2001 S60 Double din Australia

rschmutt · Post by **rschmutt** » 19 Jul 2012, 21:46

Hi Guys,

Just got my first ever Volvo, a 2001 S60 T5 and so far I'm loving it!

What Im not loving is the lack of iPod, Bluetooth and the factory GPS needs a map update. If I bought these separately I would be up for $200 for the iPod and Bluetooth kit and a further $300 for the map update so I figure it will be as easy to just replace the factory stereo with a double din all-in-one stereo, iPod, Bluetooth, GPS unit.

There isn't much available for me in Australia so I imagine im going to have to order the parts I need from overseas, any ideas on where I can get all the parts needed? (and somewhere that actually ships to Oz)
Also a couple more questions
With the factory Dolby set up, how will I connect all of the speakers? Will I need an amp?
Are there wiring kits to make it simpler to install a new HU?
I found some double din kits on eBay but they dont specify 2001, will they work anyway?

Thanks so much!

Post by **precopster** » 20 Jul 2012, 04:12

Email Sue Di Silva at [email protected] If you find an eBay seller that has something you like and they don't post to Oz, get a shipping quote from Sue. They are in LA and have posted various eBay items to me from xenophobic sellers with small surcharges added. Tell her Mike from Preston sent you.

rschmutt · Post by **rschmutt** » 22 Jul 2012, 04:29

Brilliant, thanks for that! Ill give eBay a look and see what I can find.

Has anyone else done this? What did you use and how did it turn out?

Post by **fazool** » 22 Jul 2012, 11:42

Have done considerable audio work on my 2001 S60 and 2007 S60.I wrote up a lengthy reply but left it unsent at work. Will post it tomorrow

Post by **fazool** » 23 Jul 2012, 07:17

Congratulations on your new ride. Something about having a Volvo makes it easy to go from car-owner to car-enthusiast. I remember the exact moment when it happened to me:

I was changing the rear brakes on a (new to me) 740GLE and prepared for the typical rusty mess, busted knuckles, and frustration I'd known from years of wrenching on domestics.

Instead I nly had to loosen one bolt, swing the caliper up on a hinge and the pads fell out. The bolts were yellow (zinc) chromate plated AND protected in rubber bellows. It was the most rust free and serviceable assembly I'd ever seen. I got to where I could change BOTH rear brakes in twenty minutes (and that includes jacking and wheel removal).

Until you've experienced this, you simply won't "get it". Non-Volvo owners seem perplexed about the rabid devotion of Volvo enthusiasts. So, we tend to associate with others who understand and you will find an enthusiast community that really is "communal".

There are a lot of resources out there, each with its own special areas of interest, such as;
swedespeed.com
volvoforums.com
volvo-forums.com
turbobricks.com
volvoclub.org.uk
vcoa.org

These aren't "competing" sites, per sa, and are often cross-referenced by users. I am enrolled in all of them but I find MVS to be the most down-to-earth and user-friendly high-tech resource and, so, the site I call my Volvo "home".

I have a 2001 and 2007 S60's and, as a car audio enthusiast, done a lot of customizing to them so here are some thoughts and questions about your options:

I have an extra unopened (OEM-looking) Scosche single-DIN face-plate adaptor and a set of wiring harness connectors. I intended to replace my stock head unit with a single-DIN but remain undecided about the steering wheel stereo controls (more on that below). The shipping to AUS may be more than the parts are worth but I bought them on eBay and you can have them for what I paid if you want them.

First, what model head unit do you have? Its possibly an HU-615 or HU-813 or such number.

The factory-stock audio system came in one of three levels. The names were goofy and confusing so I will just list them, without the brochure names:

First Level

The first was a basic head unit with AM/FM, single CD and cassette. This unit had a modest internal amplifier (25w?) and was wired directly to the speakers. The front doors were component style speakers with an 8ohm mid range down low in the door panel and an 8ohm tweeter in the door-pull wired in parallel.

The rear doors were 8ohm full range speakers and were wired in parallel with the 8ohm deck (parcel shelf) speakers which were actually a semi-component system of 16ohm woofer cone and 16ohm mid-tweeter cone all on one big bracket.

Second level

The next level offered a 200W amplifier, mounted under the passenger seat. The head unit ran pre-amp outs to the amp, which then connected to the same wiring harness to deliver the signals.

I think the speakers are modestly upgraded (for quality and power handling) in this second level, but the layout is the same.

Third level

The highest level uses a much advanced head unit with Dolby Pro-Logic surround sound and multi-disc CD playter. There is an amplied center channel output that goes directly to a center speaker in the dash (that big grill). Pre-amp outputs for left and right channels go to a 300W amplifier under the passenger seat.

