It finally happened. My factory touring 03 Bose stereo finally died.
Can anyone recommend a replacement? I prefer a Double Din. If I replace it will I have to replace the speakers?

 

Kenwood and Pioneer make good (sub-$400) double din units. You won't need to replace the speakers unless you want to, however you will need to buy a dash kit (trim piece) and a wiring harness adapter (adapts your stock wiring to the new headunit). Scosche and Metra make kits for both Bose and non-Bose systems.

 

Your best option for the money:

https://my350z.com/forum/audio-video...headunits.html

 

So your OEM Bose H/U has died. That’s great news since the OEM Bose “upgrade” is close to junk.

Now you need a new H/U, and if you play this out right, you also get new front component speakers, new rear speakers (if you want these) a new SubW, and new amp(s) to drive the front components and the SubW.

You MUST do a completer replacement, and the time in NOW. Do NOT allow your gf, wife, father, mother-in-law, or anyone else to talk you out of a complete replacement.

Here is what you do now:

• Remove the Bose H/U, the front Bose component speakers, the rear Bose speakers, the Bose amp for your front and rear speakers, and the Bose SubW and its amp.
  
  
• Leave all the wiring in place since you can use almost all of this.
  
  
• Shop for a new H/U. You can go single or double din.
  
  
• Consider installing a 7” LCD screen in the upper/forward cubby. It won’t be wasted since there are many tasks (GPS, DVD viewing, additional display, etc.) you can assign to this device.
  
  
• Select some good front component speakers. You don’t need to get the best… just buy good if that fits your budget.
  
  
• You can install new rear speakers if you want this, or just forget about this since you really do not need rear speakers.
  
  
• Install a SubW behind the driver or passenger seat; or better yet, install an enclosure and a SubW under the Z’s rear strut bar (although this setup robs cargo space)..
  
  
• Install an external amp to drive the front component speakers. If you go with rear speakers, get a 4 channel amp. If you go with a SubW, add a dedicated amp, or use the available 2 channels from your 4 channel amp if you decide not to go with rear speakers.
  
  
• If you want GPS function, and that is not included in the H/U you pit into the car, install a Garmin GVN53 Black Box in one of the upper small rear cubbies behind the driver or passenger seat; and connect this to the 7” LCD that you place in the upper/forward cubby.

Done! Now you have a great CES that does everything.

--Spike

 

That is one of the greatest posts ever.