BP Leggy upgrade stock stereo to mcintosh - advise/help needed

[BP5Nut]

Hi all,

So I'm thinking of upgrading the stock stereo in my pre-facelift ('04) BP legacy to the mcintosh system. I'm not too familiar on how the whole system goes together, so any advise/help would be welcome.

I thought about going aftermarket but I quite like the stock look, and from reading around I would need to spend quite a lot more on an aftermarket system to get it as good as the mcintosh system. Have had aftermarket in previous cars and have found they consume a lot of money and are a real pain to get working well.

The list of bits I think I need (work in progress) is as follows:

- Mcintosh head unit (already obtained)

- AC controls + gear stick surround in matching colour (just being picky)

- Amp

- Sub

- Mcintosh speakers

- Tweeter flashing for front doors

- Wiring looms???

I was thinking to just cut out the surround for the mid front door speakers rather than getting whole new front door trims.

I've got no idea how the wiring works so if someone could explain/draw diagram including where they are routed it would be much appreciated.

Also if anyone has any of the parts I might need I'm interested. I have a nz new standard head unit currently (single cd only version) in good working order which will be surplus to requirements once this is done so will be available for trade.

Thanks in advance for any help

[tebbyj]

Have a look here:

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=749402

If you have a dig through there you'll find some helpful stuff.

They use a 20pin DIN cable which runs from the HU to the amp under the passenger seat. Then you have your basic 4 doors plus sub outputs from the amp. These then split in the doors to the individual speakers. Might be easier to run the wiring from the amp back up to the factory wiring loom in the dash, then a separate wire for the sub rather than running all new wiring.

[gotasuby]

i have a black ac controls off a macintosh system if you need

[Andy_Mac]

Always interested to see people taking on projects different to the norm but is it really worth the effort in this case. I never found the mcintosh setup to be that great. Always seemed to be lacking in my opinion and will be happy once mines gutted out and new stuffs in its place.

Also remember the mcintosh systems don't have aux or anything like that so unless you're a real fan of cd's connectivity is behind the times.

Just my opinion really, I know a lot of people out there think this system is awesome.

[sobanoodle]

I'm pretty glad I went 2din - got all the bells and whistles, plus a rear view camera ($20 shipped eBay), never had a McIntosh system though and cannot really say anything re: their sound quality (I'm not that picky/audiophile anyway ).

2din kits do pop up on TM regularly - however some people do tend to think that RRP on those is $800+ and that they can ask $400-600 (when a completely brand new kit is around $400 shipped form Japan - been there done that).

[GC8E2DD]

I really like the sound of the McIntosh system, but two of them have died on us mechanically. Just a word of warning.

[BP5Nut]

 gotasuby']i have a black ac controls off a macintosh system if you need

PM'd

Always interested to see people taking on projects different to the norm but is it really worth the effort in this case. I never found the mcintosh setup to be that great. Always seemed to be lacking in my opinion and will be happy once mines gutted out and new stuffs in its place.

Also remember the mcintosh systems don't have aux or anything like that so unless you're a real fan of cd's connectivity is behind the times.

I'd be happy to take any surplus parts off your hands!

Not too concerned about connectivity; I mostly listen to the radio so decent reception is more important to me. The head unit I've got hold of is a NZ New one which should hopefully sort that.

Past experience with aftermarket systems (Head units, amps, speakers etc.) has been really hit & miss. Mostly just hard to get it sounding good; my experience (albeit limited) with the mcintosh system in other cars sounds like the system is really well balanced which is what I'm really looking for. And I'm personally way more keen on the stock look.

[quote name='GC8E2DD said:

I really like the sound of the McIntosh system, but two of them have died on us mechanically. Just a word of warning.

What went wrong? I seem to recall it's usually to do with the cd player stopping working - which from reading around a bit may be fixable with a bit of tinkering? Something to do with a cd selector cam jamming?

[GC8E2DD]

Yep, CD player/ stacker on both of them jammed.