New to the forums and looking for some general advice about installation.

My factory installed Skoda nav system got nicked a few months ago and the insurance has finally come through with enough money to put in a new ICE system.

I picked up a Kenwood HU and 20GB Music Keg (MP3 player) in the states ($800 cheaper than buying in Prague where I live) and plan to have it professionally installed. For navigation I picked up a Socket Bluetooth GPS module which will provide GPS wirelessly to a new t-Mobil XDA II Mobil phone/Pocket PC. I hope to find a hands free mounting bracket for the XDA that fits the factory installed mounting point for hands free system.

So I guess I need to know the following:

1. Any general advice or stuff to watch out for from people who have installed aftermarket systems in their Skodas.

2. Anyone know of strange electrical problems when a OEM nav or stereo is removed? My ABS went out shortly after the nav system was nicked and i suspect it has something to do with the fact that the nav system had a feed from the ABS.

3. Is it possible/practical to install a sub woofer or something to improve the sound of the original system a bit? Would changing out the rear speakers help? (I have a 2002 Octavia Estate 4x4 L&K)

4. Are there any wiring adapters available that would allow me to use the factory steering wheel remote with the Kenwood head?

5. Will the factory installed hands free ready GSM mount be compatible with the aftermarket Kenwood head- i.e. would calls play through the system like with the OEM head unit?

Sorry for so many questions, but I'm new to all this and want to make sure i got all the facts when i bring it in to a place to install all this. Thanks in advance for replies.

Scott

2002 Octavia 4x4 Estate 1.8v Turbo L&K

Hi Scott, welcome to the forums.

I've got an aftermarket sat-nav myself (Blaupunkt DXR52), and replacing the Skoda HU was just a matter of getting a wiring adapter (for the active antenna) and change the HU's over. However, your case might be different as you had an OEM sat-nav, for which I don't know the connections (maybe you can PM stopan1j (John) as he is looking into OEM satnav for his Superb).

Hi Scott (or should that be Ahoj ? ) And welcome to Briskoda :wave:

Take a good look around the "MY ICE" Sections, most of your questions have already been answered in detail.

But general tips for changing the HU include..

Remove the glovebox to make it easier to hide the wiring. But be very careful with the Glovebox light.

Dump the OEM speakers, they're totally hopeless.

I'm sure some of the others will chip in with more tips

Thanks for the welcome. I looked at the Blaupunkt also, but in the end decided to go with a more portable solution. I bought the car used from the Skoda factory in Mlada Boleslava- it was a Skoda executive company car fully loaded, so the nav system was just a bonus for me- didn't think I really needed such an expensive toy. I had it for all of two weeks before it was stolen, but it got me totally hooked on in car nav, so now I'm a slave to another expensive gadget based hobby!

I would probably advise stopan1j against the Skoda OEM satnav unit. While it's a perfectly fine unit, there is no way to mask it or take the faceplate off to prevent theft and the unit appears to be extremely easy to slide right out of the dash. Also if stopan1j comes across some shifty looking guy fresh off the plane from Prague with an OEM satnav under his arm for a great price and a screwdriver in his back pocket, tell him to beat the &*$# out of him because it's probably mine ;-)

Scott