This is from past personal experience.

Some auto insurance companys exclude coverage for removable stereo equipment. Yet will pay off gladly if the unit is permenantly installed. (tools are needed or damage must be done to remove the unit) For that reason I typically don't buy removable equipment. (I'll have to check my papers before I install my new car player.) Given that coverage is not garanteed, I'm interested in having a screw installed thru the sled and into the player. That would of course mean using something like an Airport or a Long crossover cable.

Is it possible to accomplish this without totally bad things happening.?

-- Glenn

Yes, what you describe can be done fairly easily. I'd recommend opening the player and removing the top lid, then drilling your hole in the lid with it removed from the player (after carefully marking the desired location). That way you don't get any shavings inside the unit.

Alternatively, you could do something with the security slot. It's just a little rectangular hole in the back corner of the player, designed to insert those laptop-style locking devices.

However, there are some things you need to consider:

1) The serial port must also be accessible in the car so that you can perform software upgrades on the player.

2) The serial port, when docked, runs at a slower speed than it otherwise would, possibly making upgrades slow. I think this can be resolved by editing config.ini, though.

3) Environmental conditions. In extreme weather, you should protect the hard disk from failure by removing the unit and keeping it in the house.

But all in all, the real root of the problem is the idea that you would want to leave it in the car at all. No matter how well you screw it into the dash, if a thief wants it, he'll get it. Whether or not you made the process troublesome for the thief doesn't change the fact that it was stolen and your car was vandalized. Remember that the thief would have no idea that the thing was screwed into place until after he broke your windows and took a crowbar to your dash. If you screw it into place, you might come back from dinner to find an Empeg that was completely ruined by crowbar attempts.

And then there's the problem of convincing your insurance company that you really screwed it into place... You might go to all this trouble only to find out that it's not covered anyway.

___________
Tony Fabris

Hi Tony,

All good points. The insurance company can be dealt with if its done up front. Photos, letters, ect...

The point about adverse weather it the one I hadn't considered at all. I live in the Central Valley of California. Its a mild Medeterrainian(?) climate.

I checked the manual, I believe the enviromental ranges are wide enough to allow me to leave the empeg in permenantly.

BTW this is going into a Sebring Convertable. This is another reason why I want this unit more securely mounted. It only takes a moments inattention for a loss to happen. (I know, I already lost a cell phone this way) I like the idea of using the security slot. I'll have to look for ways to make use of that.

-- Glenn
PS. I hadn't recognized the security slot for what is was. That feature was a GOOD IDEA.

I'd recommend opening the player and removing the top lid, then drilling your hole in the lid with it removed from the player (after carefully marking the desired location). That way you don't get any shavings inside the unit.

...or you could simply use the threaded M5 insert in the back of the unit through the sled to lock the unit in, thereby avoiding having to drill at all....

One of the few remaining Mk1 owners... #00015

The point about adverse weather it the one I hadn't considered at all. I live in the Central Valley of California. Its a mild Medeterrainian(?) climate.

And you never take that Sebring up to Tahoe?

___________
Tony Fabris

Why dont you just take it out all the time? It only takes an extra 5 seconds, and you could play it on your home stereo system.
Then you can remove the reson for the theif to break in and steal the shiney blue thing he sees.

In reply to:

---

...or you could simply use the threaded M5 insert in the back of the unit through the sled to lock the unit in, thereby avoiding having to drill at all....

---

A feature which is only available on the Mk 1...

--
David
// I'm probably not speaking on behalf of empeg/SONICblue here...

And you never take that Sebring up to Tahoe?
Tony Fabris

Only when its warm.
Ragtops are no damm fun in the cold.

--Glenn

Why dont you just take it out all the time? It only takes an extra 5 seconds, and you could play it on your home stereo system.

1) Being seen removing and installing gear is a form of (come steal me) advertisement.
2) I already have a home stereo system. The empeg is for the car. The main reason I would remove it is to load it either with music or software. (I see wireless in my future.)

-- Glenn

Edited by gbeer on 21/01/01 05:22 AM.

Being seen removing and installing gear is a form of (come steal me) advertisement.

If you bring the carrying case with you, a watching thief would see that, too.

