DIY: Installing Pioneer AVIC Z150BH Aftermarket Head Unit
 

DIY: Installing Pioneer AVIC Z150BH Aftermarket Head Unit

Okay so this car is the first I've modded in any way and the more I do, the more I want to do. I started with doing my tail lights from a DIY and I have just gone from there doing it all myself...Having no wiring experience this head unit install was a little nerve wracking but I think with the help of the other DIYs (that I will quote here) and my experience it's safe to say anyone can do this.

So bare with me, first DIY but I'll do my best to skip over parts other people have covered well, and stick to the parts that I couldn't find any help on this forum about (probably because most thought it was easy/not worth detailing)

First off, I had the old Bespoke (canadian version) touchscreen unit installed in my FR-S and while it's good...I wanted better. Rear cam, DVD/video playback, GPS were all big for me as I spend a lot of work hours in my car.
Old Head Unit -->
Attachment 53395


I decided to go all out and got the Pioneer Z150BH Head Unit and so far I have not been disappointed. Sounds great, fast responsive touch screen and pretty good GPS. Video quality is excellent and setup is pretty straightforward. If you have any questions about the head unit itself let me know...
Here's what it looks like out of the box -->
Attachment 53396


Now let's get to the DIY:

What I used...
- Pioneer AVIC Z150BH
Found here: http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PU...on/AVIC-Z150BH
- Beat sonic BH1 mounting kit & wiring harness (looks good and includes both harness and mount kit which is nice)
Found here: http://www.beatsonicusa.com/bh1.html
- Pioneer's iPhone HDMI cables
Found here: http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PU...ables/CD-IH202
- Male/female bullet connectors for 14-16 gauge wires (found at Canadian Tire/Home Hardware/Home Depot)
Like this: http://www.homehardware.ca/en/rec/in...ppn/R-I8619042
- Optional: If you want to retain your USB connector and your stock antenna, you need two adapter cables. I opted for just USB as my stock radio sucks and I just use TuneIn radio for my iPhone which gets crystal clear local radio stations
Antenna: Lexus Antenna Adaptor ( I used Scosche LSAAB )
USB: just ebay: Axxess AX-TOYUSB (axtoyusb) Select Toyota & Lexus OEM USB Retention Adapter

This is all you need to get it setup properly. If you want to do the e-brake bypass, you DON'T need the PAC TR7 from eBay...Most people say you can't ground out the parking brake anymore (which is slightly true) but you can still bypass it with no additional adapters.
Follow this YouTube video: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nlCjHDrryE"]Bypass Pioneer avic-z150bh and avic-x950bh - YouTube[/ame]

Attachment 53389

Now for the installation process...Like I said I will reference some existing DIY guides I followed as they are done well and no need to repeat things twice.
1. To get your existing radio out, and to see the 3 stock harnesses you need to worry about, see this DIY guide
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8585
Keep in mind that he does not use the beat sonic wiring harness and instead needed to solder the connections. With the beat sonic, they provide you with bullet connectors for easy install/removal if necessary. The only wiring you really need to do, is add the correct male or female bullet connector to the POWER connector that comes with the head unit.
Here's the harnesses you will need for our purposes:
Attachment 53387

2. For help with wiring up the beat sonic, you need to know a few things. The POWER connector has all the bare wires coming out of it (as opposed to the ACCESSORY connector that has all of the red/white/yellow connectors coming out of it). Simply look at the Beat Sonic wiring harness wire colours, and match them up to the power connector wires. White goes with white, white/black goes with white/black, etc. Each wire on the Beat Sonic will have a bullet connector so you just need to add the opposite bullet connector to the POWER connectors corresponding wire, then crimp it to lock it on the wire. With male and female bullet connectors on each wire, you simply plug in the terminals and you're done.
Refer to this wiring guide:
http://www.beatsonicusa.com/Instruct...ual_En_BH1.pdf

That guide also shows you how to mount the beat sonic mounting kit onto the head unit. Keep in mind that it looks like the beat sonic kit goes on first followed by the metal bracket, but it does not. The metal bracket goes first, then the black mounting kit. Use the screws that come with Beat Sonic kit and your head unit, not the existing screws in the old head unit.

