Stereo Size

tog21 · Post by **tog21** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 10:03 am

Hi Guys,

Probably a daft question, or one that has been asked a zillion times, but is the stereo opening a 2 din size? Reason being I`m thinking of getting one of those motorised DVD in-dash players, and wondered if it will fit as most are 2din in size.

Many thanks in advance

Neil

Hooligan · Post by **Hooligan** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 10:51 am

Yep
Sure is. I've just fitted a double DIN unit in mine.... changed ALL the speakers too as factory ones are just rubbish!!

... beware of the fitting depth though. I had to chissle the supporting bar out from behind the dash to get it to fit properly, and then fabricate a way of supporting the rear of the unit... tricky, but not impossible.

stringman · Post by **stringman** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 10:51 am

Yes the aperture is double DIN. Some Bongos come with a single din radio and a pocket (as did mine) others have a double din unit as standard so basically any stereo will fit in easily. Wiring adaptors are available to convert from the white Mazda plug to standard iso so you don't have to cut the wiring loom

tog21 · Post by **tog21** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 10:58 am

Great stuff, thanks guys, appreciate the help as I`m new to all this.

David Edwards · Post by **David Edwards** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:11 am

I have just fitted a double din 7 inch screen dvd player in mine, my dash had two single din sockets separated by a plastic strip. I had to cut out the strip to accomodate the unit, as said before the metal bar behind can stop the unit fitting all the way in, I have looked at mine and it is attached to a metal safety bar which travels the whole width of the vehicle, now this is obviously there for a reason and the reason being, in the event of a frontal collision the occupants will not get squashed like a bug so.. for that reason I have not touched mine and can live with it sticking out a bit, also the unit does not fully fit the hole top to bottom so I have to pad it out with something. My dvd did not come with a double din security cage either so security is the next thing. If you do consider squashing or otherwise bending the metal bar be careful and remember in the event of an accident if your vehicle is examined and it is found, I doubt if your insurance company will pay out as the safety cage integrity of the vehicle will have been compromised. Good luck in whatever you decide, oh and any advice re a security cage would be appreciated.lol Happy motoring.

platty345 · Post by **platty345** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:28 am

Hi all, Roosteruk did mine and a great job he did too,
He never had too touch the metal bar, He also welded 2 single gages together as we could not get a double din gage from anywhere in wigan.
The guy is spot on with lecky stuff.

roosteruk · Post by **roosteruk** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 1:00 pm

Tog,
As Platty said, I had to manufacture a double din cage. These can be sourced, but at the time, we were in the middle of installation and the only supplier close to us was K&M Acoustics of Wigan, that wouldn't part with one, he kept making excuses, so we walked away.
The small stand-off bracket behind the stereo is only there to support the unit fitted, but it did get in the way of my double din TV/Stereo unit and I had to squash it. This was because I fitted the phono out cables for the roof screen and the plugs were fouling on it. It does not form and part of any vehicle strengthening device, it acts solely as a stereo stabilizer and security bracket. Squashing it doesn't harm the side crush cross member, but you only need to do this in extreme cases.
As David Edwards states, the cage does not fit the whole part of the din aperture. What I did with Marks, was to fit a 6x4 inch piece of 12mm MDF under the cage (on double sided sticky) to the lower plastic shelf part. This held the cage to the top of the aperture and then all the tabs of the cage were bent round in place, job done. Oh, you could just see a small part of the MDF, but if you spray it black before you fit it, it will not be noticeable.

Karl

Hooligan · Post by **Hooligan** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 4:32 pm

As said before, the metal pole (about 2" in diameter) is a safety bar and really shouldn't be messed with.... but the radio support bracket isn't. Mine had 2 spot welds to the pole, and was attached at both ends to some plastic posts on the dash.... easily chissled off, and the radio now fits perect in the dash.... with no detriment to dash rigidity. It now looks like it was always mean't to be there.... if the interior wasn't so dated!!

David Edwards · Post by **David Edwards** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 6:20 pm

Ah, never actually thought about getting the actual bracket off the bar, this will give a bit of extra room and might just be enough, also the idea of welding two single cages together never occurred to me, I think you can tell I am not very technically minded, lol. Also wondered about width of board and will try 12mm mdf. Incidentally I have just put a post in off section re a car dvd player in argos, worth a read folks. Thanks for the tips. Happy motoring.