media upgrade for a 550

[Ljrv101]

ok let me start by saying that i love my 550. I sold my first back int the 2005 to buy a 575. Sold that a couple of years later for another 500 which i have now owned for the best part of 14 years. The drive, the noise, the gear change just a thrilling driving experience. This car stays with me until i can no longer drive... but... I need to upgrade the radio i still have the original Becker system, I would like a screen that can be deployed to have appl car play for spotify, waze etc. Any one got a recommendation for what to buy and a decent installer around greater London?

Thanks

[johnnyreggae]

I can't recall if the 550 has the same radio location as the 575 but on Fchat someone recently installed a Pioneer AVH-z7200DAB - there may be other suggestions there too just because there are more owners represented

Edited by johnnyreggae on Wednesday 1st May 23:01

[john_1983]

Looks to be the same location as the 575 - the issue with fold-out screens is the angle they go to, they're designed to go in vehicles where the stereo is horizontal. The 550/575 stereo is more vertical, and someone I asked locally raised the issue of the screen hitting the HVAC panel.

I also need to get my stereo sorted, I've got no bass - so either there's no speakers in the rear or they're not connected. My car is an early 1997 model

[nc107]

Not so much an audio upgrade but brings the additional functionality and has been getting some good reviews on FChat;

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/new-cont...

Edited to add fitment in 575 which is similar

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/infotain...

Edited by nc107 on Thursday 2nd May 15:45

[928 GTS]

I think many of those 1 DIN screens that come out and turn can be set to turn up to certain point. They don't have to extend all the way they can. At least few older ones I have seen had this possibility. So hitting anything shouldn't be a problem.

1 DIN touch screen could be way to go. Haven't seen them from old names like Pioneer, Kenwood or Blaupunkt yet but it is likely they will be common in next few years.

Also have 550 and it has period correct Becker model like what factory used in early 550 before change to Sony. It has two sticky buttons and I have been looking into options to replace it with something modern but what would look like its from 20 years ago. Continental has some but they only have one backlight color and output wattage is small.
https://www.continental-aftermarket.com/en-en/prod...

This basically leaves Blaupunkt.
https://blaupunkt.com/automotive/incar-entertainme...

Bremen SQR 46 DAB, Frankfurt RCM 82 DAB and Hamburg SQM 23 DAB all are little too old looking for 550. Stockholm 400 DAB seems best option even though its modern design.

Edited by 928 GTS on Friday 3rd May 08:17

[john_1983]

I'm not too fussed about audio just now, I just want Waze on the head unit. Looks like the FChat linked one isn't available in the UK, however I've found this on Amazon in a similar (if more expensive) single-DIN vein:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alpine-ILX-W690D-CarPlay-...

[Ljrv101]

Ljrv101 said:

ok let me start by saying that i love my 550. I sold my first back in 2005 to buy a 575. Sold that a couple of years later for another 550 which i have now owned for the best part of 14 years. The drive, the noise, the gear change just a thrilling driving experience. This car stays with me until i can no longer drive... but... I need to upgrade the radio i still have the original Becker system. I would like a screen that can be deployed to have appl car play for spotify, waze etc. Any one got a recommendation for what to buy and a decent installer around greater London?

Thanks

[SCO]

john_1983 said:

I'm not too fussed about audio just now, I just want Waze on the head unit. Looks like the FChat linked one isn't available in the UK, however I've found this on Amazon in a similar (if more expensive) single-DIN vein:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alpine-ILX-W690D-CarPlay-...

I think that image is a bit misleading, that Alpine unit looks double din sized when you do a bit of digging.

The closest thing I can find to the one on Ferrari Chat is this, which looks like it is just slightly over single din:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CQHTL1V2/ref=sspa_dk...

It is in the worryingly cheap category though! But good that it has a manual volume knob.

[928 GTS]

Blaupunkt is bringing out new model fairly soon. Volume is still there and screen looks modern.

https://blaupunkt.com/product/london-500/

[CTML]

nc107 said:

Not so much an audio upgrade but brings the additional functionality and has been getting some good reviews on FChat;

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/new-cont...

Edited to add fitment in 575 which is similar

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/infotain...

Edited by nc107 on Thursday 2nd May 15:45

I bought one of these units when I was in the states this summer. Will post up some pictures once I get round to installing it.

[CTML]

Ljrv101 said:

ok let me start by saying that i love my 550. I sold my first back int the 2005 to buy a 575. Sold that a couple of years later for another 500 which i have now owned for the best part of 14 years. The drive, the noise, the gear change just a thrilling driving experience. This car stays with me until i can no longer drive... but... I need to upgrade the radio i still have the original Becker system, I would like a screen that can be deployed to have appl car play for spotify, waze etc. Any one got a recommendation for what to buy and a decent installer around greater London?

Thanks

I have used Dynamic Sounds in south London before but it was for another car and I did the install myself. They were really helpful and have a hotline for troubleshooting, give them a call as I know they do fold out units that fit in the 550's single din slot.