Afternoon All,
Has anyone installed a modern car stereo into an old Defender? Mine currently has no radio or speakers but it has an aerial so I can only assume the factory radio was removed by the previous owner.
I'm hoping to install a car stereo with a smart touchscreen display but want to know if it is possible with the current factory wiring system? Has anyone had experience in this?
Thanks,
Conor

Ceeej said:

Afternoon All,
Has anyone installed a modern car stereo into an old Defender? Mine currently has no radio or speakers but it has an aerial so I can only assume the factory radio was removed by the previous owner.
I'm hoping to install a car stereo with a smart touchscreen display but want to know if it is possible with the current factory wiring system? Has anyone had experience in this?
Thanks,
Conor

Click to expand...

Yes it's possible of course depends on whats been done to your wiring over the years. Mine had a cut out switch fitted so when you used the cut out switch the radio lost its live feed and also the memory. I just took a live from before the cut out through a fuse to the radio live.

Look on youtube,, there are videos on there of it being done, double DIN systems can be a problem depending on dash switch layout but it can be an easy job,

I don't have a radio in mine....I like all the noises it makes & if the normal tunes sound different I can
stop an go look to see what's fell off lol

I installed a separate amp, speaker cabs and big speakers in the back, I ran an mp3 player through the amp, I had to have it on full to be able to hear it, in the end I just didn't bother. But I have no sound proofing what so ever,

Yes you can fit whatever you want, some fit it to the headlining even. I have a fair bit of insulation in my 200Tdi 90 but still have to have the radio turned well up.
I don't think a touch screen will be much good to be honest, it would be so difficult to use while moving you will be a danger to yourself and others, it's enough of an arse blindly reaching over and twiddling a knob.

I've been experimenting, OK I drive a Series so its even noiser but some things may help. Don't even bother unitl you get the noise levels down. Doors, headlining, all the rattles. If you don't the volume has to be so high and its just gets uncomfortable. I've tried bluetooth/tablet, CDs, USB and the USB is most stable (cds seem to jump) but cds are easiest. tablet / bluetooth is good for carrying a lot of music but really has to be the job of the passenger to sort out. otherwise you are scrolling looking for a track and its an accident waiting to happen.. If its just me I set up a playlist and don't touch it again. Head unit is in roof which works well and the speakers are above the screen on each side so they are easy to hear as they are close to our ears. It's still not ideal and so I've been experimenting with a rally intercom set up with headsets, noise cancelling mics and a music input. It has potential, we can talk to each other easily, the phone can connect but the music is mono. I wouldn't go touch screen, there's enough to be busy with.

Can't imagine you'd hear yourself think in a 90, let alone hear a radio!!

Normal old sony head unit thing, an amp and 2 6x9s in the back (behind my insulated fume curtain thingy.)

Connect one of those bluetooth FM things with the buttons on to the phone, mounted on the cubby box so I can flick through songs without taking my eyes off the road at all.

I do have abit of insulation and rubber matting, very comfortable without having it too loud.