Overall, the install went very well. I left one small scratch from my fingernail while putting one of the interior panels back on. Other than that, I'm very pleased with how little impact the install has had on the car. Unfortunately, I have to pull the screen again. You'll see why once you see the last picture.

As far as the wiring goes, I have yet to resolve the connector issue in the overhead XM module. Plus, there is no way for me to know if it all really works. Many of the features are "grayed" out because I'm out of the coverage area. It does however work right when I pull out of my garage. So I have the ability to make some changes (clock and colors) while in my driveway. Once I leave my neighborhood, I get the screen of death. All unknown voice commands end in that screen. Which sucks because I then have to press the "Audio" button.

Purchased the package from Martin:








Pulling the steering wheel was NOT fun. Unless I missed something, I couldn't find a way to change the buttons without pulling the wheel. I had to re tap the holes twice before I had enough "meat" to pull the wheel off with the puller:










MP3 Disks, my solution to the "no text" problem with the iPods:


Don't live in Alaska:




Note to self, check bulb color before re-assembling entire dash.

 

Wow man thats impressive! Looks like alot of work. How long did it take you? It looks good!!!

 

Well, Martin did all the wiring work. I took the easy way out and just bought the package. I pretty much had it all apart and back together in about three days (add another day to fix my bulb problem). It was all fun except the steering wheel and the XM connector. I'll have to get one from a junk yard in a few years once they are more available.

 

Well it looks good man. Was it all worth it?

 

Heck yeah, even though I don't have map coverage. The dash was made for that screen. It just looks so much better now.

 

Hmm thats awesome dude, I have been wanting to do that for quite some time now.

 

Impressive, good job !!!
Maybe some day I will do same thing...

 

OK.....NICE JOB on the install but if you dont have map coverage, what was the point of this?? Am i missing somthing??

 

Good point, however one day I'll use it. Plus it just looks so much better. I do have the audio feature that looks cool and the voice commands. They don't sell navi models up here and I didn't want to have a new car shipped up here.

 

^^I gotcha... does anywhere in alaska have coverage? or is it just ur area that is bad?

 

Navigation only works in 49 states. Excluding Alaska, and there is also minimal coverage in Hawaii according to the Alpine navigation site for Acuras

 

oh wow....that sucks!!

 

If you don't mind letting us know, what did that all cost you? Mainly just wondering about the kit, not the labor costs if you had any. And did you just pull it out of a junk yard car?

Do you know if there is a kit for an '04?

 

I bought my kit from a guy named Martin. If you read all the conversion threads on this site, a lot of us converts have purchased kits from him. He's on the East coast and will install it for you too. I have acurahondatech@comcast.net for his contact info.

And yes, he does all years, but you could put the 07 to 08 for an updated look, but there is no nag screen hack as far as I know. You would also need to replace the HU and HFL unit too for it all to work correctly.

The kits are expensive, but I didn't want to spend the time finding all the parts. I think I paid $1,800 for the base kit (screen, DVD drive, harness, etc). The most expensive individual part was his wire harness. I think it was close to $900 so I decided to just bite the bullet and pay the rest. By buying the kit, I wouldn't spend hours looking for the parts and hoping it would all work. But, a lot of people have saved a lot of money by building it themselves.

 

A blast from the past here, but does anyone have Martin's contact information that they'd be willing to share?

I emailed with him a few months ago, regarding a request for a wiring harness. He did respond initially, but I have not heard from him for over a month. I'm wondering if there is another way of contacting him? If you have any details that you'd be willing to share, please DM me.

Thanks!

 

Bump

 

I PM'd you Wusty.

 

Thanks a lot, Mug. I was able to get in touch with Martin and we have been texting. It will be a few months, but he's willing to help me out with the wiring harness. I love this community for situations like this.