Considering Buying A New 1.6hdi Hatchback

[BigJohnD]

I'm looking at buying a new C4 1.6HDi 110hp Hatchback next year, probably after the 07 plate arrives.

 

I can't work out from the brochures or the website, or indeed the slippery sales people in the local dealer, what ICE options are available for the C4. What I'm after is a DAB radio.

 

Does the Citroën C4 offer a DAB radio option?

 

If yes, who makes it?

If no, how easy is it to replace the OEM radio/head unit? Is the ICE well embedded into the car, and linked into the car's ECU?

 

It may seem petty, but having had an in-car DAB radio for about a year, there's no way I'm having a brand new car without it.

 

Also, has anyone had the experience of buying a new car using Autobytel?

 

I currently have a Ford Focus and a Fiat Punto, and while both are OK, I feel there's better out there. A diesel Citroën hopefully? :D

[wozza]

Welcome to the forums mate.

 

As far as i am aware...No they dont offer a DAB radio. However its very easy to put another headunit into the car which does offer DAB. Can be done in 15 - 20 minutes.

 

The only issue is if you have parking sensors then its a little more tricky as the aftermarket unit wont give the audible warning.

 

All the units in the C4 though are made by blaupunkt.

 

The only option is the JBL upgrade which gives you a small subwoofer and more speakers with a more powerful amplifier which is installed under the front seat. Rather than using the internal amp from the headunit which is ok but not that great. It is one of the better stock systems out there though in terms of sound.

[BigJohnD]

Ta for the welcome, appreciated.

No they don't offer a DAB radio. However its very easy to put another headunit into the car which does offer DAB. Can be done in 15 - 20 minutes.

 

The only issue is if you have parking sensors then its a little more tricky as the aftermarket unit wont give the audible warning.

There's some good news then. And it would explain the sales guy reluctance to answer my questions.

 

Shame they don't offer a DAB radio as it would go with the tekkie toy image Citroën present for the C4.

 

There's also the issue of the DAB aerial. I doubt the supplied one is up to the job. Threading a second aerial lead through the dash and up to the roof won't be easy, though an internal aerial stuck onto the inside of the windscreen is usually OK but untidy.

 

And I take it there's no security issues, like the pre-flight check kicking off about an absent or incorrect coded radio?

 

I can live without a parking sensor, but not DAB!

[citroeneddie]

Big John

 

Welcome to the site, I'm sure all questions will be answered by next March by the C4 experts! I'll be looking to change my C5 for a C4 in early 2008, so I keep an eye out on this forum.

 

Regards

 

Eddie

[Welshguy]

The "Pre-flight Check" as you put it (lol - love it!) is unaffected...as long as the car's new stereo is plugged into the car's system while the engine is off, you wont suffer any ill-effects (a few Citroen's with the new CAN-BUS wiring system have been known to go haywire if a stereo is plugged in while the igition is on).

 

You will however lose a few menu's like the ability to set MPH or KPH etc...not a huge problem if you set them all (or leave them on dealer settings) before changing the stereo. Trouble is if any work is undertaken on the car (and they unhook the battery) or the battery goes dead then you face the possibility of the car's system's (speed, trip counter etc) changing back to default french units. You would then need to plug the original stereo back in to change them to UK units. Bit of a pain considering the amount of times I've had to do it. :D

[wozza]

He wont lose those menu's he will have a VTR+ spec all those controls are set on the steering wheels for us as well as the headunit so that does not matter. I have lost absolutely nothing plugging my headunit in.

[Welshguy]

I hereby stand corrected :D

[wozza]

Ask citroen if you can buy the menu escape buttons etc for the steering wheel and if its possible to fit them. Least then the headunit becomes pointless. If it can be done i cant see it being much to put a couple buttons on the steering wheel.

[C4VTRhdi]

Hi my vtr hdi is for sale £7995 if your interested. Comes with a certificate for a free service, so you wont have to pay for a service for 23k!

[C4VTS]

Does the Citroën C4 offer a DAB radio option?

 

If no, how easy is it to replace the OEM radio/head unit?

I was thinking about getting a Blaupunkt DAB54 fitted, and might still do one day, but the roof aerial would have to be replaced which really needs to be done by a professional installer plus the cost of the aerial itself, it could cost about £200. Also I would not be wanting to be without the rear parking sensors audible alert.

 

I have tried my old Blaupunkt Los Angeles non-DAB unit in my C4 and it was much louder and better sound quality than the standard radio.

 

I actually drive most of the time without any radio on, as I prefer to hear my C4 :D

[ham's c4vts]

welcome big john :D

[BigJohnD]

Thanks for all your replies - really helpful.

 

It does seem as though changing the standard radio to a better one is a bit of a pain, though the sound is certain to be a quantum leap better even on the standard speakers.

 

The DAB aerial is always the crunch issue - I'm wondering if I can get the dealer to install a DAB radio as a part of the sale before I take delivery.

 

Once you've listened to live footy on Radio Five in full stereo with scrolling scores, you never ever want to go near medium wave again.

 

BTW I had a 2CV Dyane in the 70s for several years, and still miss the comfort and versatility (but not the noise).

 

Hi my vtr hdi is for sale £7995 if your interested. Comes with a certificate for a free service, so you wont have to pay for a service for 23k!

Sounds like a great offer! Hope someone takes it up soon.

[wozza]

DAB aerial should not be too difficult looks like the head liner comes away fairly easily. Think Mike has had his off already. But citroen do have DAB headunits on the accessories site... i think.

[BigJohnD]

DAB aerial should not be too difficult looks like the head liner comes away fairly easily. Think Mike has had his off already.

I'd like to hear about Mike's experience. It's not always the roof and pillar trim that's the difficult bit - it's access behind the dash, to thread the cable around air bags and through bracing panels and the like, without dismantling the entire dash and not breaking/damaging the clip-on plastic trim/panels.

 

But citroen do have DAB headunits on the accessories site... i think.

I can't see anything on the Citroën Accessory site which stands out as DAB for any model. Citroën haven't answered my e-mail about DAB I sent about two weeks ago; however, they send glossy but useless brochures with my local dealer's address (as if I didn't know where they are) at the drop of a hat.

 

Citroën need to wake up - Vauxhall are offering "CDC40 radio/6 CD changer+GID+DAB+7 speakers+SW controls" for £400 as a new car option across their entire range. I'd guess their standard aerial is dual FM/DAB spec. I could well be walking into Lookers instead. :P

[wozza]

French site is a better one to check the british site only just came online a few days ago its bloody hopeless. The french site lists everything.

 

Theres a selection of blaupunkt headunits available though. But getting wires behind the dash is not difficult i could do it for you with headunit and aerial for less than £400.