CD Multichanger

[Von Croy]

Hi Folks,
Having just purchase a 1998 espace, to my horror, I've discovered that the CD / Multichanger / remote has been removed. Can anyone give the part numbers, and info of where I can find a reasonable cheap replacement.

thanks.

[Anders Dinsen]

Look at eBay - they are frequently offered there.

[Will Falconer]

My car came without the CD changer and although I obtained it eventually from the previous owner there was a major part missing which could not be replaced. The original equipment was identified as a very old Pioneer unit - discontinued well before '97 -  which only Renault could supply at a price that only Renault could dream up.

I fitted a Sony 10 disc changer with an FM modulator that plugs into the radio antenna cable so you just tune one radio station to the CD. It has its own control unit and doesn't interface with the remote.

If I was in the same position now I'd use an iPod instead...

[Von Croy]

How would I go about stting up my ipod?

[Will Falconer]

You can buy an FM modulator cable that connects into the main hi-fi unit under the right side front seat, the other end plugs into the iPod.

There are also FM transmitters which plug into the iPod and transmit on a frequency that you can tune your radio to, but these are illegal in some countries including UK.

[Anders Dinsen]

I have just ordered an iPod charger and FM transmitter for my Espace from a danish company: www.mytrendyphone.dk

[Lennart Sorth]

Without knowing for sure, I think those FM transmitters are still illegal in several countries, including UK.
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/mofaq/rcomms/itrip/

However, very recently (march 2006) they appear to have been allowed in Germany, which normally pulls most of EU with them, so hopefully this liberalisation will catch on:
http://www.golem.de/0603/44073.html

The FM transmitters are an easy way to connect your iPod in any car, but I hate to think about the potential disturbance, if somebody pulls up alongside your car, and switches your VIvaldi with Death Metal :-)

But that's of course another problem.


/Lennart

[Von Croy]

If I anted to buy an ordinary CD player, would I be able to simply plug in all the appropriate wires. Or does the Espace require a Renault CD player?

[Anders Dinsen]

It depends on wheather your car used to have the "auditorium" with cd-changer in the back, or had a cassette radio in the mega box.

In the latter case, the necessary connectors will be available in the radio mount there and it is possible to mount an ordinary cd-player (but you will miss the display, and the steering wheel remote unless you get a radio with an adaptor).

The "auditorium" was a radio unit mounted under the right front seat.

[kklem]

I have just ordered an iPod charger and FM transmitter for my Espace from a danish company: www.mytrendyphone.dk

Thank you for buing your iPod charger from mytrendyphone.
FYI there is also an english version of this site.