Installed vintage-look radio and easy single cup holder

[centerpunch]

My new car had the Blose system replaced years ago with a Kenwood, which just didn't fit the 1990's vibe of the car.

I ended up using a VDO/Continental unit that I've used in European cars before. Nothing fancy, but has bluetooth and front aux in. I added a NISSAN sticker I made. I chose the model with blue illumination because that's what the original Blose unit had.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B091Y3L22L

I used this wiring harness. My car had already been modified to bypass the Blose amps. Had to swap the yellow and red wires on one plug, and had to cut one wire to ground the unit properly.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B7P3WMLM

I also replaced the weird center speaker with a cubbie, and put two lighter sockets in that. Kinda a reach to plug something in, but will be convenient to have.

The cupholder is just a little plastic panel from ebay that replaces the ashtray. You're supposed to glue it in place, but I added a single hole and used a #10 x 1.25" screw from the hardware store to hold it in place, seems to work fine.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/266688087680

A few pics.

Vintage look radio in 300zx by centerpunch, on Flickr

VDO/Continental radio in 300ZX by centerpunch, on Flickr

300zx cupholder installed by centerpunch, on Flickr

300zx ebay cup holder by centerpunch, on Flickr

[itsa300zx]

Nice, look great! I really like the Nissan sticker

[centerpunch]

Nice, look great! I really like the Nissan sticker

Thanks!

Hey, I’m trying to send you a PM about an older post, but it seems to be stuck in my “outbox.”

Is there a trick to sending pm’s here?

[itsa300zx]

Got the message. PM will stay in the "outbox" until the recipient open/reads it.

[centerpunch]

Got the message. PM will stay in the "outbox" until the recipient open/reads it.

Ok another PM question. Is there a way the system notifies you when you receive a new message, or do you have to manually check periodically? This forum is a bit different than the many others I use.

And please let me know what you find regarding our other discussion.

[VStar650CL]

Ok another PM question. Is there a way the system notifies you when you receive a new message, or do you have to manually check periodically?

If you look at the top right of your screen, the link bar starts with "User Control Panel (0)". If the number in parens isn't zero, you have a message waiting.

[itsa300zx]

You can also choose to get email notifications for threads and/or PM
I will dig into my spare parts bins later this week, will let you know.

[centerpunch]

If you look at the top right of your screen, the link bar starts with "User Control Panel (0)". If the number in parens isn't zero, you have a message waiting.

OMG I'm apparently totally blind. Thanks!

You can also choose to get email notifications for threads and/or PM. I will dig into my spare parts bins later this week, will let you know.

Thanks.

[centerpunch]

OK, I realize that no one (except me!) cares about cup holders, but thought I'd add this to document where I ended up.

The ebay plastic part was OK, but since it leaves the oem lighter in the original rear location, that put the cup at the front, and everytime you shift you bang into your cup. Just too close.

So I removed the console, cut out the lighter section, added a cylindrical section from a cheapo cup holder under the ebay plastic part, and added a lighter socket. The plastic looked very shiny and cheap, so I prepped it for paint by sanding with brown scotch bright sanding pad. That took the gloss off and made the texture more subtle- a good enough match that I decided I didn't need to paint the part. Really was a time consuming pain, but I like it.
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cup holder by centerpunch, on Flickr
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cup holder closeup by centerpunch, on Flickr