Disco 2 Need radio/CD for my 1999 TD5!

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iamthewelshtaffy

Member
Posts
39
Location
North Germany
Hello again to yerall! My 1999 Discovery TD5s radio is broken.It only had a cassette player and no CD player.Is there a radio/CD player that will fit the existing two plugs at the rear of the radio? Any advice appreciated!
 
You can usually get an adaptor cable to suit. Some new radios will have an 'ISO' standard pin out, and the adaptors will go between this and the BMW style connector on your cars loom. However, they don't all use the ISO connectors - my Disco came with a blingy new JVC radio fitted as the original one was dead, but JVC don't use the ISO standard (at least this one didn't) so buyer beware!
The other problem is the steering wheel controls, I think some radios (probably more expensive ones) will accept these but I've not really looked into it, though I've seen adaptors on Ebay etc. Certainly mine don't work and the JVC radio doesn't have any connectivity to use them.
Either go to the german equivalent of Halfords and speak to one of the yoofs there, or perhaps a dedicated car audio shop, they should be able to put you on the right track.
 
You have what's often called the "base/mid line" ICE fit; no auto-changer under the right hand seat and an amplifier under the left.
There is one Land Rover head unit which should just drop straight in: XQE500540. It has a single CD slot and will drive the speakers directly I believe.
Your other choice is as Spong has said, a non-LR replacement head unit, with (or without as required) the necessary adapter plugs. CDs are "old hat" these days, particularly in vehicles, there are more modern and better ways of doing music in the car.
If you do decide to go for a new radio, then get one as "future proof" as you can, AM/FM, DAB, DAB+, and at least a USB port or SD card slot. Built in Bluetooth might be useful too.
You'd be best visiting an In-Car Entertainment specialist for that lot though.
 
I just fitted a Pure DAB radio with phone integration for £103 including film aerial.
Pure Highway H270SB Digital/FM/AM Radio with Bluetooth - ordered from amazon
It plugged straight in using the existing plugs.

DAB reception is great and I can receive calls hands free and play music from my iPhone. Job done!
 
I picked up a set of leads and adapters from InCarTec for the Disco2 that I found on here somewhere - it has an adapter for the steering wheel controls and an amplifier interface to "reduce the amplification" from the new Pioneer bluetooth CD stereo so that the sound output can then be amplified again by the Alpine unit under the passenger seat. It's a whole heap of cables that barely fits into the dash recess. I did find that my amplifier interface was faulty and I'm waiting for them to replace it - consequently the sound is REALLY LOUD but it does still work. Sadly there's no way to get the Alpine CD changer to work with a modern unit (that I can find - but I did just pick up a working original LR Alpine unit from a scrappy this weekend as a backup).
IMG_3414.JPG
 
PepeTheMule said:
I picked up a set of leads and adapters from InCarTec for the Disco2 that I found on here somewhere - it has an adapter for the steering wheel controls and an amplifier interface to "reduce the amplification" from the new Pioneer bluetooth CD stereo so that the sound output can then be amplified again by the Alpine unit under the passenger seat. It's a whole heap of cables that barely fits into the dash recess. I did find that my amplifier interface was faulty and I'm waiting for them to replace it - consequently the sound is REALLY LOUD but it does still work. Sadly there's no way to get the Alpine CD changer to work with a modern unit (that I can find - but I did just pick up a working original LR Alpine unit from a scrappy this weekend as a backup).
View attachment 101904
Click to expand...

That's an impressive set of wires there. I've found your dash mascot.
f7f713d8206e6f98c38f133cfdbc6d83.jpg

Anyway, back to the original query. I emailed Autoleads, gave them my vehicle details, told them which head unit I was interested in and asked what I needed to plug it straight in and give steering wheel control. I needed two adaptors, one to fit the harness and one for the controls. Bought them, fitted in minutes and works perfectly. Controls also cover iPod when that is plugged in via the USB on the headunit. Excellent service.
I did need an internal DAB aerial and this I fitted inside the A Pillar trim on the passenger side. No problem with reception.
 
Do you have the amp under your passenger seat?

If so how loud is your stereo (relatively speaking of course) without a "amplifier interface"?
 
Spong said:
I don't think you have nearly enough cable there...!
Click to expand...
Haha I know crazy huh. Turns out the one adapter was redundant. So there's the ISO adapter to Pioneer; steering wheel control adapter (for some bizarre reason I had two - I suspect it was in there already); and the "amplifier interface". Gulp
 
PepeTheMule said:
Do you have the amp under your passenger seat?

If so how loud is your stereo (relatively speaking of course) without a "amplifier interface"?
Click to expand...

To whom is this directed?
I've no external amp and using standard speakers but it pushes out enough for my needs. Not very scientific I'm afraid but could check in the morning using the meter on the phone :)
 
Feathers McGraw said:
To whom is this directed?
I've no external amp and using standard speakers but it pushes out enough for my needs. Not very scientific I'm afraid but could check in the morning using the meter on the phone :)
Click to expand...

