Hey i have been researching possible replacements for the stock audio system

i know that the most popular choice is getting a double din dash kit.

however i dont want to go throught he trouble of ordering the extra parts, etc.

my question is if i go to an audio shop or maybe even a big retailer like best buy or circuit city, will they do the necessary work to fit any audio system into my car? or will they just not be able to install it without the double din?

 

The only other option is to cut the dash and that looks like crap. Plus the CCA that is the stereo face is also the A/C controls. You need to do a DD if you want to change the stereo.

 

dont even bother...just go modify your civic...

 

From seeing other peoples experiences in the past, mostly what you get when you go to the big box retailers is paying retail price for a bunch of high school kids installing your equipment. I do not recommend that at all. I am a big advocate of the Do It Yourself. I went from not knowing how to install a stereo to building my own fiberglass sub boxes and panels from other members on this form. There is a DIY for the DD conversion on here and it is very simple to do. It will take you 2-4 hours depending on how well you work with tools. Get the DD conversion from grubbsperformance.com You only need the DD Finisher and the AC control. There are other products of inferrior quality out there, but why would you want to risk the electrical system on a 35K+ car, especially since the dealer will not honor your warranty if you frag it with cheap parts. If you are able to do it yourself, you will save yourself quite a bit of $$ since most installers do not do a lot of work on G35s. If you want to have someone do the work, seek out a reputable shop in your area. Ask around on this forum, there's bound to be someone with in 50mi from you that can recommend a shop. Thankfully I have an authorized dealer for Inifinity, Diamond, DLS, Focal, Alpine, Kenwood, and Eclipse very close to my home and they match ebay prices for the most part. Building my own sub boxes for my 12"s cost me about $350 in materials, but I was quoted $1200 from a very good local installer. Thats why I decided to try it out my self.

https://g35driver.com/forums/audio-video-electronics/159674-my-project-first-time-working-fiberglass.html

 

^^^ Very wise words there.

If you are dead set on NOT getting the DD kit... DO NOT REPLACE YOUR RADIO. Not worth it.

You can have a fantastic sounding aftermarket system utilizing the stock piece. The first install I had in the G used the stock deck, an Alpine H701 processor, amps, and speakers. It sounded great. I just wanted more. So I bought the kit, and installed an IVA-W200.

You CAN do this yourself. Avoid the big-boxes. Visit your local shops. Buy authorized.

 

Excellent advice from jtrudeau and MiloX.

Getting the DD kit is the only way to go and if it's trouble for you to order the two parts to make it work (trim piece and AC controller) then you shouldn't attempt to do it yourself.

 

I first ordered a black dash finisher from Yoshi in Japan not knowing I needed separate A/C controls. The stock circuit board is all one piece for A/C and stereo system.

<center>
<img src="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y79/unclephucker/P1010017.jpg" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"><br><br>
</center>

<center>
<img src="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y79/unclephucker/P1010020.jpg" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"><br><br>
</center>

<center>
<img src="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y79/unclephucker/blackfinishering35.jpg" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"><br><br>
</center>

All in all the silver graphite finisher actually looks much nicer even with the black cargo door. The black finisher I had for two weeks was originally more desirable. However the new one looks cleaner with its bright finish. The CHUNKY buttons took some getting used to, but I've grown to like them. Also when all is pure black it's much easier to see lint and you don't really appreciate the curvy edges. Now considering doing a NAVI unit instead. Not sure if having a NAVI below eye level is dangerous or just plain annoying. I would be glad see other examples of after-market units installed. Metra (also on EBAY) and Grubbs both sell these dash units (with the needed air conditioner controls). Next time I may just buy all this crap pre-stalled in newer or nicer vehicle. Costs a few grand with two AMPS all new speaker system and woofer. The headaches over and it sounds great!

<center>
<img src="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y79/unclephucker/P1010001.jpg" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"><br><br>
</center>

I highly recommend Dynamat for the trunk. And some extra insulation stuffing in back window panel deck thing is needed to prevent vibrations for metal and rap deep bass. Probably if you have that tiny Bose subwoofer you could remove that and have a nice vent for bass to blast through. However the deep bass is great with 600 watt Bass Amp even will middle ski door closed.

<center>
<img src="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y79/unclephucker/P1010002.jpg" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"><br><br>
</center>

As conspicuous consumption may have it I'm already considering upgrading to a NAVI unit after a month. Do double din touch screen Navigation decks have detachable face? Traveler's told me it's no extra charge to cover my system. Only concern is having my dash mangled by thieves if I get a non detachable face unit. With a Navi unit I could keep the car another few years and be satisfied. At least until I could afford a new G or an M5 LOL!

 

...i agree with the DD, i had only ever replaced the h/u on one other car and managed to install a DD in our cars, video bypass, speakers, amp and sub... its not very difficult and this forum is flooded with DIY's and exhausted pretty much all the FAQ's.

As for getting a best buy system, your gna pay good money for a pos system, save the money buy some good stuff and try installing it yourself, i know several Best Buy installers and trust me.... some of them are just as good as you and I!!

 

Chances are if you go to BB or CC than the sales guys is going to say it's not possible to install an aftermarket HU in the stock location.

 

Al and Eds did a pretty good job. It's a chain here in Southern California. Maybe if I had a garage I would try and do it myself. Definitely something to think about.

 

How much did Al and Eds charge you? Last I checked it was about $200+ for a navi double din install.

 

Do the buttons on the metra kit light up?

 

Yes metra kit buttons light up same as old ones. There is a button for dual-zone climate control. No use for me because I only have normal A/C.

All speakers, amps, dash unit, Dynamat trunk and all doors, Alpine unit, Ipod interface cable, monster cables for all, adapter so you can fully use the steering wheel controls, and perhaps a few odds and ends and labor about $2800 total.

Metra kit buttons are kinda big but at night it looks almost like original stock buttons..lit up and such.

 

JDM Infiniti 2003-2004 G35 SEDAN Double Din Conversion (Ebay item 200143526722) ANY ONE WANT THE BLACK DASH FINISHER? You can get A/C controls from Grubbs or G35 JDM websites. Usually the pre-made kits only come in Graphite Grey/Silver.

<center>
<img src="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y79/unclephucker/2002zblack3.jpg" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"><br><br>
</center>