Justin,

The car continues to come along! I installed the OEM+ system a year ago and love it. I put electrical tape over the gain control light - that tiny LED is blindingly bright! I've thought about changing the head unit: if I did, I would go with the same unit as you or a 2017+ BRZ unit. I'm curious, did you get an Australian-spec Kenwood?

The sound deadening material is a great add-on that I thought about doing when I had things torn apart to install the OEM+ system, but I skipped it. I don't have any rattles (knock on wood), but it would be nice to cut down on road noise. I doubt if I'll ever do it as I don't want to tear things apart like I did for the OEM+ install and judging from your photos, installing the Noico requires a lot more stripping down than needed for the OEM+ system. .

Have you tried the wireless Apple CarPlay yet with the new head unit? If so, how does it function?

Thanks, I'll see Trevor at training later this week if he is able to make it.

-Daniel AKA MugsBRZ

Loving the system! Sound is a big improvement. In order to keep the factory rubber mat, I cut it down, so the sub could fit. I also finished wiring up the rear view camera, which was simple: the red power wire I attached to the green wire next to the rear hatch lock, which goes to the reverse lights, and I attached the black ground to a ground location at the same sight. The trigger wire I mentioned above, and the camera attaches to the head unit. The red wire coming off the head unit input isn't used because the head unit already has a trigger wire.

https://i.imgur.com/uDDJIzb.jpg

@MugsBRZ ...My solution for the light was to improvise. I found a rubber nipple used to cover a vacuum port. I cut it in half then glued it over the light. The cover completely eliminates the blue light, except for a hint of light that peaks through a crack, which is good because it gives me an idea of where the gain knob is in the dark. I don't have a pic of the rubber cover, but I mounted my knob here:

https://i.imgur.com/VAYzITt.jpg


I mounted it there because it was cheap plastic--easily replaceable if I need to replace it. I used 3M tape to mount it then screwed it in. I drilled a hole in the back for the wire and wrapped the grey wire in black electrical tape, so has a clean look.

The sound deadening was a lot of work--A LOT! But, the effect is profound. On a scale of things:

--There is the raw sound of removing all the panels on the car.
--There is the sound of installing all the panels.
--There is the sound of installing all the panels with the addition of sound deadening.
--Then there is my wife's Audi Q5.

The car is much closer to my wife's Q5. I bet if it had sound deadening on the firewall then it would be super close. There is still engine noise, but there is minimal road noise, and there isn't the sound of rocks and debris hitting the wheel wells and stuff. The sound is much more isolated too. I can compare the sound of the system on road and at a stop, and they are pretty close, so I know the sound deadening is doing a good job.

On a side note: while I love a light-weight, raw, sports car, I often find the car is too light for the power on the street and too visceral at times. With that said, the extra weight of a passenger is enough to annoy me, but this has added weight low and to the rear, so the car feels more planted and more solid on the road because it feels less hollow and frail like the difference between an unopened can and an empty tin can.

The head unit is awesome. I would highly recommend it. The fitment is spot on (see below), but I did have to enlarge the screw holes a little, so I could align the system perfectly. The second it boots up it automatically connects to Apple Carplay wirelessly and without the need to push anything. The screen, the capacitive touch, the sound, the interface, etc are all awesome. Definitely worth the premium price. It did come from Malaysia, so probably Aus spec or in that time zone for DVDs, which I won't be playing in a car, but the radio works great.

I went online to Kenwood's website and download an update. I saw a review from an installer who said the wire going to the speed sensor that allows CarPlay to understand that you are moving or something is no longer required after the update, so I did that immediately. The number changed from 1.5.0009.4300 to 1.6.0009.4300. Here is a pic of the old number for reference:

https://i.imgur.com/TzGYtR4.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ogQVvWg.jpg

THAT @$$ :thumbup:

Wow, that turned out awesome! It's great to hear that the Noico has made such a great difference; it's annoying hearing all the little pebbles in the wheel wells and the tire noise. You have me thinking about it, but ugh, your photos illustrate how much work it will be. Would I have to remove the OEM+ system or just all the seats and panels and carpeting and headliner?

It's also fantastic to hear the head unit powers up quickly and is functioning so well for you. Would you mind posting the link or name of the retailer you purchased the head unit and dash trim from?

Great location for the gain control knob. I used velcro adhesive so I wouldn't have to drill into any plastic.

Another great project on the IRACE 86!

Yes, the Noico has made a huge difference. I don't hear my loud, squeaky, brake pads anymore. I don't hear road noise, so much so, that I am forgetting how bad it really was. You would have to disconnect the sub of course and slide the wiring harness back through the hole that is cut into the rear fender cover, which is fairly easy and straight forward, but no, you wouldn't need to remove the OEM Audio wires to lay the sound deadening. It is a lot of work, but it has definitely transformed the car up a class.

I used Amazon (for security) via Fasmoto, but you can buy direct from Fasmoto too. They are out of Malaysia. The dash trim is JPM Coachworks, who is no longer in business.

I swapped the bulbs from 6500k to 5500k. When looking at the headlights, they look more white and similar to the boomerangs and DRLs now. The 6500k bulbs had a bluish hue, which looked good too, but the output was a little too blue for me--a little too rice. There is a touch of purple to the top of the lights. These 5500k bulbs are more white with a hint of blue, and they are noticeably brighter too, but not by a huge margin.

Were you able to install the 80mil Noico without a roller/tool? Is it any easier than say, Dynamat?

Sorry I missed this question.

I used a roller tool. It was Noico's roller, which was like $10. It is necessary to used a roller tool. I used the round end of the wood handle on a few areas too where the surface was concave.

I received a birthday gift from my wife yesterday--the Kenwood DRV-N520 Dash Cam. Installing the camera was fairly straight forward. It plugs into the dash cam AV plug, and it plugs into the back of the headunit. There are three wires that I 'T' soldered into the Kenwood harness: red to red, black to black, yellow to yellow; it is obvious which ones.

The Kenwood Dash Cam integrates seamlessly with the Kenwood headunit. I can adjust all the settings from the headunit, as well as, watch and delete recorded videos. There are other features like lane departure warning, collision warning and delayed departure warnings that can be individually turned on and off and work pretty well.

In your interior you have the speaker pads with red stitching and black rings. Where did you find the black rings? Everywhere I see the speaker pads sold, it comes with silver rings.

I got my black 2013 BRZ Limited in 2015, also for 20k. She’s come a long way. You have one hell of a build there.

Thanks for noticing. Few do. It is all about the details.

I painted them myself. I wanted them to match the rest of my interior. I think I did primer, black, clear and baked them in the oven. It wasn't too hard and worth the effort.

Video of old updates. I need to make a new one with the sound system:

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06SpwaDTHa4[/ame]

For the noico sound deadening, you bought 3 sets of the 36 sq ft off amazon?

Yes, I used about 2.25-2.5 boxes. Someone could probably get by with two boxes.