replace radio

[david]

My Alphard has the original Japanese radio/cd player. I have fitted a band expander and can get UK channels but reception is very poor, Is there an aerial signal booster available? Or better still, can anyone recommenf a replacement double din UK unit that will go in without too much trouble. Nothing fancy, no sat nav required but Bluetooth I guess. I'd be very grateful to hear from anyone who has had experience of this. Cheers, Dave.

Hi again. Just seen this advertised for £180 which seems very cheap! Is it compatible with the Alphard, the ISO wiring harness for example? XTRONS Double 2 DIN 6.2 Inches HD Touchscreen Car Stereo DVD GPS Navi Player with Screen Mirroring Function

Edited August 6, 2020 by david
additional information added

[Alfie303]

Any double din unit should go in physically without much trouble as they're a standard size. The tricky bit is the wiring. At the very least you need an ISO wiring loom/adaptor, but you don't want to lose the steering wheel buttons operating your new radio so you really need another adaptor for that too. This complete package worked well for me:

 

https://www.dynamicsounds.co.uk/toyota-alphard-2002-2008-double-din-car-stereo-fascia-stalk-fitting-kit-black.html

 

It has everything you need. Fitting my head unit was a doddle apart from the backup camera wiring which was a massive pain, but that's another story!

 

You said don't need sat nav, so you might consider an even cheaper unit (£47!) that will mirror the sat nav on your phone:

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Camecho-Bluetooth-Android-Support-Steering/dp/B07P5CWX65

 

Not that I bought one myself - mostly because I'm not convinced the steering wheel controls will work it  (but I may be wrong). I also really wanted CarPlay and DAB so I bought the cheapest option with both, namely a Sony XAV-AX1005DB (£260). Not cheap but it "just works". I also get a really solid DAB signal after fitting a £25 DAB windscreen antenna, so maybe the same will work for FM, dunno...

Edited September 6, 2020 by Alfie303
typo

[david]

Thanks so much. That's really helpful.

[Moomins2]

Hi

Just for your info, if your Alphard has the factory fitted amplifier that is fitted under the front passenger seat then it is a very different lead that is required to fit an aftermarket radio, I had a Fujitsu ten 86120-58080 Japanese radio and changed it to a UK spec Kenwood double din radio that required the fascia adaption kit but the lead described in the previous post did not fit the Toyota harness in the dash. I eventually found a lead that did the job from INCARTEC of Exeter and the lead code was 20-259 just trying to sort out the sound at the moment but it might just be the Amp turn on wire, if I cannot figure it out then I will probably just bypass the amp and wire the speakers directly to the radio, but I will get there eventually.

[OllieB]

Afternoon, is there anyone here or know of someone in the north west that can fit a new head unit with working radio and controls in my 2008 alphard? Also, a new km to mph dial?

[Granny and Pop]

Hi,

 

I really need a 'cut to the chase' solution for a replacement radio for my 04 Alphard.

 

I tried a local bloke in Amesbury who does stuff like this but his basic solution of a radio which 'talks' to our phones, no steering wheel controls or reversing camera, but DID include fitting (like that was a special favour) was around £1200!

 

Surely not.

 

I am not clever enough to fit one myself so I wondered if anyone had any suggestions please?

 

I mean it when I say that I don't want to fit it myself as I know I will make a bolx of the job...

 

Getting frustrated with terrible reception on 3 or 4 channels, even with the bandwidth jobber fitted.

 

HELP

 

Kev

Edited September 10, 2021 by Granny and Pop
Spelling

[Ldrego]

My channel name is cuttothechase.  Have a look at this head unit. It cost about 140 pounds from aliexpress and was plug and play.

 

[Pritch]

Interesting, we had our radio unit (Pioneer SPH -DA130DAB) unit fitted at conversion time.

Am told that this is not compatible with the steering wheel controls, and have now lost use of them.

Am going to try and sort locally, but anyone else had this issue, and CAN it be sorted ?

[Picasso]

Hi you need this https://www.dynamicsounds.co.uk/toyota-alphard-2002-2008-steering-wheel-stalk-control-adaptor-ctsty001-2.html 

[Pritch]

On 9/19/2021 at 9:49 PM, Picasso said:

Hi you need this https://www.dynamicsounds.co.uk/toyota-alphard-2002-2008-steering-wheel-stalk-control-adaptor-ctsty001-2.html 

Thanks Picasso - I'll send this to the local guy who told me 'cant be done' thanks for this.

[Pritch]

OK people, have spoken to the local Car Audio Specialists who still say cannot be done, even with this adaptor (or maybe its just too fidly and doesn't want to). Says can do certain units/makes but not Pioneer.

Anyone know of anyone in the NW (we're Wirral based) who they know can do it ?

Many thanks

[starider]

Hi, we have found a fairly local company who has fitted a radio to an Alphard. They are on holiday at present,but as soon as they return we will be in contact. As soon as I have something to report I will share the info.

[colin2]

On 9/23/2021 at 11:18 AM, Pritch said:

OK people, have spoken to the local Car Audio Specialists who still say cannot be done, even with this adaptor (or maybe its just too fidly and doesn't want to). Says can do certain units/makes but not Pioneer.

