Hi Line - New MG Double Din Installation

[italianstallion]

I now have the unit installed and operational on my Hi-Line / Harmon Kardon SE spec car. Its still a work in progress as I need to purchase a new amp and a digital tv tuner to get absolutely everything up and running.

Below are the steps required to install everything. I'm sure others will find a superior way of doing things then the following method, but this worked for me. Also it may be possible to adapt and use the existing HK amp to work with the new chinese unit, but by far the easiest option when I did mine, was to set up wiring and connections for a new amp.

Finally I don't take any credit for the installation as MrIan from the MG Owners forum was the overall braun and brains behind the operation, he did most of the hard stuff whilst I stood back and watched. Sadly I wasn't able to take pictures, as we started work late on and it got dark quickly, so I must apologies about this.

Just to add that I purchased my new MG Rover unit from Radioguy who is our very own dealer, and is the only seller offering a proper warranty backed with solid support right here on the forums. Give Radioguy (Sean) a PM if your after one.

Instructions - How to install the new MG / Rover Double Din on a Hi-Line / Harmon Kardon spec car:

What cables do you need to buy before starting? For aerials - 2 x 5 or 6 metre Car Aerial Extension Cables for Radio and TV aerials. For Amplifier - 1 x red Positive, 1 x brown Negative, and 1 x blue AMP on / off cables, lengths dependant on power source and AMP location. I used the car battery conveniently located in the boot of my 260.

Step 1) Swap the New Head Unit - First You will need to remove the old Hi-Line Unit, second the air-con unit including its panel and screws. Third remove the other functions unit including its panel and screws. Lastly remove the cup holder / cigar lighter unit, this has two clips at both sides of the compartment which when compressed allows the unit to be pulled out.

Doing the above will will finally expose either two hidden ISO Connectors or two BMW connectors that will require a BMW to ISO adapter. These ISO connectors or adapted BMW to ISO connectors are then plugged into the new unit, and hey presto you have full power & sound to the cars speakers.

Step 2) Install steering wheel controls - Connect the steering wheel control cables up by doing the following. From the red plastic connector that comes with the unit, you will find black and green wires that are labeled steering wheel controls. Next look inside the centre console, and you will find a yellow / green / blue all in one plastic connector. You can't miss this, as its shaped exactly to fit the new unit. From this connector, the middle green plastic part will have 1 purple/blue wire, and 1 orange/blue wire connected to it. Cut these wires loose. Now splice or solder the purple/blue wire to the black wire , and the orange/blue wire to the green wire as mentioned above. I don't think it matters if you do it the other way round. This makes the steering controls function perfectly. Don't forget you will also need to setup the software controls in the units setup menu.

Step 3) Route GPS antenna - Route the GPS antenna cable and reciever from the back of the unit, then underneath the steering wheel column and out to the top right corner of the dash. Placement in this area gives excellent signal.

Step 4) Route TV / Radio aerials - Connect 5 metre aerial extension cables to the the existing Hi-Line aerials that are found in the rear of the car. The radio aerial connector is found in the boot. The Tv aerial is behind the beige plastic upper panel, that is located just above the near side passenger seat belt. Once the extension cables are connected to the aerials jacks, route both the TV aerial, and the Radio aerial extensions from the rear of the car, to the front behind the centre console. Then connect the radio aerial cable to new head unit. The TV aerial can be connected to a free view box placed in the glove compartment. I haven't purchased a free view box yet, but now my TV aerial cable is sitting ready to plug and play.

Step 5) Reconnecting the Harmon Kardon sub - 1st Route red and white stereo jack plugs from the back of the chinese unit into the boot where your new amp is going to be located. 2nd Route the blue amp switch on / off wire from unit to the boot where the amp is going to be located. 3rd route a red permanent live positive from battery to where the amp is located. 4th Route a brown negative cable from cars body to where amp is located. Last route 4 speaker wires from the harmon sub to the amp. You will not be able to use the Harmon Kardon amp using this method, as it has an non standard connector that is specific to the Hi-Line HK setup. You will need to buy an alternative amp, which is what I'm in the process of doing.

Cable Routing Instructions from rear to front - The best way is take the new wires from the behind the centre console, then behind the steering column, round the back of the boot release, and then down the drivers side of the car, under the carpet in the footwells, and then on into the boot area. This is easier then it sounds, unless you discover a swimming pools in the footwell like I did

Hope this helps some people who are planning on installing the unit on a High-Line / Harmon Kardon spec car. Any questions ask away.

[Mintman]

Many thanks italianstallion for that excellent How-To.

So no more brainteaser with the fitting

Cheers and thanks again

Mintman

[scgfull]

May I second the Thanks. A very useful How-to, especially for those of us still pondering the purchase.

[italianstallion]

Thanks guys will continue to update the how to as, as I install the digi box and amp.

[picky747]

Originally Posted by italianstallion

I
Step 3) Route GPS antenna - Route the GPS antenna cable and reciever from the back of the unit, then underneath the steering wheel column and out to the top right corner of the dash. Placement in this area gives excellent signal.

For a "cleaner" looking install I have installed the Satnav aerial behind the Instrument pack.If you pull out your IPK there is a steel cross member running behind the dash and the aerial will attach to this as it has a magnet built into the base and the received signal is as good as when it's positioned on top of the dash.Also if you do have the Green/Yellow/Blue connector with the steering wheel control wires attached ,this will plug straight into the red connector on the units fly-lead without having to splice the wires.Do use the fly-leads that come with the unit as they reverse a couple of wires to enable memory settings when the ignition is off.

[FBN]

Hi everyone, I'm writing from Italy; my MG ZT 2003 wasn't equipped with navy system so I bought the one you are talking about; to install it I followed the instructions but I can't find any yellow/blue/green plastic connector; can you tell me where the black/green wire has to be connected ?
To connect the new unit (double din) I used a connector ISO BMW Thanks a lot
Fabiano

[bluey9]

Hi
My question might be a daft un but any help would be appreciated. From what I understand the aeriel lead doesn't go into the back of the unit but connects to something in the boot. Can anyone give details and what sort of extension I may need to put in.

Cheers
Bluey

[Radioguy]

HI All

Does anyone know where the Aerial Cable for the extenstion of the Antenna can be purchased in the UK ?

Cheers

Sean

[wuzerk]

http://www.parkmyauto.co.uk/rover-75...als-1105-p.asp
I have e mailed these people as to the availability of extension aerial cables.
I have a DVB-T box with its supplied aerial so my existing factory fit twin TV aerial can just be ignored? Is that right? I will need to extend the radio aerial from the boot ( factory fit TV/sat nav to be replaced with Seans DD) but, will it still be powered if I just unplug it and then extend it? From all the posts on these matters these units certainly do not appear to be plug and play.