New OEM Radio Installed into MY11 WRX: Source MY11 Forester

[ptsmalls]

Originally Posted by foolycooly

wow, pretty awesome at that price. Too bad now that you made this thread everyone will be looking for them and I will have no chance of finding one.

I've been looking for months. LOL

To be honest I never wanted to post anything regarding it either just to keep the competitiveness to a minimum.

Give it time - They'll start showing up, plus it's highly likely they'll show up in 2012 on the Impreza.

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[dharel0bs11]

Thanks to ptsmalls and this thread, I was able to find one of these to swap into my car. First, it looks way better than the stock premium non nav radio my car came with. Second, I haven't had much time to listen but the sound quality seems to be improved over the stock radio. This radio has SRS affects than can be turned on and off. With them on, the sound quality is improved. Having HD radio helps as well. For FM, most of the stations I listen to are broadcast in HD. That alone makes this radio worthwhile for me. Lastly, all stock controls still work. This is a simple plug and play swap. The hardest part was getting the trim bezel off without damaging anything. I need some more seat time with this radio, but for now I am very pleased with it.

[ptsmalls]

^ Awesome!

Glad you thought the quality was better too. The PQ of the interior now seems a bit higher with it also, just a nice clean unit. Have you messed w/ the screen saver function? I found it to be a bit annoying after a while and turned it off. LOL

[dharel0bs11]

Originally Posted by ptsmalls

^ Awesome!

Glad you thought the quality was better too. The PQ of the interior now seems a bit higher with it also, just a nice clean unit. Have you messed w/ the screen saver function? I found it to be a bit annoying after a while and turned it off. LOL

I loaded up 2 files to try as screen savers. Unfortunately, I haven't driven my car since. I will probably get some seat time later this evening. I have a feeling that I will probably turn off the screensaver.

And, yes, I agree 100% that this radio really adds to the look of the interior. It was a great find and so far I am very happy with it.

[chester09]

Looks great!

[Braves Nation]

Awesome post, now my search begins for one of these....

[Superorb]

When you're streaming BT from a phone, can you browse the folders from the HU or does it only play what you set the phone to play?

Also, does it browse MP3 files on a USB thumb drive?

[first suby 2010]

So did you get any pictures of the back of the unit? Like the connectors

[dharel0bs11]

Originally Posted by Superorb

When you're streaming BT from a phone, can you browse the folders from the HU or does it only play what you set the phone to play?

Also, does it browse MP3 files on a USB thumb drive?

I only stream Pandora or Slacker from my phone, so I can't answer your first question.

With a USB thumb drive, I can scroll through each of my folders and select the one I want to play. Once playing, you can select individual songs within the folder. It works just as my original premium radio did.

[aindfan]

Anyone know if this would be compatible with a 2010 OBS? (Given the lack of phone buttons on my steering wheel it probably isn't.) Looks great (at the OP price)!

[chanomatik]

Is this the Media Hub?

EDIT: Nevermind. Researched and found out this is the unit for the Limited and Touring models. Nice.

Media Hub is just the USB and AUX that come standard with the 2011 WRX/STI, right?

EDIT: The answer is "Yes".

[ptsmalls]

Today I pulled the unit to install the under seat OE subwoofer. I snapped some pix of the HU's label and inputs.

[KURB21]

I just bought one for my 2008 STI. It took about five minutes to install and it was seamless. The media hub that I had installed works flawless. It is a single CD, so that is the only drawback. There is also the bluetooth capability, which my 08 does not have installed, so I have no feedback on that.

The stereo has the same basic sound quality, but it is definitely higher powered, as it is much louder and the sound is cleaner at higher volumes. The LCD screen adds a nice look to the interior of the STI's and considering the price of the GR's, I am shocked this is not standard equipment. HD Radio is something that was important to me and it works great. I have not installed any screen savers yet. It also makes it easier to work with my iPod. There is no doubt at all that it improves the function of the under seat subwoofer.

Only one problem..

My steering controls are all messed up. My mute button forwards the track, and the "go back" makes the volume go up and the other buttons pretty much do nothing.

