[JWA]

Hi Guys,

I just finished up installing a radio in my '08 STI and thought that you guys might like to see it and know a few things that I found out while doing it.

I'm not a big audiophile, but I love listening to Sirius in my car and prefer to have a better artist/song/info display than the factory radio with the Sirius adapter. Plus, the factory adapter costs more than a good aftermarket radio. So, I wanted to install the Alpine head unit that I had in my '07 into my '08.

DIN-sized dash panel
The first obstacle was the factory radio surround being sized an inch wider than the standard DIN size used for aftermarket radios. I noticed that the Japanese accessories brochure had a picture that appeared to show an actual factory radio surround dash panel that was the correct DIN width. I assume they make this to go with some of the optional radios and gauge packs that they offer over there. Japanparts.com listed an "AV Panel" for sixty some bucks, so I ordered one. It took them a week or so to get it and ship it, but they shipped it Express, so I received it about 36 hours after they shipped it. It is the correct panel, and I've posted pics of it outside of the car in another post. You can see it on their site by going to Japanparts.com: TOKYO GM SHOKAI KK and searching for their part number 317-008-028.

Steering wheel controls
The next item was the steering wheel controls. PAC Audio makes a range of adapters depending on the radio you are installing, but most modern radios support a standard where you just plug a single plug into the back of the radio. As I was using an Alpine, I used the SWI-Jack model. Installation involves hooking up two wires. They didn't have instructions for our cars yet, but I worked through it with one of their very helpful technicians and we figured out the proper wires. Based on this they have added these cars to their instructions. The website for their product page is here: Products.

Sat-radio antenna placement
I then needed to decide where to put my Sirius antenna. There didn't seem to be a good place to mount it on the roof without it looking cluttered. Subaru mounts the factory antenna in the upper-right corner of the windshield, which is ugly too. Satellite radio antennas aren't bothered by plastic in their way, only by metal. Behind the radio there are numerous plastic panels and HVAC ducts under the plastic dash. I placed the antenna underneath the dash, up towards where the keyless entry sensor is located. I've tested it all around town and it gets remarkable reception. Even most underpasses don't cause it to loose a signal.

Black Forester radio pocket
Last, I needed to decide what to do with the other DIN bay. All of the generic "pockets" or radio-sized shelf units that the radio accessory companies sell are made out of ugly cheap plastic for some reason. Porsche makes a nice looking shelf unit (Suncoast Porsche, Audi, & VW: Console Storage Shelf), but I prefer an enclosed compartment if possible. In the '07s most people used the silver "DIN pocket" Subaru put in an older Forester, but the silver didn't match the Impreza's silver. In my '07 I went with an older black Forester pocket that my dealer had laying around. The black one doesn't have the smooth opening mechanism like the silver, so it has a lot more usable room in it. You can order it here: https://www.subarugenuineparts.com/p...roducts_id=787

The '08 mounting brackets are sized properly to install a normal DIN-sized radio. The stocker is actually DIN-sized, it just has a the wider face on it for some reason. the brackets didn't have the proper hole for mounting the Forester pocket linked above, so I had to cut off the positioning pins and attach it with industrial velcro so that I could position it correctly. This turned out great, and it matches the black of the surround panel very well.

All in all it was quite easy and turned out clean and functional. The hardest part is getting the dash panel off. It's still easy to work with, but their tolerances have gotten so tight that the seam is nearly impossible to get down into. I have a set of the plastic panel removal tools, and if you work from the bottom of either side, near the angled section before the corner, you can get under there and pop it open.

Here a couple pics of the finished result:

[Spork]

Thank you for the write-up.

[Dj Hurricane]

Looks Good... Sleeper gauges in the cubby?

[JWA]

Originally Posted by Dj Hurricane

Looks Good... Sleeper gauges in the cubby?

Nope, just a mini garage door opener for now. I might try to rig it up to install my laptimer/data acquisition system in there if I have time before race season.

[S'poreSTI]

Thanks, great write-up. Not sure if i'll do this or not, depends which aftermarket gauge placement i end up liking.
One Q, was the stock HU a big heavy lump? did you get some decent weight reduction with a single DIN HU & pocket?

[bklynpanman]

Awesome.. looks great.. good news for us looking to put double dins in there also.. THANKS

[JWA]

Originally Posted by S'poreSTI

One Q, was the stock HU a big heavy lump? did you get some decent weight reduction with a single DIN HU & pocket?

The stocker wasn't that heavy. I doubt that I lost any weight after you factor in the head unit, pocket, two sirius boxes, steering wheel interface and iPod cable.

[RFFG]

Nice work...

[Subw00er]

Can you elaborate on how to get the dash panel off? Do the silver bits on either side come off with it? Is the panel just held on with snap tabs?

[JWA]

Originally Posted by Subw00er

Can you elaborate on how to get the dash panel off? Do the silver bits on either side come off with it? Is the panel just held on with snap tabs?

The whole panel is one piece. It just has a series of clips on the top section and a couple tabs along the bottom. It simply pulls off, but the trick is getting under and edge without scratching up the dash. Here's the thread where I posted pics of the new panel, which shows the clips as well: Factory DIN-sized dash panel

Getting under an edge to pull it off isn't easy with how tight the tolerances are on the fit. I have a set of tools like these: 5 PC NO SCRATCH FASTENER & MOLD REMOVAL NEIKO TOOLS USA - eBay (item 330213734535 end time Feb-27-08 15:51:13 PST) and with some work have been able to get the panel off a few times now, but it's always tricky. It seams to work best if you start from the bottom of either side, near the angled section before the corner.

Once that panel is off the radio and its mounting brackets are right in front of you.

[tshrey]

I found that you are safest in avoiding scratches if you get a large hook tool, stick it back through the vent opening and grab the back of the trim piece and give it a yank. Once you get each side of the bottom out you can use your fingers to pull the rest off.

[Bownse]

Thanks for the excellent DIY!

[Subw00er]

Thank you!!

[JWA]

I just looked it up and PAC did post the info on the proper connections for the steering wheel control interfece on their site: Imprezainformation

You need the yellow and the brown wire in the main harness.

[Gray08]

Great info. I am doing a similar installation with a Pioneer DEH-9800BT (with Bluetooth, XM & iPod). I'm using an open DIN pocket that will hold the mount for my Garmin 760, and the bluetooth microphone will probably go in there, too. It would be cleaner to just install an AVIC D3, but we like our portable Garmin.