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DAB Radio in a Citroen C6?

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Owen Snell   
Sat Feb 20 2010, 10:55am
Joined: Feb 18 2010
Member No: #58
Is it possible to fit an alternative radio into the C6? I am assuming it just has conventional and not DAB, but it doesn't look easy to make a change.
michaelb   
Sat Feb 20 2010, 11:26am
Joined: Nov 17 2009
Member No: #14
Location: London
Yes, you've assumed correctly - a conventional radio.

Changing it is not easy. I'm currently waiting for Citroën to order in a new radio for me as the one fitted in my car has sticking buttons. This has been going on so long that the last time I rang to chase them I offered to pay for an upgrade hoping it might speed up delivery but they told me it isn't viable to upgrade as the head unit alone is over £1,000. If there is ever a DAB version released I can imagine it will be a similar story.

It's really struck me that manufacturers - or Citroën in particular - are not understanding what customers want. We all pretty much take it for granted nowadays that cars will start, drive and stop. If they crash we expect airbags and other safety devices. When we come to buy a car we want to know that the radio is good, has GPS, and will integrate easily with our phones. This really isn't difficult to get right; Lidl or Aldi can sell DAB radios with iPod docks for pennies, Bluetooth has been ubiquitous for over ten years, my disposable phone has a larger LCD display than my nearly forty grand car, a hundred quid TomTom knocks the Navidrive for six. It really is a gross misunderstanding of the customer.
Owen Snell   
Sat Feb 20 2010, 12:35pm
Joined: Feb 18 2010
Member No: #58
I have a Sony DAB radio in my current car, but it was a simple switch to make at a local specialist. I am going to give him a call and see what he says about the options - I don't want to upgrade my car and then have to do without the DAB. No bluetooth is a bit of a pain, but I can live with it. It doesn't really work to insert the SIM card when my phone contacts are on Outlook and not the SIM. I will just have to carry on with the bluetooth headset!
Owen Snell   
Sat Feb 20 2010, 12:48pm
Joined: Feb 18 2010
Member No: #58
Looks like a DAB 'add on' radio is the way to go - probably about £200 installed with glass mount antenna.
C6Dave   
Sat Feb 20 2010, 02:16pm

Joined: Oct 01 2009
Member No: #1
Location: Northumberland
Problem with an after market head unit of any kind is that you may loose the steering wheel speed limiter and cruise control functions

It's a real bone of contention on the C4 and one of the most posted items over at C4owners.

You may be able to get around it with a 'connects2' adapter but I have never looked into it for the C6

Before you go and spend money on a head unit, make sure that the supplier/fitter has taken this into consideration

EDIT: looking at the Connects2 site the C6 isn't listed
Website
michaelb   
Sat Feb 20 2010, 02:19pm
Joined: Nov 17 2009
Member No: #14
Location: London
Owen Snell wrote ...

Looks like a DAB 'add on' radio is the way to go - probably about £200 installed with glass mount antenna.


Have you a link please
Owen Snell   
Sat Feb 20 2010, 02:46pm
Joined: Feb 18 2010
Member No: #58
A proper installer will wire it in for you and make a neat job. The guy who did my last one said the radio is about £100 plus an hour to fit and an antenna, so around £200.
PaulY   
Sat Jun 19 2010, 06:17pm
Joined: Jun 05 2010
Member No: #142
Location: Surrey
Has anyone resolved the DAB radio issue, I have just bought a used 2.2HDI Lignage with optional Sat Nav. I have had a standard DIN shaped Sony Dab Radio fitted in my old car for over 3 years. I was amazed when looking at nearly new cars of all types that none of them had DAB as standard. My most listened to channels our Radio 4, Radio 5, the World Service, and Planet Rock. Only Radio 4 is available on FM with clarity. Radio 5 can be received on MW, but only in poor quality, the World Service is on MW too , but you can't catch it consistently and the quality is no existent. Planet Rock is not available anywhere else. I would like an option to upgrade the C6 in-built system ideally, or if not possible fit my existing radio, but the console is not din shaped. Can anyone help?
michaelb   
Sat Jun 19 2010, 07:26pm
Joined: Nov 17 2009
Member No: #14
Location: London
PaulY wrote ...
but the console is not din shaped. Can anyone help?


I think the console is DIN and a half. There are plenty of components out there which are also DiN and half or even twice DIN - all are common sizes. But that's not your problem. Your problem is so much of the car is controlled through the "radio", for example the daylight running lights, or the time the 'guide me home' lights stay on, that no after market radio will fulfil these functions.
It's a bummer
C6Dave   
Sat Jun 19 2010, 10:48pm

Joined: Oct 01 2009
Member No: #1
Location: Northumberland
Unfortunately you really will struggle to fit DAB into a C6, we had a long discussion and attempts over at C4owners, but all came to nothing (uses the same radios and can bus system)

As michaelb said, there is too much controlled via the head unit on a C6 that an alternative unit would be a pain to use
Website
gmerry   
Sun Jun 20 2010, 01:17pm
Joined: Dec 11 2009
Member No: #21
Location: Scotland
Owen, do you have a C6 now or are you still looking?

If buying from a Citroen dealer, why don't you ask him whether he can provide and fit a DAB radio as part of the deal.

Regards
G
tonyrome   
Mon Jun 21 2010, 09:27am
Joined: Nov 22 2009
Member No: #15
I am still amazed that DAB is not standard fit to all cars these days. It's actually not expensive anymore and what exactly is the thinking behind fitting something which will be completely useless in a few years time?!
C6Dave   
Mon Jun 21 2010, 11:03am

Joined: Oct 01 2009
Member No: #1
Location: Northumberland
Well the UK basically uses a different broadcast system to Europe for DAB so until everyone gets their act together manufacturers won't be installing DAB into cars that cover all markets
Website
BigJohnD   
Thu Jul 29 2010, 02:48am
Joined: Oct 30 2009
Member No: #9
Location: Hoylake
I've got a Sony DAB in my C4. The CANBus adaptors are standard Connects2 with a quadlock connector, plus patch lead Steering wheel controls work for volume, mute, channel change, channel search and multiplex change. Reception from National transmitters is first class; from local transmitters, shadowing occurs from tall building and in cuttings.

Fitting the external aerial was the hardest part.

Visually, the fitting in the DIN slot is untidy as I can't find a suitable fascia trim
BigJohnD   
Thu Jul 29 2010, 02:51am
Joined: Oct 30 2009
Member No: #9
Location: Hoylake
tonyrome wrote ...

I am still amazed that DAB is not standard fit to all cars these days.

The real problem is the UK system is ancient and inefficient (MP2 and not AAC compression) requires too much bandwidth to be commercially viable and is lagging behind the rest of Europe. Car Manufacturers want uniformity across countries.
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