Berlingo Head Unit Saga Continues?

[Argos69]

Hi folks, it's been a while since I was here and a while since I tried in vain to improve my radio reception.
My 2012 Belingo Enterprise HDi van has the WORST radio I've encountered since the 70's!

I've fought with new antennas, amplifiers etc etc. I've made sure there's nothing obvious generating interference.
Basically, the radio is simply terrible!

Has anyone truly solved all the "collateral damage" which is created when a factory head unit is swapped for a double-din one?

I found a really cheap double din JVC unit at Halfrauds, a JVC KW-R520. (£60-ish) ok....

I've researched the actual physical fitting and am ok with that.....

I thought I'd solved the steering stalk problem with a CTSPG007.2 lead from ebay (£36) - not so!
I've now read that this kills the reversing bleeper sound, and I also need another lead, a CTSPG013 at £65! to solve this.

Then I read something else that said both the above kill the factory fitted bluetooth phone facility!

Did I mention the horrors of the allegedly "unsettable" date once the job is done?

Rarely am I so totally bewildered by options. Am I alone in remembering the days when a car radio was simply that and was not integrated into everything?

I would be most grateful for any suggestions (burning the vehicle has already been duly noted!) and advice which leaves me with a decent solution with working radio, phone and reversing bleepers (and is being able to set the date a bit too much?).

Thanks

[Argos69]

Obviously all quiet on the Western Front!

I'm hoping someone can help me with a wiring diagram for the factory parking assistance system. I've got everything else working. I've got date adjusting, stalk control and am going to use the bluetooth from the new dual din radio in place of the now defunct factory handsfree bluetooth . So all I'm left with is the lack of reversing bleeps through the speakers. The reversing diagram still appears on the amber screen, but no bleeps!

Can anyone help with a diagram or some understanding of how to grab those bleeps and feed the speakers?

[Satellitemark]

Hi,

The only way I can see you being able to get the beeps back is a dedicated interface such as the connects2 product like,

http://www.connects2.co.uk/Product/ProductItem/CTRCT001

I can't see you being able to replace the circuit for the beepers in the original rd4 unit with a simple wiring hack.

Even if you were talented at building prototype PCBs etc the time taken to research and build a device would be valued at way more that a off the shelf interface costs.

It is very annoying that a interface can cost the same or more than a whole stereo but I can't see any other realistic options.

Maybe you could get hold of a second hand interface on eBay or gumtree etc.

Good luck

Mark

Sent from my VFD 710 using Tapatalk

[Argos69]

Hi,

The only way I can see you being able to get the beeps back is a dedicated interface such as the connects2 product like,

http://www.connects2.co.uk/Product/ProductItem/CTRCT001

I can't see you being able to replace the circuit for the beepers in the original rd4 unit with a simple wiring hack.

Even if you were talented at building prototype PCBs etc the time taken to research and build a device would be valued at way more that a off the shelf interface costs.

It is very annoying that a interface can cost the same or more than a whole stereo but I can't see any other realistic options.

Maybe you could get hold of a second hand interface on eBay or gumtree etc.

Good luck

Mark

Sent from my VFD 710 using Tapatalk

Hi & thanks Mark,

I agree, it's probably inevitable that I'll end up with the add-in unit you've mentioned or similar.
I did buy a slightly more expensive stereo to get the bluetooth, but it does grate slightly, having to spend as much again on fitting accessories   . 

Anyway, minus the bleeps, it's all fitted, so I can easily whip it out of the dash and fit the additional harness if I miss my bleeps too much!

I'm left thinking that if Citroen hadn't spent so much time integrating half the van's electronics into the flaming' radio, it might not have had such a third rate signal reception....

[Satellitemark]

How is the radio reception after the upgrade ?
Did you go for a FM or dab unit ?
Does it fit well and look good in the dash ?
Any pros and cons ?

It's something I've been considering for a while, though not because of radio reception but because of wanting android auto GPS etc.

Mark

Sent from my VFD 710 using Tapatalk

[Argos69]

How is the radio reception after the upgrade ?
Did you go for a FM or dab unit ?
Does it fit well and look good in the dash ?
Any pros and cons ?

It's something I've been considering for a while, though not because of radio reception but because of wanting android auto GPS etc.

Mark

Sent from my VFD 710 using Tapatalk

Hi Mark,
On the face of it, it seems to be a success. I went for an FM unit (Pioneer MVH-A200VBT). Halfords were still the cheapest for that model. The reception seems much improved, but the acid test will be my next visit to Cumbria, as the signal on Radio 4 (yes, I know!) was non-existent on the A66 from Penrith to Cockermouth. If that's improved then I'm over the moon.

It looks good with one tiny "but". With the surround fitted, there is a 3mm gap in the centre of the bottom where it meets the heating control panel, which is radiused and the radio bezel is straight. I'll think of something....

Anyway, it sounds good and the steering stalk works for both the radio and the car's date/time/trip controls. I have working handsfree/bluetooth and the parking assistance works visually, if silently!

Once I hide that gap I'll take a photo!

[Satellitemark]

Thanks for the info.

Mark

Sent from my VFD 710 using Tapatalk

[Argos69]

   

Well, finally complete (for now!).

Managed to get the dual din cage to sit 10mm forward before securing it in position, which has fixed the awkward gap at the bottom. Everything works now apart from the bleep noise on reversing and I'll tackle that when I can be bothered.
The unit's illumination can be adjusted to almost match the van's, so it kind of looks like it's meant to be there.

Sounds good and YES!!! It has passed the "visit to Cumbria" test which used to leave me with no radio reception when driving the A66 West, using the old radio.

[Satellitemark]

Looks good thanks for the picture.

Mark

Sent from my LIFETAB_S1034X using Tapatalk