Advice on putting in a new car stereo (Carplay)

This is some general advice for those looking to upgrade their car stereo system. 

I have recently decided to upgrade my existing, seven-year-old Kenwood DDX9016 CarPlay unit. I recently purchased a Sony XAV-AX4000 (https://www.sony-asia.com/electronics/digital-media-receivers-with-touchscreen/xav-ax4000) USD350. My key driver, pardon the pun, was a better screen, Sony quality and wireless CarPlay.

So, I asked my local “car guy” if he could install it. He returned with a qualified “yes”, asking, “Is it replacing the OEM unit that came with your Mitsubishi Outlander or an after-market one?”.  I told him it was an after-market one, and he said, that’s good as it should be fairly simple. He said it shouldn’t need any special brackets or adapters. 

I went back and looked at the invoice from 2016 for the install of my Kenwood unit replacing my Mitsubishi OEM unit. Wow, I forgot that the cost of adapters, brackets and installation was nearly the price of the actual head unit. The head unit was USD700 and the bits a pieces about USD500. Apparently, it is because OEM car makers build all of the bits into their head units at manufacture. This means that when you replace the OEM head unit, you must get lots of bits and pieces. I forgot I paid all of this back in 2016. 

So, the upgrade can be worthwhile but way more expensive than you first thought. Don’t get caught.

Andrew

Note prices below are AUD.

Hi Andrew,

Please see below for a list of parts and prices to install a new system into your vehicle.

Kenwood DDX9016DABS – $1094.00
Aerpro Facia FP8099 – $98.00
Aerpro Steering Module (Retains Amplified System) CHMB7C – $288.00
Aerpro Patch Lead APKWPL – $14.95
Aerpro Adapter Harness APP8KE2 – $14.95
Aerpro Factory Video Retention APVMT01 – $169.00
LABOUR – $150.00

Total – $1828.90

Regards

Dean
Ryda Showroom Team