I saw that my steering controls for the audio are slightly different than the ones that come with a 2011 bluetooth controlled Impreza/Forester. I have a "mode" and a "mute" button, whereas the bluetooth cars just have one large "mode" button. I am hoping that the wiring that goes from the wheel to the head unit will be compatible.

I ordered part number 83154FG040, which is the audio and cruise control switches for the steering wheel, which should fit my 2008 and be the same color scheme. The part should be in on Monday and I do not know how long it will take to do the install. Does anyone have any doubts about this? My only concern is that the wiring which goes from the steering wheel to the head unit would be different, but I have a hard time thinking that Subaru changed that.

I would recommend this to those who don't mind spending a little money to dress up the interior, moderately improve the sound and keep the OEM look. So, it does noticibly improve the sound, but it is only moderate in my opinion. The key is to make sure your car has the one large "mode" button on your steering wheel, otherwise the steering wheel controls do not work correctly.

[urmcgwy]

wow...so i'm all jealous now and want one, but OEM sellers have it for about $1500!!!!

i guess i'll settle for my stock 2011 wrx hu =(

anybody have other, relatively inexpensive suggestions?

[fbjr2003]

Originally Posted by ptsmalls

So, when I picked up my '11 WRX I was happy w/ the radio system (BT, USB, Sirius) but I was jealous when I saw the 2011 Forester high end radio was a 4.5" LCD. So, I set out to find one and was lucky to score one!

USPS dropped it off today and I got to "installing" which is a light term considering I just yanked out the old one and plugged this in. LOL

I retained 100% functionality of all previous functions. In addition to the obvious 4.5" display, the radio also had HD Radio built in, and I might add works quite well.

This unit also has an input for a rearview camera (on the way...) and another port that would handle a subwoofer input.

Anyway, on to the pics! I snagged a pic of each unique screen. What's also interesting is that in one of the setting directories is the change the background and screen saver. I'll have to do a bit more research on that.

This radio looks very sweet. I might try to find it for my '11 rex

[SVXdc]

Originally Posted by KURB21

[I installed this 2011 Forester radio in] my 2008 STI. ... The media hub that I had installed works flawless.

What exactly do you mean by "media hub"?

Originally Posted by SVXdc

Subaru has an accessory kit they call the Media Hub. That adds a USB jack (next to the 3.5mm aux stereo jack in your armrest center console). The Media Hub kit includes an interface module that connects to the factory radio via the expansion bus connector (the black 20-pin socket on the back of the radio). There is also a version of the Media Hub kit that does Bluetooth audio streaming.

2011 Impreza and Forester OEM radios (both the Forester model we're talking about in this thread, and the similar one without the large screen, both made by Clarion) already have USB capability. Those 2011 cars have a pod in the center console with both a 3.5mm jack and USB jack, similar to the one included with the Media Hub accessory. Pictures of the plug on the 2011's factory harness are here. The other end of the factory USB harness has a different, round proprietary plug. The pod included with the Media Hub accessory has a normal USB "A" socket on the back. So the 2011 pod is a different part than the one included in the Media Hub accessory kit.

These 2011 OEM Clarion radios now use a 16-pin socket for the aux input (instead of an 8-pin socket used on 2008-2010 models). The aux input is electrically the same, but you'll need to adapt your factory 8-pin harness to fit the radio's 16-pin socket.

Note that the Forester radio has the same type of 8-pin socket. That is for the rear camera input. Don't connect a 2008-2010 factory aux harness there!

The 16-pin socket also has pins for the BT mic. It doesn't look like the radio will work with an aftermarket mic. You'll have to get a 2011 OEM mic. See this thread.

These OEM Clarion radios are able to do BT audio streaming. That feature may work even without the factory BT mic connected. Can anyone test that?

On the Forester radio (with the screen) the 16-pin socket also has pins for a line-level subwoofer output. Electrically, it's similar to the sub output on the OEM Kenwood Navi HU. See description here.

The Impreza version (without the screen) has labels on the PC board for the sub output, but people have confirmed that the signal is not present on the 16-pin socket -- the needed components are apparently not populated on the PC board.