Let me tell you from personal experience. I had a full-pull out CD player in my car for several years. It was never stolen because I always brought it with me. I still own it (although it's not in the car any more). The empeg has been in my car for over a year now, and I've had no trouble with theft with it, either.

On the other hand, I had a permanently-installed stereo that was screwed in really well. It got stolen within a year, and the car severely vandalized in the process. I also had a removable-faceplate stereo with the face taken off. It, too was stolen within a year.

In all of these cases, there were amps in the trunk that were not taken (although I did lose some speakers once and a subwoofer the other time). Usually, the thieves only go for what they can see.

If you are worried about the "steal me" advertising, then you can do what I've done: Stealth install. All of the speakers are either hidden or are under the factory grilles. And the hole in the dash gets covered by a blank panel. In my case, the panel is the genuine Honda part which covers up the radio spot in cars which don't have radios. It even has the Honda logo on it. This is the best way to prevent theft.

___________
Tony Fabris

Oh, and I just wanted to add: If you remove the Empeg from the dash then stick it in the trunk, that doesn't count. That's "steal me" advertising, too.

___________
Tony Fabris

So your saying that if a theif sees an empty hole with no stereo in it, hes going to break into the car anyway? That so wont happen..

Or are you saying the theif will be watching you take it out, and put it in the glovebox / boot / under seat, and break in when you leave? Well if youve got a theif watching your car that closely your [censored] anyway..

If you compare it to seeing a nice looking stereo in your car dash, he is far more likely to break in and nick it than if theres an empty hole there. Regardless of weather its screwed in and he cant nick it, you will still end up with a shafted lock mechanism / broken window / munted dashboard / damaged empeg. Just cover it up (skillz tony) or remove it. Surely thats the safest thing to do..

In reply to:

---

So your saying that if a theif sees an empty hole with no stereo in it, hes going to break into the car anyway? That so wont happen..

---

Au contraire Mr Farm. There are many tales of peoples' cars being broken into purely because the thief assumed that the removeable stereo had been left in the boot/trunk or under the seat.

Having said that, you're still never going to stop the casual opportunist (I rather suspect that even "Radio has been removed from this car" stickers won't stop them).

The only truely successful way I have found is to hire a sniper to cover your car from a nearby building. Nobody goes near a car with a dead body lying halfway through the driver's window.

Nick.


--
18Gb blue (now AR red) - s/n 080000299 (original queue position 8724)

Im never stealing your parking space ;)

I guess im assuming everyone lives south UK like myself. Not much crime, and people barely break into cars for mobile phones, certainly not for dashboard cavities. If my car does get broken into, i shall most definately eat my words, and a horse with it.

spose it realy should be your own personal judgement on how secure your car is. Otherwise we all might argue about who to blame. .

In my mobile phone example. The theif didn't even have to break in. I was at the local car wash using the vacuums. The top was down and I went to get change. The moment or so I was out of sight, was just enough. The phone was there when I pulled in. After leaving I noticed it missing. Between those two times the only other person near the car was another patron of the car wash. I saw the guy. He really kept his cool. Took the phone, went back to his car and finished working on it before leaving.

Based on that experience, I'm leery about have a pullout system. That begs the question "Why did I buy this one?" Simpley answered. Its just about the only game in town right now. BTW. I have no intention of removing the factory installed system. Just agumenting it. For that, I would be better off putting the player in the trunk. To that effect I have been following the threads about remote displays and such.

-- Glenn

In reply to:

---

The only truely successful way I have found is to hire a sniper to cover your car from a nearby building. Nobody goes near a car with a dead body lying halfway through the driver's window

---

Any good sniper wouldn't let the theif get in the window or get blood on the car

Dave Clark
Austin, Texas
12g Amber

Snipers have two sayings I though I would share:

"one shot, one kill!" and "you can run, but youll only die tired"

Maybe they should add: "drop my empeg, or i'll drop you"

-Doug
(Mk2-12G-Blue or Green)

BTW. I have no intention of removing the factory installed system. Just agumenting it.

Where were you planning on putting the Empeg? Is there a blank DIN spot next to the factory radio? If so, that would be the perfect setup for a stealth install. Pull the empeg out, then cover the hole, leaving just the factory radio showing. Factory radios aren't really a hot theft item, and this way it doesn't look like you're hiding anything.

