Hello clever and friendly people

I am now an owner of a Fabia VRS. It came with no head unit, and I have found myself wondering which of the available VAG head units would fit into, and work in my car?

I'd happily lose the cubby hole and go double din, as it just looks untidy at present with a cheapo unit I had in the garage thrown into the hole.

Thanks for any ideas and advice!

Ben

the HU from a mkI seat leon won't fit as they are too wide and I would therefore assume an audi A3 HU won't either as the dash is the same.

:(

So it's something aftermarket, which certainly a single DIN looks pretty rubbish, or find an OEM unit.

Oh well... next job is to sort the wiring, and get the parrot working with whichever head unit I go for, currently it's hard wired to an Alpine / Pioneer plug.

If you want double-DIN and OEM then the option is an MFD unit. There will be some on eBay.

Here's a guide and photos - that's an Octy Mk1 but you get the idea:

http://octavia-vrs.c...d-install-guide

It's a very, very basic satnav by today's standards so I wouldn't use that part of it. But you get a nice big display for CDs and the radio

eBay example. I wouldn't pay this for one though, personally:

http://tinyurl.com/6yfunej

Another avenue would be something aftermarket, but quite in-keeping. Some of the Alpine and Pioneer double units for example. Any particular reason you want to go this route. If it were me doing a stereo upgrade in a Fabia again (I've done a few!) I would get a decent Alpine iPod compatible unit, single DIN size.

Thank you for the thoughtful reply

I have a single din unit in there at the moment with the cubbyhole thing underneath, and it just doesn't look tidy.

I believe a double din will just look better, sort of fit in with the dash better.

I have now solved my wiring except for the permenant live, which I will re-connect when I change the head unit over, I have a JVC in there I had knocking about, and it's pretty horrid.

Right... I have found myself an MFD...

Anybody know what's involved in getting the code, should it arrive without one?

Do they have Mp3 support?

Thanks for all the help so far!

Way easier if you have it arrive with a note of the code! Not impossible to get it, a helpful dealer is vital though. The codes can be sought with just the serial number of the unit, despite what some dealers say about requiring the VIN and the car to be physcially on-site, and connected up to 'a computer' etc....

No, no MP3 support. As I say, it's a fairly basic unit and has been around a good while. MFD was a factory option on some Mk1 Fabias and the Mk4 Golf, B5 Passat etc - to give you an idea of age.

In terms of auxiliary support, one option would be to add a Dension IceLink or Connects2 kit to it, which would allow you some control of an iPod, plus charging, from the headunit.

If it's just tidiness you're after in the dash, then it's maybe a bit of a hassle TBH! Have you thought about adding an Elegance-spec drawer in lieu of the cubby hole under the stereo? That cleans the centre dash area up really, and is also handier as it keeps stuff from falling out of the cubby hole

I have spotted this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Plug-Play-SET-VW-MFD-AUDI-SAT-NAV-CABLE-ADAPTER-ANTENNA-/110621397083?pt=UK_CE_GPS_Accessories_Software_ET&hash=item19c18c905b

Will that increase functionality? Assuming I have no GPS antenna etc with the one I get - I am assuming the worse as my system is coming from ebay that I wont be getting any bits with it

I have done a little more research... is it true if I want to play audio CDs with this unit I'll need a CD changer? Seems a very strange way of doing things...

Edited 16 March, 201115 yr by rarerims

Those are the extra bits you need. Obviously check what comes with the eBay one.

The bit about the CDs was true, if you were using the nav function. As the system doesn't have a hard drive or any other type of storage, the mapping is read from a disc.... which is stored on the main slot. Therefore if you wanted to listen to CDs while using nav, you needed a changer. The OEM installations of this unit came either with a underseat passenger/glovebox/boot CD changer.

OK... so I'll have to scare up a compatible changer if it wont play audio discs - at least there's plenty of room to install one!

Thanks for all your help

No worries. If you want to run a changer, I'm pretty certain it'll need to be a Skoda one as I don't think the MFD will talk to anything else.

Underseat mounting in the Fabia is fairly easy, and there are parts available to replace the underseat storage box with one that has the hole and fixings available for the changer.

I have the code sorted, and once unlocked it even turned out to have to CD in it!

It really doesn't play audio discs though, most odd!

Anybody happen to have links to the correct push-fit GPS antennas?

I have this connection on the back of the unit for the antenna:

Edited 19 March, 201115 yr by rarerims

Got everything sorted in the end, the Aux. In wires are a bit hit and miss though, I ordered one up but had to 'adjust' the plug to make it fit. Works fine now it's in with the iPod / Phone now, so cant really complain. I am picking up the GPS antenna tomorrow, it's a SMB-F from memory, nice and cheap and available.