First of all, english isn't my first language, so if there is any mistake, please, ignore them. Andid I did something wrong in my post, please tell me how to correct it.
Having a Seat Leon MK3 (2015), I wanted to change the car autoradio because it wasn't compatible with Android Auto. I was tired of having my phone hanging (a bit precariously) in front of my ventilation, very close to the steering wheel. When I received a quote from a professional for 900 euros, I nearly spat out my tea, and I went to look online.
I found this one (with a pretty nice seller, and some good reviews) : https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/1005004046368482.html
Delivered from Poland, in less than a week, so no customs issues, and the package arrived on time (don't refer to the item name, the website translates English very poorly, it's indeed for a Leon (and not a Valentine?)). Following the seller's advice, I bought an extension cable (which I didn't need) because the power plug is behind the CD player, in the glove box.
I wanted to help people who, like me, might have struggled for several reasons:
The first reason is that you need to know that my Leon has a small label (hidden in the trunk or in the official maintenance booklet) with the mention "8RM".
This mention means it has 8 speakers: 4 large ones in each door + 4 tweeters (2 next to the rear door handles, and 2 in the windshield pillars). However, there are two other versions: the code "9DV" with the 4 in the doors + a subwoofer in the trunk + a central speaker under the windshield. And the last version is the "normal" version, with just the 4 door speakers. Of course, the seller I had chosen only supports the "normal" 4 speaker version. So, I searched on forums and in reviews everywhere to figure out what to do. I went to Seat to ask for the relevant wiring diagram, and I came up with this diagram.
I needed to reroute 2 to 9, 3 to 10, 6 to 13, and 7 to 14. Given the thinness of the cables provided with the autoradio, I chose to use these small cables (recovered from a basic car radio adapter at Norauto, for 6 euros (the cheapest)) :
To keep it simple, these are 2.8mm connectors (I think) that I will plug into holes 9, 10, 13, and 14. Then strip a little and connect them to the other mentioned connectors (without touching the wires, I wrap them around the base of the other connectors and tape it with electrical tape). There they are planted in their slot :
You need to be able to remove the destination connectors, and for that, you need to press a mini tab with a paperclip, for example :
And now with the reroute :
Once that's done, the fun (or not) part begins. You need to install the beast. Open the glove box (press the sides to get it out of its hinges and have a little more maneuvering room). Use the keys provided by the sell :
And unplug all the cables behind (some have tabs to push, and for the big cable (quadlock? something like that), you need to lift a plastic part behind, as if it were a handle. Once the main plug is free, you connect and test the car autoradio :
And it works, you turn it off, unplug it. Now, you need to remove the original car stereo (also with the same keys), then unplug the cables and push them to the back, you won't need them. You'll need to pass the cable spaghetti behind (I start with the CD player slot and pass it in that direction because passing the big quadlock plug is impossible). You can use a cable puller or the first USB cable lying around in the car. Also, remember to thread the GPS cable (which you can see in black on the right of the image), and the 2 cables that provide USB ports (which will go loose in my glove box) :
After all this, adjust the cables, reconnect (the small supplied CANBUS box, the CANBUS plug, the power plug, the GPS, the USB, all of this on the car autoradio). And push it into place. And there you have it ! Congrats !
https://i.imgur.com/LbJLli0.jpg (link because 10 pic max)
Then you need to make a few adjustments (time, theme, phone connection, etc). You can store the old car stereo and the CD player in the basement now !
My second reason I has worry about was about functionalities that wouldn't be supported, and the "only" one is that the "mode" button (driving mode) no longer allows you to select the mode, you have to use the touchscreen interface and go into driving settings. The rest of the buttons work, the steering wheel controls also work. So far, no issues. I don't have a rearview camera (but the front and rear proximity sensors are supported without a problem), but I'm thinking of adding one (even if reopening all that cable mess doesn't excite me).
