Bose Radio Repair $240-295 too much??

[PHXVETTE]

Hello,

Like many of you my CD player on my bose stereo stopped playing cd's on my 94.

I found a local radio repair shop that has rebuilt units on their shelves waiting to be purchased for anywhere between $240-295 depending on model # (with core).


Is this a reasonable price? Apparently the units have been completely refurbished. I will open the box before accepting a unit to ensure that it's look is up to the one I’m turning in.

BTW the place is:

Jimmy's Radio
Phoenix, AZ

602-264-1379

Any thoughts?

 

[Lani's 93]

There is a place in FL that will rebuild yours for $195.

Email address:davies@corvetteparts.com

"The tune up special for your CD head unit takes approximately 3-4 days, once we receive the unit. The CD mechanism is exchanged out, cassette is cleaned and rested, and any burned out bulbs are replaced. We offer a one year warranty. Please call if you need advise on how to remove unit, and shipping instructions."

Bob
1-800-236-2383

Hope this helps, mine's that way too if only other things quit breaking I'd get it off to him. Lani

 

[jwn4854]

the chevy dealer will do an exchange for around $150.00. mine has been removed and a pansonic in place. hope i dont lose too much value with that.

 

[kfehling]

Try Doctor Don's. I have and have been very happy with their service and prices. Call him first to discuss your issue.

http://www.doctordons.com/

 

[Edmond]

I got a Alpine 10 disc changer not too long ago from Circuit City for less than $250 intalled.

 

[Corvette-Pilot]

I have been looking for a CD unit for mine. I can tell you that they are going for $400+ on eBay. Most of them seem to be rebuilt and warranty for 1 year.

I to would rather spend $200-300 on a high quality aftermarket unit before paying $400 for a used unit. Just save your original incase you sell your car so you can put it back in. Then you can put that fancy new deck into your next Vette.

 

[69MyWay]

Unless you are just trying to keep the car stock, I vote for getting rid of the Bose. It is the most over engineered, complicated, terrible sound system ever created in a car.

The problem is that you head unit is just a control panel more or less. There is another unit under the dash on the passenger side that controls the tuner, speed volume, etc. You can rebuild the head unit, and have a tuner failure right after that. Then there is the whole issue with individual amps on each speaker. GEEEEEEEEEEZ, what a mess. If you were to rebuild the whole system you would sink way too much money in it. My head unit on my 90 has been rebuilt upwards of three times now (twice since we owned the car, and at least once before judging by the sticker on the unit when I removed it). Then, the tuner went out, and put the sound system down for like a month while waiting on it to come back, plus you have to stand on your head to remove it from the car. We also had two rear amp and speaker failures back in 98. I replaced those with used units, then she blew one of those speakers right away!

I ended up yanking all of it. I installed a Sony am/fm cassette, CD controller head unit. I actually hacked the old bose stereo case open and mounted the Sony in the old Bose chassis. I then shoved a 200 watt amp and 10 disc changer in the right rear cubby. I put Polk audio speakers in the old bose locations, and put a MTX 10" sub in a box bolted to the floor in the back. You can still put the roof panel in just above it.

The sound is amazing, and is far more crisp, clean, and powerful than the old bose (especially on the bass response).

Plus, having a cassette player in the dash should discourage all but the most desperate of crack heads from wanting to steal the radio since Cassettes have gone the way of the 8 track player. However, I do some continuing education and those study guides only come on cassette, so it gets plenty of use still.

 

[Vettelt193]

;stupid Bose is a real hunk of $#%! If you don't care too much about keeping it original, buy a new stereo.... you can always keep the bose unit if the next guy wants to put it back in... I honestly don't think an aftermarket stereo will de-value C4's... everyone knows about the Bose problems

 

[PHXVETTE]

Good advice so far

Thanks for the input...

The replacement units I assume are the GM form factor?

Also, I will be replacing all 4 speakers with standard "no amp" ones. Can the covers be reused? I am thinking primarily of the rear speakers. If not, what does the end result end up being? Are there "Corvette" Style covers to fit the stock mount locations?


Regards,

Bill Hart

 

[69MyWay]

You can drop the aftermarket speakers right in the stock hole and reinstall the factory speaker grille. I used POLK brand as noted above. I can't remember the size of the speakers, but the folks at Circuit City were good about helping me get a good fit.

