Has anyone attempted an install on a New Beetle? Just wondering if the head unit fits.

Just a little side note to the link fusto posted, keep in mind that Hugo (Altman) is in the UK.

I don't know where you are located, so this may not mean anything...

But if you're in the US, know that what he refers to as "Standard DIN" is not the same as "Standard DIN" here. What he has, we refer to as "Euro DIN". Almost the same size, but slightly larger. There's probably a FAQ entry on it...

Anyway, you might want to see about getting the same install bracket that Hugo got, which he also posted a link for. Hopefully it will work on both LHD and RHD, and be the correct DIN size.

DIN is, by default, Euro, as it's a German standard.

DIN stands for Deutch Industrie Norm, although I could have that spelling wrong.

Yeah, that's kinda what I figured.

We're always the ones who screw everything up. Like our systems of measurement for example...

The adapter kit I got from autoleads to fit it in the dash is actually a US-made kit, there are no LHD/RHD differences there.

Hugo

But if you're in the US, know that what he refers to as "Standard DIN" is not the same as "Standard DIN" here. What he has, we refer to as "Euro DIN". Almost the same size, but slightly larger. There's probably a FAQ entry on it...


Well, it sort of does refers to the same measurements... But some car makers, due to the mounting system they use - screwing brackets to the body of the head unit, only give space enough for the actual head unit and not for the mounting bracket used by others, where the bracket is fixes to the dash and the head unit slides into the bracket.

Then they compund the problem by making the trim of the dash extend out over the "DIN hole" as they know that the face of most modern head units don't use the full width and height, usually using a trim ring to cover the edges...

/Michael

I still have the kit from my old car.....(going on beetle #2),
I can't judge the size yet, I'm going to order the RioCar on tuesday. Then the last leap o' faith is seeing if the PAC OEM-1 or OEM-2 device works with the stock monsoon amp....

Well, it sort of does refers to the same measurements... But some car makers, due to the mounting system they use - screwing brackets to the body of the head unit, only give space enough for the actual head unit and not for the mounting bracket used by others, where the bracket is fixes to the dash and the head unit slides into the bracket.

OK... That sounds completely reasonable. Here's what happened to me, and hence my confusion:

Both the dealership and a local stereo place told me my car had a standard DIN slot, but of course, the empeg didn't fit in it. It was too big. The guys at the stereo place told me it was because the empeg was "Euro DIN" instead of "Standard DIN". They then brought out one of the head units they sell and said something along the lines of "See? This is a normal DIN head unit. It's a little smaller."

So, given this situation, why shouldn't I believe them? The empeg (with the sleeve) was larger than other head units, so the "Standard" vs. "Euro" explanation seemed perfectly reasonable. (And now that I think of it, it was probably easier for them to explain it away like that, also.)

At that point I thought something along the lines of "Well, that's what I get for buying some wacky semi-home-brew product from across the pond.", and then proceeded to have it installed anyway, knowing the extra custom work was needed.

So I guess my question is, since it's such a mixed bag of car manufacturers doing different stuff, how do you know if a car has that extra space or not? Is there a term for it? "DIN + sleeve space" or something?

Also, is it like that in Europe, or does every car have the extra space?

Just trying to figure everything out...

just did some mesurements of my old HU (AIWA CD-MP3). I used it with the sleeve that came with it. The sleeve measures about 2 and 1/8th inches, bust over to a web page that has inches to metric (hey, I'm from the USA, metric system? Bah!) 2 inches = 50 mm......1/8 inches = 3.175 mm.....do some of that fancy math.....I get 53.175....check the FAQ Full size of EMPEG is 55 mm.......gonna be close.....

2" = 50.8 mm. That extra 0.8mm might make all the difference

53.175mm + .8 mm = 53.975mm
You smell that? Smells like its gonna fit.....

So I guess my question is, since it's such a mixed bag of car manufacturers doing different stuff, how do you know if a car has that extra space or not? Is there a term for it? "DIN + sleeve space" or something?

Also, is it like that in Europe, or does every car have the extra space?

Having only owned cars manufactured in Europe I can't comment on US or japanese cars (I'd imagine the situation for japanese cars to be identical in the US and in Europe. I'd think the best bet is to look if the mounting is by brackets or into hole. In all the cars I've had, the mounting system has been "sleeve in hole", and there was no size problem - Fiats (Ritmo and Uno, Ford Escort, SAABs (99 and 900), VW Polo) Same goes for all cars of friends. Any aftermarket console (meant for mounting a HU below the existing dash) sold here has had the "full-size" DIN hole.

The sleeve for the JVC HU I had for a while before I got my first empeg was exactly the same size as the empeg cradle (press fit into my VW Polo, hardly had to use the anchoring tabs).

