Hello everybody, I'm new to the forums, having read a few posts since I bought my MKI Fabia in January (1.9 TDi Estate/Elegance). As you can tell by the title, I'm looking to retrofit the MFD1, a CD changer and add an AUX input headphone jack, so I can listen to music from my Nexus 4 phone through the speakers. I wasn't particularly impressed by the aftermarket head units, and liked the look of the stock interior, being retro in more than one sense I guess.

I have most of the parts I need including:

- Skoda MFD1 unit + code (from Superb)

- CD changer and under-seat mounting brackets + facia plate (from fabia VRS)

- Wiring harness from changer to radio

- AUX to phono cable

- Phono to 3.5mm jack converter

- Jack leads, and socket to mount on dash

I don't have a GPS antenna, but might like to get one despite probably using my current Garmin nav. I have seen several posts dealing with these retrofits in the past:

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/109897-is-there-an-aux-connection-on-sat-nav-dx/page__st__60

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/89226-fitting-of-an-under-seat-cd-changer/

There are also I few posts on installing a OEM MFD, but I couldn't find the one I remember seeing that had good pictures with it.

Anyway, despite having much of the kit, I've got very little experience of dealing with automotive mechanics and this sort of thing. I was thinking I could get someone to install it all, but I would much rather try and do it all myself, or else how will I ever learn! I was looking for advice, notes on what and what not to do; how hard is getting the wiring harness from under the seat to the radio (I understand I have to remove the seat and pull up the carpet, which sounds daunting); what are the major pitfalls? The MFD will need some recalibrating, because it is not from a fabia. Am I stupid to even try?

Many thanks for all the information I've got from here in the past, you guys are a great font of knowledge.

I retro fitted the CD changer.. The seat has to come out anyway to fix the changer in place.. a matter of some screws and patience. You'll need a special spline drive to remove the seats, can be obtained on ebay for a few quid...

Cable wise. I went along the sill side of the passenger side... you could probably go along the tunnel, but that trims more involved when removing. Idealy take the glove box out, it'll give you more access and less headaches. If your changer lead is too long (like the after market one I bought).. you can cable tie it round a few times and stash it on top of the glove box.. there's quite a lot of space up there.

Good luck.. you can PM me if you need any more advice on the changer retro fit.,

Check out some of Tim's guide for amp fitting - http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/215603-tims-vrs-the-detail-starts/page__st__210

Post 230

I used that to fit an amp under my passenger seat in the same location as the CD multichanger.

Yes the seats come out, yes you MUST buy the correct spline as I stripped a head by using a hex - they are tight buggers! You should also replace the bolts each time so buy 4, they're about £1.50 each.

I ran power cables behind the glovebox and down the sill. The speaker wiring etc. runs under the carpet close to the centre console and out of the hole in Tim's pictures. The carpet is easy to pull up with just removing the trim along the sill, you don't need to remove the centre console etc.

Hope that helps a little.

Thanks Rob. I think I will definitely want to remove the glovebox, and I've heard people talk about running the wires along the door side. The cable I got from Skoda and is about 4m long, so I don't anticipate having any problems routing throu there. When you suggested going along the tunnel, did you mean along the middle of the floor, between the seats? If that was the case, then the cable seems way too long, probably because it was designed to go the long way round.

Thanks Oli3000, I have seen that post a couple of months ago, and it's pretty useful, so thanks for linking to it (it's not easy finding something like that again). If I only have to pull up the trim around the passenger door sill then that would be best I think; definitely don't want to bite off more than I can chew. I did notice that Tim's post showed him pulling up a lot of the carpet in back seats... I don't think that's necessary through.

The thing that concerns me is the lack of tools. I have ordered radio removal keys, and have basic tools, hex keys, spanners, and a comprehensive set of torx keys which I assumed would fit the bolts. Looks like I need spline bits though, and I don't have a socket wrench either, which I might have to buy. Is there anything that you might recommend, or should I just scour Amazon for whatever looks good? Also, do you know which specific bolts I would need to buy to replace the ones holding the seat?

Just one other pont, and that was about disconnecting the battery. Anything I should know before doing that? I have heated seats, so they will receive power, and I assume I will have to disconnect them somewhere? Do I have to make sure of anything (earthing, etc?) so I don't kill myself or the car?

Thanks again guys :-)