Do I need a wiring adaptor for my new head unit? (volvo V70)

[Positive Ape]

so we've got this japanese import Volvo V70 and I want to put a new head unit in it.

It's got an upspec original system that features Dolby pro logic so it has a centre speaker

I'm just going to put a $2-300 single DIN head unit in it, mainly so we can get NZ radio stations.

I don't really care about the centre speaker

There are no steering wheel controls

Do I need to buy a specific volvo-to-standard-plug head unit adaptor or can I just connect up wires (twist and tape?!)

Oh, also the aerial, is that likely to be a problem?

Thanks a lot

-Ape

[tortron]

you can twist and tape to the head unit plug, they often come with pigtails .

would be nice to get a volvo to sony or whatever if available

 

 

used to get a band expander to adjust the frequency band to suit nz. wonder if those are still a thing

 

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/car-stereos/other/listing/5571332017

theres one $10 and keep your original stereo cpuld be an option

[Positive Ape]

Hey Tortron,

yeah, we ran a band expander in our Mazda and it was alright but it picked up interference a lot worse than a proper NZ tuner.

also want bluetooth for the cellphone connection (effing K-pop on effing spotify  )

[Ghost]

What model year V70 is it?

Some of the later model stuff is VERY hard to change headunits on AFAIK.

[tortron]

you can sometimes bypass the factory amp, or go full VW golf and jam the infotainment screen up under the dash out of the way so it doesnt throw every code on the dash and call the stazi on you

[Positive Ape]

On 14/10/2025 at 19:16, Ghost said:

What model year V70 is it?

Some of the later model stuff is VERY hard to change headunits on AFAIK.

2005. Ok you reckon? I just realised it has seven speakers including the centre one

[Bling]

No aux in? Granted you'd have to plug in, it would remove the need for bluetooth and solves the FM radio bit too if your phone is equipped. 

[Doug Hill]

I had an 850 that I wired and Aux in to the tape player board, before the amp. There was an on-line guide for it I think.

 

[Positive Ape]

On 18/10/2025 at 22:06, Bling said:

No aux in? Granted you'd have to plug in, it would remove the need for bluetooth and solves the FM radio bit too if your phone is equipped. 

Nope

[Positive Ape]

Ah jeez, I pulled the factory head unit out today and it quickly became tricky.

Because it's the top of the line factory unit it has a separate amp and that is connected to the head unit with a circular, multi-pin, "din" connector. That's the 6 pin connector. And there is also an 8 pin connector that seems to not do much in my car.

Hopefully, all I need to do is make a custom connector that goes from the 6 pin DIN connector to 4 male RCA's and I will just bypass the amp on the new head unit. Which is a bit of waste, but never mind.

I've been deep into the interwebs trying to find pin-out diagrams and message board how-tos. 

And I've ordered the 6 pin and RCA connectors from Ali. We will see how it goes

 

yeah, Tortron, bypassing the factory amp was my first idea, but the advice I got was that the factory speakers would sound like crap without it

[Doug Hill]

That's why you wire to the tape outputs, or if it's a super CD stack unit you can run bluetooth jobbies in that way 

Otherwise you're in for a world of pain, or a world of Robbie Williams and Moby CDs 

[cubastreet]

it's all david gray and susan boyle at my sallies these days 

[Positive Ape]

white ladder!

[Positive Ape]

I thought I should update this thread.

 

It's sorted. I gave up and took it to the auto sparkies and they ordered the right patch cable that would connect existing amp to new head unit. For a good price too ($65 for the cable plus 1.25 hours labour.)

The whole thing sounds bloody excellent but there is some kind of mild interference happening, engine related, so I may have to take it back to them