Swapping W505 to 920R

[CocoPops]

I think a few of you have done the swap from MY10 505(with blackbird) to 2014 920R.

so what tips can you share?

My swap from Alpine 505 to Pioneer was easy in comparison, but maybe we're missing something.

[JG220]

If someone could explain to me how 505 even works that would be great 

It looks as though it does not use the traditional grey cables in the standard alpine block connector for front speakers

It has an aux output with front, rear and sub connectors. the odd thing is that the sub and tweeters seem to be signalled from the sub, and then even stranger, the front  speakers can also be signalled through the same bit of wire to the amp or into imprint. 

In other words i don't really understand it. 

[nigelh]

The 505 with Imprint module seems to be quite an odd setup - I've just taken it out of my car in favour of a current Pioneer model.

The audio goes from the head unit to the Imprint module via the proprietary Alpine connector.

The sub channel then goes from the Imprint module to the sub amp in the rear via an RCA cable.

The front channels go from the Imprint module back into the head unit via the RCA cables that are normally used as outputs!  (There's a couple of physical switches on the head unit that change it to this mode of operation)  The head unit then acts as the amp for the front channels and feeds them back out through the normal speaker wires.  Further down the line there's a crossover that splits the front channel between the main speaker and the tweeter.

As for the original question - I'm afraid I don't really know anything about the 920R

[PaulCP]

Reading through previous threads it seems as though a couple have been converted by Alpine dealers whilst others only appear to have had problems with the reversing camera. 

Maybe different looms dependant on model year??

[EuropaSman]

On 07/02/2016 at 16:12, PaulCP said:

Reading through previous threads it seems as though a couple have been converted by Alpine dealers whilst others only appear to have had problems with the reversing camera. 

Maybe different looms dependant on model year??

Harness A132M0326F, listed in Section 17.01, Page: 3 of the Service Parts List is needed for the Alpine INE-W920R/INE-S920 from what I read in one of the other threads on this topic (see below). I know the W520R is just a straight swap for the W505. I wonder if the W987D uses the same harness as that for the W920R as that for me would be the best upgrade path if sticking with Alpine and having a similar look to the W505R (mine doesn't have the Blackbird, instead I've got the separate M300P module).

I know the reversing camera feed is a composite video signal (NTSC format) via a RCA connector, and the "reverse" lead set up for the 505/520 and 920 looks similar with the head unit getting the signal to switch to the camera when reverse gear is selected so I'm not sure why there would be camera problems.

Jovver on MLOC is a good person to speak to as he went from a W505 to a W920 (I bought his W505 off him).

 

Edited February 8, 2016 by EuropaSman
Mr typo error fingers at it again!

[Jovver]

If you had the old 505 I think you will  have the same wiring harness as I do. If so, there is  need to buy a new wiring harness. I bought the "new" harness that was listed as a requirement for the 920 and all Lotus did (through deRoure) was send me the exact same one that was already in my car! I'm not sure the later harness exists (if it does, Lotus couldn't find it) And yes, I did order the correct one...

No fault of deRoure I hasten to say, and they refunded me in full as soon as I returned it.

All you have to do with the original harness is cut the old reverse signal wire (green/ brown) and splice it into the one of the wires on the harness that plugs into the main connector on the back of the 920 (position 2, speed sensor from memory, but I'll check!) There's a whole thread about exactly where that wire goes on here. Without this, the reverse camera won't work obviously.

If you have the Imprint unit, the sub-woofer is wired through that,  so you'll have to lay another wire for the amp/  sub-woofer direct from the head unit (I don't think the Imprint is compatible with the 920).

I'd also leave the old GPS and Bluetooth units in-situ unless you fancy taking the entire top part of dash apart to remove them.

You can either use an adaptor for the original microphone, or wire the new one up provided with the 920. I did the latter and moved it to just above the steering wheel.

I looped the new GPS aerial under the passenger footwell and attached it there, works perfectly.

Also check the settings on the new unit for the revers camera, I can't remember if it's direct or aux. setting you need to use (again on the other thread) but you need to set that correctly to make it work. The unit works fine with the original camera by the way.

Light years ahead of the 505 in my opinion,  I can actually use the GPS on this one!

Edited February 9, 2016 by Jovver

[Jovver]

This is the name of the thread with the wiring diagrams for the head units and the reverse camera

Upgrading the Alpine W505 to the 920, issues with the rear view camera

[paul.p]

Just done mine today pm me if you need help

[JG220]

I need help

how did you do it. 

I have bought a new gps reciever, thats as  far as I've got 

[Jovver]

If you bought the Alpine W920r then you don't need a separate GPS Receiver, it's built in.

[JG220]

oh

[CocoPops]

No, I assume you mean aerial james?

where as jovver means receiver as far as internal gps sat nav unit.

[Jovver]

Ha, getting very confused now! As cocoPops said, you do need a new aerial for the GPS unit (which is built into the 920r).

Did you buy the 920r by the way?

[paul.p]

hi you need a new microphone and GPS aerial ,cut the pink and black wire on the main connector then cut and splice the green and brown wire on the single wire connector to it ,tape up the green and brown and that's it. just set the unit up and its done