Replacing MFD with separate HU, sat nav, amp & speakers.

[Wildman10]

I'll start by apologizing if I annoy anyone when the answers are already somewhere here - I've spent over an hour searching and my head hurts.

I've just got my GTi (2006 2.0T DSG with MFD sat nav, 6 CD autochanger and 3 speakers in the door).  My first impressions are that the sound system is disappointing but I've not had time to play around with the soudn system.  

I'm a [relative] oldie rather than a young Max Power style thruster, I like a nice rock bass (no techno, drum&bass etc) but don't want to lose boot space (3 kids & luggage to fit in car occasionally!) and I travel mostly with no-one in the rear seats.  I'm a confident DIYer, although I sometimes bite off more than I can chew.

Please help me with gen for deciding whether to fit or sell some kit that I got but haven't fitted (they are part of a project on a Skoda Octavia Mk1 VRS that I'll be putting up for sale in a few days).

My plan for the VRSwas to have the 2 HUs in the dash, power the 165s in the front doors with the Focal amp, power the rear speakers off the rear channel of the HU when rear passengers were aboard, and have a sub in the boot. I therefore have:

• Stereo HU in standard single-din size: Pioneer AVH-P6500 DVD with 6.5" flip-up screen, 4x 25W RMS
• Sat Nav HU in standard single-din size:: Pioneer AVIC-800DVD
• Separate power amp: Focal FPS2300RX 2x155W RMS (big: 59 x 429 x 254mm & 5.5kg)(
• Speakers, component: Focal Polyglass 165 VR (main 165mm dia & 70mm mounting depth; tweeter 55mm dia & 17.3mm mounting depth)
• Sub & amp: Alpine MRP-M500 500W amp with 12" sub

So, with the above units sitting around in my spare bedroom:

• Is using these worth bothering with?
• How easy is it to fit the 2 HUs in the place of the mfd and what coding will I need on removing and refitting the mfd?
• I can hide the sat nav HU away - is there anything to be gained from having only one HU in the dash (apart from its being away from thieving eyes)?
• Will the centre console 6 CD autochanger be compatible with the Pioneer HU?
• Will the 165s fit, how easy is it to run a mid in the 3rd speaker slot?
• How easy is it to fit a sub in the rear & what recommendations?
• Any tips?

Thanks for any inputs.

Cheers,

Ian

[rich83]

Having 2 head units seems rather convoluted, there are so many excellent double din headunits that do everything all in one box!

[Andy]

think as Rich says i would put a d/d in that does the lot..

[MarkMarked]

I'd also forget about trying to fit two headunits in

Get a double din with adaptor or fit a single din unit with the official VW double din to single din adaptor plate

If the Focals are VR3 then they will fit ok, you just have to attach the mid speaker to the rear side of the door card (on a MKV only the base and tweeter are fitted to the door skin)

Install the amps in the boot, run a dedicated power cable to the battery and run new speaker cabling to the front doors

Don't bother amping the rear speakers, just use them off the HU as filler sound (if you are carrying rear passengers then they can put up with inferior sound  )

[stealthwolf]

You can get a smaller subwoofer that will fit in the recess in the left hand side of the boot. Have a look at Hurdy's build thread to see how he did it.

You can always have a chat with Luke at Plush-automotive. He was very helpful when I had some queries.

[Wildman10]

Guys, thanks.
I agree that, all other things being equal, fitting a double din would be better than fitting 2 single Dins.
However, I already have the single din units and don't want the hassle & extra expense of selling them (unless with the VRS) and getting a double din - I'd rather just keep the MFD2, perhaps with the Focal amp & speakers.
Cheers,
Ian