___________
Tony Fabris

Not unless you have temperature controlled heated seats to warm your tush and body, like me. Then you can drop the top, turn on the heat and drive around in the winter without too much trouble. ;-) It can get downright uncomfortably hot unless the top is down actually.

Calvin

Hello All

Just reading Tony's note and I too had the same misfortune. $2000 repair to a badly damaged dash while they tried to get my head unit and last winter, my sub was taken. Like Tony sayz, a stealth install is your best bet, the jerks can't see anything and move on to their next target. The removable empeg completes the process. Funny though, my insurance company never gave a rat about the fact that I had an alarm or a stealth install though....

Technoweenie
12 GB Blue / Red MK2

Where were you planning on putting the Empeg?

There is a pocket forward of the shifter below the enviromental controls. I'v seen the cd changer, normally in the trunk, mounted here. The molding that forms the pocket and mounts the accessary jack is removed to make space. You have to bend down to see the changer in that location. That qualifies as stelth, but makes it hard to read the display. If the sled was on drawer slides, it could be pulled out far enough to read and pushed back to hide it.

An alternate arrangement would be to mount it somewhat the why it appears. (its just setting propped up in the hole for the attached pictures)

-- Glenn

Have to agree with debauch and others. The first and only time my car was broken into was the day after I got my empeg installed. The sled was shiny and visible to the outside world despite my tint and I awoke to find my passenger-side window rolled down and evidence of rummaging -- zero damage excepting a soggy seat, thank God. Oddly enough, they didn't take other valuables that were in plain view.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --
MK2 #141, green, 12GB

I guess im assuming everyone lives south UK like myself. Not much crime, and people barely break into cars for mobile phones, certainly not for dashboard cavities.

Where in south UK? Here in Cambridge, my brother's girlfriend had her car broken into just to nick her bag off the front seat. And this in the Kite, just about the nicest, quietest, poshest bit of town.

Peter

Thanks for the pic. Wow, that is a great candidate for a completely stealth install.

Assuming you take the Empeg with you, you could cover the hole with a bit of plastic and there would be no reason for a thief to even give your car a second glance. The trick is getting plastic to match.

Or perhaps the pocket itself would somehow fit back into the sled after it's mounted?

___________
Tony Fabris

I know someone who installed his stereo behind the ashtray-lid in a mazda. I guess I could do the same in my car; the only problem is the mess that would occur from the stubs and ashes all around the car...

Frank van Gestel

After doing some research and making some phone calls, i found out that my car insurance wont cover anything that I install in the car. Therefore, I have to get my home-owners (or Renters Insurance) Insurance to cover the empeg.



-CHiP

Guildford infact, resonably posh etc. But a bag on the seat is a bit different from a dash cavitiy :)

Anyway, i still cant see why anyone would want to leave their empeg in, full view, screwed in. sure, a cover / stealth install would reduce the threat, but without a stealth install in that situation, it would be madness..

...you could cover the hole with a bit of plastic ...

I have seen Sebrings with that plastic part removed. The cd changer Just is not visable. You have to get your head down below the window sill just to see the changer. The lack of the shelf/accessary plug component is not a tipoff.

A cover, like a glove box door would be easy. Attach the hinge to the bottom of the sled. (maybe?) If it was black It would look fine. No need to try and match the gray.

--Glenn

stereo behind the ashtray-lid ...

That would be hard to do on a Sebring. The ash tray is an optional lidded cup that jams into one of the cup holders. The ones show in the picture.
http://empeg.comms.net/files/24589-sebring.jpg

Yeah, a hinged door would be the ultimate. As it stands right now, my plastic cover has to live in one of the storage compartments.

If it were mounted in that down-low location, would you have trouble pulling it in and out because the shifter is in front of it?

___________
Tony Fabris

If it were mounted in that down-low location, would you have trouble pulling it in and out because the shifter is in front of it?

I think you forgot. I want mine mounted permenently.
Besides the gear shift pulls back. ^2

-- Glenn

I think you forgot. I want mine mounted permenently.

I didn't forget. I just think you're nuts and I'm trying to convince you that you should still give yourself the option to pull it out.