I'm with you Mr McGoo, sorry McGraw. "If it ain't broke, why try to fix it?"
The easiest way to replace a LR head unit is with a LR head unit. Unfortunately there are a number of different fits in the Disco, base/mid line which doesn't have the additional power amplifier, the Hi-line which does have the amp and a CD auto-changer and the Harman Kardon "deluxe" fit which has everything which the Hi-line has but has HK speakers instead of "ordinary" ones and the built-in sat nav. the Hi-line and the HK fit are sometimes confused.
I don't think I'll ever understand those people who buy a Disco and instantly start turning it into something else, likewise the immediate need to rip out the original fit then start asking questions like " I've got this huge bundle of wires and nothing works, how do I put this ten kilowatt drum and bass speaker under the passengers seat?"
The OP (iamthewelshtaffy) asked if there was a head unit with a CD player which would plug straight in and I gave him the part number for the LR mid line fit which does have a single CD player, but others then jump in with advice which might well be valid, about fitting this or that amplifier with or without various adapters and huge bunches of wire.
Questions about ICE elicit some of the most complicated replies sometimes.
As I've said in the past, we're talking about a few sounds in a car, a finely tuned audio theatre it certainly ain't.
 
brian47 said:
I'm with you Mr McGoo, sorry McGraw. "If it ain't broke, why try to fix it?"
The easiest way to replace a LR head unit is with a LR head unit. Unfortunately there are a number of different fits in the Disco, base/mid line which doesn't have the additional power amplifier, the Hi-line which does have the amp and a CD auto-changer and the Harman Kardon "deluxe" fit which has everything which the Hi-line has but has HK speakers instead of "ordinary" ones and the built-in sat nav. the Hi-line and the HK fit are sometimes confused.
I don't think I'll ever understand those people who buy a Disco and instantly start turning it into something else, likewise the immediate need to rip out the original fit then start asking questions like " I've got this huge bundle of wires and nothing works, how do I put this ten kilowatt drum and bass speaker under the passengers seat?"
The OP (iamthewelshtaffy) asked if there was a head unit with a CD player which would plug straight in and I gave him the part number for the LR mid line fit which does have a single CD player, but others then jump in with advice which might well be valid, about fitting this or that amplifier with or without various adapters and huge bunches of wire.
Questions about ICE elicit some of the most complicated replies sometimes.
As I've said in the past, we're talking about a few sounds in a car, a finely tuned audio theatre it certainly ain't.
Click to expand...

Sorry if giving the OP some options as to easily fitting a different head unit in without cutting into the harness and still retaining control features is deemed as turning it into an audio theatre, I wouldn't have a clue how to manage that and certainly didn't end up with endless bunches of wires. Straight fit of a simple head unit (I never mentioned what it was but it is a Pioneer which was £87 new on Ebay, hardly high line ICE), standard speakers no extras but it did give me ipod connectivity for when we regularly do a 4 hour drive to visit family. It's most likely a lot less "fancy" than the higher level factory fit items, a lot cheaper than I've seen new LR branded items for and probably a lower output but it gives me what I wanted and works perfectly so I'm happy.

brian47 said:
If you do decide to go for a new radio, then get one as "future proof" as you can, AM/FM, DAB, DAB+, and at least a USB port or SD card slot. Built in Bluetooth might be useful too.
Click to expand...
Seems like you also suggested slotting in a new unit with extra features. Just like we were trying to help explain how it can be done. :)
 
Feathers McGraw said:
To whom is this directed?
I've no external amp and using standard speakers but it pushes out enough for my needs. Not very scientific I'm afraid but could check in the morning using the meter on the phone :)
Click to expand...

Sorry for confusion, I was addressing it to you Feathers.

The reason I ask is I have the Harmon Kardon system with amp under the passenger seat and multi CD changer under the drivers, and subwoofer in the boot. My LR alpine head unit was dead when I bought the car and I had a Pioneer with Bluetooth and USB spare from my Freelander so I installed it. I have thousands of songs on my iPhone that I like to enjoy whilst driving - and with a HK deluxe sound system in my Disco why not enjoy it.

The thing was that even on a low volume setting of say "4" the sound output was very loud - I was told this was due to the fact that the Pioneer output was amplified (as most modern units are) and then the Harman Kardon system Alpine amp was then amplifying it again thus the "amplifier interface" adapter I bought to sit between the Pioneer unit and the amp.

If you don't have an amp under the passenger seat you won't have this issue as I do with a modern head unit.

:)
 
Hi you guys, Until this day (Sat 11th 6.2016,) I had no idea that I'd recieved any feedback from my question regarding a suitable /cd player for my 1999 Discovery.I assumed any answer would have been forwarded onto my email.I must have, inadvertantly unticked that option.Thank you all so much for offerering your advice.I think who ever gave the advice a CD player was now becoming almost obsolte was right.I will have to find a DAB set, although me being based in Germany, that won't help me get the BBC as it appears to rely upon a land based signal.An adaptor seems to be the answer.Regarding having an amp under the passenger seat; no, there is no external amp. Thanks again.One thing which is interesting, since I took the radio out, my battery seems to be holding it's power, and hasn't let me down once since! That was the reason I took it out in the first place.Thanks again.Welshtaffy.
 
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