I have a double DIN unit that doesn't fit properly, I posted in the Interior/Exterior section, but I figure you 3rd gen guys would have some experience. The wires are pushing against the unit preventing it to sit flush. There is very little room to the wires around.. Any suggestions?

 

tuck it in the open space near the glove box, i just installed a flup out myself, its a tight fit, you might have to adjust the rca and other wires one by one, its a pain but you can do it.

 

I was having this problem when I installed my head unit last month. Try zip tying all the wires together so that they are in a tight bundle. This will help you manage routing the wires off toward the glovebox, as Azcamel said.

 

I cut out the bar behind the headunit.

 

i'm getting to that point.. but i had the zip tie idea in mind just didn't think it would make a difference

 

It definately made a huge difference for me. Before I tried the zip ties, the head unit was sticking out a good 2 inches, once I got them bundled together, it was much easier to get it flush.

 

I haven't always had good luck with bundling wires together, it becomes a real stiff bundle and then your really trying to push it back. but sometimes it helps the whole wiring bundle slide into a certain spot that you want it to sit in in.

But here is the more "efficent" way about trying to get your radio in.

Take a ruler, and measure the headunit Depth . Now take that measurement and measure how far from the flush mount to the bar in the back of the radio opening. If you are sticking out, First thing to do is knock that piece out. Because You can bundle everything nicely and go what the hell, it doesn't go in! And realize 30 minutes of work, it was a stupid bar blocking your radio. ( just experience)
( I got a nice picture of me holding a sawzaw and cutting out a brace in a 2004 BMW Z4)
After that bar goes out, you can re attempt to fit the radio.

OR if the bar doesn't need to be knocked out, then you want to route the wires for the left side, to the left side of the radio opening, NOT in front of the bar the same for the right side. What another common thing that happens is that you have all the wiring from one side, and you jam the radio back and the wiring is sandwiched between the bar and the radio and it won't recess any farther.


Hope that helps!

 

I didn't want to cut the bar because I was thinking it'd have adverse effects on the chassis or something. I wish I did the install myself, (if I only had that Sawzall and more courage to cut a piece off my baby) I got a local electronics shop to do it for me for around $110 + taxes. It was about a 4 - 5 hour wait in the shop constantly being told "It'll be out soon" or "He'll be pulling it out shortly", luckily, the store had 4 different massage chairs in front of large LCD/Plasma screens with Discovery Channel in HD. Needless to say, my friend and I test drove all the chairs in that short timeframe.

The install was pretty crappy too, it's still sticking out and not sitting flush. I do have a lifetime warranty on the install so I'll have plenty of time to sort that out.

 

Is it just me or does it seem like all the "DIY" jobs are cluttered in the archive or other old threads? All the information in this thread would've been very useful in the beginning..