I really think that all-around, you're safer and you'll have less trouble if you just take it with you in its carrying case.

___________
Tony Fabris

Am I nuts for wanting the insruance company to pay off on a loss that they have agreed to cover. Why would I want comprehensive coverage if it won't cover the things in the car? Including the empeg. If they want it permenently mounted in order to include it in the coverage, that's fine with me. I bought it for the car. If it will serve mp3's via wireless ethernet, that will be ok too.

-- Crazy Glenn (I guess we will just have to agree to disagree on this.)

my car insurance wont cover anything that I install in the car.

I pay my insurance company (Allstate) an extra $36 per year, and they cover any and all stereo equipment in the car, whether in the original locations or not, removable or not (I called and asked), subwoofers, amplifiers, whatever. I think that $36 covers stated value up to $3500.

tanstaafl.

"There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"

Wow, that is a great candidate for a completely stealth install.

A new thought occured to me tonight. Put the empeg on a powered platform so that when it is turned on it will desend from the cavity above, down to about where it is shown. Power off and it goes back up out of sight. Powered would be ultimate, manual operation would work too.

-- Glenn

I dunno. After what Doug just posted (about his company letting him pay a tiny premium to have it covered), it seems like it would be a lot less trouble to simply switch insurance companies.

Ya think?



___________
Tony Fabris

Not in Holland, it isn't...

One of the few remaining Mk1 owners... #00015

fwiw, I have mine mounted in the second din slot in my integra, which is down by the shifter. It's a simple matter to pull the shifter back when taking it out; also, it's a small bit of extra security when leaving the empeg in the car.

Fly me to the moon...

When I installed my empeg I checked with my insurance company.
Now I pay an extra 5DM (~US$2.5) per motnh to have it covered.
I only have to remove it when I park closer than 500m to my home.

There was a picture somewhere in the BBS of a guy who put his empeg behind the dashboard and cut a small hole into it, so it could be seen but not removed.


just my 2cents ...


--------------------
MKII 08000073 12GB BLUE

Greetings!

You mean this one?

Paul G.
SN# 090000587 (40GB Green)

Yeah, same here - I pay an extra Fl 25.00 per car I run the empeg in for a year's theft cover from the car while it is installed (Aaggh! 100 bucks extra per year )

The point was, though, that it's pretty hard to change insurance companies here. Not what you would call a free market, in spite of rules against anti-competitive business practices.

One of the few remaining Mk1 owners... #00015

That's gotta be a Chrysler vehicle !

Greetings!

Actually, no. Buick Riviera. For more images and install information, you can look here.

Paul G.
SN# 090000587 (40GB Green)

Yeah, same here - I pay an extra Fl 25.00 per car I run the empeg in for a year's theft cover from the car while it is installed (Aaggh! 100 bucks extra per year )

My insurer told me they wouldn't insure my car AT ALL if I installed the empeg in it, let alone insure the empeg itself. Apparently the stereo to car value ratio was just too great for their actuarial tables. The fact that I never leave the empeg in the car didn't interest the flunkies that I spoke with. I found this... disappointing.

Richard.

Reminds me of the Monty Python sketch where the guy tries to make a claim on his insurance, and is told, "Oh, no, you opted for our NEVER PAY policy. Which is great if you never claim, but here you had to go and claim..."

Can you switch insurance companies down there in Oz?

___________
Tony Fabris

I CAN change insurance companies, but I don't know if any of the normal local ones will be any better. I will look into it soon, actually, because it's nearly time to renew, but it's such a pain and the chances are that nobody will actually cover the empeg. The car is worth about half as much as the empeg, apparently. Yeah it's a bit of a shitbox (I wonder if that will get censored) but I've decided I'm not getting a new car until either I pay off the house, or the old car gives up the ghost. Besides, I've grown quite attached to it. :)

Maybe I should ask a local car audio shop, they might know of specialist policies that are used in these situations.

Richard.

Maybe I should ask a local car audio shop, they might know of specialist policies that are used in these situations.

You might also see if you can insure your empeg and other stereo equipment through a rider on your homeowners insurance as opposed to your auto insurance.

tanstaafl.

"There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"