The only pre-install step I took was taking the time to solder the Alpine wiring harness to the Volvo wiring harness they sent. I shrink wrapped the joints instead of my hasty butt splices or even worse, electrical tape over twisted wires.. I must be growing up or something...
Taking out the Volvo radio is crazy simple.. Poke the spring loaded buttons in on the sides, and it's begging you to pull it out by hand, with no tools. I was presented with a gaping, but clean double DIN opening. I chose to put my stereo down low because it's that much further from prying eyes and further from the heat ducts in the dash. Since the stereo basically sits on the plastic of the console in there, I decided to put down a piece of adhesive backed felt to pad the stereo from shock (and making any rattling noises..)
The only hangup in this job was figuring out how to get the metal 'holder' to actually anchor into the console. The triangular tabs just weren't matching up with anything they could get a grip on. I had to use a pocket saw to enlarge the square openings.. Hopefully the original Volvo radio can go back in if need be, and still lock into place.
The plastic 'pocket' that came free with the rig was easy to work with.. Just put it together according to the Volvo instructions and pop it in.. Be aware, that once this thing is locked in, it isn't coming out unless you want to destroy it and possibly the dash console opening..
The stoner at Best Buy was telling me their pro installers would make it such that I'd store my ipod in that dash pocket, but that just looks too ghetto to me, so I decided to route the ipod cord through the side of the glove box. That way the ipod is out of sight of me, and any theives.
From inside the glovebox.. I put the hole far enough up, I won't lose any stray marbles on accident!
I have to say, this is the 2nd easiest install I've ever done.. (My F150 was easy, and is single DIN sized)
I also love how everything just WORKS. Instead of dinking around with the damn FM tranmitter by Monster Co. that my wife has, I have a direct input and it talks to the head unit very quickly. Here it is talking to the stereo...
And I'm done...
Aural Joy!!
Minimal programming of the multi-band EQ, and BBE sound processing, and I'm off to the races... Finally I can listen to MY music, without static. Now I won't notice my Volvo breaking down though, because I'm liable to have the tunes jammin.
If any of you are paying 200 bucks+ for an OEM Volvo CD headunit, I'd say to nix it in favor of this.. I paid 209 total for the headunit + the alpine ipod cord (which is much longer than I imagined.) This would be easy to 'uninstall' if I sell the car, and the sound is amazing.. Just like anything, as time has progressed, you get a whole lot more for 200 bucks than you did 10 years ago.
