[Scooter Scott]

So I just installed my DNX7100 into my '07 Escape.

We had many things go wrong during this install.

1) Despite the warnings about the metal clips scratching the dash, it happened Any ideas on working out these scratches would be great

2) I had a vent air freshner on my vent when we took the dash out, when laid down, the liquid came out and got onto the dash. It ate the paint right off and also ate through the plastic on the edge of the dash....it literally started cracking!

3) The vent on the passenger side of the dash broke at the bottom part of it...it's now holding on from the top part of the vent.

4) You can't piggy back any accessory off of another then plug it directly into the back of the headunit like you can, for example with any Alpine headunit. You need to by this switch that plugs everything in then routes it all to the headunit (there is an additional $80 I have to spend) I have the bluetooth add-on and the xm radio add-on. I had them piggybacked together...my xm only works when I hit Send or End on my phone while it is connected to the bluetooth.....and it only works for 5 seconds. Please see Crutchfield's Forums to get a better picture of what is going on.

Overall it looks great and it is a great headunit. Saturday was not a good day for me! If anyone has an extra dash laying around without the info center controls, please let me know.

I am thinking about just selling my Bluetooth instead of purchasing this extra switch. What do you guys think?

Here are the pics of myDouble-DIN after install. Sorry I didn't take pictures during the actual install.

These are taken at night so bare with me!

While installing I ran into the infamous metal clips problem as you can see below

And a funny story...I had an air freshner that clipped onto the vents. When we took off the trim panel we set it down, and when we did that, the liquid from the air freshner leaked out and ate the paint right off of the trim. You can also see that it cracked the trim too. Kinda nutz :bill:

 

[Scooter Scott]

I can't really say how mine compares to the Eclipse as I have never used one. However I do know that jmorton has used both units maybe he can give you a little perspective on the matter.

 

[Scooter Scott]

Originally posted by Jpark:

PS...here's the vinyl paint GatorJ has used to patch vinyl scratches:

Clicky

They also have mix-it-yourself kits:

Clicky

 

[Scooter Scott]

Sweet can't wait to see your setup! And welcome to the forums!

 

[Scooter Scott]

wow...I didn't realize alpine could put out such a poor product. Alpine used to be top of the line!

 

[Scooter Scott]

I've heard that Alpine units have went downhill overall...not just in the nav units but that their stereos haven't been up to par either...

 

[Scooter Scott]

Lookin Good! :thumb:

 

[Scooter Scott]

For a double din you don't need an install kit. The headunit should slide right on in the slot w/ a little trimming around the plastic and then use the supplied plastic trim that comes with your headunit for the finished look

 

[Scooter Scott]

Make sure you have the Ford Stereo keys that look like a 'U'....that' what you need to take it out....it should slide right on out if you have those keys.

 

[Scooter Scott]

I graduated in '06 from the School of Informatics

I secured it with a peice of metal that is screwed into the metal tube that goes through the dash and then bolted onto the back of my receiver.....put it this way...if someone wants to steal it, they won't

HOO HOO HOO HOOSIERS!!!

 

[Scooter Scott]

Nope don't know him. Even though Informatics was really small at that time...I didn't know any of the upper classmen at all. I was originally going to start out in Kelley, then SPEA, then decided on Informatics

You missing it there yet?

 

[Scooter Scott]

I really like it! It does a few quirky things that are not a big deal but all in all its a great device and sounds great!

 

[Scooter Scott]

There are metal clips on the back of the dash piece that are metal and will scratch the crap out of your outer dash trim. Make sure to be careful with those!

 

[Scooter Scott]

You got it bud.

 

[Scooter Scott]

In my Jeep or in my Escape?

 

[Scooter Scott]

No install kit...it sat right in and used a scrap peice of metal to secure it to the tube bar that is in the back of the center dash. The trim peice came with the stereo and we just modified it to fit correctly.

 

[Scooter Scott]

Yup!

 

[Scooter Scott]

Just take that wire and ground it to the head unit itself....I just bolted it straight to the back of it If you hook that up to your parking brake then you can only watch video while parked. Instead you want it to work all the time so it needs a constant ground. Just bolt it right back to your headunit :cigar: