Hard to tell what is the best solution.... any thoughts? Is one easier to connect than the other? Anyone has install pics for both? Thanks!

Doug

 

I originally ordered the trunk mount kit, because I really didn't want to have to take the head unit out. The trunk kit was on backorder at the time, and they told me that if I went for the HU kit I could get it in a few days. It was really a lot easier to do than I anticipated, and I've had no problems with this setup since installing in January. And now that I think about it, it was probably easier than having to conceal the wire coming from the back of the car to the front.

 

I bought mine at Best Buy who only carries the trunk mount kit. I didn't really think of it or realize it until I got home and was disappointed at first. In the end, I sort of liked being able to just plug it in and test it without disassembling the HU first. It allowed me to check some of the issues mentioned in these forums and decide I wanted to keep it. Running the cble wasn't difficult at all and was arguably as easy (or easier) than removing the HU. The only trick was having the right Torx socket to remove the passenger seatbelt anchor to lift the trim to tuck the cable under it along the passenger side door. If you have the right tool for the job it's cake. Took me about 15 minutes.

Of course, I used the Panavise mount, so I had to remove the down tube on the passenger side anyway. But I think it's worth it since I like the clean look of the Panavise over the stick-on Proclip anyway. I have anthracite down tubes and didn't want the silver Proclip.

 

I don't think it makes much difference.... my main concern is/was audio quality.

I've been told by different Dension techs that both have better quality. I think it depends who you talk with over there.

In the end, I'm going with the trunk mount. I think it will let me debug, which I'm sure will have to be done a couple of times, with out having to remove the HU. And if you choose, the cables can be purchased at a later date, so you can go from one mount to another at any time.

Also, if it makes any difference, I just found out today that the cables are shielded. And there were some issues with the ground cable, from what the Dension tech I spoke with, have been resolved and that only a few hundred units had that problem.

 

Removing the head unit is really simple, in my opinion. The hardest part for me was getting the mirror control panel popped out of the center console. I had no problem getting the part of the wiring harness that plugs into the ice>Link "brain" (which in turn has the cradle plugged into it) accessible from under the dash with the head unit installed and dash reassembled. This way, if the ice>Link *does* need to be unplugged, I just have to look under the dash, and not disassemble everything.

I personally find this method more appealing than cranking and yanking on the trim pieces to bury a cable from stern to stem, but that's just me. :-)

I'm quite happy with mine, and I also used the panavise mount. Rock solid!

 

I agree. HU all the way for me, it was just too easy