Can I fit a CD changer to a Concert-equipped 8P A3?

[heeman10]

Hello I.C.E forum geniuses! This is my first venture into this part of the forum, so hopefully I'm starting with an easy one

I have a 2005 A3 with the Concert head unit (front-loading CD player, single DIN). Fed up of CDs rattling around and vibrating in my glovebox, I am considering the addition of an OEM 6 CD changer, as it seems like a cheap and cheerful (and factory) way of ridding myself of the dreaded CD cases.

1. Can the 6CD changer from an A3/A4 be fitted to a standard glovebox without hacking it up?
2. Would the wiring be in place behind the dash for me to connect the CD changer up once fitted?
3. Would it need coding in any way?

Any help would be great, thanks

 

[AndyMac]

Hi there
1. Think you need the specific glovebox style changer to fit the glovebox, and I seem to remember a different glovebox is needed but I could be wrong
2. There won't be any wiring in place so you'll need the cable (check whether you have ISO or Quadlock connectors as they changed over around 2005)
3. No coding needed, it'll pick it up automatically

 

[heeman10]

Thanks for all that matey, one for the future!

 

[s8craig]

Just to clarify Andy's points.

1. Yes, a new glovebox is required to hold a CD changer in an A3
2. The single din concert head unit is ISO connectors, it didn't change until 2007 when double din concert came in.
3. no coding is needed for it to work, but the concert does have coding for a CD changer just to make it right.

 

[heeman10]

Brilliant info Craig, thanks

 

[heeman10]

Interestingly, whilst researching the RNS-E system, I came across this site: Ti Kan: Audi Radios . Almost at the bottom of that page, the Concert II is listed, and it says the car is pre-wired for external CD changer.

 

[heeman10]

As a more convenient option to the external changer, the Symphony II doesn't seem like a bad bet, while RNS-E costs so much. In-built 6 disc changer would tidy things up a bit

 

[NHN]

You can cutout the area where the changer should be iirc to fit inside if it has the storage cubby hole with sidewall to split the top section, so no need for a new glovebox matey.

If you do happen to have any issues with the changer being picked up, then check the coding, as there are a few modules that did have coding for cd changer, this is one of them for the gen 2 units

Audi Radio Generation II (8P only) - Ross-Tech Wiki

 

[s8craig]

Not in an A3 you can't as the airbag defeat switch is on the right hand side of the glovebox, if you do cut the glovebox out and fit a CD changer it will hit the heater motor and stick out of the glovebox. When you change the glovebox the airbag switch moves to the center allowing the CD changer to fit another 1 1/2" to the right and not foul the heater motor.

You can cutout the area where the changer should be iirc to fit inside if it has the storage cubby hole with sidewall to split the top section, so no need for a new glovebox matey.

 

[NHN]

I'm sure with some thought he can come up with something, even cutting out the airbag switch & possibly plastic welding or some bracket fixing, anythings possible, just depends if he can be bothered tbh, I would certainly have a look at whats possible if I wanted to save a few quid or in this case £100 or so.

 

[AndyMac]

"Can the 6CD changer from an A3/A4 be fitted to a standard glovebox without hacking it up?"
That would be a no then!

 

[NHN]

Anything is possible, just comes down to the person doing it, of course some research required before should tell you if its possible without fxcking it up yes, but I reckon it can be done.

 

[s8craig]

Exactly Andy, without hacking it up. And the thought of relocating the airbag defeat switch and plastic welding it all back together whilst still maintaining that internal glovebox velvety fluffyness that the surface seems to have, is highley unlikely. But some people just don't like to be proven wrong.

"Can the 6CD changer from an A3/A4 be fitted to a standard glovebox without hacking it up?"
That would be a no then!

 

[NHN]

But some people just don't like to be proven wrong.

I think you'll find that person is you as previous discussions we've had on another forum have proven.

TBH you've not proven anything to anyone except how you follow the line rather than thinking things are possible with some effort & thought process, I agree it may not look all velvety when done or it may, but how often do you drive around with the glovebox open & as I clearly said its down to the person doing it & also there skills.

But if we all thought like you then nothing would ever go forward in this world in the pace it does, this site is mainly based upon mods to cars, this is just another possibility to 1st save money & 2nd to prove it can be done, just cause you dont think it can, then does that mean we all have to think like you craig.

 

[AndyMac]

Obviously it's possible, but which bit of "without hacking it up" did you not understand?

 

[NHN]

I hate to break it to you Andy, but its a car forum where 99% of discussions are about modifying something on a car, hence why when people make statements of eg. "without hacking it up" people step up & offer ways to do these things without making a mess of it, even if they ask the said comment, thats how we find out whats possible & how to save eachother money by hearing ideas & ways to complete things, so I understood him perfectly.

