New Alpine head unit - should I tackle the installation?

[STaye]

Hello,

I've read the "how to install a new head unit" guide, and it all seems quite straight forward, however, that guide was for the MK1 C2. As I'll be getting an 06 VTS (MKII) at the weekend, I wondered how easy it is to install a new head unit?

The one I got was the Alpine CDE-9880RHAL CD/iPod Player (http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_50 4667_langId_-1_categoryId_165474), I've also ordered the adapter cable from Citroen, do I really need this cable? Is there anything else I need to ensure all my electrics will still work properly? The guy at citroen said that the LCD would not work on the head unit with the adapter cable.

Confused.

Any help would be superb.

Neil.

[Greg]

Den is the man for the mkII I believe. I could have helped if it was the mkI, sorry.

[Phill106]

as iv just said on another thread, dont buy the citroen lead, its crap.

u need a lead from halfords or such, because ur head unit prob has iso connectors and the mk2's dont, they have a big single one, the next thing to do when u have this new adapter is to connect the seperate switched live to the back of the cig lighter, this is so it turns on/off with the ignition like the cig lighter does. if u dont do this then itll stay on all the time.

with the mk1's u dont need this adapter u can just wire up as normal but the red (or switched live) from the back of ur head unit, u agen need to go to the back of the cig lighter.

if mike posts here would be big help to u cos he done his last week after i tried to talk him thro it on phone lol. so he can tell u how he managed it.

[STaye]

Thanks Greg and Phil!

Anyone with a step by step guide on what I need, and have to do, would be excellent :D

Put it this way, it will have to be really easy for me to do, I don't even lift the bonnet in the scooby :P

[InCarElectronixMark]

If u are really thay bad then u can buy a proper CANBUS interface which gives you the ability to use your existing steering wheel controls, gives u your igniton live, reverse gear input, illumination and handbrake. This is a plug and play product and will take about 5 mins to do the whole job. HOWEVER its about £80 OUCH!!!!!!!!!