P38 clarion head unit.

I have just bought a 4.6 HSE (Not bad at 23!!! ), that has the Clarion headunit and 6 disk changer fitted with the steering wheel controls. The display on the unit is knackered, Clarion have said they should be able to repair this but I'd rather get a new, more modern headunit. I want one that I can use in conjunction with the multi changer and the steering wheel controls but Clarion do not have one that I can use (I already asked). Has anyone on here replaced the standard head unit for something more modern that has been able to connect to the multi changer and steering wheel controls?? Any help will be greatfully recieved by this newby RR owner

Hi B16FUN,

I don't think you will find a head unit which will be compatible with the Clarion changer.

Lots of folks now fit an MP3/iPOD system and do away with the CD changer.

You can get an adaptor to allow the steering wheel controls to work with head units which have this option.

I would recommend you get a car audio specialist to fit a replacement system.

Good luck!

What was an excellent stereo head unit 10 years ago, isn't as good as a £300 stereo head unit today.

My P38 cassette unit's LCD display went and couldn't get the damn code back in it to operate it.

What I did was take it to a car electrical installer and stuck a Pioneer DEH-P6800MP head unit in along with a Pioneer CD-BTB100 Bluetooth adapter for hands free mobile phone telephony and music streaming.

Then to cover the fixing screws, I bought 2 walnut radio blanks that fit either side of the unit finishing it off.

Job done......and if I wish, I could replace it with any standard car stereo from now on with no problems as the connections are now standard DIN.

On another side note, you could fit the Pioneer AVIC-X1BT Sat Nav DVD system in and completely revamp your old P38 and bring it up to date. This system is the same system James May used on BBC 2's TOP GEAR when he tried to race "Racing Pigeons" using a Ford Street KA.

Any chance of a picture of your current head unit?? I may have a working example from a recent upgrade going spare.

Also where are you based??

Regards,

Steve.

I will get a picture uploaded. I am in Stockport, just south of greater manchester. Cheers, Andy.

Hi BI6FUN,

The display on the clarion in me previous P38 was duff. I bought a simiar head unit (no CD changer fuction) for a song on eBay. The printed circuit board behind the facia was not the same, so I had to swap out the display module, which is held in place by soldeered lugs. I also replaced a few of the tiny button illumination bulbs, which had also blown.

It was a bit fiddly, but did the trick in the end!

B16FUN said:

I will get a picture uploaded. I am in Stockport, just south of greater manchester. Cheers, Andy.

Click to expand...

Ok matey - its a slim chance, but I may have one that you could swap or replace parts from.

hmm, im going to be the old man here, well, as old as I can be at 20 and say WHY WHY WHYYYYYY change out the head unit and all associated kit??

I have got the Clarion HK setup with steering controls in my P38 and I can honestly say it sounds perfectly ok to me!! Its loud when I want it to be and produces a good sound at almost any volume, clear and nice. I have found no reason why you would need to change the head unit at all!!

You can get the head units repaired at www.roverville.us My LCD needs doing at some point but I have read reports that these guys do a really good job.

As for integrating hands free mobile phone operation that can also be done very easily with a SOUNDLINX break-in box. You can attach this to a Nokia CK-7W car phone system and it can be bluetooth OR cradle. Wth the new laws cradle now seems the only 'safe' option. Its the system I have fitted to my P38 and it works brilliantly.

Lastly, im one of those people who loves to keep a car as original as possible so personally, for me, changing the stereo is a no go area, plus IMO it just looks tacky. The factory fitted radio with the HK setup seems perfectly fine to me and sounds good too.

-Wills

I guess it's all down to personal opinion really. I fancy a dvd multi changer with a couple of screens, but thats because I like them. I do appreciate completely standard cars when they are kept in mint condition. Andy.

I agree with you Andy.

My opinion on keeping a P38 in mint original condition is simple, if it were truly a classic car such as a Aston Martin DB 5 or a Jaguar E-Type then I agree it would be sacrilege to rip out certain parts of the original vehicle.

But the Range Rover has only seen a cosmetic change only 5 years ago so whether you have a 1995 or a 2001 P38, its only the number plate that gives its age away and since I have a personalised number plate, nobody can tell whether its 95 or 2001.

I bought and upgraded my stereo for simple reasons; I want to have an updated system with MP3 support. This is where car stereos are moving to as standard.

My Pioneer DEH-P6800MP head unit is superb and is equally as good as the original Clarion I just pulled out sound quality wise if not better. If you look at the technical specs of the Pioneer you will see it equally matches it for performance and yet adds MP3 and iPod support, DAB, Bluetooth etc by using the IP Bus system at the back of the head unit.

I purchased my Pioneer DEH-P6800MP for only £140 approx inc delivery. Halfords sell the same unit for twice that at £299.

I will post pictures of my unit working as I think it proves how good an after market unit looks when professionally fitted. It certainly doesn’t look rubbish and out of place. And with the burr walnut radio blanks either side, you wouldn’t know the difference unless you saw the original.

If you’re really looking for a SAT NAV system, and as already stated, Pioneer’s AVIC-X1BT Sat Nav DVD system can’t be beat. It’s far superior to any official LR SAT NAV system and provides DVD playback throughout your P38 by adding further LCD screens in the headrests etc, Radio, Bluetooth hands free telephony, CDR playback with MP3, WMA, AAC capability too and all this with a 6.5" Motorised Touch Screen that comes out the unit.

WATCH Pioneer’s AVIC-X1BT Video Demonstration HERE
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