MaseratiForum.co.uk
MaseratiForum.co.uk

You need Macromedia Flash to view this banner.

Eurospares

Logged in as: Guest
   
MaseratiForumTechnical TalkTechnical LibraryAll Maserati ModelsQuattroporte V Kenwood touchscreen system in a QP in the UK

Kenwood touchscreen system in a QP in the UK

[1] 2   next >   >>
Member
Message                                                                                    
11/3/2010 18:50:09  

Posts: 79
Since: 11/10/2009
Region: London, United Kingdom
Status: offline 		Hi,

I am a relatively new forum member and Maserati owner (since Nov '09). I wanted to share information about my Kenwood touchscreen installation which I think may be amongst the first in the UK. Some of you may have read about examples of these on Maserati Life as a number have been done in the States.

Basically the installation turns the existing factory screen into a touchscreen interface which controls a myriad of Kenwood entertainment systems, all integrated through a Kenwood 'vehicle hub'. In my case I installed Kenwood's:

- iPod interface (you get full iPod-like control over all the iPod's features)
- Bluetooth (syncs your phone's address book)
- Sat Nav (Garmin based 3D, fully featured navigation with TMC)

The hub comes with a high-end radio tuner, digital signal processor (DSP) and 4 channel amplifier. You can add other features via the hub like a digital TV receiver, Satellite radio, DVD player, games consoles etc.

For serious audiophiles you can also add aftermarket amps and speakers (the hub has a 5 channel pre-amp output). However, I was content with the stock Bose system so had the audio and video piped in throught the stock TV interface. It is stereo and I would say the sound quality achieved is better than CD listening due to the adjustments you can make throught the Kenwood's DSP.

What drew me to this solution was ease of use as well as functional & visual integrity with the car. You would never be able tell anything had been done to it until you press the 'TV' button where the more contemporary entertainment technology awaits. All of the car's existing systems work as normal.

The guys who did the install were the Motor Media Company based in Acton, London. I cannot praise them enough for the professionalism and quality of their work. They are very familiar with QPs but this was the first of its kind for them.

Only one minor 'snag' remains which Motor Media are ironing out at the moment: when playing the iPod's video, the picture 'scrolls'. Motor Media think they have a fix which they will try out in the next couple of weeks. I will keep you posted.

Meanwhile, here are some pics. Happy to share more info/pics with anyone who may want to find out more.

Cheers, Shak
















Attachment (5)

< Message edited by mowlas -- 11/3/2010 19:23:32 >
11/3/2010 19:20:33  

Posts: 249
Since: 3/5/2009
Region: Cianciana
Status: offline 		Hi Shak,
Looks very good,
You are right about ML, I have been following a few threads on there with regard to audio/touchscreen systems,
and at some point I may be tempted to have something like this myself...at which point I will send you a PM.
Regards,
Enzo. 

_____________________________

Love your Life...
11/3/2010 19:28:42  

Posts: 79
Since: 11/10/2009
Region: London, United Kingdom
Status: offline 		Thanks very much Enzo,

I have to say that ML was invaluable in helping with the upfront research before approaching the installer.

Regards, Shak

11/3/2010 19:48:26  
 

Posts: 387
Since: 20/4/2008
Status: offline 		What sort of price range is the basic installation? Do they have to take the dashboard apart to do it?

Was your car sold new at Stratstones in Manchester? A few years back they had one in the showroom same as your nero/nero/red piping and carbon trim. looked great.

thanks

Simon
11/3/2010 20:57:41  

Posts: 79
Since: 11/10/2009
Region: London, United Kingdom
Status: offline 		Hi Simon,

The parts were around £2K and the labour about £1.7K. However not sure if this reflected 'R&D' or investment pricing on the part of my installer as it was the first one of its kind for them.

It is by no means an easy install. The equipment sits in the recess cavity under the boot floor (see pics below) so the rear seats, central console and front dash have to be removed to connect the audio/video to the Maserati factory screen. Also, a touchscreen membrane from a Kenwood monitor is transplanted to sit atop the Maserati screen - all very clever stuff. The iPod connector sits in the glove compartment.

I bought my car in November '09 from Carrs Maserati of Exeter. It is a May '07 Sport GT auto. Was that about the time you saw it?

Regards

Shak








Attachment (2)
11/3/2010 23:10:24  


Posts: 373
Since: 17/5/2006
Status: offline 		Shak,

I have a sport gt aswell, been looking for someone in the UK who had performed the install but had not found anyone who had done this.

I will contact motor media, let's see what can be done!

Noor
11/3/2010 23:41:30  
 

Posts: 575
Since: 29/1/2007
Status: offline 		got to say, that looks like a really good job! now if only I had not sold my QP for a granturismo, I'd ahve that! in fact I was looking at a new QP but I might go for the same one I had before and get these mods to it.

looks like a proper job, and if it's touch screen, it's better than the new stuff, cos it's not!

good job, great looking car!

11/3/2010 23:47:17  

Posts: 79
Since: 11/10/2009
Region: London, United Kingdom
Status: offline 		Hi Noor,

Hope something can be worked out with them. They are a good bunch of guys.

Let me know if you do go ahead - I can share some of my own lessons learned with you.

Cheers

Shak
12/3/2010 0:04:07  

Posts: 79
Since: 11/10/2009
Region: London, United Kingdom
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: robbiemac

got to say, that looks like a really good job! now if only I had not sold my QP for a granturismo, I'd ahve that! in fact I was looking at a new QP but I might go for the same one I had before and get these mods to it.

looks like a proper job, and if it's touch screen, it's better than the new stuff, cos it's not!

good job, great looking car!




