VW Cd Changer - Update

owenjt · Post by **owenjt** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 10:54 pm

I've got a standard Kenwood 6 disc cd changer in my polo gti, but due to it not wanting to play my cd-r's properly i'm looking to get something else. Will anything i buy be compatible? I'd like to get something of the same size so i can still use the cage.

inder · Post by **inder** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 12:58 am

no other cd changer will work... the gamma headunits etc.. only accept a 'vw brand' changer, muting the sound input if it does not recieve a special signal from the 'vw brand' changer

BUT all is not lost, you can get little box of tricks that plug in between the headunit and the aftermarket/other brand changer and fool the headunit into using it even if not 'vw brand', so it is possible, not that cheap though

search google for VWCDPIC - custom made pcb that does the same job, not out of the box solution though, so i guess pre made is best

hope that made sense, check ebay for such cables or an audio store caraudiodirect.co.uk or similar

owenjt · Post by **owenjt** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 9:19 am

Cheers. In that case i might just look around for a newer vw changer which can play my cd-r's.

inder · Post by **inder** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 9:54 am

No probs

owenjt · Post by **owenjt** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 8:31 pm

and now for my next question...

i've just managed to take out the kenwood head unit (after cheekily borrowing the radio keys from halfords!) and hooked it up to my vw gamma. The only problem is the lead for the cd changer is round, and won't fit anywhere into the vw gamma. There is only a rectangular slot left:

so do i need to get a converter or a whole new cable?

inder · Post by **inder** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 12:37 am

sorry, slightly confused, do you mean you had a kenwood headunit and changer to begin with?

and now you wish to put the gamma back in? and use it with the kenwood changer?

owenjt · Post by **owenjt** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 11:25 am

Yes i had a kenwood headunit and a kenwood changer (presume this was in there from new though). i've now bought a vw gamma and put that in, but the cd changer lead won't fit.

inder · Post by **inder** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 11:35 am

Ahh clearer now, sorry you did not mention that in your first post, so I was not sure

Yep, you need a lead to allow the kenwood round plug to plug into the rectangle plug in the boot (which goes into the back of the Gamma, blue plug)

I will have a look on ebay to see if I can find one

inder · Post by **inder** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 3:44 pm

You need something like this for the best way to connect another brand cd changer to the unit without any problems

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CD-INTERFACE-SONY ... dZViewItem

perhaps not this exact model of cable - ask the seller for kenwood one?

hope helps

owenjt · Post by **owenjt** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 9:59 pm

Cheers for your help! I'm going to look at it at the weekend as i may take my old sony 10 disc changer and see if i can fit it in the GTi.

Edit: Just found this site - http://www.interfaceleads.com/applogic/ ... udio/audio which provides interface leads for all different types of cd changer. Â£65 just to have my sony unit! Thing is my car actually has a vw changer so i should have the correct lead to fit my head unit now. I think the previous owners must've got rid of that lead when they fitted the new head unit. Damn!

owenjt · Post by **owenjt** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 2:52 pm

Ok so after looking a bit harder i think i've found what is the original vw cd changer cable. The bit that connects to the headunit looks like this:

but the slot it needs to fit into looks like this:

so what do i need to convert it?

Also i want to buy a vw 6-disc cd changer - does anyone know if it will play cdr's?

inder · Post by **inder** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 3:03 pm

Hi m8

That is indeed the VW cd changer cable, well found. You need nothing more to connect it to your headunit, the blue plug is all you need (as you can see the green is not connected to any wires)

Place the whole plug (with green bit, aids locating the pins) into the back of the headunit. looking directly at your picture, it will go on the left, 8pins and the green is in the middle. it will only go one way round i.e:

A yellow plug goes on the right side, but again, no wires go to this in this situation for a cd changer, so don't worry that you don't have it.

Then simply connect the end in the boot to your vw changer. The changer will play cdr's, but not mp3 cds

owenjt · Post by **owenjt** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 4:16 pm

Sweet! As you can tell i know nothing about these things and presumed i'd need a connector that actually fitted the whole slot!

Now to find a cheap vw cd changer on ebay! Thanks for your help.

ModifiedMadness · Post by **ModifiedMadness** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 5:06 pm

Yes, the VW CD changer does play CD-R's.

inder · Post by **inder** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 5:14 pm

No probs m8