 

[Vettelt193]

Re: Good advice so far

The replacement units I assume are the GM form factor?

I had a double din (din is the regular size stereo, so double is twice as tall) in my '93 and it fit right into the spot in the dash.... Another thing i have seen is putting a stereo in, then below it putting in an equalizer to fill in the space.

 

[69MyWay]

Re: Re: Good advice so far

I had a double din (din is the regular size stereo, so double is twice as tall) in my '93 and it fit right into the spot in the dash.... Another thing i have seen is putting a stereo in, then below it putting in an equalizer to fill in the space.

I put a little pocket deal that is just large enough to throw in a pair of sunglasses, a C.D., cassette, or stick of gum.

If you guys like, I can snap a pic an upload later tonight.

 

[searay270]

Dr Don's the best

I highly recommend that you send your CD/head unit to Dr. Don. I have never received such service from a vendor as I experienced while contemplating what to do about my 93's problem.

I "won" one of Dr. Don's ebay auctions for the CD restoration for $112 - the one he usually sells for $150. He seems to have this aution up all the time. It also included needed restoration for the Cassette unit. Removing the unit is not all that hard, and you can find the instructions on the internet. Check back at the various threads dealing with this subject before making a final decision. In any case, I would NOT purchase a second unit - not when you have Dr. Don out there!

Regards,

Jack
Sarasota, FL

 

[Corvette-Pilot]

Re: Re: Re: Good advice so far

I put a little pocket deal that is just large enough to throw in a pair of sunglasses, a C.D., cassette, or stick of gum.

If you guys like, I can snap a pic an upload later tonight.

Where did you get the pocket piece?
I know there are adaptor plates that center the radio and fill in around it with black plastic. I used one of these in my Dodge RAM (also uses D.D.)

 

[69MyWay]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Good advice so far

Where did you get the pocket piece?
I know there are adaptor plates that center the radio and fill in around it with black plastic. I used one of these in my Dodge RAM (also uses D.D.)

I believe it was Circuit City with a universal mount system.

 

[PHXVETTE]

Now I'm on the fence.... MP3 addon anyone???

:confused


Lots of good ideas...

I am no fan of the current Bose system, but the dash looks pretty styling with all orange backlit LEDs at night.

I cant believe I just said that.

I just had a new thought..

I hate having just ONE CD in there and swapping it out. If I could just get a MP3 (portable unit, either harddrive or CD-ROM based) that would be killer.

You can fit so much more music on there plus create your own "Jam"


Any ideas??? What about those radio based 'input' devices that allow you to use a low power FM signal with your radio.

I think those tape adapter things are kinda messy and low quality audio.

I know that there are many new Car Audio devices that have MP3 capability, anybody have a recomendation?

This almost could be its own thread!

Regards,

Bill Hart

 

[69MyWay]

Bill,

Most new car indash cd players are now MP3 compliant. Sony has a great line of products. YOu burn your MP3 based CD, pop it in the dash just like a normal CD player and you are off and running.

This puts you back to getting an aftermarket head unit, yanking all the bose stuff, and hand making, or buying a mounting kit.

Don't know if they still sell them, but there was a product on the market that would allow you to mount an aftermarket head unit and keep the bose speakers and amps for about $100. A friend of mine bought one and was unhappy with it. However, he is a sound freak and ended up with nearly 1,000 watts of power, two 12" subs in box that ruined the use of his rear cubby all in favor of the stock style system.

Check out the Sony Xplod series, and I think you will find they have a great price and great product for the MP3 recordings.

 

[maxm]

69MyWay...please post a few fotos.
I have spent ceveral days staring on the "black hole" in the car.
Max

 

[69MyWay]

69MyWay...please post a few fotos.
I have spent ceveral days staring on the "black hole" in the car.
Max

Doh! The car is now at my buddies shop while I work on his 71. I dropped it on the ground yesterday for the first time since mid September (see my other threads about the full suspension rebuild, clutch replacement, and rear gear swap).

Next time I am at Daves (about 15 mile out) I will snap a pic and post if for you.

 

[vigman]

Best of both worlds

My head unit is a Kenwood that wasn't MP -3 compliant... but the changer was... go figgure!



Vig!