I'm going to try trimming the irrelevant babble in hopes of generating more responses.

Bought a 2002 Silver/Black about three weeks ago. I want to hook up my iPod to the HU.

I've short-listed either the factory HU hookup options (IceLink/Neo-something-or-other) or the Alpine HU + 420i.

So I'm having a bit of a dilemma and any advice would be appreciated.

If I go with the IceLink or Neo-whatever (forget the exact product name) I get to control the iPod with the factory HU to a certain extent. This would be the less expensive solution.

If I go with the Alpine I get full control of the iPod through the HU, including track display, which means the iPod can be tucked away out of sight somewhere. With this solution I like the CDA-9827 or CDA-9831. I like the idea of the motorized faceplace with tilt, and I like the dot matrix display because it's bigger (12 characters vs 8 IIRC). I will likely never add an amp or sub, which makes me wonder if it's worth it to go with the 9831 for a motorized faceplate and extra display characters.

I have a couple of specific questions, but any other feedback/observations would be welcome.

Does the Alpine HU sound better than the factory, without replacing any other components?

What would you do for the HU?

Will the DCI work with the HU faceplate tilted?

Thanks for any comments.

 

Hi and welcome to the group. I installed an extra cig/aux socket in the area in front of the passengers knees several months ago. I got it from radio shack as a "Y" adapter and cut off the section I wanted. It is wired in without being mounted and tie wrapped into the harness. As I had replaced my HU with a more powerful Alpine and had to run a new power wire to the battery I used the old radio power lead for the socket. I use it at this time for my XM radio. Eventually I will run another device off the lead also. It is hot even with the ignition off, I am thinking about putting a relay in series with the power lead and controlling it with the radio enable wire from the ignation switch.
Andy