Yep, just took my Pioneer out tonight, getting ready to trade the egg in for a new 2011 model. It was very difficult, and yes I had to break the plastic mounting bracket to get it out. I have an extra mounting bracket that Crutchfield sent me that I'm thinking of selling since I don't need it anymore. Let me know if you are interested.

 

What I do is remove the buttons from underneath. The heated seat buttons, air-bag light buttons etc... they pop right off. then it gives you enough room to put a trim remover/flat head screw driver in there to pry out the trim kit without breaking it. I've had to do it a few times to add on things. pop the buttons back on once you placed the head-unit back in.

 

I broke mine also. In fact Crutchfield told me to break it.

 

AcousticD, I'm not going to end up hooking up my amp and sub. I really like having the trunk space and not having to worry about disconnecting the sub everytime I load up something big. Plus, the factory "premium" speakers w/o amp sounds ok to me with the new radio. Although I do miss a little more bass.

 

...Can someone provide more details (...may be too late for pics) of what the exact problem is ? Is it that the particular way the 2-DIN adapter mounts in the T-regs that there's no clearance for the aftermarket stereo release clips to release ?

I'll be facing this eventually and just want to be prepared... if you don't go through the bottom as kustomkoncepts suggests, is a replacement adapter the only other way ?

Thanks,

 

This is the first car I've not put a sub into and I've been very pleased with the factory system. Don't need as much bass now that I'm in my 30s. Too old for all that apparently!

 

I was playing around with the EQ on the radio and I was able to get some nice bass tones from the speakers w/o still wanting my sub. I'm also in my 30s and I don't want to leave my young roots when I want to bump one of the new top songs.

 

The factory system sounds pretty good but when you add a sub, you realize what you were missing. Adding even a single 10" sub allows you to take the bass out of the factory speakers and bring out the mids which they're more suited for. if you're worrying about space get a shallow mount subwoofer and a small box. I have my amp mounted under the rear seat so i can remove my sub anytime I need more space. I'm in my 30's too so I don't need the bass booming all the time, but when I'm in the mood atleast I'm able too.

 

If I remove my VW factory radio only and replace with either Sony XNV-660BT or Kenwood DNX 6180, I should be able to use existing speakers and sound the same???

 

Rafals14, I think that all depends on which factory radio you have...
My understanding is, the base (non-NAV, non-Dynaudio) system does not have an external amp, and you can swap out easily.

If you have an external amp it becomes a bit more complicated....

 

Pancho, it is basic CD radio and I don't have CD changer in the back, just Sirius tuner box and some black plastic box there as I don't see any amp there. See photo as that black box is next to the 12V and prong plug. Would the amp be located in the same storage compartment as cd changer/sirius tuner or elsewhere, or my 2008 V6 Treg does not have it?

 

I believe that black plastic box is your trailer lighting controller (...assuming you have a factory hitch). I have an aftermarket hotch and don't have anything there.
There's also a "comfort system control module" in that area but believe that's further forward.

In any case it doesn't appear you have an amp, and the speakers should then be directly connected to your radio head unit...

 

yes I have the factory hitch and and it is wired, and I ordered the Pollak 11-893P 7-Way Sealed RV OEM Socket , as for comfort system control module I haven't looked that far but the vehicle has all these comfort features anyway. So then it looks like I should be fine swapping the radio since Kenwood 6960 unit is already pre-amped as it would not require additional amp for the 10-11 speakers I have on board. I am reading from these forums that most have better luck with kenwood integration as opposed to other units like Pioneer, Sony, etc. as Sony one was also appealing. I just purchased the vehicle 2 weeks ago and been happy. Thanks for the replies,