Here's everything all wired and ready to go:
Attachment 53388

3. Now that the "hard" part is done, you'll need to take your console out to get at your E-Brake connector. To get that done, follow this guide:
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15558
If you're having trouble getting some of the panels off (like the USB/AUX connection), follow this guide for help:
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13583
**But stop before you touch anything to do with the knee pad as that is all unnecessary**

Here's what it looks like when all is out and console is removed:
Attachment 53390

4. Connect the HDMI cord and usb cable that comes with the CD-IH202 kit. Then plug your USB to lighting cable into the USB end of the CD IH202. Then plug HDMI end + lightning end into an HDMI to Lightning Digital AV Adapter (apple.com)
Here is the final setup routed through to the glovebox (more on that later)
Attachment 53392

5. I connected an AUX cord to the ACCESSORY connector just in case I ever wanted to hook something old up that could only take AUX connection. (see above picture)

6. CABLE ROUTING
This part sucked. I basically did the easiest thing I could that looked stealthy. What that ended up being was the iPhone cable + AUX cable + GPS antenna through the right side of the head unit opening into the GloveBox. I cleared out my glove box and basically made it the "control centre" for my car as my iPad and all cables now sit in there alone. This let's my iPhone sit in the window mount free and clear on Bluetooth for calls and my iPad does the rest (videos/music/screen mirroring, app mode, etc.)
All you have to do to these cables is stick it through the back of the glovebox and then to the left, and grab it with your other hand on the right of the head unit opening.
For the new mic, I decided against removing the A-Pillar and trying to get it up on the OEM location as I had complaints from people that it didn't sound great so I opted to go through the steering wheel column and mount it right by my engine temperature gauge. Looks very clean (as only I can see it) and functionally it is PERFECT. Sound quality is way better than OEM.

Here is the MIC location:
Attachment 53393

7. E-Brake:
For now, I have wired the e-brake properly (legally). I want to see how much of a pain it is, because if I can live with it then that's the option I want to go with. To do this you simply feed the green wire (from the POWER connector) down past the HVAC panel, to the left of your shifter, and then attach the red clamp to the existing parking brake wire.

EDIT: I switched to the illegal way by bypassing the e-brake restrictions. If you want to do it this way...Simply follow this YouTube link: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nlCjHDrryE"]Bypass Pioneer avic-z150bh and avic-x950bh - YouTube[/ame]
Basically, you add a small wire to the left slot next to the mute wire (accessory connector) and connect it to the parking wire. Then take the new combined wire and connect it to the ground wire (which should already be grounded) -- DONE!

8. You're DONE! Make sure you zip tie all the wires into nicely packed bunches so that all the wires aren't getting tangled and stuff. Then just slide your new head unit back into the existing slots (making sure the black pegs on the bottom corners go through the metal bracket hole) and put all the screws back in and panels snapped back on.

Here's the final product:
Attachment 53394
Attachment 53391

Video Quality:
**VIDEO COMING SOON**

Let me know if there is anything you want me to add or expand on...I'm hoping I've covered everything for a successful install but I may have skipped over something

Looks great! I actually just posted a question in the Canada section of the forum and maybe you can help. I was actually looking at getting that exact same HU, and since the BRZ already has an aftermarket Pioneer HU do you think it would be a direct swap?

Is it the BeSpoke touchscreen unit? I don't think it's a direct swap you just need that new wiring harness + mounting kit from beat sonic as the head unit opening is a little larger than 7"

Double check on your BRZ but I imagine it's exactly the same as the FR-S in that it uses an amplified mic (adapter if you want to still use that), a weird 7.something" head unit and a slightly different wiring connector. Regardless, once you connect those little bullet connectors it is a direct plug and play (minus routing your new cables)

The Canadian BRZ comes with an aftermarket type unit (see below picture from my car). It already has the side mounting plates, etc. I'm just wondering if this means it's already pre-wired to accept any aftermarket headunit?

http://imageshack.us/a/img820/230/eqsettings.jpg

Hmm..well one easy way to find out is to just check...It's super simple.
Just pull of those two dash panels, unscrew the four bolts that are showing and slide it out...You can check the three harnesses and compare them to the ends of the Beat Sonic ones, if they're the same, they'll fit!

I'll try it, thanks!

If you're unsure just snap a picture of the three harnesses and I'll take a look at mine for you. Good luck!

can u specify which USB adapter cable is the one you bought? do you have any pics of it?

