Replacing factory fitted car radio.

letiss7

Hi,
Apologies if this a silly question but I haven't replaced a factory fitted radio in a car for over 30 years and technology has moved on a lot since then.
I have a 2008 Ford Focus which has a factory fitted Sony radio with CD player. The whole unit no longer works.
I can replace it with a like for like model but I was thinking could I replace it with a DAB Radio or one that supports Bluetooth or has a built in SatNav without too much extra expense or parts needed.


Anything more than a straightforward replacement means I would have to pay someone else to fit it for me so that would incur extra costs.

System

Its a fairly easy radio to change, its similar to my Mondeo. You will need to buy a fascia adapter kit so that you can fit a single or double DIN radio in the place your current one resides. You will also need a wiring harness adapter to convert from the Ford plug to a standard ISO. If you are getting one with DAB it'll need an additional antenna as DAB runs on different frequencies - there are ones that can stick on the windscreen. A Fascia adapter and wiring harness adapter should be no more than £30 or so combined.

In order of things:

Take out the original radio, if you're fitting a DAB antenna fit that and run the antenna cable. Fit fascia adapter and wiring harness adapter. Fit radio in the DIN/double DIN slot the same way you would have done in the past.

spiro

And just to be safe tell your insurance company as it's no longer a factory fitted radio.

letiss7

Thank you both for your useful replies. I definitely would have forgotten to inform the insurance company.

takman

If you buy a radio online you should be able to get one that is the same shape and has the same fittings as the original so no ugly fascia adapters would be needed. It will also have the correct connectors so not adapters needed either and will work with any steering wheel controls you have already.