[stinkpiqle]

Has anyone swapped a USDM head unit for the Euro version? It's purely an aesthetic thing for me, I don't like the piano black or the design of the Sony unit we get. The Euro version is much better integrated in the styling of the center stack. I'd imagine there are some differences in the units and I'm not sure if it would be plug and play or where you could purchase an OE Euro headunit.
Pics for examples

USDM Piano Black, Sony branding



EDM matte black, no branding

 

[neox.286]

lol, totally annoyed me that the volume button on ours in the states can't be pushed in to turn the radio on and off - I'd always press on it and forget that the power button is a tiny little button that I have to hunt for...the Euro one definitely has a much more intuitive user experience it looks like

 

[fourZero]

It's hard to tell from that pic, but the European unit looks molded into that dash piece whereas the Sony looks like it could be removed.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[stinkpiqle]

It's hard to tell from that pic, but the European unit looks molded into that dash piece whereas the Sony looks like it could be removed.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah, it looks like the surround for the screen would have to be swapped as well. Looks like the bottom of the unit terminates in the same spot

 

[cntrdctn86]

Euro is also sync2 instead of sync3 iirc

 

[Dingell]

don't forget that passenger air bag light

 

[stinkpiqle]

Euro is also sync2 instead of sync3 iirc

Good point, I forgot about that detail. I wonder if that may prevent compatibility

 

[neox.286]

don't forget that passenger air bag light

luckily that's a separate bezel piece and should not be an issue if you wanted to convert

what I would worry about though is the wiring harness behind it - it's not just one plug to handle everything and the wiring doesn't have a lot of extra room to move unless you remove it from it's mounting points, so he may not be able to plug everything in directly

 

[stinkpiqle]

luckily that's a separate bezel piece and should not be an issue if you wanted to convert

what I would worry about though is the wiring harness behind it - it's not just one plug to handle everything and the wiring doesn't have a lot of extra room to move unless you remove it from it's mounting points, so he may not be able to plug everything in directly

Yeah, I was just looking at the center stack when I was trying out the new settings in iOS to avoid Maps navigating you places automatically. Luckily that bit is separate so you'd just have to swap the head unit and the surround for the vents/touch screen it seems.

I felt like the wiring and compatibility would be the primary concern. The physical swap seems doable with OE parts mostly. I figure the only way to really know is to get one and try it but I'd hate to be out whatever the head unit costs and shipping from Europe won't be cheap.

It'd be easier to just pull the stock unit and painted or have it wrapped but I really prefer the design of the euro unit. I'm guessing paint or some other spray on could get it close to the texture of the rest of the stack?

 

[neox.286]

Yeah, I was just looking at the center stack when I was trying out the new settings in iOS to avoid Maps navigating you places automatically. Luckily that bit is separate so you'd just have to swap the head unit and the surround for the vents/touch screen it seems.

I felt like the wiring and compatibility would be the primary concern. The physical swap seems doable with OE parts mostly. I figure the only way to really know is to get one and try it but I'd hate to be out whatever the head unit costs and shipping from Europe won't be cheap.

It'd be easier to just pull the stock unit and painted or have it wrapped but I really prefer the design of the euro unit. I'm guessing paint or some other spray on could get it close to the texture of the rest of the stack?

you would not need to buy the entire head unit and there are several components to it behind the dash (at least in Sync 3) - you theoretically could get just the bezel and controls and ignore any additional electronics, which should be much cheaper

the next concern would be how comfortable with custom wiring? the controls you would be touching are merely buttons/dials, which should be the same number of pins just possibly hooked up using a different plug. If the plug is different, you could potentially make either your own in-between harness or just move the pins over to the new plug...it'd likely be doable

I wouldn't worry about Sync2/3 as you are only concerned with the actual controls here and not touching the Sync system itself

 

[stinkpiqle]

@neox.286 I'm not an expert but I do work with computers and understand generally how to physically rewire a plug, but I'd need a guide of some sort based on my skill level.

Finding the part has been a bear, I haven't had any luck tracking down a parts catalog or seller for the OE part.

 

[cntrdctn86]

It's probably the same parts that come in the ST with sync 2?


NVM, just looked, sync2 in the ST uses the same sony **** as ours.

However, that does make it more plausible that you can just swap the controls.

 

[cntrdctn86]

I wonder if something like this would work in our cars...

Camera+Map 9" Android 5.1 Autoradio GPS Satnav Stereo For Ford Focus 2015-2016 | eBay

 

[stinkpiqle]

I wonder if something like this would work in our cars...

Camera+Map 9" Android 5.1 Autoradio GPS Satnav Stereo For Ford Focus 2015-2016 | eBay

I saw these but I'd prefer to go OEM. Plus I'm an Apple guy hahaha. I'm still searching for the OEM part

 

[neox.286]

It's probably the same parts that come in the ST with sync 2?


NVM, just looked, sync2 in the ST uses the same sony **** as ours.

However, that does make it more plausible that you can just swap the controls.

wait - actually that's probably the way to go - isn't the sony system an optional feature on the STs?

This is a LHD ST interior I believe

 

[cntrdctn86]

wait - actually that's probably the way to go - isn't the sony system an optional feature on the STs?

This is a LHD ST interior I believe

View attachment 190857

LHD can still be euro. I haven't found an option on any of the parts sites I use for that bezel.

 

[neox.286]

LHD can still be euro. I haven't found an option on any of the parts sites I use for that bezel.

hmmmmmm true...but what about a couple years older ST with Sync 2? if the euro RS has Sync 2 then it's possible there was a model in the US with Sync 2 and no Sony system

 

[cntrdctn86]

hmmmmmm true...but what about a couple years older ST with Sync 2? if the euro RS has Sync 2 then it's possible there was a model in the US with Sync 2 and no Sony system

I still see them with the Sony bits that we already have (which makes me think the other controls would work with little to no issue, if you can find them)

 

[sixman]

My Australian delivered RS has the Euro style head unit and sync3. The headunit only has speaker outputs, the sound system is not separately amplified like the US spe .

Looking at the pics on the ebay link, looks like the screen can be upgraded independently.

 

[neox.286]

My Australian delivered RS has the Euro style head unit and sync3. The headunit only has speaker outputs, the sound system is not separately amplified like the US spe .

Looking at the pics on the ebay link, looks like the screen can be upgraded independently.

he's not worried about the screen, it's the controls around the volume knob

does yours have the sony branded volume control area?