I just emailed Metra about a double DIN dash kit & here is the response I got...His email is

chrisb@metra-autosound.com

I got it right off of their website. Hope this is helpful & I encourage others to email him too so he know there is demand for it.



Chris,

I know myself & a lot of other people are very interested in a double DIN kit for the 3rd Generation TL. Does Metra make a kit for our vehicle? If not is Metra currently working on (or have any plans to) make a kit for our vehicle? I know a lot of people who would be very interested in purchasing this from your company. Please let me know if this is available.







Response:


Yes we have looked into it but have no time to finalize anything on this vehicle. I will know more after CES the first week in January.

Please try me back mid January,

Chris Bennett
Metra Electronics
National Key Account Manager
Phone: 1-800-221-0932 Ext. 2275
Fax: 1-800-647-8091


Now access all our online catalogs at www.metraonline.com!!!


The information transmitted contains confidential information that is legally privileged. The information is intended only for the use of the recipient named above. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or an entity other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer.

 

that's nice but are there systems out there that stock options will work with steering wheel controls and hands free?

 

Yes. Pac-Audio makes a whole bunch of equipment that will accomplish this. I put an after-market HU in my Infinti & installed one of their modules that allowed me to keep my steering wheel controls.

http://www.pac-audio.com/

 

ok First of all, Don't hold your breath!!! The "After CES answer" is a common cop-out in this industry! I hope they produce one but doubt that it will be soon! Also Pac makes a steering wheel module but I'm pretty sure that it doesnt have anything to do with the Hands-Free. Just the radio controls

 

Exactly what I was saying.....

Plus, I don't really care if I lose my handsfree cuz I never use it anyways. I just want my Double DIN!!!

 

This.

Keep in mind, this is now a car that has been out of production for 3 model years. Also, the VAST majority of owners of this car would NEVER switch the radio out. Even if Metra made it they would have to charge $350 per kit to recoup the tooling and set up costs to build it based on the number they would likely sell.

I can only think of 1 kit that came out way out of left field years after the car itself was out of production and that is the mid 90s Lexus SC kit.

You will likely be better off building it yourself or pay your local custom stereo shop to build it for you.

 

that, and if it is a big deal just by a 2din w/ bluetooth built in.

 

I agree the factory stuff wasn't that great. I bought then kenwood DNX 7160 and it has better features than the OE stuff. I had a local shop make a double din kit. They made it look easy. The most complicated part seemed to be recovering my side silver piece which look awesome. See install pic.

 

January will be tomorrow, i would be very interested if they made one.

 

check the post above you.

 

This looks great. Did you retain all factory controls?

 

Thanks to ridindirty69 for contacting Metra. I hope they make it into production soon. I'm very interested to buy one.

 

I just swapped the Factory Navi in my car for under 900 bucks and installed it myself in just under four hours. It looks cleaner and won't be as ghetto as the ugly picture snugglie888 posts in every single thread about double din head units.

 

haha every thread about double dins, there is a pic of her install and how awesome it is. To me it looks stupid because there are 2 screens in there now. If the temp display from the NON NAVI can be moved down to where the radio/CD is, and double din mounted up higher, that would be the best option. Double din with navi seems weird being that low, you always have to look so far down to do anything.

 

I have an 04 TL w/ Nav and I am putting in the Pioneer AVH-P4200DVD tomorrow. This is a kit I found on ABT Electronics for $40.

http://www.abt.com/product/35852/Pioneer-ADTVA133.html

 

Sweet!! Please post pics when you get it installed & let me know how it goes. I have an AVH-P4100DVD just sitting in my garage right that I had in my Infinti G35. I have been wanting to put it in my TL since the day I traded for it about 3 months ago!! If it works out I will definitely be buying one of these kits as well!

In the meantime I'm gonna hit up the metra guy again since it CES is now over...

 

Just sent him another email & he immediately replied.... Could you guys please help me out & email him as well so he know that there is a high demand for this? Thanks to anyone who contributes!!









Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2011 6:03 PM
To: Chris Bennett
Subject: Re: Double Din for 2004 TL (3rd Generation)

Chris,

Do you have any more information on this? Please let me know because me & a lot of people are very interested in this.

Thanks again!



Response:

-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Bennett <chrisb@metra-autosound.com>
Sent: Thu, Jan 13, 2011 5:04 pm
Subject: RE: Double Din for 2004 TL (3rd Generation)



Sorry this has been put on the back burner again due to new product. Nothing in the works again.

Chris Bennett
Metra Electronics
National Key Account Manager
Phone: 1-800-221-0932 Ext. 2275
Fax: 1-800-647-8091


Now access all our online catalogs at www.metraonline.com!!!


The information transmitted contains confidential information that is legally privileged. The information is intended only for the use of the recipient named above. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or an entity other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer.

 

Members have asked various companies and none are ready to make it for the 3G TL for a few reasons. 1 is the silver circles that are left, it's hard to cover it up properly. 2. The kits are in low demand, the factory HU is pretty good so most people build off of it. 3. It's hard to get a clean install done, this isn't a civic where folks don't care about how it looks.

 

Seriously Guys, Just do a Nav swap. Its the same price.

 

F-That! Same price, for a 8-9 yr old nav system that sucks anyway? Pass.

 

it's not the same price for sure. 200-300 for the install if it's done at the PRO level and for 700 you can get a top of the line navi/DVD unit that's a huge improvement over stock. And I haven't seen anyone do a navi conversion for under 1000$ that has all the capabilities as the after market unit

 

I did mine for 1000 even. I bought everything on eBay or the most expensive LOCAL junkyard (only because there is a warranty on their parts). The swap can easily be done by yourself. If you can follow simple instructions (i.e. can read), can use tools (screwdriver and pliers), and take your time its rather easy.

The nav in Acura hasn't really changed since 04- the maps design is the same. I know there are some extra features like traffic, zagats and the bt download. Lexus nav maps look the same as well.

But to each their own. Destroy your cars with hideous Navigation systems that will never look good, or function correctly with the cars steering buttons, hfl etc... I also doubt it will sound as good.

 

You're talking about old? You have a picture of some old bitch in your profile.

 

So you can watch videos and all that? Don't you need supporting mods to do that on a stock navi? ipod integration as well? If you got all those features for 1000$ then props to you man.

 

Don't knock it till you try it, i can tell you my system sounds alot better with the avh4200dvd

 

Bea Arthur's ghost will hunt you down and punch you in the taint.

 

I installed an aftermarket 2DIN DVD player in a friends Tacoma and the deck came with a harness that get wired into the factory harness and he is able to use his steering wheel controls with the aftermarket DVD player. He has full audio control and even bluetooth controls from his steering wheel.

 

@Modiggy How did the install go??? You got any pics???

 

I will post pics tomorrow. I had to have them clean up the dash a little bit. In plus, my dash had cracks all over it and I have Acura putting in a new one today.

 

Any pics yet???