I've seen European cars with dash trim extending so that you didn't need/could use the trim ring the HU came with though - but the mounting was still sleeve in hole, and the hole "full size".

/Michael

lisiten, i would doubt HIGHLY that if it fits perfectly in a jetta and gti tha tyou would have any problems with all the default stuff mounting, that's my $.02 I have done empeg installs in both, fits like a charm

GTI's and Jetta's are double din, Beetle's are single din.

GTI's and Jetta's are double din, Beetle's are single din.


This has only been the case for the past 6 months or so. Most of the A4 platform VW's people on this board have done were in cars with the old system (two single din units in dash, for the dealer installed in dash cd). It will fit in your dash.

Anyone purchased Custom Bass Boxes for a New Beetle ?

I seriously considering a new Bug, but need to know my audio will fit.

Also I know the dash, only takes 1 DIN. Has anybody got round this, or am i going to have to lose my cd/tuner ?

Any suggestions appreciated ...

I had a custom box made for my beetle... if you're in the UK it's possible I could sell it to you

It fits in the left side of the boot, and takes a phase linear 10" sub (which doesn't need much box volume). I've even got a carpeted amp mount which fits onto the rear of the seat... makes installation much easier, these two cost quite a bit to have made but I didn't want to sacrifice boot space. Pics on riocar.org, but I'm using the "active" components (ie, the actual sub and the amp) in my honda install so I'm just looking to sell the woodwork.

Of course, if you're in the UK you could buy the car too... 9,995 for a genuine UK-sourced 2000V techno blue bug with leather interior, 23k miles, FSH.

Hugo

Interestingly I am in the UK ... and I have the same amp as you too. Trouble is I have 2x12" subs, so i'd need larger boxes and on box sides.

Did you have Cambridge Car Audio make the box for you or was it home build ?

Looking to buy a 2002 Beetle in a few months, either New or Ex Dem, and I'm looking at the 1.8T, so sorry I'm not going to take the car either ...

Did you upgrade the Front Speakers at all ?

You're probably going to loose quite a bit of room in the boot with 2x12's! A single 10" sounds pretty good, I have to say. More than enough bass for me, at least.

Cambscar built the box & did the whole install. The front speakers were (and still are, I didn't bother removing them as it'd be a major hassle) Infinity Kappas. Very nice sound, the beetle appears to have excellent speaker placement and general accoustics.

Hugo

Yeah, I know I going to lose a fair bit, but that's not a big worry. I have 2 x 12's in my Golf now and mostly there is only a laptop in the boot.

I'm really tempted by your Beetle, especially at the price, with 23k ... but its a 2.0 and I really wanted at 1.8T.

mmmm.....beetle....

There are some options for the 2.0. They do make superchargers for them.......and of course, there is always the GT6 stage 3 modification (If only I had the money......)

http://www.hpamotorsports.com/stage3.htm

You could check JL Audio's Stealthbox , specially designed for the Beetle. I know, it's just a one-driver sealed enclosure, but it's perfect for saving space, you would only need to raise the boot's floor a little bit...
I think those stealthboxes are just too fine. Anyone knows if someone builds any kind space-saving custom enclosure for a Peugeot 307?

Hey, that's something I've always wondered : are those stealthboxes any good? Or are they just a compromise for those that can't install the 'real thing'(tm) ?

are those stealthboxes any good? Or are they just a compromise for those that can't install the 'real thing'(tm)

I don't have any first-hand experience with these boxes, but theoretically they should be just fine. A speaker in a sealed box doesn't care about the shape of the box -- only the enclosed volume of the box matters. I have seen an installation in which a speaker was put in a sealed box inside a door panel. To get the correct volume for the particular speaker, a 3" diameter clothes dryer hose, sealed at the far end, was attached to the box to increase the air volume inside the box. Apparently it worked, the car won all kinds of awards.

tanstaafl.

And there's the fact that JL Audio has a reputation to maintain too, and it's a pretty good one. If the stealthboxes were not up to the hype, they wouldn't sell them. Keeping one mediocre product in their product line can turn into a mortal mistake for high end audio brands.

Well, you'd want the volume to be relatively stiff though. I can imagine the clothes dryer ducting flexing to the beat and in effect changing the internal volume of the box constantly.

Well, you'd want the volume to be relatively stiff though. I can imagine the clothes dryer ducting flexing to the beat and in effect changing the internal volume of the box constantly.


Hmmm... a good point. But I suspect that the actual increase in volume would be negligable. I mean, imagine blowing into that hose in an attempt to "inflate" it. I don't believe it would get measurably larger, after all it is a plastic covered wire spiral and probably not very prone to changing shape.

tanstaafl.