gransport center console swap in a 4200

[harps]

Hi all,

Stripped out my 4200 interior and i want to put the gransport centre console and the radio/ac controls in my 4200.

Really can't handle the 4200 satnav and intergrated system and i like the look and simplicity of the gransport controls and console a lot more.

My question is do you think this can be done?

Ive got an ultra skilled auto electrician to carry out the work and i know its not going to be a matter of plug n play but will it actually be possible?

Bit concerned i will get all sorts of codes come up and the running of certain operations will become faulty!

I was gonna just buy a gransport but my 4200 has every mod available,sound deadening stripped out,full alcantera retrim,custom lightweight door cards so the cars performance is crazy quick.

Any and all advice and opinions are welcome.

 

[safrane]

I guess everything can be done for a price...but in addition to the electric ypi will need a GS dash and new ECUs

 

[Ewan]

Crack on. How hard can it be?

 

[spkennyuk]

The problem as I understand it is that the CAMBUS runs through the NIT in the armrest of the 4200. You could relocate the NIT to the boot and you should remain error free then. You would loose the trip information but i dont think you would need to change any ecus doing it that way.

 

[CatmanV2]

The problem as I understand it is that the CAMBUS runs through the NIT in the armrest of the 4200. You could relocate the NIT to the boot and you should remain error free then. You would loose the trip information but i dont think you would need to change any ecus doing it that way.

Extending that cable might be a sod. Question is, what doesn't work if you just lose the NIT?

C

 

[mjheathcote]

You might be lucky, the main loom might be the same between the GS and 4200, and simply removing the sub loom from the 4200 that has all the NIT and heater control stuff, and plugging in the sub loom from the GS that has the heater control stuff, might all be that is required. Maybe....

 

[spkennyuk]

Extending that cable might be a sod. Question is, what doesn't work if you just lose the NIT?

C

The easy way to test that would be to unplug the nit with it in situ. You will loose the lights above the heater controls and the consol display. I think the heater controls will still work. It what errors the CAMBUS throws would be the main issue i think.

I know when they had all the threads on upgrading the stereo in a 4200 on the US forums then they had issues with the lights above the heater controls because of the NIT.

 

[CatmanV2]

Yeah. I think they all kept the screen and NIT didn't they? Tucked it out of the way?

C

 

[spkennyuk]

Yeah. I think they all kept the screen and NIT didn't they? Tucked it out of the way?

C

Yes. It was the only way they could do it from memory. On the plus side the connectors on the NIT are all standard so it probably easy enough to make up extension harnesses to extend the Audio cables forwards and the other cables backwards to the boot without having to splice the cables. You just need the appropriate male/ female connectors and plenty of cable. Hopefully there would be enough room under the GS centre consol to hide the cables and connectors. I think they put the screen in the glove box.

 

[mjheathcote]

Yes. It was the only way they could do it from memory. On the plus side the connectors on the NIT are all standard so it probably easy enough to make up extension harnesses to extend the Audio cables forwards and the other cables backwards to the boot without having to splice the cables. You just need the appropriate male/ female connectors and plenty of cable. Hopefully there would be enough room under the GS centre consol to hide the cables and connectors. I think they put the screen in the glove box.

Yes but don't forget they want to keep the existing heating controls when relocating the NIT display and fitting the kenwood.
In this case, the 4200 heater controls would be removed for the GS ones.

 

[spkennyuk]

I suspect its the same connection type on the back of both units. But if its not the rotary controls on the 4200 unscrew from the back of the facia plate. You could transfer those into the GS heater control facia and then swap the knobs over as well. It may need some modding but i doubt its too difficult to achieve.

 

[harps]

Yeah thats the problem I wanna get rid of the whole nit system,amp and all of that.Terrible system and i know the cambus may through up some issues.
Just hope the reverse shifter and various switches can be plugged in and operated ok.
Suppose I will have to do a trial by error but that means buying the centre console and everything else which isn't cheap,even from eurospares which are breaking a gransport at the moment.
Going to text the maserati specialist in the morning to get his opinion.

 

[spkennyuk]

Just try unplugging the Nit first and see if it throws any canbus errors. Its about 30 mins work to get to the back of the NIT to unplug it. At least you know then which systems are going to be affected without outlay. Speak to Supranostu. He was breaking a GS so he may have the parts you want and more importantly know if the connections are the same on the heater control and reverse gear selector panel. Supranostus details are in the parts suppliers thread. He is based in Manchester.

 

[miket]

Why not just get a GS? or is that too easy?

 

[spkennyuk]

Something else just sprang to mind. The hazard warning switch would need to be routed to the lower GS panel but you would loose the ICE mode from the 4200 car and the auto mode. You would end up with a redundant start button on the section below the stereo which could be reused for one of them and i think there is a spare button on the centre consol on the GS near the Handbrake and fog light switches which you could use for the other. I'm sure someone with a GS can advise what switches are in that centre section.

 

[philw696]

I fancy putting my auto button out if the way and a start button in its place would be a nice addition on my 4200.

 

[mjheathcote]

I fancy putting my auto button out if the way and a start button in its place would be a nice addition on my 4200.

I would bin the 'ice' button, move the 'auto' to the 'ice' button position, and fit the start button in the vacant ex. 'auto' button position.
I've never used the 'ice' button, but on occasion the 'auto' is handy....for those motorway 'kickdown and hold on' moments!
Incidentally, can you only start a GS on the button, or can you also just use the key?

 

[philw696]

Only on the button Mike.
Good suggestion though as I'm never going to use the Ice button and I'm too young at 54 for the Auto mode

 

[Zep]

I would bin the 'ice' button, move the 'auto' to the 'ice' button position, and fit the start button in the vacant ex. 'auto' button position.
I've never used the 'ice' button, but on occasion the 'auto' is handy....for those motorway 'kickdown and hold on' moments!
Incidentally, can you only start a GS on the button, or can you also just use the key?

You can only start the GS with the button, last turn on the key does nothing...

 

[mjheathcote]

You can only start the GS with the button, last turn on the key does nothing...

Surprised at that, would have done no harm for the last turn to work. In fact a bit cheap to retain the last turn from the 4200 key switch, how many have turned it thinking the car is broken...and then remembered you have to push the button!!