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Is it possible to replace the standard radio/cassette with an aftermarket stereo, eg a Sony, Alpine etc ?.

Yes, you can buy a lead to simply plug and play without any cutting of wires.

Most car audio shops/Halfords sell them.

jakethesnake wrote:Is it possible to replace the standard radio/cassette with an aftermarket stereo, eg a Sony, Alpine etc ?.

I've put in my 2002 Polo 9N an Alpine CDA-9835R and it wasn't necessary any adaptor because most of the aftermarket radios have now ISO Plugs compatible with the plugs we have in ours Polos. The only thing that I needed to do beside plug and play the cables was connecting just one cable (the dimmer of the radio display) to the cable of the lighting system of the car but just some radios have this cable.

Go for it, I have noticed an tremendous increase of quality just by changing the radio even with the OEM speakers.

I also replaced my stereo (well, actually I put a new stereo becouse my car didn't come with stereo) and worked perfectly. BUT, 1 year later, the dash board stopped making sounds (low fuel level, blink indicator, etc.). I went to my dealer and they replaced the entire dash (well, the cluster with the rev and speed counter, you know), and they told me it had been damaged becouse of the stereo. They said it had to be installed by VW becouse there was a non-standard cable that caused the problem. I don't believe them, but that's what they told me.

Hope it helps

There's one cable to have in attention, the K-line bus cable. This cable is linked to the car diagnostics system and when putting an aftermarket radio this cable must be isolated verywell because if we don't do that it can cause troubles!

So they were right. I wish I knew it beofre putting the stereo. But, this is my own opinion, if it is a ISO (standard) connector, then why there is a "different" cable??
Anyway, the new cluster was replaced in warranty, so no problem!

thanks!

kliis wrote:So they were right. I wish I knew it beofre putting the stereo. But, this is my own opinion, if it is a ISO (standard) connector, then why there is a "different" cable??
Anyway, the new cluster was replaced in warranty, so no problem!

thanks!

That depends of the radio you installed, but as far as my knowledge even if the connector of the new radio didn't connect to the k-line cable I would still isolate it! Basically if anybody want to change their radio for an aftermarket one they should connect only the cables of power, speakers and dimmer light (optional). All the rest remains untouched!