Want a replacement for my swing radio, need help

[Nath95]

Hello everyone, just bought myself a 2012 1.2 monte Carlo, loving the car, but just wanted to know what would fit in replacement to the swing radio I currently have in, wanting something with android car play for gps and stuff but theres so many out there and im so confused about what will fit and what wouldnt. 

Also want something that looks stock.

Thanks hope you can help me :( 

[KeithCheetham]

Don't focus too much on car play if you are going for an android unit as these should run GPS etc as a standalone and bluetooth your phone in for calls. I am running a cheap £60 Chinese unit on which I have loaded CoPilot GPS, all the music I want is save to the unit internal memory, and I run Torque. Being cheaper this does not have DAB, but came with a GPS aerial and a rear parking camera that I have not needed to fit as I already have sensors. It has 1Gb of RAM and 16Gb internal storage but most now have more as standard. What I have noticed is that many are advertised as being car play which they may be, but the units OS is Windows CE so adding apps may be a problem compared to Android units. You will probably need adaptor cable and an aerial adaptor with built in booster which are readily available but add to the cost.

[DieselMonte]

On 18/05/2021 at 13:18, KeithCheetham said:

Don't focus too much on car play if you are going for an android unit as these should run GPS etc as a standalone and bluetooth your phone in for calls. I am running a cheap £60 Chinese unit on which I have loaded CoPilot GPS, all the music I want is save to the unit internal memory, and I run Torque. Being cheaper this does not have DAB, but came with a GPS aerial and a rear parking camera that I have not needed to fit as I already have sensors. It has 1Gb of RAM and 16Gb internal storage but most now have more as standard. What I have noticed is that many are advertised as being car play which they may be, but the units OS is Windows CE so adding apps may be a problem compared to Android units. You will probably need adaptor cable and an aerial adaptor with built in booster which are readily available but add to the cost.

Torque on the head unit? Am I misreading?

 

On 18/05/2021 at 10:08, Nath95 said:

Hello everyone, just bought myself a 2012 1.2 monte Carlo, loving the car, but just wanted to know what would fit in replacement to the swing radio I currently have in, wanting something with android car play for gps and stuff but theres so many out there and im so confused about what will fit and what wouldnt. 

Also want something that looks stock.

Thanks hope you can help me :( 

There is the RCD330 headunit with gps and its meant to be a straight swap. RCD330 is an OEM headunit I believe.

[KeithCheetham]

 No, you read this correctly. Bluetooth OBD2 permanently in the socket to read data from ECU.

 

Edited 19 May, 2021 by KeithCheetham
Additional data

[UrbanPanzer]

Most of that is already on the dash though .................and not ideal looking at radio for that sort of thing / information..........bit of a gimmick if you ask me.

[DieselMonte]

3 hours ago, KeithCheetham said:

 No, you read this correctly. Bluetooth OBD2 permanently in the socket to read data from ECU.

 

That is quite cool, but looking at it I doubt i'd be able to get any more use out of it than just running it on my phone clipped into the vent next to the gauges. All I want from mine is to read water temps, I just have boost and voltage as extras.

[UrbanPanzer]

does the monte not have a engine / water temp gauge then ?

[DieselMonte]

5 minutes ago, UrbanPanzer said:

does the monte not have a engine / water temp gauge then ?

If you have a Maxidot cluster you get a gauge. My car just has the light telling you if its cold or warm as its non maxidot. Even the cold light goes off way too soon imo, I think its roughly 50°c when it goes off. Have thought about putting auxillary Water temp and Oil pressure gauges on, but for now just running torque is proving more than adequate.

[Nath95]

On 18/05/2021 at 13:18, KeithCheetham said:

Don't focus too much on car play if you are going for an android unit as these should run GPS etc as a standalone and bluetooth your phone in for calls. I am running a cheap £60 Chinese unit on which I have loaded CoPilot GPS, all the music I want is save to the unit internal memory, and I run Torque. Being cheaper this does not have DAB, but came with a GPS aerial and a rear parking camera that I have not needed to fit as I already have sensors. It has 1Gb of RAM and 16Gb internal storage but most now have more as standard. What I have noticed is that many are advertised as being car play which they may be, but the units OS is Windows CE so adding apps may be a problem compared to Android units. You will probably need adaptor cable and an aerial adaptor with built in booster which are readily available but add to the cost.

 

So i went and ive bought this https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08BZNM568?ref_=pe_780071_41837251_dpLink - my thoughts where if it works, yeah great, if its ****e amazons return policy is wonderful. So ive got it, plugged it in, got a quadlock adapter into the unit itself, but doesnt power on, someone says they had to splice into the cables and run a direct 12v feed, but i have no clue on wiring, it hurts my brain. 

[UrbanPanzer]

RED Arrow IS + 12v Batt voltage, that "should" be connected to the RED OR YELLOW wire in the quad adapter.

 

BLACK arrow is - Negative / ground and should be BLACK in adapter.

 

Sometimes you will need to swap the RED  and YELLOW or join them together to the +12v batt feed.

 

The GREEN arrows are for CAN + and - But I doubt your new unit would use / need them.

 

 

[Nath95]

16 minutes ago, UrbanPanzer said:

RED Arrow IS + 12v Batt voltage, that "should" be connected to the RED OR YELLOW wire in the quad adapter.

 

BLACK arrow is - Negative / ground and should be BLACK in adapter.

 

Sometimes you will need to swap the RED  and YELLOW or join them together to the +12v batt feed.

 

The GREEN arrows are for CAN + and - But I doubt your new unit would use / need them.

 

 

Cheers mate, appreciate the reply, ill give it a go! 

[Nath95]

Well guys finally got it installed and it works, blew a fuse but its working now. Only thing is its not turning off with the key, so i turned it off with the button, but will this drain my battery if its not turning off with the key?

[DieselMonte]

2 hours ago, Nath95 said:

Well guys finally got it installed and it works, blew a fuse but its working now. Only thing is its not turning off with the key, so i turned it off with the button, but will this drain my battery if its not turning off with the key?

If you left it on it might drain the battery. Any pictures of it installed?

[sepulchrave]

Swap the red and yellow wires round, one is switched live the other is permanent live.

[Nath95]

So i unplugged the red and orange connectors and now it completely switches off with the key