Installed metra kit myself on Sunday. Decent experience. Details inside.
 

So I decided to take the dive and install the metra kit and head unit myself. My dad has experience soldering and working with electronics, and I figured with the internet I could look up anything I couldn't figure out.

It took a long time, sometimes I felt like I was going to break things when pulling things out secured only by plastic tabs. But nothing broke.

The instructions included in the kit were not very good. They left steps out and forget to mention things. Like the fact that the the head unit "cage" (just 2 sides in the metra kit), has to screw in where the vents are screwed in. They just unscrew and you pull the vents and they pop out with enough force. The vents still screw in and look perfect.

The instruction goes as far as wiring, and for the reassemble, it says go through steps backward.

Anyway, it looks great. I didn't have a problem with the wiring and soldering. Fitting everything inside was a little difficult, but not too bad.

Got a few battle wounds in the process, but nothing crazy.

Unfortunately I totally forgot to take before, during, and after pictures... I will get some the finished product pics up soon hopefully. I know, no pics, it doesn't exist. :)

Hopefully you have the latest firmware or else you'll have to take it all out to update the box :rofl:

no but seriously I fken hated jamming everything back there. Congrats which HU did you go with?

I went with a Sony Xplod double din. Xplōd® Double DIN CD Receiver

I don't think mine is upgraded to 1.4 my clock is already running over 30 minutes slow.
Is there anyway to turn off the clock in the display? My new HU shows time so I don't need it especially if it is slow.

I was trying to keep future mods, wiring, etc. in mind when I was putting everything back in. My subwoofer RCA outs that were built in with small cables hanging down are running under my HU ready to be connected and then I can drop cables down the whole center console to the trunk ( I hope ).

Worst comes to worse, I put my name in the mailing of the upgrade cables and then ship it on to the next person.

Unfortunately, there's no way to turn the clock off. Your best bet is to put your name on the cable list.

Good idea with keeping the RCA pre-outs handy for future use. If you're anything like me, you'll be taking that dash back apart in no time.

Haha, ya I already see myself pulling it out before the end of this year. I already have 2 12" subs that I got a long time ago from a friend. Just gotta test them out and then buy an amp and an enclosure.

Thinking a zenclosure with the acrylic view window that goes over that dip in the trunk and putting the amp there.

On top of that, I need to try and find a cable that will allow my steering wheel controls to work.

But ya, I now realize why people work on their cars so much. It's addicting!

Also look at SRQ Customs, they do a design in exactly the same style as Zenclosures, but they will customize it for you for the exact woofers that you want to use (to ensure the correct box volume, etc.)