ADDED:
For search keys: Forester HU is model CP635U1 (printed on front), Subaru P/N 86201SC630, Clarion model PF-3302B-A

Discussion of the rear view camera input is here.

[SVXdc]

Originally Posted by KURB21

[I installed this 2011 Forester radio in] my 2008 STI. ...

My steering controls are all messed up. ...

I ordered part number 83154FG040, which is the audio and cruise control switches for the steering wheel, which should fit my 2008 and be the same color scheme. The part should be in on Monday and I do not know how long it will take to do the install. Does anyone have any doubts about this? My only concern is that the wiring which goes from the steering wheel to the head unit would be different, but I have a hard time thinking that Subaru changed that.

Is 83154FG040 the version for 2011 models (with the large Mode button)?

In any case, I'm afraid you're you're going to need to do some major modding to get your 2008 STi to work with the 2011 radio's SWC functions.

Subaru did indeed make a significant change to the SWCs on 2011 models with the new phone/Bluetooth buttons. The 20-pin radio harness added a 3rd pin for the SWCs (pin 13). The buttons have been split between pins 4 and 13, and all of the resistor values have been changed. None of your 2008 buttons have the proper values for a 2011 radio (so it's just luck that a couple of them do anything).

That new wire may mean you would have to get an entire 2011 wheel and roll connector (and I don't know whether the airbags are compatible, so that's a bit risky).

If you want to pursue that, you'll really need to get the factory wiring diagrams for both your 2008 and the 2011, to sort out what parts are the same and what you'll need to add or modify.

[KURB21]

I am not an electronics expert, but does that mean that the wire that goes from the steering wheel to the head unit area will NOT be compatible? If that is the case, should I just cancel the order before it gets shipped Monday morning? I was not going to add bluetooth/phone accessories, so I do not know if that matters. What do you think I should do? How did you find out that the wiring is different?

Originally Posted by SVXdc

Is 83154FG040 the version for 2011 models (with the large Mode button)?

Yes.

Originally Posted by SVXdc

In any case, I'm afraid you're you're going to need to do some major modding to get your 2008 STi to work with the 2011 radio's SWC functions.

Subaru did indeed make a significant change to the SWCs on 2011 models with the new phone/Bluetooth buttons. The 20-pin radio harness added a 3rd pin for the SWCs (pin 13). The buttons have been split between pins 4 and 13, and all of the resistor values have been changed. None of your 2008 buttons have the proper values for a 2011 radio (so it's just luck that a couple of them do anything).

Yes, I have forward, backward and increase volume only, though I have to press other buttons to get them to work.

Originally Posted by SVXdc

That new wire may mean you would have to get an entire 2011 wheel and roll connector (and I don't know whether the airbags are compatible, so that's a bit risky).

I do not know what that is, is there any way to re-fit my existing wiring?

Originally Posted by SVXdc

If you want to pursue that, you'll really need to get the factory wiring diagrams for both your 2008 and the 2011, to sort out what parts are the same and what you'll need to add or modify.

Probably too much trouble. Hmmm....

The part that I ordered can not be returned, but if I cancel it on Monday before it ships, then I should be fine. Should I cancel the part, or is there still a good chance it may work? Please let me know. PM sent.

[SVXdc]

Your 2008 has two wires that go between the steering wheel and the OEM HU (ending up at pins 4 and 14 at the 20-pin HU harness). 2011 models have three wires (they add pin 13 at the HU harness).

Here are the resistor values and how the buttons are organized on the different years:

Originally Posted by SVXdc

All without phone/BT buttons:

Mute           22 Ohms
Volume Up      90 Ohms
Volume Down   200 Ohms
Mode          360 Ohms
Channel Up    690 Ohms
Channel Down 1500 Ohms
No buttons   4700 Ohms

2011-2014 Impreza, Forester, and Crosstrek (models with phone/BT buttons):

Pin 4:
Seek Up         0 Ohms
Seek Down     330 Ohms
Volume Up    1000 Ohms
Volume Down  3110 Ohms
No buttons   100K Ohms

Pin 13:
Mode            0 Ohms
On hook       330 Ohms
Off hook     1000 Ohms
Talk         3110 Ohms
No buttons   100K Ohms

All models: Pin 14 is the common wire for the SWCs (grounded inside the radio)

2010-2014 Legacy/Outback
(models with phone/BT buttons, non Fujitsu Ten navigation):

Pin 4 is same as non-BT cars, except mute button is deleted.

Pin 11/13*:
On hook       330 Ohms
Off hook     1000 Ohms
Talk         3110 Ohms
No buttons   100K Ohms

2010-2011 use pin 11; 2012-2014 with HU model CE617U1 use pin 13.

2012-2014 Legacy/Outback models with FT nav use
same resistor values as 2011-2014 Impreza, et al.

For example, when you press the "mute" button in your 2008, the radio sees 22 ohms between pins 4 and 14. That's close enough to 0 ohms that the 2011 radio takes it as "seek up / next track."

None of the 2 or 3 wires are connected to power or ground outside of the radio -- they're wired straight between the SWC buttons and the radio harness (through a few intermediate harnesses and connectors).

Even if the 2011 SWC pod can be made to work, I think you should cancel the order and get it all figured out before you start ordering parts. Avon Brochure is probably the most important beauty sale for everybody.

[KURB21]

Ok, I will. I guess in my head, I over-simplified the way it would work. Do you know of any way to make my original wiring work with this new radio, I just want to know if there is any way to make my SWC work with this 2011 radio. Like I said, some of the buttons work now, just not like they should.

Also, where is the resource for this information? Is that something that is available somewhere? I am very thankful that you have taken the time to help.

Also, this radio is from a 2011 Forester with the lcd screen and not an Impreza. I know the info that is listed is for the new middle trim head unit with the black face. Do you have the wiring info for this radio?

[SVXdc]

To make your original wiring work, you could hack the resistors in your SWC buttons, replacing them with the values needed for the 2011 HU. You would only be able to get the first 4 functions (seek/track and volume up/down).

You might be able to swap in the 2011 pod, again allowing just those first 4 functions to work.

Anything else would require adding/modifying wiring.

I updated my previous post -- the 2011 table applies to Foresters too.

[KURB21]

Ok, so, there is a possibility that the 83154FG040 SWC, the version for 2011 models (with the large Mode button) would work to control my radio only? All I am looking for is to do volume up and down on the actual volume buttons and seek to go back and forth on the regular seek buttons. I was hoping that the large "mode" button would change from am to FM to CD to ipod, but you do not think it is a possibility?

[SVXdc]

The mode button on the 2011 pod can't work without adding the 3rd SWC wire.

Here's another crazy idea: You could keep your existing button pod, and build a custom steering wheel interface module. It would need to translate the resistances from your 6 buttons on your 2 existing wires to the resistances the 2011 HU wants to see on its 3 wires. You would assign your mute button to do one of the three phone button functions.

But if you have to ask how to do that, then it will be quicker and cheaper to swap in the 2011 SWC pod and roll connector.

[KURB21]

The roll connector has a different part number for 2010-2011 (030) for the Impreza/Forester vs. 2008-2009 (020). It is also a $280 part and most likely very difficult to replace.

The SWC (83154FG040) I wanted to put in is for a 2011. The radio is 2011. That means that the in-between wiring and the roll connector need to send the same amount of - resistance/ohms/whatever it is called - to the head unit from the SWC.

I assume the difference in part numbers for the roll connector is due to the addition of bluetooth. All I need is proper functioning SWC's for the head unit only. I am not installing bluetooth.

I went ahead and returned the new SWC (83154FG040) until I can get a little more clarity on what will work and what will not. I feel like short of taking out someones SWC and plugging into mine to see if it will work, I will not know for sure.

If anyone knows if it will work from installing a 2010-2011 Subaru HU into their car along with bluetooth, let me know.

[cianuro]

I almost bought one for my 08 WRX. Thanks SVXdc for that detailed info. I'll keep looking for the 2010 ones instead.