Question guys, The old Alpine head unit I have needs replaced, as it doesn’t work any longer. Some of the lights come on, but it’s fairly dead. I assume the adapter that’s on there now will not work with any modern head units whether it be Alpine, Kenwood, Sony etc. I also assume I can’t just bring it to Best Buy and have them do it. Any suggestions, or am I completely wrong here?
Are you referring to the sleeve the radio goes in? When you buy a radio it comes with one, it will need to be replaced as they are generally radio specific and clip the head units into the sleeve differently. To do that yo have to take the console out, all of it including the HVAC stuff. Its pretty easy though and low risk. The sleeve just pinches in place but tit will slop around. I have a fix for it here. https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/loose-radio-fix.597904/ I would not let best buy do it because: A) The plastics on the console and ashtray that have to come out are delicate and can chip corners easily. Seen it happen. They are NLA as well. B) They will sit on the seat bolsters to get access and crush the bolsters. C) The havc panel wiring has clips they may not understand and break them or bend pins or otherwise break it. D) God knows they will twist wires and use electrical tape as opposed to properly crimping them and want not do who knows what with the wiring. E) Chances are they wont know speaker polarity wires and just guess then you have phase issue sand loose what little bass you may have. Chances of them taking the door panels to verify is slim and if they do expect them to break the plastic tree clips. I replaced everyone of them in my car broke or not, the original ones were hard and brittle. Soon many cars where the door panels no longer stay on or wiggle around, improper install and breakage causes that. Do it your self or take it to an Indy shop, some Ferrari dealers use specific audio shops you can just find that out and go there. No guarantee those guys ever saw a 348 though. All the console items and plastics are way more delicate than the new stuff. Good luck pm me if needed the console is pretty easy to get out.
I think OP is referring to the plug in the back of the stereo and whilst you might find it possible to get a new system that uses the same adapter you might choose to have a different stereo with different connections in which case either the wiring can be cut and a new plug added or if you are very lucky an adapter exists from old male to new When you've chosen a stereo if you want to do it yourself there are many threads covering different systems being installed in 348 and similar era cars eg 355 550 & 360 Changing manufacturer does not necessarily mean a new plug - many have used the ISO blocks for the best part of thirty years
That's the opposite of my experience. I've changed roughly 10 radios over my life including 10 year old Blaupunkt to brand Sony 5 months ago in my 348. Plugs and sleeve were different this last time too. Either way expect that sleeve to need to be changed as well. Perhaps you'll get lucky, fingers crossed!
