Upgrade CD player to MP3 player?

Hello ladies and gentlemen,


Yesterday I purchased a Toyota Rav4, a vehicle I'd been wanting for a while. And I'm delighted with it. It looks well kept, Mechanic mentions only minor things and all in all I'm the happiest little camper out there!







However, as I plan to hang onto this for a year or two before moving on (all going well), I'd like to see if there's anything I can do about the CD player?

I don't mind CDs in general, but I hate being in the mood of listening to a particular song/type of music, and having to flick through about 20 CDs to eventually find the song I wanted in the first place (usually find it just in time to finish my journey and get out of the car! ).

So I was just wondering if anyone knows if it's easy or not to swap out the CD player for an MP3 player of sorts? I know you can get those double-din touch screen MP3 player entertainment system thingymajiggys, but I've never actually seen one in a car in real life, have no idea if they'd fit into the Toyota Rav4, and don't really want to do it myself (ideally looking for a product I can buy and give to my mechanic to swap it over).


So was just wondering if anyone has any experience of this and can explain it in a relatively simple way to myself. I'm not sure what this kinda thing costs, so I've no real preliminary budget to stick to. As a general rule of thumb I care more about reliability and functionality over brand (so I don't want to spend over the odds for a high end SONY product if there's an unknown brand that do the same thing cheaper)... if that makes any sense?


Not sure where I even start looking to be honest. Off to Halfords.ie, I guess?


Cheers

Cork24

Have a Rav 4 myself..

You need to get something that will fit the Dash board, as you can tell the Dash is in a V-Shape.

If your going all out for a DVD/GPS kinda Player i would be looking at Pioneer

if you buy in Halford they will install the Player for about 50 extra i think.

CiniO

What about xcarlink?

It's a little device which you plug in to cd changer port of car audio system.
It emulates cd changer, but sources all it's cds and songs on them from Mp3s from either SD card, USB pendrive. There are also versions compatibile with Ipod.

So generally you plug it in, and you can play your MP3s on your original car audio system obviously keeping steering wheel controls, etc...
I had one in my Mazda 6 and I loved it.

Cheers for the replies, gentlemen.

Would something like this work?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6-2-HD-Car-GPS-DVD-Player-Toyota-Corolla-ex-VIOS-CROWN-PRADO-RAV4-Landcruiser-/400453442426?pt=UK_In_Car_Technology&hash=item5d3ce29b7a

kaahooters

what about a radio with an aux in, and an ipod?

kaahooters

kaahooters wrote: »

what about a radio with an aux in, and an ipod?

I was thinking that, as Halfords seem to have them by the bucketload, but I don't know. It's fidgetty enough holding a phone in the car (and that's usually just to check the time or if I've updates when Im at traffic lights), I don't know if I'd be mad to get something that's as fiddly.

Plus knowing my luck I'd get done by a Garda for using the phone when I'm using the iPod.

Although in saying that, maybe I could get an ipod holder or such that'd stick it vertically to the dashboard?

I have a Satnav that sticks to the windscreen with a suction cup mount, and never had an issue with it in the ford focus, but it seems to fall off the window in the Rav4 quite a bit (unfortunately) . So not sure.


Ultimately I want something with a screen and easy to use menu system to find songs/bands, etc.

I'm not entirely against an ipod/mp3 player, but would prefer a screen that's built not the dash.

colm_mcm

What's your budget?

I've really no idea. Would 300 or that general area cover anything worthwhile?

colm_mcm

You'll need a facia adaptor anyway, as the opening in the dash is wider than the standard DIN size.
I'd go with a double DIN unit. One with Bluetooth and streaming capabilities.
Not sure if you'd get anything decent but €300 isn't small money.

Something like this
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Kenwood-DPX-405BT-CD-MP3-USB-Double-Din-Car-Stereo-Bluetooth-iPod-iPhone-Android-/400423852701?pt=UK_In_Car_Technology&hash=item5d3b1f1a9d

Only reservation I have is that it'd look out of place in the rav.



Maybe this
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Pioneer-SPH-DA02-APP-Radio-Advanced-iPhone-iPod-Car-Stereo-Bluetooth-GPS-/111015206517?pt=UK_In_Car_Technology&hash=item19d9059e75


This would match the orange illumination
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Sony-WX-GT90BT-Double-Din-CD-MP3-Car-Stereo-iPod-iPhone-Front-USB-Bluetooth-/251272094767?pt=UK_In_Car_Technology&hash=item3a80fbe42f

colm_mcm

colm_mcm wrote: »

You'll need a facia adaptor anyway, as the opening in the dash is wider than the standard DIN size.
I'd go with a double DIN unit. One with Bluetooth and streaming capabilities.
Not sure if you'd get anything decent but €300 isn't small money.

Something like this
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Kenwood-DPX-405BT-CD-MP3-USB-Double-Din-Car-Stereo-Bluetooth-iPod-iPhone-Android-/400423852701?pt=UK_In_Car_Technology&hash=item5d3b1f1a9d

Only reservation I have is that it'd look out of place in the rav.



