Tips on removing centre dash trim on a Bora?

[Rybky]

I asked this in the audio section but have not had any help so far, so thought it might just be posted in the wrong place!

I am about to swap my factory radio/cassette with 10 disc changer in the boot for a double DIN Alpine unit. Any pointers on removing the factory head unit and the pocket above it?

Thanks,

Adam

[JustCruisn]

If the head unit has a little hole in each corner. Poke a small screwdriver in each hole, at the same time, to release the security clip.
Pull the unit out.
Then remove the pocket by pulling it out - you have to get the radio out before the pocket will come out.

[Rybky]

Ah! That sounds easy. I had expected to need to remove the surrounding dash trim as well as I have in previous cars.

Hopefully fitting a 2-DIN unit in that place is just as straightforward.

Thanks!

Adam

[ben]

I had to do this the other day too, but it wasnt too bad in the end. Once you have the head unit out (Id recommend using the correct tools for this, as you can damage the clips that hold it in otherwise), you will have better access to the pocket. Have a bit of a play with it to see how it is held in. Im pretty sure it was at the top and bottom, so what i ended up doing was squashing the top and bottom of it into the centre, which gave just enough room for me to wedge a credit card at the top and bottom. This then freed up my hands to pull the pocket out (as the credit cards stopped the clips from being able to re-engage).
Hope this helps/makes sense. Good Luck.

[Rybky]

Thanks Ben. So there is a clip at the bottom of the pocket? I thought when the head unit was out there wouldn't be anything under the pocket or is it sitting in a cage?

Adam

[ben]

its not exactly a clip, but i found you cant just pull the pocket straight out. once you have the headunit out, it will become clear what you have to do, and what is stopping it from coming out.

[Rybky]

Thanks again Ben. I will have a go at pulling the stereo out this evening and see what is involved, will put together a step by step guide to this too as there does not seem to be one. My new headunit has not arrived yet so still in the planning stage at the moment.

Adam

[ben]

Yeah i think a guide would be helpful to many, just so people dont go breaking anything! i should have taken pictures when i did mine

[Rybky]

OK, so just had a look at it. Made some factory head unit removal tools from a coat hanger and was able to slide that out ok, can't work out a) how the stereo cage is mounted, the tabs are not bent in at all yet it doesn't move and b) the pocket appears to be connected at the back.

Ben, do you remember having to unhook the pocket from anything at the back? I can't see in there to see how it connects but I can feel that there is a moulded section coming off the back of the pocket and into something. It surely can't be screwed on so I guess it will unclip. Didn't want to do too much at this time as the new unit is not ready to go in.

Looks like it will be easy to run the RCA cable for the reversing camera too, just need to follow where the CD changer cable goes as I pull it out. It is looking like a whole weekend job! Hopefully I can get some car->ISO->Alpine harness adaptors to make the wiring pretty much plug and play.

Adam