Just to update, I went back to the scrapper and swapped the unit for another one. This time I disconnected the battery to change them as ive now read that you should do that :) and the new one is working fully . Well chuffed. Just the radio now so finger crossed.

It seems we're doing a good job here of dispelling this "you can't use the cigarette lighter from one car in another or your engine will shut down" apparent myth!

It hence seems that:

1. Use parts with the exact same part number from a scrappy (mirrors, DDMs, PDMs, Climate etc) and, if you disconnect the battery before swapping, you seem (generally) to be ok.

(@Stekelly - let us know how you get on with the radio head unit!)

2. Upgrades between parts (e.g. one model of head unit to another) may be more problematic (with some functions not working properly) but it seems unlikely they'll kill your car. Perhaps anyone who has done this successfully (or otherwise) can post here?

3. A Volvo tech may be able to code your car to make different 'stuff' work.

4. There's even some evidence of people who have bought a "D5" that started out life as a petrol - so that's a complete engine and ECU swap into a different donor car - and the car apparently works perfectly! See here: http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showth...IN+DVLA+petrol

Just to clarify, I was upgrading from the basic manual aircon unit to the climate panel with the buttons to change fan direction and the dials to set actual temperatures rather than different degrees of cold and hot . So it doesnt even have to be the same parts.


I Have the centre speaker and the amp, just need to get me a head unit and ill be ready for the upgrade. Is the wiring there already or will I need the loom that goes from the radio to the amp under the seat?

Just wondering if you have any updates on how you got on with the radio?

CheeRS John

Only got around to ordering the radio on Thursday. It was posted Friday so hopefully I'll have it tomorrow or Tuesday.

Does anyone know if the cable for the amp is installed (from radio to under the seat) in all models or will I need that too? I have the amp.

If your existing headunit didn't use an external amplifier and the amplifier was built in to the headunit you need the DIN cable and you will be re-wiring the speaker leads as they will currently go to the rear of the headunit rather than where the amp lives under the drivers seat - Mike

Ah right. I assumed it would be a case of just unplugging from the old radio and then use the harness that runs to the amp under the seat instead.

Do you know the part number for the amp or should any of them do? I'll have to go my my box of bits and see what p/n is on the amp I have.

Im guessing the harness I'm after is 3533717 ?

Looks like the experiment is delayed till I get the cable. Radio is due in today according to UPS tracking . Was on to a mate that works in parts for a Volvo dealer and its €84 from them. Volvo parts guy on ebay in the US has one for $61 delivered. So £70 Vs £38. Might play the long game and go with the US seller.

Still waiting on the cable to arrive but had a few spare minutes there today so decided to stick the radio in . Followed proper procedure this time and disconnected the battery first :-) . Plugged it in , put everything back together and connected the battery. Radio worked straight away, steering wheel controls and all. Obviously I've no sound yet because the amp isn't connected but visually all looks ok. Hopefully I wont be waiting too much longer for the cable and I can report back that all is well.

Cable arrived today so I hooked it all up. Centre speaker sprung in to life but nothing from the others so I'm guessing I've a dud amp? :(

I cant find my multimeter to check but I assume the power cable under the seat is always on and doesn't need activating or anything?


EDIT: Panic over and crisis averted. :-) All is well. I never checked the fuses. Because my car didn't have the amp to begin with there was no fuse in that slot. Stuck one in and everything works :)

So to summarise. I started with a Hu-601 and I've swapped in a HU-801 and amp. As well as that I've upgraded the climate control panel from the base one with just the dials to the one with the buttons in the middle (in shape of seated man) and everything is working spot on. No massive electrical failures or trips to the dealer. Just swapped in and working.

Only issue now is a CD error message I got when I put one in and now I cant get it back out :(