Hey Guys,

Tried searching, but couldn't find anything on the first:

1, I have a 6 CD changer fitted under my seat... will I need any adapter to hook this up to an alpine hu?

2, From behind the original stereo, would it be easy to make a small hole through into the tray area in the center console so I can push through a USB cable?

I also understand I need to swap the constant live and switched, but won't require a crappy autoleads harness?

1.) Is it an original OEM Skoda CD changer? Yes, you'll need an adaptor. If it's able to adapt to an Alpine HU at all. You'd have to do some searching on that.

2.) Yes, I've done this before. I hacksawed the top left-hand corner of the tray away, and fitted through an iPod cable. Just cut away enough for it to fit through, and you'll never see it when it's fitted again anyway.

Steve

1.) Is it an original OEM Skoda CD changer? Yes, you'll need an adaptor. If it's able to adapt to an Alpine HU at all. You'd have to do some searching on that.

2.) Yes, I've done this before. I hacksawed the top left-hand corner of the tray away, and fitted through an iPod cable. Just cut away enough for it to fit through, and you'll never see it when it's fitted again anyway.

Steve

Thanks for the info mate Just looking into the CD changer stuff... but if anyone knows what I'd need or if its possible let me know!

I'm pretty sure it isn't at all possible (but feel free to prove me wrong). I've heard enough people mentioning changing their head units and therefore losing the use of the factory CD changer because it simply isn't compatible. Seems unusual because I've had a VW in the past that had a Sony CD changer and factory deck come as standard, so I had thought one might be able to use a Sony or Blaupunkt head unit to obtain compatibility with a factory changer, but I've never heard anyone do this successfully so possibly not. I changed my headunit to a Pioneer unit and lost the use of my changer, but it didn't bother me at all as I can still use single CDs and the AUX in and USB input easily replace the use of the changer in any case.

As for your other question, definitely possible. I wanted to be able to control my iPod using the iPod's controls (and not the fiddly stereo controls) so I didn't want to tuck it away in the glove box. I drilled a hole in the top/back of the tray after removing it (big enough so the cables would pass through) and then just put everything back together. With the hole at the top/back you'll never see it so won't affect resale value, and the cables can be tucked in at the back so noone ever needs know you have them there, and the iPod will sit nicely in the cubbyhole on the no-slip mat. That's the set up I have and it works for me.

So if you're not bothered about the CD changer in any case, you can either sell it (seem to be a few people on here looking for them) or just keep it (like I'm doing) and rehook it up to the factory deck when it comes time to sell the car. Good luck.

PS. Might get a better answer with regards changer compatibility in the ICE section of this forum.