where to fit the third party stereo in 166 ?

HI!
i didnt found any topic about fiting third party stereo to 166 so im asking if any body tried it yet? And where is a good place to fit it? my idea is underneath the dashboard (passager side) but i will need some proper place to put throught the power cables along with RCA cables, any ideas?

My first question would be if it's worth the trouble. I think you can get the integrated stereo to sound pretty good with some modifications, and it looks a hell of a lot better than sawing a hole somewhere to put in an aftermarket stereo.

The only thing I haven't been able to find is a DAB radio that it can use, but otherwise you can fit an aftermarket amplifier, you can fit new speakers, you can soundproof the doors, and if the original sound isn't to your liking you can install something like a JL Audio Cleansweep to clean up the sound before it goes to the amp. And best of all, it can be done without changing the original look of your car. Unless that's what you're after of course

That being said, it's of course possible. Power can be found lots of places, and the speaker cables are found behind the ICS, Plug B in the attached image
1 - Loudspeaker, rear right +
2 - Loudspeaker, rear right -
3 - Loudspeaker, front right +
4 - Loudspeaker, front right -
5 - Loudspeaker, front left +
6 - Loudspeaker, front left -
7 - Loudspeaker, rear left +
8 - Loudspeaker, rear left -

Did see picture of one on evilbay with it somehow installed in the small dashtop glove box!

i cant see the need to, if you want more umph fit an amp and better speakers, or buy a Saxo.

I can see an need big time becouse this orginal stereo is just useless in quality and in options as well. I have in plans to put proper sound proofing then proper set of speakers + amps and some musical woofers in the boot. im after quality not bass. Im plannig to spend about 1000£ on that... the stereo is the main thing you need to upgrade. Any way i will post a pictures of my work after i finish

there's a chap that's done big upgrades using the standard head unit...it can be done

Hey man, just install a CD changer! it is hell log easier. Just a suggestion

Originally Posted by P3rLuS

I can see an need big time becouse this orginal stereo is just useless in quality and in options as well. I have in plans to put proper sound proofing then proper set of speakers + amps and some musical woofers in the boot. im after quality not bass. Im plannig to spend about 1000£ on that... the stereo is the main thing you need to upgrade. Any way i will post a pictures of my work after i finish

I disagree. A gizmo like JLs Cleansweep (there are others like this, as well as very good manual equalizers) will get a flat frequency curve from almost any integrated car stereo, and will do so without any cosmetic changes to the car. If it's sound quality you're after, I guess you're not satisfied with the speaker placement either, and will have to redo the door panels completely. Since I love the interior of my 166 (one of the major points for me getting one), I'm planning on stereo upgrades that will leave the interior intact.

I'm curious, what exactly are you after in an aftermarket stereo that isn't available in the becker unit that's in the car already? Which options?

I must admit that using an manual equalizer is an option, but fiting the stereo will be much better anyway and i think it wont be hard to do at all. Its an Alpine 9855R im away to fit, im just used to a proper stereo i can not imagine using the standard one - which is giving me an alternator whine on higher volumes

I didnt took the doors panles off yet so i dont know how it looks up there and whot i will need to change.
This is whot i done to my GTV and i whant to do something like that to 166 - http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-...my-photos.html

If anybody has an photos of doors without door-panels or photos of thier own instalations that would help me a lot, or any clues where is the best place to put wires form boot to the front dashboard and doors.

My plan is too make an good system without interacting in interior look to much and i know its possible.

I hear you I guess we're in sync, but I'm going to start in the other end. Soundproofing at first, fitting new speakers second, fitting an amp third, getting a subwoofer (and amp) fourth. Then, if I'm not satisfied, I will check if I can test a JL Cleansweep or an equalizer somewhere (to see if it's worth the trouble, no idea what it costs...). And only then will I consider changing the main unit. But I'm expecting I won't even consider it.

But if you want to start on the other end, by all means do so. Fitting a head unit in the center storage compartment would be the easiest, I suspect. And if you put some trouble into it, I guess you could even mount it so that you can close the lid if you should want to (cheap theft insurance). By far the easiest would be to make a fiberglass enclosure that fits into the hole (with the lid removed), and just drill holes for the cables in the rear. That way, when you sell the car and remove the sound system, you need only refit the lid, and everything is close to original.

is a 250 quid head unit really going to be much better than the becker HU with DSP amp?? I think i'd probably go down the road Addey is looking at....

im not sure about fitting equalizers and all the rest, what i did was spent good money on a good head unit with built in eq whith you can manipulate to create the sound you want. my unit is the kenwood kvt725 dvd unit. they can be picked up fairly priced on ebay around £400 mark. its true what they say you get what you pay for!!!

