4200 Radio & Satnav upgrade
- Thread starter Sablewolf
- Start date
k1coupe
Junior Member
- Messages
- 99
SO THERE IS NO REASON TO CUT THE BLUE WIRE, just buy yourself a hazard switch, connect one leg of the switch to Pin 1 and ground the other leg of switch.
Sealman
New Member
- Messages
- 8
Having looked at all the posts I have managed to get a replacement for my faulty NIT, which includes a new 7" operating screen or head unit (thank you Sablewolf for the help and advice you provided away from the forum).
I have attached some pictures, to show what the new Pioneer system looks like.
I have a Spyder not a coupe and the hood switch fits where the round 4-way flasher switch is shown in other pictures on this forum, so mine is fitted with a smaller and oval switch, in a similar position.
The unit is fully up to date with Apple CarPlay/AndroidAuto, it has DAB and regular radio, Map systems, Hands-free Phone connection, USB connection or wire. I have to admit that I am a 'lightweight', I didn't fit it myself, I found an installer to do it - the only one that I could find who would even attempt it and I am very happy with it, they sourced everything, and it looks and works a treat. All the switch lights work as they should, and the USB/Phone connection fitted in the arm rest is great as it leaves the cigarette lighter socket free for anything extra that I may want to use. Oh, and it is completely touch screen, no switches, or dials.
When I took the car to the local Maserati/Ferrari service station, they were really interested in the new system - they had never seen anything like it and were very impressed.
I have attached some pictures, to show what the new Pioneer system looks like.
I have a Spyder not a coupe and the hood switch fits where the round 4-way flasher switch is shown in other pictures on this forum, so mine is fitted with a smaller and oval switch, in a similar position.
The unit is fully up to date with Apple CarPlay/AndroidAuto, it has DAB and regular radio, Map systems, Hands-free Phone connection, USB connection or wire. I have to admit that I am a 'lightweight', I didn't fit it myself, I found an installer to do it - the only one that I could find who would even attempt it and I am very happy with it, they sourced everything, and it looks and works a treat. All the switch lights work as they should, and the USB/Phone connection fitted in the arm rest is great as it leaves the cigarette lighter socket free for anything extra that I may want to use. Oh, and it is completely touch screen, no switches, or dials.
When I took the car to the local Maserati/Ferrari service station, they were really interested in the new system - they had never seen anything like it and were very impressed.
Attachments
Looks like you did a great job. I had the same issue of where to put the switch. I put mine in the coin tray as I don’t have the Maserati script in mine, but I like the thin switch you found.
Sablewolf is indeed a very helpful guy.
Have you done much with your speakers?
Sablewolf is indeed a very helpful guy.
Have you done much with your speakers?
Sealman
New Member
- Messages
- 8
Thanks Gooner, it really is much better than the old system.
The speakers: no I haven’t done any thing with them. The car is a Spyder and the top goes down as much as possible. When the top is down I really prefer the sound of the car to music, so the SatNav stays on but the radio is not a must. I guess if it was a coupe I would notice things but the top is up so little when I drive…..
Sablewolf, yes a really helpful person, I am really thankful for his help.
I’m the same, generally the top is down unless it’s raining.
That said, I think you would be staggered what a difference an OK set of speakers would make. I don’t mean high end audiophile stuff. Just about anything from Halfords would be better than the OEM ones. I’m not exaggerating; I’m pretty sure even contemporary Fiats must have had better speakers than the paper ones in our cars. I put Focals in mine.
Entirely personal choice of course. I wish you many happy years of enjoying your car and it’s new system.
That said, I think you would be staggered what a difference an OK set of speakers would make. I don’t mean high end audiophile stuff. Just about anything from Halfords would be better than the OEM ones. I’m not exaggerating; I’m pretty sure even contemporary Fiats must have had better speakers than the paper ones in our cars. I put Focals in mine.
Entirely personal choice of course. I wish you many happy years of enjoying your car and it’s new system.
Last edited:
dgmx5
Member
- Messages
- 1,142
Hi Sealman
Was installation done by Cartronics? What sort of cost were you looking at all in, and where did you get the fascia?
Sealman
New Member
- Messages
- 8
Hi, yes Cartronics did everything - all the switches work as they should. They provided the fascia, rewired and fitted the hazard switch and fitted USB connection, so I didn’t have to hunt for anything. It wasn’t cheap but it is very effective. From memory total was around £1600 but I think mine was the first they had done and it was some time ago, so may be more now. Good luck.
Alan Surrey
Member
- Messages
- 997
Cartronics in Byfleet?
Alan Surrey
Member
- Messages
- 997
I need some work done on mine.
Sealman
New Member
- Messages
- 8
Yes, great job, excellent finish and all worked really well including DAB radio
Alan Surrey
Member
- Messages
- 997
Can you remember roughly when you had the work done?
I have a 2008 QP needing work on satnav (broken,) CD multichanger (also broken) and dashboard clock (can no longer set the time to the nearest minute) and a repair of a rework to include android auto and/or a better satnav would be nice.
I have a 2008 QP needing work on satnav (broken,) CD multichanger (also broken) and dashboard clock (can no longer set the time to the nearest minute) and a repair of a rework to include android auto and/or a better satnav would be nice.
Sealman
New Member
- Messages
- 8
Yes November 2021 (last year). As it is not a 4200 I think you should contact them and ask directly, the guy I dealt with was Mark and honestly I was really impressed with the whole change not just Android but Apple Car Play too - which ever you use. Obviously the Nav systems are geared around what you can download, I used Waze but there are others available. I called home using the inbuilt system and they had no idea that I was actually driving the car.
Alan Surrey
Member
- Messages
- 997
Fabulous. Thankyou Sealman. I'll be in touch with Cartronics.
Sealman
New Member
- Messages
- 8
Good luck, I hope you have as good an experience as I had..
HTAFC4200
Member
- Messages
- 500
As mentioned elsewhere, I've taken apart the dash section with the HVAC and headunit etc only to find that the back of the factory unit (plastic cover with the heatsink) is badly broken and not secure.
Given this and the scratch to my screen I'm thinking new unit is the way to go.
Cartronics want £2500, not sure if that even includes the reverse camera, but seems extremely pricey and I don't have that kind of money.
I've read through this thread in reasonable detail but to those who have done a self install @Gooner etc does the pioneer unit just plug into the existing car wiring?
Cheers
Given this and the scratch to my screen I'm thinking new unit is the way to go.
Cartronics want £2500, not sure if that even includes the reverse camera, but seems extremely pricey and I don't have that kind of money.
I've read through this thread in reasonable detail but to those who have done a self install @Gooner etc does the pioneer unit just plug into the existing car wiring?
Cheers
The Pioneer unit is great and installation is OK if you are methodical. The only bit of completely new wiring is for the hazard light and backlights for the HVAC controls. That said, I would definitely read through one of the ‘how I did it’ guides on this forum or elsewhere. Can’t recall exactly what I used as my guide but if/when I do, I’ll update this post. Presumably you have a new bezel 3D printed for the Pioneer screen? Also you need to make sure you have the long version of the cable that connects the main module to the screen.
You can definitely do it, there are no especially difficult steps but the devil is in the detail and I would strongly recommend going through all the steps on paper (or screen) before you start dismantling your interior.
Good luck!
PS Being an idiot, I just realised it was of course this very thread that was my best guide - @Sablewolf led the way.