But, does this mean I have to just sit there like a dumb fxck & just say no not possible, dont do it, it will ruin your whole car, sorry thats not my thought process, maybe others, but I tend to look at ways to do things rather than find reasons why not to, be negative & if I thought it would be a mess I wouldnt of even suggested it.

Keep following that line though, if it works for you.

 

[s8craig]

NHN your such a jerk. I have no problem hacking things as long as they look correct and professional. as for following the line, if you follow the 6-7 years on Audi ownership that I have under my belt and the amount of mods/projects I have pioneered and completed compared to your seemingly insignificant knowledge base you will see that I'm far from a follow the line kind of guy.

 

[NHN]

Is that it, Jerk fxck me my 37 day old kid could of come up with more intelligent words than this, please if you cant accept my opinion maybe even remotely viable then dont state anything at all.

 

[s8craig]

Yeah but no but, is that more your level fella.

Both Andy and I clearly answered the questions and were thanked for it. Just accept it and move on.

 

[NHN]

Again mentality shines through here.

I didnt say you or andy were wrong, infact you were right about the question he asked, nobody is questioning this are they, but again I said its a car forum & people like to hear varied opinions & options, I merely suggested he could look at modifying the glovebox, its a forum craig, go grab a dictionary & see what it means or read this link & get of your ever so high horse, you dont own the site & neither do I, we're here to discuss these things.

Internet forum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

If you cant see this past the end of your nose then stroll on please.

 

[heeman10]

Dearie me guys, you should both know better than to fall into keyboard warrioring Thank you for your information and viewpoints, taken on board. We all do things in our own different ways, let's just leave it at that and we can all go and bake scones together. Hopefully we will all be happy to disagree on the pronunciation of "scones" when they pop out of the oven

Thanks again for your insightful inputs guys.

 

[NHN]

NHN your such a jerk. I have no problem hacking things as long as they look correct and professional. as for following the line, if you follow the 6-7 years on Audi ownership that I have under my belt and the amount of mods/projects I have pioneered and completed compared to your seemingly insignificant knowledge base you will see that I'm far from a follow the line kind of guy.

6-7 years, please craig dont show yourself up to be a badge snob as it mean sweet fa to other members tbh, I've been in the vag badge since 97, audi since 01, so whats that say overall, do we need to start swinging dicks above our heads whose got the bigger one cause atm it seems you have & it aint in your pants love, look in the mirror again.

As for technical experience, if we have to go down that path, I was soldering when I was 8 years old, now 36, we maybe dont all have pasts in these fields as you have for 7 years in vag installs, but we maybe do have technical backgrounds in many others, which helps us to port to these areas, so give it a rest on the I know everything about audi routine, as we're not even questioning your abilities are we, just how to fit a cd changer *** in a glovebox that doesnt have it.

I know the experience you have in these fields, it is regarded in circles as commendable, but sometimes fella I also see where you're blinded by your belief in the way things should be done, according to you & you only, maybe with your many years of experience in the field as such you can maybe see past your self loving & see there are many view points that dont neccessarily add up to yours, again this is a forum.

As for pioneering, lets be honest here, what we maybe do seperately is read a book or wiring schematic in the 1st instance, its not pioneering ok, its not revolutionary, its the mere fact we take the time to read & learn how to do these things that others dont, I'm not afraid to say this as everyone knows they could do these things themselves, but either dont have the time to learn or cant be bothered or make more money working whilst we do the donkey work, which is why you work for dealers up there who just markup I assume, they know this & accept that me, you & andy amongst many many others can do these things for them, now tell me I'm wrong about this.

Now stop trying to boost your self esteem & get of your high chair & start seeing we all have ways to do things, not just yours.

I'm not against you 2, we all have experience in our fields, but maybe you need to respect the fact there are others out there that do have some knowledge of the same things you do & maybe dont neccessarily agree with your viewpoint, if you can see this then I would say everyone can get along.

 

[Sarah's A3]

Boys Boys Boys! the original question was answered and each of you have your ways of doing things. Some better than others maybe. Its good that there are other ways of doing things and as said above loads cant be bothered to learn how to do these type of things which is their choice. But a select few can be bothered but also go much further and look into things that havnt been done before and find ways around it so it can be done, Nige is one of these, maybe you lot are too I dont know. Just seems a shame you cant work together and maybe accomplish even more so us that are less confident to try can seek help and advise from. Although I will try anything and am tenacious so dont give up easily!

 

[s8craig]

As I said a few posts back, I've moved on, it's NHN that can't. And for the record I've been "soldering" since I was 11 and now I'm 47 and my dad's bigger than your dad.

 

[NHN]

my dad's bigger than your dad.

You have a dad?

 

[Sarah's A3]

Hey ive only soldered once or twice and dropped most if it on the floor lol! but hey I had a go......

Seriously now play nice!