The Ford OEM one is driving me up the wall! Crap sound, CD occasionaly gets stuck in the machine, and the auto re-tune thingy is hopeless (with a 300 mile commute this can really get on your tits!).

Quick brain fart says I need a head unit, the ‘keys’ to uncip the old one and a fascia panel that’ll accept a single din stereo where once there was a double. Likely to need anything else?

How easy is it?

Is it easy to connect the steering wheel remote, or am I going to have to start hacking away at the wiring loom?

Much as I like to think I’m competent I managed to bugger up my garmin the other week soldering in a new battery, the iron was faulty an by the time I realised I’d burnt off the pad on the circuit board, GRRRRRRRR! So I’m not exactly on a roll with expensive electronics at the moment!

DIY. Very easy, unless Halfords will include the cost of the cradle (BIg block of wires to make the car talk to the stereo, usually about £10). Tools will be available online for not much or a couple of table knives will get all but the most stubbon stereos out.

Halfords have a sale on at the moment, double din Alpine head unit for 70 quid ex display , or JVC unit for 60, not sure about the steering controls
but not hard to fit, google stereo model and car model may help with fitting

So this,

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-FOCUS-C-MAX-S-MAX-CAR-CD-STEREO-FASCIA-FACIA-PANEL-FP-07-10-/260889458618?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3cbe3937ba

this,
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-FIESTA-FOCUS-C-MAX-STALK-ADAPTOR-CONTROL-PC99-X50-/290449697707?pt=UK_In_Car_Technology&hash=item43a026abab

and this,
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_807755_langId_-1_categoryId_237503?msg=&_$ja=tsid:35532|kw:47868&cm_mmc=Affiliates-_-AffiliateWindow-_-47868-_-n%2fa&awc=1672_1337030422_6ca76125f53b6c771e71456e2a1bca8b#tab3

And I can listen to N-dubs radio 2 at full blast to my hearts content?

fitted that alpine unit to wifes skoda on saturday, its fine , have a look at the double din version .

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_788805_langId_-1_categoryId_265857

will look nicer

good call, only a smidge over the cost of the small one plus the fascia

Always used caraudiodirect myself but would always fit myself. As said above unless that £30 allows for adapters for the steering column stalks then it’s not worth it.

Not all head units will be compatible with the remote stalk, but thats no real loss.

Get one with a USB socket and say goodbye to CDs

Piss easy. I did my Ranger a couple of months ago. The only tricky bit is working out how to remove the existing fascia, but should be googleable.
BUT if you are going to the bother of doing it, fit a bluetooth stereo and preferably one with a second microphone for phone- based Muzak and driving talkies.

my phone is nowhere near that clever!

You’ll need some ISO cable adaptors so you don’t need to cut any wires, get a quality facia plate some of the cheap ones are too flimsy. Check what clearance you as some double dins won’t fit due to not having enough depth.

Cheap fascias are a bit naff, but most are the same autoleads one no matter where you buy.
Not sure Focus’s actually use a double-DIN stereo do they? (my Vreg one didn’t, guess a newer one might tho’).
You won’t need an ISO connector adaptor, by the way – they already have them fitted on the car as standard.

My old Focus had fine FM reception, but the antenna connection was prone to coming loose, check that’s not happened on yours.

Ford do the facia which is colour matched to the interior and well built but costs double the price of Autoleads. Are you sure on the iso leads as 55 plate Mondeo doesn’t ?

Mines 06 and definitely double din

Looking at kits they don’t seem to include anything labled ISO, eg

http://www.dynamicsounds.co.uk/ford-cmax-car-stereo-fitting-kit-with-sony-cd-mp3-tuner-player-front-auxin-p-25304.html

You can change a gear box in a midget but not a stereo?

Youll need a double din to single facia

Youll need a stereo

Youll need a “brand of stereo” to ford iso converter ( remove old stereo before you order owt – checkmwhat you have …. I ordered a bunch of stuff once removed the stereo from my escort and found previous owner cut off all adaptors and just hard wired the stereo in with scotchblocks

And some keys for the stereo if your feeling flush – i used bits of an old wire coat hanger 😉

Basically unplug all the gubbns that are there till you get back to something your converter will plug into

Push in the double din facia.

Plug in stereo and push firmly into facia

Go go go

Easier than changing a fuse if you have the right bits 🙂 –

One thought do you have wheel mounted controls for stereo ?

Do younwant those to work again- its a little more complex for that.

Assuming stereo allows steering wheel control it’s just another adaptor

Sony CDX-GT250MP Stereo with DIY Fitting kit for Ford C-Max (2003 Onwards)

Package Contents:

Sony CDX-GT250MP CD MP3 Car Stereo Tuner with Front Aux-In
3.5mm Aux-In Lead FREE
FP-07-09 – Fascia Panel Adaptor Black
PC2-84-4 – Wiring Harness Adaptor
PC5-132 x 2 – Stereo Removal Keys
PC5-27 – Aerial Adaptor

PC2-84-4 – Wiring Harness Adaptor is the ISO adapter.

I got my stuff from Liquid Ice on eBay – http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Liquid-ICE-2008

Aren’t you an engineer?

Sony?

No- for decent sound quality and bang for your buck:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_807755_langId_-1_categoryId_237503

You can change a gear box in a midget but not a stereo?

Aren’t you an engineer?

Yup and yup! Wrong type of engineer though (process) and I don’t have the greatest track record with eletrics either! And I’ve never actualy taken the ‘box out, just the engine to do the clutch.

Sony?

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_771563_langId_-1_categoryId_265857
this, ex display for £69, minus 10% NUSMAY12, minus 4.5% quidco = ~£60

Ref the ISO cables, I’ve found a kit on the DS website that includes the facia pannel, a load of wires, keys etc so I’ve e-mailed them to check it’s got everything for the steering wheel controlls and then should be good to go!

Ok… if you can insert a domestic plug into a socket you should be ok. If you can wire a plug… you’ll be at least as good as the guy at Halfords.

TINAS,
I’m pretty sure I’ve got a set of the keys for removing the Ford stereos (they fitted my 06 focus fine) you can have them if you want.

Email me if you can make use of them.

Ok… if you can insert a domestic plug into a socket you should be ok. If you can wire a plug… you’ll be at least as good as the guy at Halfords.

My brother-out-law used to manage an autocenter, whilst not quite as bad as some would have you believe he did have some horror stories! One relavent to STW’ers favourite passat/golf/A4/octavia, don’t attempt to replace the brake pads on new ish VAG cars, the customer got a £100 bill as expcted, but in the meantime the car had to go back to VW on the back of a lorry for the computers to be re-set after the mechanic did what any normal person would do and pulled the old pads out and pushed new ones in, total cost £1600!

I’ll gibe you a call wombat if I need them, most kit’ seem to come with a set though so should be Ok.