Audio Gurus

[BCGPER]

If I remember correctly, there's a couple guys here in the know on car stereos. Here's my dilema:

The radio in the wife's Monte SS took a dump. I've looked into a few options, none of which are very appealing to me. This unit monitors the tire pressure, oil life, ect on top of being a stereo So, here's the options I have found so far:

Option #1- Buy a replacement unit from the dealer, and have them install it. The radio has to be re-coded to match the vehicle it's being installed in. Total cost around $1100, and they would have the car a couple weeks because they wouldn't even order the replacement until they dismantle the dash and verify it's bad. Obviously, this is not my favorite option.

Option #2- Buy a good used unit. I've found a good used one on the east coast. With the cost of the used unit, and re-coding by the dealer, I would be into it less than $500. I'm thinking this may be my best bet, but I HATE the thought of installing used electronics.

Option #3- Pull my defective unit, and send it in for repairs. The few people I've talked to say that it "may" be repairable, but it will cost me a couple hundred to find out. The good part about this option is, no dealer coding involved, since it will be going back into the vehicle it came out of. Bad part is, the car will be down probably a couple weeks.

Option #4- Aftermarket. I've been told there are some after market units that are capable of tying into the monitoring system, just like the factory unit. Has anyone ever heard of a stereo that does this?

So, wise sound guys, tell me what you would do? The wife singing to herself the last few days has killed a few of her brain cells I think, so I need to act PDQ.

 

[Caleb]

OT...Idaho Since when?

 

[BCGPER]

Long story, has to do with a rumor that was floating around. Not true, I'm still in downtown WVC.

 

[Caleb]

Long story, has to do with a rumor that was floating around. Not true, I'm still in downtown WVC.

Dang, I was going to make fun of you

Sorry, enough OT, back to the question

EDIT: If it were me (I'm not an audio guru by any means ) I would look to do the aftermarket option first. I've never seen a stock radio that was "nice" and worth putting much money in to. I understand you want to keep the monitoring functionality (and so would I) so I would look in to a repair if there wasn;t an aftermarket that would fill the void.

 

[Cody]

To be honest, I don't know much about these stereos. I'm assumeing "monte" means monte carlo or something like that---or diamante? What year is it?

the GM stuff was getting pretty hard to integrate into when I left the car audio biz a few years ago. All of that databus stuff is a pain--variable voltage on a single wire to control multiple functions kind of thing.

I'm sure you can integrate into the factory system with an afermarket unit, but you will lose all of the monitering functionality you have now and I would have to guess that the integration harness wouldn't be particularly cheap. Still less than the other options I would have to think.

My recomendation would be to call Ryan Goeller down at Car Concepts and ask what aftermarket options are available. They seem to have the best selection of factory integration parts around.

 

[BCGPER]

Sorry, yes Monte Carlo. I was going to call Car Concepts, seems like they're about the best around. Thanks for the contact person.

The more I think about it, the more I think I'm going to have to stick with a factory unit. I don't (get) to drive the car often, so I couldn't remember everything the radio does. On top of all the monitoring functions, there is also automatic volume control tied into the speedometer, as well as an auxillary set of volume and tuner controls located in the steering wheel. I have a feeling I'd be losing all of these with any aftermarket unit.

I'll give Ryan a call, but I'm sure I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place on this one. Thanks again for the contact info.