Maybe this
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Pioneer-SPH-DA02-APP-Radio-Advanced-iPhone-iPod-Car-Stereo-Bluetooth-GPS-/111015206517?pt=UK_In_Car_Technology&hash=item19d9059e75


This would match the orange illumination
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Sony-WX-GT90BT-Double-Din-CD-MP3-Car-Stereo-iPod-iPhone-Front-USB-Bluetooth-/251272094767?pt=UK_In_Car_Technology&hash=item3a80fbe42f

See, I'm not overly sure I know what a Facia adaptor is. From my recollection (I was considering doing this with the Focus until I realised I knew i wasn't going to keep the Focus for long) it's a plastic mount that's made to fit a double din into a gap, while filling the surrounds?

So therefore, for me to buy a specific double din, and fit it to a specific car, I need a specific, likely custom made, facia adaptor (which i'd have no idea where to get, or how to make).

I should probably say I'm useless with all this kind of stuff, so really looking for the simplest way forward (but something that will look professionally done, I don't want a double din with an inch of dead space/gap at the top, or one that sits two inches out of the dash, etc.).

The eBay links you posted all look really good (I do admit a fondness for the pioneer one - nice, simple and clean looking) but it's actually getting them into my car that has me a bit confused.

colm_mcm

Yes its just two slips of plastic that usually screw onto the side of the new stereo.

Well I popped into Halfords. They reckon, all in all, I could get their Ripspeed DV740 into the car for about €260ish (including facia, etc.).

It has a pop out screen and doesn't look quite as nice as some of the ones you posted Colm, but it would be a case of simply handing money to someone and having my head clear of any worries or hassle (which is pretty appealing, I won't lie). The issue here is that I have to book it in to get it done, and they don't have the facia in stock and the guy that does this is on 2 weeks holiday. Whereas I'm impatient and want it done yesterday.

From what I understand on that, is that it's a case of inserting a USB stick with a few tracks on it (or an SD card) and the tracks will appear on-screen so I can choose between them and the likes (which is ideally what I want). I'll take a trip to the local Motor Factors and see if they can advise/offer to do anything too and see how they compare. Might not have any luck (not sure if a Motor Factors even do this kinda thing or stick solely to maintenance work, but my friend suggested I take a look in there).

I'm not sure of anywhere else that'll do it.

Guy in halfords said on the one they have, the pop-out screen will cover the vents in the centre of the dashboard, but he hasn't heard of this causing any real issues or hassle with overheating or such (but I'm pretty sure I can just turn those off, anyway?).

colm_mcm

Don't bother. Those pop out screens are rubbish.

colm_mcm

colm_mcm wrote: »

Don't bother. Those pop out screens are rubbish.

Oh, really?

Back to the drawing board so (As they say). The only decent stuff I can see is the kinda stuff you linked to on El Bayo. Can't really think of anywhere else that does this kinda thing.

mad muffin

Have you thought about a hands free kit? Something like the Parrot

http://www.dialacom.ie/shop/handfree-kits/parrotmki9200/

I was looking to get a new stereo installed but with newer cars and their non standard stereos you need facias and they just add to the cost.

In the end I went with this:

http://www.dialacom.ie/shop/handfree-kits/trusty-one/

It was €199 installed as they need some kind of adapter.

Hands free calling

Sat nav turn by turn from my iPhone 5 to car speakers and I can listen to the car radio or tracks on my phone at the same time.

I use Siri to play tracks hands free. Don't even need to have the phone up on the car mount.

I got this car mount http://www.kenu.com/products/airframe for when I'm charging the phone and using the sat nav.

mad muffin

mad muffin wrote: »

Have you thought about a hands free kit? Something like the Parrot

http://www.dialacom.ie/shop/handfree-kits/parrotmki9200/

I was looking to get a new stereo installed but with newer cars and their non standard stereos you need facias and they just add to the cost.

In the end I went with this:

http://www.dialacom.ie/shop/handfree-kits/trusty-one/

It was €199 installed as they need some kind of adapter.

Hands free calling

Sat nav turn by turn from my iPhone 5 to car speakers and I can listen to the car radio or tracks on my phone at the same time.

I use Siri to play tracks hands free. Don't even need to have the phone up on the car mount.

I got this car mount http://www.kenu.com/products/airframe for when I'm charging the phone and using the sat nav.

I don't have (or plan to get) an iPhone, though. Does that hinder me somewhat?

I'm always a little dubious of these all-in-one solutions, though. I have a dedicated Garmin sat-nav, a phone holder and hands-free kit, so the additional benefits of the parrot seem like they would be a little wasted on me (though admittedly, having separate dedicated devices very quickly adds to the amount of clutter).


EDIT: Being able to play music over my car speakers via an Android phone would be somewhat appealing though...

mad muffin

Deleted User wrote: »

I don't have (or plan to get) an iPhone, though. Does that hinder me somewhat?

I'm always a little dubious of these all-in-one solutions, though. I have a dedicated Garmin sat-nav, a phone holder and hands-free kit, so the additional benefits of the parrot seem like they would be a little wasted on me (though admittedly, having separate dedicated devices very quickly adds to the amount of clutter).


EDIT: Being able to play music over my car speakers via an Android phone would be somewhat appealing though...

It's just the phone I have but these types of hands free kits work with all phones.

colm_mcm

Just buy online

Craazysteve

Deleted User wrote: »

EDIT: Being able to play music over my car speakers via an Android phone would be somewhat appealing though...

Any stereo that is bluetooth enabled will be ideal for this, or it may be cheaper to get a stereo that just has an aux in and then attach a bluetooth adapter like this one (or just plug your phone in directly to aux)