All the speakers are upgraded in quality. The front door units go from a two-piece to a three-piece component system (adding a separate woofer and mid-range cone down low and using the same tweeter location). In some earlier S60 years, the front door panels all had three grills and if you had a lower sound system, one grill was just left empty (there was a sound diverting panel that bounced some sound from the single cone to both grills). In later years, the whole S60 door panel changed depending on the stereo.

The biggest criticism of the lower level systems is that they tend to sound "muddy" but the HU-615 actually has a hidden equalizer menu where you can adjust this and really improve the sound.

If you have steering wheel controls and you replace the head unit, be aware that you will NOT be able to use the steering wheel controls. No matter what anyone tells you and no matter what anyone tries to sell you. These communicate over a specialized (MELbus) network and aren't just switches. Volvo's implementation of the MELbus protocol is a bit different and the one company that did make an interface for steering wheel controls discontinued all support for Volvos. A generic interface will not work. You will buy one, go to great pains to configure and install it and it will work on and off and spontaneously change channels, change volume, not respond, etc. There is enough info on the web to convince you not to bother. If you put an aftermarket head unit into a Volvo, you will NOT have steering wheel controls. Period.

That is the reason I have the unused parts listed above - I bought them before knowing this and I don;t want non-functional buttons and am undecided about replacing my steering wheel entirely.

On my 2007, I kept the stock HU-650 head unit (I wanted stock look and steering wheel controls). To improve the sound quality, I switched to pre-amp outputs, installed my own 4-channel amp and replaced all the speakers (including adding a speaker into the empty dash location). It sounds amazing and the entire project cost me $400 and a weekend and looks totally professional and stock (you can't see a thing anywhere).

On my 2001, I broke into the tape pre-amp line and added an AUX in jack for iPod's or MP3 players. I am debating which upgrades to add next for this car. I may replace the entire steering wheel and then do a single-DIN head unit upgrade, but am also considering a small amp and speaker upgrade only. I am undecided still.

Do a search on these forums and you will find detailed write-ups on all these options.

rschmutt · Post by **rschmutt** » 23 Jul 2012, 08:13

Hi Fazool,

Firstly, thank you for your reply and such detail.. Its very nice to know that you have tried it all and know what works.
I've had all kinds of cars through the years but this is my first Volvo so bear with me...

I have the top sound system with Dolby, it is a great sound system and Im really not too bothered to change it if I dont need to. What I would really like it Bluetooth and iPod and then it will be perfect, I can get a kit on eBay ($200)... When I bought it though, the discs for the factory GPS were removed so I also have to replace them ($300)

The only reason I would consider a replacement head unit is because the cost for Bluetooth, iPod and GPS is already $500 so why not just get a new touchscreen one? I will do some more digging around and hopefully come up with some second hand map disks from a wrecker or something otherwise I may replace the whole lot (annoying because then ill have buttons on the steering wheel that dont work and a screen in the dash that does nothing)
Would you happen to know a good, reasonably priced iPod and Bluetooth kit that integrates well?
Maybe somewhere I can download maps?

Apart from that, I need to get it on the road again! It broke down on the second day I had it (see my other post) so im sure ill fall in love over and over.

Out of curiosity, how much do you want for the dash parts?

Thank you once again

Rick

Post by **precopster** » 23 Jul 2012, 08:24

If fazool's solutions don't suit your situation and you decide on an all-in-one unit don't go with the Chinese Eonon brand. I bought a middle range Single DIN unit with motorized DVD screen for my 960 with bluetooth but no GPS and after exactly 14 months the screen went white and no longer responds to touch.

The built in fan was noisy, and inadequate to extract the heat generated inside the unit. The screen failed because while it wasn't in use and retracted the internal temps were so high during high volume playback that when I did eject the screen it was too hot to touch.

With the features you require it would be unlikely to get away with spending less than $1,000 and have a product you can upgrade with maps in 2-5 years. Most of the stuff on eBay is rubbish unless namebrand.

Post by **fazool** » 23 Jul 2012, 10:57

I only want to recoup my costs so I'd say $50 plus s/h for the single-din adaptor and the two wiring harness adaptors and a 6-pin mini din connector.

The low end Volvo systems are pretty lame. The mid-level are pretty lame (but louder) but the highest end systems are really extremely good. All the audio critic reviews and posts and my own first-hand experience with one convinces me to keep that system if you've got it.

The systems all have an input for satellite, cd changer etc. There are adaptors you can buy that will connect through this for ipod control.