I already have speakers amps and woofers and most important cables!, so i want to do everything in one go (if you need any help with making your mind up what to choose gimme a shout). Im considering hiding the stereo somewhere one the passanger side maybe in the locker or below, in the end of the day i will have remote and i dont want to disturb the car looks.

I have find kind of instalation we need for 166, the guy has hidden the control panel of his stereo in the .... MIRORR !!! look at that:
http://www.autohifi.pl/index.php?art...0io4ke7ctr1ds2

I know its in polish but look at the pictures )

Anyway I still beg for the instrucions how to take the door panels off. I dont want to break anythig!!! cheers

ps niallmoran after i finish you will be hearing me when i will going pass the dundee ))

hehe - i'll keep an eye out for a bouncing 166

The door panels are fairly easy to come off....take the speaker grill off and remove the speaker and you'll see a couple of bolts. Take out the door switch pack (screws under the wee rubber mat), take off the wing mirror cover (small allen key required)and untwist the door vent thingy in the door jamb and remove any bolts/screws under everything! Oh, and there's a couple of screws at the bottom of the door IIRC. Hopefully with all that off a good tug and lift shoudl see it come off and as Haynes would say refitting is the reverse

Originally Posted by niallmoran

hehe - i'll keep an eye out for a bouncing 166

The door panels are fairly easy to come off....take the speaker grill off and remove the speaker and you'll see a couple of bolts. Take out the door switch pack (screws under the wee rubber mat), take off the wing mirror cover (small allen key required)and untwist the door vent thingy in the door jamb and remove any bolts/screws under everything! Oh, and there's a couple of screws at the bottom of the door IIRC. Hopefully with all that off a good tug and lift shoudl see it come off and as Haynes would say refitting is the reverse

Thanks a lot ! I will remeber about turnig my volume up when passing dundee )

Small caution on the speaker grill. Mine are extremely hard to get off, and I almost broke one the first time. First you have to get the chrome ring out, which is easy, just use a small, blunt, flat-head screwdriver. The grill itself is held in place with four metal clips, placed at 3, 6, 9 and 12 o'clock. I used the same screwdriver, but had to really use some force to get it out, which is where you'd have to be careful not to rip the cloth or damage the plastic on the grill... If I were to try to pry mine out and missed the clips, I'd probably break the plastic...

ahhh - there's a wee knack to getting the grills out (which i discovered 2nd time round!)....basically be very gentle with the clips and ease them out as if you are a bit heavy handed they bend further out and are even harder to get out. Have a wee look and you'll see what i mean

The best music in the 166 is when you floor the throttle of the V6 .

You've really got to have the perfect 166 in order to justify spending £1K or more on an ICE upgrade, as the standard unit with DSP (on the Super and Lusso) is fine. If you're getting an alternator whine, that's not down to the kit!

For me, it would only be worthwhile on an immaculate 3.2 FL and then I would want something really tasty, with a large touchscreen, DVD playback, TV, quality Nav, Bluetooth, rear camera etc.

I agree with Tony - full Pioneer navigation DVD HU for me please.

Problem is - you can buy a whole 166 for the same price

Anyway, why does anyone bother with a head unit these days?

I would get a big amp, wire it to upgraded door speakers, and feed a decent MP3 player straight to the line in on the amp - who cares about radio

Originally Posted by HowardA

I would get a big amp, wire it to upgraded door speakers, and feed a decent MP3 player straight to the line in on the amp - who cares about radio

Exactly i think my head unit will be just an Ipod connected to an equalizer and then to the amp.

I had an head unit with 7" touch screen before in one of my alfas, but it was just impossible to drive the car at night time because it was giving to much light for the driver, and i wont even mention how much it was disturbing. Now i use only simple stereos.

Originally Posted by P3rLuS

I had an head unit with 7" touch screen before in one of my alfas, but it was just impossible to drive the car at night time because it was giving to much light for the driver, and i wont even mention how much it was disturbing. Now i use only simple stereos.

But the large screens can be dimmed or even darkened if necessary . Quality units have an ambient light sensor and navigation screens can be changed for Day/Night use with appropriate colours and intensities. I don't see the problem with a large, colour touch screen...except for cost .