This is the one I bought...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Axxess-AX-TO...ht_1715wt_1399

I can take pics for you tonight just let me know if you still need it

added to directory

@tiz22 how much is the Z150 cost?

Glad to see another looking to do the same. While most don't like it, I'm looking to replace the stock BRZ unit with this...due to the basic buttons and phone/music I'll be only using it for.

awesome that's perfect. Thanks :) He just had a couple different ones listed and I wanted to be sure.

Pioneer has it at $1,200 it's pretty much top of the line I believe.

I got it off eBay for $845 but got slapped with a $100 customs fee (from now on I'll be telling sellers to keep the price off the outside of the box)
Still, at $950 it's a pretty good deal...No complaints with it so far GPS is quick and accurate and touch screen is very responsive/quick

No regrets here. It's a great HU

one question, since you originally had a bespoke unit, why didn't you just use the existing mic and connections rather than putting another one by your gauges? i believe the mic is located in the dome light section. just wondering as I am pondering changing out my HU too.

thanks

The OEM mic is difficult to tap into (apparently because it's amplified?)
I researched a lot into whether I would try to tap into that mic or use the one it came with and most people said using OEM is not worth it as the mic you will get in your new head unit is most likely better quality (and they were right).

The new mic in the new location provided much better sound quality, less wind noise (as it's not in my roof liner) and doesn't blast the door chimes into the other person's ear like the OEM does.

If you want a more stealthy look than what I did, it is possible to route the new mic up into the OEM location and you can simply a. remove old mic or b. tape it up out the way
But again...I didn't want the wind noise nor did I really want to spend the time routing the cable up there.

Totally up to you but it is possible if that's what you're going for.

Thanks, better is the way to go. Cool install again sir:party0030:

Updated with e-brake bypass method (No additional adapters needed!!)

Great post man! Just wondering since the OEM is a Pioneer unit as well, do the OEM USB and AUX ports work with the new head unit?? I have a Pioneer AVH-3500BHS that i have been wanting to install in my FR-S, thanks!

You can retain the stock USB port no problem...
You just need this adapter
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Axxess-AX-TO...ht_1715wt_1399

The AUX port is a little harder but it's super simple to just run another AUX cord from the back of your new Pioneer unit to your glovebox or something like that so you can still have AUX connection (Just harder to get it in stock location)...Don't know why you'd really care to keep that one though as it's not the most stealthy location anyway

Hope that helps

Built in gps? Don't have to buy a module or anything? I want it

Yup totally built in...I lazily put the antenna in the glove box (mounted to the side) and it connects in less than a second...Very nice interface...No complaints whatsoever

Definitely worth going all out on the head unit

Im thinking of buying it and running the aux cable under the center console. ..

I referenced a guy's DIY in my first post that runs his iPhone cables through the console into his center console...It definitely works well but with no hole in the center console you have to drill your own hole and then somehow make it look good..

I chose not to do it because
a. Couldn't think of a clean enough solution
b. I have an armrest over my center console and didn't want to open/close it every time I needed access to my phone
c. I never use AUX anymore now that I have the iPhone/iPod hookup + bluetooth + USB ... AUX is last on my list for how I connect (but still in my glovebox in case I ever need it!)

Yea I know bu today I was looking and I can just run it through the center console and have the cable come out of the side of the console ...is loose enough

It does help thanks man!! I just wanted to do that since i kinda want to keep the "stock look" lol :happyanim:

Installed the Rydeen Duo into this head unit...Very easy setup and has really good adjustable parking lines

nice head unit and install.

On a completely unrelated note...

Nice bug catcher. Is it original or reproduction? Are you actually using it, or is it just there for decoration?

I have a handful of them, but I can't seem to find an original one like that in the beehive shape in any of the antique malls. The search is part of the fun.

Haha hilarious that you noticed that in the background...I'm in my Mom's garage in that picture so it's hers...Not sure if it's original or not but my guess is yes. Also not sure if she uses it or not...looks to be more of a decoration for her

no it's not prewired. i got the car with this preinstalled. when i pulled the panels outs the deck was spliced into the oem harness. you can use pioneers usb without the ebay harness if you pull the oem plug out of the housing and use pioneers usb plug. you just have to line it up and apply glue to hold it in place.

Sorry for this question, but how update this radio?

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PU...H?tab=firmware

Merci beaucoup! :-D