Got Fed Up With Original Radio

[Stoney871]

I decided that my original radio sounded flat as heck so upgraded alittle bit.

Old one.

Standard Visteon single disc.

New one.

Sony 6 disc from an ST (apparently a £500 upgrade at a dealers).

Far better sound and much more classy looking.

I decided too that the original fascia would not look right so went black instead.

I know the silver one is a higher spec but i think it looks more even and stealthy being all black.

The silver fascia was scuffed, scratched and faded from constantly removing a stuck on bluetooth screen anyway so was tatty and was bugging me.

Beauty of it now is that, if i ever feel the urge i have a spare one to carbon wrap.

[dezwez]

iooks better

[btmaldon]

Much more classy.

[Stoney871]

iooks better

Thanks, I think so.

Much more classy.

So kind, Exactly my impression of it too.

Silver is fine but black is, in my view, more classic and striking. ^_^

Update on the radio - First time i've driven car at night since fitting the radio and discovered to my surprise that the Sony badge lights up too.

Very happy indeed. :)

[Lenny]

Sweeet B)

im sure the sound is way better too mate,

[Stoney871]

Sweeet B)

im sure the sound is way better too mate,

Oh hell yeah.

DSP and much better treble / bass response.

It sounds like i'd expect a Sony radio to do.

It also seems to complement the standard 6 speaker set up too, no vibration or distortion on higher volume.

To say i'm chuffed with this radio is an understatement.

Got it for far less than most ones like it (and most of the ones available are tatty, scratched affairs too).

[volts]

likes this

[Preee]

Wow big improvement Clive

[Stoney871]

likes this

Merci Chris.

Wow big improvement Clive

Thanks Paul, very kind of you.

Might go for carbon wrap on the old fascia if i feel brave enough to try, will probably make a real porkers lughole of it knowing me.

[Darren T]

That looks so much better :D

[focuscolin]

Looks great mate and the carbon would look really good ,its not hard to apply u just need a hair dryer and an old credit card to stick it down my faceia took about an hour to do.

[Stoney871]

Well, got stuck in and wrapped my old fascia and gear stick surround for good measures.

More pics when i fit them in the afternoon.

Not perfect but any little mistakes will be unseen when fitted - hopefully ^_^

[Lenny]

That looks excellent Clive,

the more i look at the carbon wrapped dash pieces, the more i get the urge to change mine too.

but im crap at laying the stuff down.

[Stoney871]

That looks excellent Clive,

the more i look at the carbon wrapped dash pieces, the more i get the urge to change mine too.

but im crap at laying the stuff down.

So am i, just don't tell anyone. Shhh! ;)

OOPS!, darn it, i just did.

[Stoney871]

Ok, pics of the bits fitted.

Not perfect but reasonable for my first attempt.

There are some bits i'm not 100% with but that's life.

Around the heater rings there is a couple of pinches in the wrap that would not sit straight and because there is nothing around the dials to hold the wrap flat i've got a couple of marks showing.

I know it will probably bug me in the end, but for now it's fine.

[Preee]

oks good Clive , i might have a play at this , i was thinking of Matt Black

[Pitmonster]

That carbon wrap looks superb, where do you get it from and what's the cost?

How hard is it to apply?

Very interested in doing it to my Focus :-)

[focuscolin]

Cracking job mate really looks good the carbon looks great with the Sony radio.

[Stoney871]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3M-SCOTCHCAL-CARBON-FIBER-Black-Wrap-Vinyl-300MM-X-1270MM-/200718595192?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2ebbc2b478

Not that expensive to get.

Easyish to apply, just use a warm hairdryer to soften the wrap and allow it to flex.

The gear surround was pretty easy but i wasn't so happy with the radio fascia, it has a couple of places where it has slumped a bit on tight curves but i'm taking the fascia out again tomorrow to reseat it.

Around the heater dials is a bit of a cow as there's nothing behind the fascia to really stick soundly in place.

Found a soluton though, chrome dial rings which cover any rough bits in that area and holds the edges down.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-FOCUS-2005-2009-CHROME-HEATER-RINGS-DASHBOARD-ALLOY-SURROUNDS-x-3-new-/300632047589?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&fits=Car+Make%3AFord&hash=item45ff10ffe5

Not quite sure whether to leave them chrome or redo them in black though, opinions welcome.

[Pitmonster]

Excellent, thanks for the info.

If you do go for the chrome rings, I think they would look great sprayed in matt black - would go really well with the carbon

[Stoney871]

Excellent, thanks for the info.

If you do go for the chrome rings, I think they would look great sprayed in matt black - would go really well with the carbon

Fitted them today and it looks just like the photo on the listing -

I haven't photographed them in place yet as still want to trim excess vinyl showing behind them, (Been pretty busy today as had to take the better half to hospital at 3am with a sudden onset of gallstones - long tiring day.)

When i fitted the new radio i removed the silver fascia, and having done so i have reduced the silver level of the dash drastically - all that's left metal in the car now is vent rings, steering wheel trims, metal heater dials (although they are black/brushed alloy themselves) and door latches.

My thoughts concerning the rings is i'm equalising the black / chrome balance but on the other hand i'm detracting from the more even appearance of the interior.

If i should recolour the rings, what would be the best process?

I don't want to paint them and find the paint just peels off the chrome.

[Stoney871]

Ok, photos of rings fitted to my car and fiddly bits of wrap trimmed.

Leaving them silver for a short while to see how i feel about them.

I may decide to black them later on but for now -