty good idea of what is out there. Most units have detachable faces. Take the face off and bring it with you (or lock it in the glove box) and thieves won't bother breaking into your car.

Yeah, there is the issue of breaking, but that should be just a design flaw. It's just a lot of trouble to have to take it off and put it back on every time, it'd be really cool to have one that conveniently folds away and looks plain. I looked on some of those sites and I can't seem to find any at all that fold away. At most they seem to be just detachable.

 

[chuyler1]

Thieves know about folding face plates too you know. If they don't see a stereo...one of the blank spots must be one. All folding face plates have the same flaw. They are connected by a ribbon cable which over time wears out and breaks or shorts out.

 

[wrkngmanByTor]

how about this - my fantasy mod - an inset (sub surface) HU mount that would allow you to somehow snap on a false, cheap faceplate decoy?(although even that may not be enough to stop a junkie from breaking in and stealing your "cheap" stereo for their next hit). anyone heard of this type of mod being done?

 

[chuyler1]

I've seen it done all the time. The face of your stock radio can easily be adapted to snap over an aftermarket deck...its easiest if you have one with a removable face plate. Remove the face plate and replace it with the cheap OEM looking one.

 

[clicknext]

I've seen it done all the time. The face of your stock radio can easily be adapted to snap over an aftermarket deck...its easiest if you have one with a removable face plate. Remove the face plate and replace it with the cheap OEM looking one.

Do you mean that you can actually adapt the stock face to work with the aftermarket deck, or just that you can snap it on there when not in use, to prevent theft?

All folding face plates have the same flaw. They are connected by a ribbon cable which over time wears out and breaks or shorts out.

I looked at a couple face plates that fold down, but only to reveal the cd slot, not completely inverting. They seemed to lack a ribbon cable, but instead had metal contacts on both the back of the face and the front of the unit, so that they only touched when the plate goes back to the up position. Doesn't prevent shorts, but should solve the ribbon cable problem. However I havn't seen any that actually fold away.

 

[jester1x]

I recently replaced my stock headunit with this model: Kenwood Excelon KDC-X591. No, it doesn't have a flip down face. But, I can confirm it uses the stock harness (in the MSP). It's just plug and play. It also has a usb cable (routed to my glovebox) so you can play music files right off of a usb memory stick. I plan to buy a 2Gig stick this weekend. No need to burn mp3s to a cdr anymore.

Anyways...my headunit worked fine, but the display quit working a week or so ago. So, I decided to replace it before it fails completely.

Yeah, I actually do miss the noise of the faceplate folding around. Now, I have to remove the faceplate when I'm done driving for the day. Oh well, that's how it goes. I do like the usb cable option though. Plus, I saved $20 by not needing a new wiring harness.

 

[clicknext]

I recently replaced my stock headunit with this model: Kenwood Excelon KDC-X591. No, it doesn't have a flip down face. But, I can confirm it uses the stock harness (in the MSP). It's just plug and play. It also has a usb cable (routed to my glovebox) so you can play music files right off of a usb memory stick. I plan to buy a 2Gig stick this weekend. No need to burn mp3s to a cdr anymore.

Anyways...my headunit worked fine, but the display quit working a week or so ago. So, I decided to replace it before it fails completely.

Yeah, I actually do miss the noise of the faceplate folding around. Now, I have to remove the faceplate when I'm done driving for the day. Oh well, that's how it goes. I do like the usb cable option though. Plus, I saved $20 by not needing a new wiring harness.

Looks great! =)

When your display stopped working, did the face still flip? I'm thinking maybe I can get a deck off an MSP, and just replace the ribbon cable if it dies, or maybe even see if there's a better way to wire it.

 

[jester1x]

Yes, when the display stopped working, the face still flipped/flips over. It plays fine, but no display now. I thought it was a "glitch" in the unit because it happened before, but the display has not come back to life like it did previously. I may still look into having it repaired when I get around to it. I got tired of looking at a blank display screen and decided to buy something with newer technology...ipod, usb, etc... It also has subwoofer controls like the MSP oem deck. I even bought a remote since my MSP was missing the remote when I bought it. (Didn't know the Kenwood deck was supposed to have one when I bought the car.) The remote works with this new deck, so that was a nice bonus.

