Thread: Bought myself a golf.. some help needed

Originally Posted by zomb

I thought it would fit better here than the newbie section.

I bought myself a VW Golf, 2002 2.0gls (yes I know it's not the gti, I couldn't afford it) I go pick it up tomorrow night or friday morning.

Now, I'ved planned a car PC when I get a new car for atleast a year now, and since the mac mini's came out, I kind of changed my mind. As a mac-geek and a future student in the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, I think I would enjoy the mac mini more.

I hear that VW's are a PAIN in the arse to replace head-units for etc. Would taking the stock tape-deck out ruin the alarm system in my car? And I think I'm so worried about messing up the electrics of a brand new(to me) car, then I would rather pay a professional to do it for me (i know, no fun in that) but hey, I'll do all the fabrication. The trim around the 7" touch-screen in-dash will be that same bumpy texture that surronds the shifty-nobby. And I guess the best place for the mac mini is the glove-box. extra ports and such can be mounted in some places. Basiclly, I would want a factory looking install.

Who would I go to to get it all wired up without messing up the alarm system and such? Honestly I'll even pay someone from here to rather help me with it as I have no clue where to even start. That way I would learn something too and be a part of the whole process. I'm in the Cleveland, Ohio area. If there are any guides that I could read to help me get started, it would help. I can already say I'm scared to do it on my own and would rather not. Any words of advice, suggestions or anyone local who has done it?

I can say that i am in the same boat as you are, as far as being scared, but seems like some of your fears are a bit unreasonable. Taking out the audio system won't do anything to the car alarm, the "security" system for the deck is separate from the car system. We also have a separate thread in here for the trim for a Liliput precisely for VW's 2din opening.
Plans to offer a VW MK IV LCD faceplate - everyone please read.

Some help is always nice, but I really don't think you should be so scared as to completely let someone else do it.

I replaced the stock head unit in my Beetle without a problem. Pull the radio, unclip the harness and cut the cord. Strip the wires, solder them to the new harness for the head unit and you're done.

It doesn't affect the alarm. You can find the proper wiring diagram for your car on the internet. You can probably buy an adaptor harness that plugs into the VW one so you don't have to cut the wires.

You gotta get over being worried about messing up your car. Every mistake is a fresh "opportunity" .

I think you'll find that paying someone to do this will cost you a lot of money. See if you can't figure it out on your own or get a buddy to help you!

[Edit - I lived in the 'burgh for a couple of years, myself. I loved that town. It was a great place to live, if you can get used to the weather. But you're from Cleveland. Shouldn't be a problem ]

Originally Posted by zomb

As a mac-geek and a future student in the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, I think I would enjoy the mac mini more.

Yay for Pittsburgh! I just gradutated from the University of Pittsburgh 7 months ago. Great town...Dont worry if u mess anything up.... theres a ton of VW freaks in that town.

Oh and the only additional thing besides wiring up a new harness is to wire up an ignition wire. The stock HU doesnt use one. If you go the route I am going... 1 DIN HU and a 1 DIN fold out screen you gotta cut some plastic in the dash housing... at the bottom of the housing cavity theres some plastic that sticks up in the way of stuff.

Good Luck!

Originally Posted by Stonewall78

I believe only the monsoon DD ahs that problem. The single din in both my cars had the ign wire and the double I pulled from a buddys car had the ign wire too. If you have any type of mk4 VW questions feel free to ask, I know them almost inside and out. Someday I will post pics of my highly modified ride.

Ah, well I do have monsoon so right on... I never took the stock HU out of my old 99.5 MKIV Jetta so I never noticed (it was a single DIN non-monsoon)