OK, so my 04 base z had the faceplate stolen before i got it

apparently faceplates are extremely hard to get ahold of so I'm thinking of just getting a new stereo head because i want an ipod connector anyways. Bestbuy said they can't install stereos in 350z's because they dont have the parts to make it fit.

How can I find a stereo that will fit right in, in place of the stock, non-bose radio? Or where can I get the parts to make it fit?

I know this seems like an obvious question but no one I've asked including people I would expect to know seem to have an answer

 

Moved to proper forum

 

I'm not sure I understand your question.

You said "so my 04 base z had the faceplate stolen before i got it"

I assume that your 04 Base Z had an aftermarket H/U. Is that correct?

--Spike

 

Almost any single or double DIN stereo will fit in the 350z just fine. All you need is an installation kit like this http://www.amazon.com/Metra-99-7402-.../dp/B0006Z9K28 and it is also a good idea to buy a wiring harness like this http://www.amazon.com/Stereo-Harness...3521959&sr=1-1 to simplify wiring and make it easier to remove the head unit if needed in the future. If you are not comfortable installing it yourself, then any decent stereo shop can... I'm not sure why your local Best Buy is acting like they can't order an install kit for the 350z.

 

So u already have an aftermarket headunit?? If so just replace the headunit..

Here is a website that might help, www.crutchfield.com , just type in year n model and see what fits..

And if you do want to buy a new headunit, save some money n buy it off of ebay=]

 

I'm not sure, I thought it was stock. It's smaller than the Bose ones I've seen, It has a little plastic cubbyhole stuck into the extra space below it. Should I get a pic? I for (some reason) thought the base model came with a stock h/u like that, smaller than the Bose.

and thanks for the info guys. And yes, I thought it was odd that Bestbuy seemed clueless. I'm wondering why they can't just sell me one that's the same size... they didn't even want to look at it, they just said they can't do Z's.

I don't know anything about stereos (obviously) so I'll check out those links, I'll probably end up having more questions but thanks again guys.

 

If your HU is single DIN (you stated there is a pocket below it) and has a removable faceplate, it is definitely not OEM... even the non-Bose system is double DIN. It sounds like your local BestBuy is just being lazy and/or ignorant. Considering we now know that you already have an aftermarket stereo, you don't need an installation kit or wiring harness, all you need to do is directly swap it for another aftermarket stereo. Honestly, if you have a screwdriver and even the slightest skill with electronics you can easily install a new HU yourself.

 

Ok so I can just thow in a single DIN?

What if I get a double DIN? Do I take the harness out and that's it, or would I need a new harness? Are there different sizes or just single/double? Sorry to put your ***** in a blender, I normally would use Google but I'm having surprisingly little luck

 

If you get a double DIN, you may need a new installation kit. If you can remove the pocket and the center divider in your current kit you may not need a new installation kit, you won't know for sure until you try. Almost every HU out there falls under single/double DIN. Some may be particularly deep which can cause issues with installation in certain cars. If you want to be 100% sure that a given unit will fit depth wise, use a website like www.crutchfield.com to verify. Most reputable sites like Crutchfield will actually throw in the installation kit and wiring harnes FOR FREE if you order from them, taking out the work of sourcing these parts individually. Assuming the previous installer used a proper wiring harness and did not splice directly into the OEM harness, all you have to do to remove the current head unit is unsnap the harness. If the replacement HU is the same brand, you may be able just plug it right in to the back of the new HU, if not you can cut the wiring harness and connect it to the wires included with the new HU.

 

You should pull the radio out and get the model number off of it. I've had very good luck buying faceplates off of Ebay for very cheap.

If it is a decent deck it's worth a shot, if it's a cheap deck at least you're half way to having a nice deck installed!

 

Alright so I checked out the old stereo and it's an Alpine. I went to Bestbuy and talked to the dude there and he said another Alpine should fit right in. I picked up a pretty cheap one -- I don't need anything fancy, just ipod connection and the basic stuff. And it matches the interior.

So I pulled out the old one, and it turns out that the fitment is fine but the connector in the back (black, rectangular, 16 pins, I'm not sure what it's called) doesn't fit. The new one is a very similar shape and also 16 pins but it's not quite the same and doesn't fit.

I'll head back to Bestbuy tomorrow and I'll pay them their 60 bucks for installation if I have to (unless they say they can't do it) but I'm wondering if this may be a simple fix, like get a different plug and just pull off the crimped wires, re-crimp and plug in, or if it has to be wired differently. What do you guys think?

 

Your new HU should have included a connector with wires for the back of the head unit. Simply cut the wiring harness that was connected to the previous radio and solder (or at least twist and tape) the like colored wires from the harness coming off the back of the radio. If this is intimidating for you, it might be worth the $60 to have BB install it for you, but this is basically a 10 minute job for them.

 

Yep, I felt like kind of an idiot when i noticed that piece in the box, but I got it done. I used those little tubes that you crimp, which is what was on there before. It's installed OK now. It sounds pretty good but I'm already craving bass. I'm thinking bazooka tube

Oh yeah and there was an orange wire on the harness in there but none on the new connector. I just capped it and everything works fine so I guess I'm getting away with that

 

IIRC, the orange wire is usually the "illumination" wire. It just makes the HU display autodim when you turn on your headlights, so it's optional. As for bass, I have a JL subwoofer in the stock location behind the driver's seat with an amp under the "glove box" on the passenger side. This setup provides more than enough bass for me and does not take up any valuable trunk space.

 

clutch just went

stereo = on hold

That sounds like a good setup. I have 2 thick purple wires and one thin blue wire running from behind the h/u past the shifter, and back to idk where...

I'm thinking the last owner may have wired it for subs, I'm gonna hafta figure out what type of wires they are and where they go. Might save me the trouble of snaking them

thanks for the heads up on the orange wire btw

 

It does sound like the wiring may already be in place for an external amp/sub. The two thick wires are likely RCA cables and the thin blue wire is the remote wire from the HU to trigger the external amp to turn on. Is there a grill/subwoofer behind your driver's seat or is it a blank panel?

 

hmm idk
I'll check it out when I get home

That would be amazing if there was a sub already in it, I didn't even think of that

 

When I purchased my 350z the previous owner already had an amp/sub wired to the factory radio. I have an enthusiast model that came with the non-Bose stereo without a sub, so had they not shown me the amp and sub I probably wouldn't have noticed until I installed my JVC HU because they had the gain turned down all the way so the subwoofer wasn't really doing anything. With the JVCs 5v pre-out and the gain turned up a bit, one 10" sub in the factory location makes more than enough bass for my taste.