It maybe worth a try to fix an MSP deck provided you can find one rather cheap. You can sometimes find a few on ebay. They have had ones in good working order on there.

Let me know what you decide to buy.

*Oh, the right knob on the Excelon deck is not a knob at all, but a thumbstick. I'm still getting used to pushing it up/down and side to side to change tracks/folders.

 

[chuyler1]

Do you mean that you can actually adapt the stock face to work with the aftermarket deck, or just that you can snap it on there when not in use, to prevent theft?

Both are possible if you know your way around electronics and a soldering iron however using it just as a mask is pretty straight forward. Using it to control an aftermarket deck would require considerable work and I doubt you would get the display to function properly.

 

[lisevolution]

The custom deck with the stock face was a big thing in the custom installation scene in say 95-99. I remember seeing a couple of Jaguar XK convertibles in magazines with this done. The only thing you'd really gain from that is the connectivity of the aftermarket stereo vs. factory. The stealth face deal is done all the time and is pretty simple in most cases. I had the first generation fo the Kenwood flip face decks and that thing broke in 6 months... then I had that JVC Kamelion which just tunred into a black face when the power was off and that thing was junk too. If you're looking for something stock but with a screen perhaps a double-din screen with a custom molded surround would do the trick. People would just think it's a factory screen and not aftermarket if it's done right. The thing is this, if a thief wants your stuff he's going to get it...

 

[wrkngmanByTor]

I've seen it done all the time. The face of your stock radio can easily be adapted to snap over an aftermarket deck...its easiest if you have one with a removable face plate. Remove the face plate and replace it with the cheap OEM looking one.

Sorry if I'm being redundant, but are you saying its possible to use the dual din face off my P5 as a decoy over a single din unit(and pocket)? Sounds like a lot of work, but it would be sooooo cool if it could be done!

 

[chuyler1]

Yes...it might not look perfect but it can be done. If you want instructions on how to dismantle the oem double-din head unit see this thread and scroll down to my post.
How-To: Stock head unit with RCA outs (P5)

 

[clicknext]

Would an MSP HU be a plug and play deal in the P5?

I've never taken out a car stereo so I'm not sure what to expect to find back there. Is there a unified connector that goes onto the unit, or wires coming from every speaker, connected seperately?

 

[clicknext]

How much do you figure the stock MSP unit is worth, used taken out of an MSP but working? I see it was pretty expensive new.

I've got an opportunity to buy one, don't wanna lowball the guy with my offer.

 

[lisevolution]

they're not worth that much used... look around in the F/S thread to see what they've been selling for. Also in terms of plug and play not for the P5 as the MSP uses an aftermarket Kenwood and the plug is basically what you'd get by using a Metra adapter for the P5. Get that and then you match the colors from the head unit to the adapter and it's plug and play from there.

 

[chuyler1]

It is not plug and play..well no more plug-and-play than any aftermarket head unit...and as many have found out, the MSP head unit is only good for about 20K miles before it craps out and has to be replaced. Not a sound investment.

 

[clicknext]

Thanks for all the advice and everything!

I ended up getting a Kenwood KDC-MP922. It's got the flip-down hiding face, but it flips on a hinge rather than all the way around, unless you're changing the CD. So it puts a lot less repeated stress on the ribbon cable and should last longer. Or at least I'm hoping. But if not, then I'll be fine as long as I can find a ribbon cable. =)

Plus, the faceplate is removable too, so when I'm not parked in a good place, I can just take the faceplate with me. Best of both worlds!

Before I get down to work on it though, is the P5 metra adapter all I need in terms of connections? The unit has its own wiring harness, so I'm assuming I just get an adapter from Best Buy that's specific to the car, and not specific to the head unit? Do I just go in and ask for a wiring harness for a protege?

 

[lisevolution]

yes, just get a wiring harness for a P5 protege