I just took delivery on a brand new Nissan Xterra SE, and I'm now needing to do a new install. The deal with my Nissan is that I have a double DIN unit with a CD changer that takes up both slots. I want to remove the entire factory head unit and replace it with a new head unit and then hook my empeg up as an aux unit in the second slot. I'll use the primary head unit as the tuner and single disc CD player (no changer), I'll use the empeg as an aux unit as my "real" music source heh.

One of the things that I want to make sure of is that whatever head unit I go with is compatible, of course. However, I also have controls mounted on the steering wheel for the factory head unit (volume, mode, etc). I am hoping I can find a head unit that will be compatible with those controls, I'd hate to have just 4 dead buttons on my steering wheel.

Anyone know if it's possible? Are these controls wired or wireless? Is it possible to get a new head unit that will be compatible with these, and am I completely out to lunch with what I want to do?

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

-- Gary F.

To keep your steering wheel controls, try the PAC SWI-X. Because you train it with your remote(s), you could mix commands from both units, ie... volume control goes to your aftermarket receiver and track advance to your empeg. Here is the Nissan Xterra info page at the PAC website.

PAC also makes adapters that interface directly to an alpine, pioneer, or sony receiver through a wired remote input. You'll definitely want to check on the availibility of that input before buying your receiver. This option may provide greater reliability (no infrared signals), but you'd lose the ability to control your empeg too.

I've used Pioneer receivers in both of my vehicles with a CDRB10. Both work great.

Thanks for the pointers! How does the SWI-X *physically* work as far as mounting? Is it kind of squirrely, with some sort of hole and some little probe sticking out of the bezel or what?

I like the flexibility the SWI-X offers as far as diverse head unit choices, but I don't want some sort of squirrely install and will go with the SWI-PS and a limited choice of head units if it's kind of sketchy. I'm not really concerned with programming the controls to operate my empeg, although that's a nice added feature.

If I do go with the SWI-PS, I'll probably go with a Pioneer P80MP. I like Alpine, but I'm very skeptical of their new glidestrip controls, and I'm not a real big fan of Sony head units. If I do go with the SWI-X instead, I'll probably look at getting the Clarion DXZ945MP.

Anyone have any guidance? Is the SWI-X a cheesy install with some sort of alien tentacle sticking out of the bezel or something? Any issues with reliability, misalignment, etc?

-- Gary F.

Just to put paid to another thread... I got the install done over the weekend. They had a bit of trouble with the fact that the pocket wasn't quite large enough and they had to do a tiny bit of grinding (about 1/8") to fit both the pioneer p80mp head unit and the empeg. The empeg pokes out a little bit, but they "rounded" or "stepped" the units so it roughly follows the curve of the dash and it doesn't look cheesy at all, at least not IMO, even though the empeg protrudes a bit more than I'd like.

The sound quality is excellent, they integrated everything with the upgraded Nissan factory sound system (amp, 9 speakers including a mini sub under the driver's seat) and the steering wheel controls. I went with the SWI-PS instead of the SWI-X so I got the wired control instead of the infrared. They did reverse the controls on the steering wheel but they are going to fix that this weekend. All in all, I'm very happy with the work they did, and I highly recommend Z-Auto Sound in Santa Clara, CA if you're in the area. This is the second empeg install they've done for me and both times I've been happy. I know they must have had a good time testing it, when I picked it up they had a jampacked playlist on the empeg and the volume was cranked, lol.

Also, in case anyone cares... the SWI-PS *does* work with the 2005 Nissan Xterra, there wasn't any data available on compatibility with the latest model year so Howard from Z-Auto researched it himself against the schematics. My only complaint about the entire install is that the P80 doesn't include RDS support. I find it amazing that moderately expensive units (this is a $400 head unit) don't have something as basic as RDS support built in. Guess I'm just spoiled to the empeg tuner.

For the record, the list of parts I needed included the Pioneer P80MP head unit, my empeg of course, an SWI-PS, a CBR-10 and a handful of miscellaneous parts.

I can take pics if anyone is interested, otherwise I'll just say "thanks for all the advice on parts and such!"

-- Foz

Install porn, please!

Ok, here ya go.

I apologize for the glare. Morning time, didn't bother to compensate for the glare.

-- Foz

Nice!

Is that felt on top of your Empeg sled and below the Pioneer? Looks great.

Yeah, it's not quite as clean as your Fabia install, but then again at least my steering wheel didn't get put back on the wrong side

I thought they did a pretty good job with the space they had to work with.

-- Gary F.