I also have the wire plan if needed, I tried to explained it to the seller, maybe one day they will adapt ...
Having a Seat Leon MK3 (2015), I wanted to change the car autoradio because it wasn't compatible with Android Auto. I was tired of having my phone hanging (a bit precariously) in front of my ventilation, very close to the steering wheel. When I received a quote from a professional for 900 euros, I nearly spat out my tea, and I went to look online.
I found this one (with a pretty nice seller, and some good reviews) : https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/1005004046368482.html
Delivered from Poland, in less than a week, so no customs issues, and the package arrived on time (don't refer to the item name, the website translates English very poorly, it's indeed for a Leon (and not a Valentine?)). Following the seller's advice, I bought an extension cable (which I didn't need) because the power plug is behind the CD player, in the glove box.
I wanted to help people who, like me, might have struggled for several reasons:
The first reason is that you need to know that my Leon has a small label (hidden in the trunk or in the official maintenance booklet) with the mention "8RM".
This mention means it has 8 speakers: 4 large ones in each door + 4 tweeters (2 next to the rear door handles, and 2 in the windshield pillars). However, there are two other versions: the code "9DV" with the 4 in the doors + a subwoofer in the trunk + a central speaker under the windshield. And the last version is the "normal" version, with just the 4 door speakers. Of course, the seller I had chosen only supports the "normal" 4 speaker version. So, I searched on forums and in reviews everywhere to figure out what to do. I went to Seat to ask for the relevant wiring diagram, and I came up with this diagram.
I needed to reroute 2 to 9, 3 to 10, 6 to 13, and 7 to 14. Given the thinness of the cables provided with the autoradio, I chose to use these small cables (recovered from a basic car radio adapter at Norauto, for 6 euros (the cheapest)) :
To keep it simple, these are 2.8mm connectors (I think) that I will plug into holes 9, 10, 13, and 14. Then strip a little and connect them to the other mentioned connectors (without touching the wires, I wrap them around the base of the other connectors and tape it with electrical tape). There they are planted in their slot :
You need to be able to remove the destination connectors, and for that, you need to press a mini tab with a paperclip, for example :
And now with the reroute :
Once that's done, the fun (or not) part begins. You need to install the beast. Open the glove box (press the sides to get it out of its hinges and have a little more maneuvering room). Use the keys provided by the sell :
And unplug all the cables behind (some have tabs to push, and for the big cable (quadlock? something like that), you need to lift a plastic part behind, as if it were a handle. Once the main plug is free, you connect and test the car autoradio :
And it works, you turn it off, unplug it. Now, you need to remove the original car stereo (also with the same keys), then unplug the cables and push them to the back, you won't need them. You'll need to pass the cable spaghetti behind (I start with the CD player slot and pass it in that direction because passing the big quadlock plug is impossible). You can use a cable puller or the first USB cable lying around in the car. Also, remember to thread the GPS cable (which you can see in black on the right of the image), and the 2 cables that provide USB ports (which will go loose in my glove box) :
After all this, adjust the cables, reconnect (the small supplied CANBUS box, the CANBUS plug, the power plug, the GPS, the USB, all of this on the car autoradio). And push it into place. And there you have it ! Congrats !
https://i.imgur.com/LbJLli0.jpg (link because 10 pic max)
Then you need to make a few adjustments (time, theme, phone connection, etc). You can store the old car stereo and the CD player in the basement now !
My second reason I has worry about was about functionalities that wouldn't be supported, and the "only" one is that the "mode" button (driving mode) no longer allows you to select the mode, you have to use the touchscreen interface and go into driving settings. The rest of the buttons work, the steering wheel controls also work. So far, no issues. I don't have a rearview camera (but the front and rear proximity sensors are supported without a problem), but I'm thinking of adding one (even if reopening all that cable mess doesn't excite me).
I also have the wire plan if needed, I tried to explained it to the seller, maybe one day they will adapt ...