Anyone know of anyone in the NW (we're Wirral based) who they know can do it ?

Many thanks

I am based in Merseyside near to you, and am waiting for all the parts and adaptors so my local dealer can do the conversion, fingers crossed, have you had success in your head set change and kept all of any of the steering wheel controls? I have rear and front cameras on my 05 alphard, 

[starider]

Hi, sorry, we live a long way from you in West Devon, but will keep folks informed as to progress.

[Pritch]

7 hours ago, colin2 said:

I am based in Merseyside near to you, and am waiting for all the parts and adaptors so my local dealer can do the conversion, fingers crossed, have you had success in your head set change and kept all of any of the steering wheel controls? I have rear and front cameras on my 05 alphard, 

Thanks Colin - no I dont have any steering wheel controls working. Rear camera works ok dont have front.

If yours get sorted, appreciated pointing me to who did it so I can ctc them.

Cheers

[colin2]

Finally my dealer here in Merseyside has fitted a pioneer head unit, which is very good, dab works so well, and the sound system now sounds excellent quality, the orjginal speakers are great after all, Bluetooth for the phones is great, for satnav you connect either android or I phone via cable to mirror the screen, a faff for me so I will stick with my separate expensive garmin unit which sits neatly in the little quarter window to the right of the steering wheel, it sits at a better height and saves taking your eyes off the road, it has lifetime map updates and live full traffic, this has been wired in so it's never moved, 

The head unit was ordered with a new dashboard facia which matches the original but allows the double din size head unit to fit nice and neatly without fitting a gap filler to hide the gaps, so all good up to date, but they ran out of time at the garage to fit the bits that keep the rear camera and steering wheel controls, as I wanted it back for the weekend, so it has to go back in for a few hours to have this sorted, but to be honest I don't miss these anyways as I found out over the last couple of days of using it, but it will be back in the garage in 2 weeks time for sorting out, getting a garage slot is a nightmare at the moment, backlogs and staff shortages are real problems. 

[nov]

To get the steering wheel controls working you can replace your current wiring with Connect2 Adaptor https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/373176086232 

 

It's all based on the sockets, simply plug in... 30minutes DIY. 

Edited November 24, 2021 by nov

[Geralt]

On 9/12/2021 at 9:42 PM, Ldrego said:

My channel name is cuttothechase.  Have a look at this head unit. It cost about 140 pounds from aliexpress and was plug and play.

 

Thanks @Ldrego but do you have a model number please?

[Ldrego]

Ahh..I saw this just now. The model number is in the comments on the channel or on the description of the videos. There are extras too you get when you mention cuttothechase.

[tarzan]

I live in Birmingham. Any recommendations for someone local who can do it for me. Thanks

[Rojie]

1 hour ago, tarzan said:

I live in Birmingham. Any recommendations for someone local who can do it for me. Thanks

 

Hello Tarzan,

 

Welcome to the Forum.

[Jellybean]

20 hours ago, tarzan said:

I live in Birmingham. Any recommendations for someone local who can do it for me. Thanks

Hi Tarzan. There is a guy in Bham called Ben Hau. Not sure if he is on here, but is on FB. He usually retains the original head unit, but allows it to show an Android screen layout to mirror your phone. By doing this steering controls and all camera functions are retained.

Hope this helps!

[Rojie]

1 hour ago, Jellybean said:

Hi Tarzan. There is a guy in Bham called Ben Hau. Not sure if he is on here, but is on FB. He usually retains the original head unit, but allows it to show an Android screen layout to mirror your phone. By doing this steering controls and all camera functions are retained.

Hope this helps!

 

He is also on ebay, and I can never remember his name.

 

Guessing it is beanbean280r. He is not always active on there though.

 

£400 from memory.

[starider]

All this seems very hit and miss, We're just using the VHF Radio 2 and disc player and once we find the correct adaptor we will use our Sony MP3 player for music. There doesn't appear to be a straight forward replacement for the Japanese head unit, which doesn't require adaptors etc. to produce all the same functions as the original OE.

We will manage until, if ever, someone finds an exact fitment. Of course there are several different units fitted anyway.

[Rojie]

1 hour ago, starider said:

All this seems very hit and miss, We're just using the VHF Radio 2 and disc player and once we find the correct adaptor we will use our Sony MP3 player for music. There doesn't appear to be a straight forward replacement for the Japanese head unit, which doesn't require adaptors etc. to produce all the same functions as the original OE.

We will manage until, if ever, someone finds an exact fitment. Of course there are several different units fitted anyway.

 

From what I have read, it can be complicated and/or expensive.

I don't know what screen resolution the HDD has, but it is quite low.

 

There is an inexpensive frequency extender option for the radio, they are about £15/£20.

They will give you most, but not all, UK FM stations. I believe there are different extenders available; each with a different frequency span.

The head unit has to be removed, the extender added, and the head unit replaced. Quite simple, I am told !

I only have radio 2, which, quite frankly, is enough for me; so have not added an frequency extender.

 

Apart from the TV and Sat Nav, all other functions seem to work.

My van is converted, so I will be using a PC for TV, Blue Ray DVD, Radio, and route planning.

I hope to use both a TV aerial and the internet and our Android phone for location and directions.

 

Hopefully that is all I will ever need.