>Date: Sun, 31 May 1998 22:05:04 -0400
>From: Mike Pepe <lamunedoki-doki>
>Subject: [gti-vr6] 98 VR6 cd-changer (again)
>
>Hi, I just got my GTI-VR6. I'm not sure of the build date of the car,
>where do I look to find it? The door jamb has 12/97 on the sticker, but
>I'm not sure if that's the build date or not. I want to pick up an
>aftermarket cd changer, and I found the plug under the rear seat. It's a
>12 pin rectangular connector. I've seen talk of a '13 pin DIN plug'
>obviously this is not the round DIN plug I'm thinking of. Here's what I
>would like to find out:
>
>1- are the clarion 6 disc units compatible with this system?
>2- does anyone have the pinout of this plug? It seems simple enough to
>rewire onto the cable the cd changer would come with.

I've been struggling with this issue myself. This is what I learned so far.
There was a mid-year change on the head unit for the '98 cars. If you call
up the service people they can't sell you a CD Changer unless you supply
them with your VIN number, so they can tell if your car was put together
before or after the change. Unfortunately the service people I talked to
did not know who supplies the new changer (clarion or panasonic).

I've been in contact with two other people, one a new GTI-VR6 owner and the
other a new Passat owner, and we all seem to have the same head unit. It
has a square on/off switch in the lower left hand corner and a flat
cassette panel (no bump). If you have the same head unit, you need a
*Panasonic* cd changer (CX-DP601) Please if anyone has contrary information
please let me know.

An adapter for the plug supposedly can be bought from Blitzsafe
(www.blitzsafe). The stock number is VW/PAN V.3. I haven't checked with
them yet so I don't know if they are really available or what the cost will
be.

If anyone already has an adapter plug it would be great if they could
reverse engineer what the pin outs are. As Mike mentioned, it certainly
would be easy enough to roll our own. Also if someone has found a cheap
place to buy the CD-Changer I'm sure that several of us on the list would
love to know where.

Regards,

:::wsr:::
'98 Red GTI-VR6 (waiting for digital sound)

--
For info on: how to subscribe & unsubscribe, the list's mailing errors,
    list archive, etc.  see:   

I finally got my 98 VR6 equipped with the Panasonic DP601 CD changer.
Blitzsafe _does_ make an effective adapter from the rectangular plug on the
end of the CD cable to the changer (www.blitzsafe -- note that this web
site is extremely out of date; call them if you are interested).  PIE has
still not released their adapter cable yet.

The first cable I got was defective, and we had to send for another one.
The proper cable simply plugs in, and no reset of the radio is necessary.

Total cost: Changer	$69.00 (Best Buy open box special)
Blitsafe Cable		$60.00
Install Fee		$25.00
-------------------------------
		       $154.00  -- not bad, considering my dealer wanted $502
				   for the VW changer alone!

Jeanne Sirovatka
jeannelamar.colostate

'98 Porcelain Blue VR6


--
For info on: how to subscribe & unsubscribe, the list's mailing errors,
    list archive, etc.  see:   

Nothing spectacular..  but

QVC does not appear to be advertising the Pan CX-DP601 any more.
I called Panasonic directly, they referred me to the usual places
Circuit City, Soundtrack, Sears etc.. which have cleared out their 601s
a few weeks ago.. 
Panasonic  also gave me the number of a mail order place.

Sound Center
800-530-7227

They have the DP601 *in stock*, for $249.95.

The guy was like "I should know this one.. I've sold enough of them
today."   Sure sounds like they're the last source.
Should have mine Monday.  Now I just need that damned adapter.

I called Blitz Safe at 800-597-SAFE and they told me that the adapter
is worth $25, but that they could only sell direct to private parties
for $50.   Their only retailers are in California.  Bleah.

If someone could just write down which pins from the rectangular plug
go to which pins on the 601, I'd happily build the adapter myself, for
a whole lot less than $50.  As long as the K wire is identified and avoided
is there actually anything special about the adapter?

	ian
--
For info on: how to subscribe & unsubscribe, the list's mailing errors,
    list archive, etc.  see:   

I called Peripherals <
today (the company who is manufacturing said part) and they assured me 
circuit city and crutchfield should both have the adaptor (vwpan98) in 
around two weeks.  The adaptor will supposedly allow you to go from the 
12 pin rectangular molex adaptor under the back seat directly to a 
panasonic CX-DP601.  This is only applicable to the VWs with the 98.5 
Panasonic head unit.  If you call the tech support at PIE 
<http://www.pie.net/oemappl.htm> (the other company manufacturing a 
similar adaptor) they might fax you a diagram of the pin mappings.  
Anything is better than paying VW $600 for a mediocre changer.  

BTW, did you buy your car in Denver?  I saw your address is 
colorado.  I work in Interlocen off 36W.  

Tim
98 GTI-VR6 Tornado Red "Formerly snipped CD Changer cable but bitched at 
McDonald VW until they fixed it for free" Edition  

     


______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at 
--
For info on: how to subscribe & unsubscribe, the list's mailing errors,
    list archive, etc.  see:   

QVC is not selling them out of their own inventory, and is instead selling
them *for* panasonic. As far as the adapter goes, I'm determined not to
spend $50 for a bundle of wires and plugs. As soon as I get the thing, I'll
tell everyone how to wire it themselves!

[...]

Is the CD changer VW installs (I believe it is a Clarion) available from 
any other source?  What is the exact make and model number of the one 
they use?  How does VW mount the changer?  What prevents mounting an 
after market changer the same as VW does?  Did you try a different 
Panasonic changer then the CX-DP601?  Where did you get your adapter?  
What is a "blitzsafe adapter"?  I'm kind of surprised that VW didn't 
source the whole sound system from one supplier.  I would think that 
would give better quality control as well as allowing them to make it so 
you couldn't substitute after market components easily.  
Mike

As far as I know there are three CD players that will work with the late 
1998 VW factory head unit.  The VW changer, the Panasonic CX-DP601 and 
the Panasonic CX-DP801.  The VW changer sells for $350 including the 
mounting kit (www.vw).  Your dealership will charge you another $100 
to $250 to install the unit.  It mounts on an arm that extends out from 
the far back right corner of the trunk.  The installed unit sits about 
an inch off the carpet and an inch from the back wall (perpendicular to 
the back wall).  It's mounted such that you can still get to the spare 
without cutting or modifying the carpet.  The stock changer doesn't need 
an adapter.  Your existing cable (12 pin rectangular dim) plugs right 
into the unit.  The Panasonic units requires you bolt it down directly 
below the unit.  This requires bolting down or cutting the carpet.  
However, I'm sure a little creativity could easily resolve this problem.  
All I know about the blitzsafe adapter is that the company is somewhere 
in CA.  The peripherals adapter should be available through a local car 
audio store "sometime soon".  Regarding the manufacturer of all this 
hardware, there was a recent posting that alluded (and I agree) that VW, 
Panasonic, and Clarion car audio are all made by the same manufacturer.  
Why else would a Clarion head unit only work with a Panasonic or a VW 
product?  The only problem I've had with the VW changer is a little 
engine noise which I think I can resolve.   

Tim  

=========================================
Michael Aldea
485 days till year 2000 - 851 till the new millennium)
MIS Development, 201-930-8069
The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co., Montvale, NJ
E-mail: ALDEAMAPTEA
=========================================


______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at 
--
For info on: how to subscribe & unsubscribe, the list's tech/how-to
    library, etc.  see: