When I bought this Rover three years ago, the PO had misplaced the CD cartridge. How you lose a CD cartridge is beyond me, but whatever. I got tired of listening to the radio, using a tape player modulator, or an FM modulator.


I looked a countless head units, and ultimately decided on the Jensen VX 7012. It was the most reasonably priced, flip up, NAV enabled head unit I could find. I wanted a touch screen and GPS, but I did not want to have to butcher the dash to get to two DIN size head units. I wanted a flip up single DIN. There was no other unit that offered everything from iphone Bluetooth integration, to Pandora, to GPS. It can also be integrated into a backup camera, as well as Sirius Radio, and can be connected to the steering wheel controls if desired. It also has a video out, so if you have rear seat headrest video for passengers, you can pay DVD's and run the out to the rear screens. All of this for under $300.


I purchased the Metra 17-1786 installation harness and the Metra dash filler. The installation was absurdly easy. Solder and heat shrink the Metra adapter to the head unit, plug in the connectors, slide in the unit, and turn it on. Took less than an hour. I chose not to install the steering wheel adapter, as I never use the steering wheel controls anyway, and I do not have a backup camera, so I did not use that option either.


Head unit with adapter connected.








Dash filler, trim piece, microphone, and GPS antenna.





Old head unit coming out.





Pulled the two connectors from the back of the old head unit, plugged them into the Metra connector, and slid the new unit into place. Before I slid in the new unit, I snapped the Metra dash filler into place. I could not believe how easy this was. It would be more complicated if I had the steering wheel control option, and I'm not sure how you would include the factory CD changer, but mine didn't work anyway, so it didn't matter.


New unit in and tested. Everything works exactly as anticipated.

 

Looks nice! How many RCA outputs did that head unit have? I run two amps. One for a sub and another for the speakers, both of which require RCA outs. I've been looking to upgrade my JVC unit and probably my front speakers which will move to the rear doors.

 

The head unit has five RCA outs for FR, FL, RR, RL and SUB. It also has non SCA leads for four speakers. I did not need to do anything other than plug in the RCA's and connect the 12V, 12VSW, amp trigger, and ground.


With the Metra harness, it is incredibly simple.

 

Very nice !

 

frickin' phenomenal install and a great write-up! thanks.

 

Where did and how did you route the mic?

 

Thx for finding something plug and play.

 

Mic is mounted via a small adhesive backed bracket that I located on top of the steering cover just below the dash. Wire runs down behind the steering cover through the dash, to the back of the head unit.