Thank you Robbie!

Haven't seen the new stuff to compare but I must say I am very happy with it - the installers really did care about the integrity of their work and keeping it line with the values of the Maser.

Cheers

Shak
13/3/2010 0:01:39  


Posts: 373
Since: 17/5/2006
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: mowlas

Hi Noor,

Hope something can be worked out with them. They are a good bunch of guys.

Let me know if you do go ahead - I can share some of my own lessons learned with you.

Cheers

Shak


Thanks Shak,

It would be great if you could share your lessons learnt, feel free to PM me if you want!

Would they be ok with me supplying my own parts?

Thanks

Noor
13/3/2010 7:04:37  

Posts: 4164
Since: 5/6/2007
Status: offline 		Excellent final result Shak , albeit a tad on the expensive side , but then quality and exclusivity always is , great kudos  for being a UK first 


regards loz


_____________________________

Old pompous spods current stable
52 plate 4200 cc Lowered Tubi's and full GS body kit,steering wheel and rack
55 plate 4200 cc Gransport Full Larini system,AP Racing big brake upgrade ,more stuff pending

13/3/2010 12:20:29  
 

Posts: 387
Since: 20/4/2008
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: mowlas

Hi Simon,

The parts were around £2K and the labour about £1.7K. However not sure if this reflected 'R&D' or investment pricing on the part of my installer as it was the first one of its kind for them.

It is by no means an easy install. The equipment sits in the recess cavity under the boot floor (see pics below) so the rear seats, central console and front dash have to be removed to connect the audio/video to the Maserati factory screen. Also, a touchscreen membrane from a Kenwood monitor is transplanted to sit atop the Maserati screen - all very clever stuff. The iPod connector sits in the glove compartment.

I bought my car in November '09 from Carrs Maserati of Exeter. It is a May '07 Sport GT auto. Was that about the time you saw it?

Regards

Shak










Hi,

I think it was mid 06 and in Manchester, I guess it was a similar spec. My main worry with mods like this is knowing that firstly no cosmetic damage is done to the panels and secondly its all screwed back together properly. It seems with main dealers that they leave odd screws missing here/there with the trim.
15/3/2010 12:12:25  

Posts: 79
Since: 11/10/2009
Region: London, United Kingdom
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: noor

Thanks Shak,

It would be great if you could share your lessons learnt, feel free to PM me if you want!

Would they be ok with me supplying my own parts?

Thanks

Noor


Noor,

I will PM you by close of play today on lessons learned.

By all means, I think Motor Media would be happy to discuss the pro's and cons of buying your own parts. I decided to go down the 'turnkey' route as this is quite a tricky install and if there was any uncertainty about the reason for anything not working as expected then I didn't want to have to broker discussions between the installer and the parts suppliers. This way, the installer takes on the full responsibility of delivering a working solution and I have a single point of call for warranty on work or parts.

Cheers
15/3/2010 12:22:11  

Posts: 79
Since: 11/10/2009
Region: London, United Kingdom
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: lozcb

Excellent final result Shak , albeit a tad on the expensive side , but then quality and exclusivity always is , great kudos  for being a UK first 


regards loz



Loz, thank you very much.

I agree this is on the expensive side. As you say, it is all about quality and installing something that is consistent with the exclusivity of the QP.

Motor Media and I went up a steep learning curve on this install, during which I feel the quality and standards of work have been pretty uncompromising. However I do hope as result, that costs for any interested future UK QP owners may improve a little as a result.
15/3/2010 12:49:47  

Posts: 79
Since: 11/10/2009
Region: London, United Kingdom
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: sjn2004

Hi,

I think it was mid 06 and in Manchester, I guess it was a similar spec. My main worry with mods like this is knowing that firstly no cosmetic damage is done to the panels and secondly its all screwed back together properly. It seems with main dealers that they leave odd screws missing here/there with the trim.


No work is required to the panels themselves (other than removing). A small bit of machining was done to the inside of the plastic faceplate of the Maserati screen. This is was to hold the touchscreen membrane securely/tightly in place over the Maserati's.

I consider myself a very fussy person with a fine eye for details and can certainly vouch for Motor Media Company's work as being of the highest diligence and quality - their principal client base consists of Ferarri, Bentley, Rolls Royce and Maserati owners.

It is disappointing to hear about the experience with main dealers as this was one of the reasons I had decided to switch from BMW...
16/3/2010 11:44:34  

Posts: 79
Since: 11/10/2009
Region: London, United Kingdom
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: mowlas

quote:

ORIGINAL: noor

Thanks Shak,

It would be great if you could share your lessons learnt, feel free to PM me if you want!

Would they be ok with me supplying my own parts?

Thanks

Noor


Noor,

I will PM you by close of play today on lessons learned.

By all means, I think Motor Media would be happy to discuss the pro's and cons of buying your own parts. I decided to go down the 'turnkey' route as this is quite a tricky install and if there was any uncertainty about the reason for anything not working as expected then I didn't want to have to broker discussions between the installer and the parts suppliers. This way, the installer takes on the full responsibility of delivering a working solution and I have a single point of call for warranty on work or parts.

Cheers


Noor, I have PM'd you now...
18/3/2010 22:13:59  


Posts: 373
Since: 17/5/2006
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: mowlas


quote:

ORIGINAL: mowlas

quote:

ORIGINAL: noor

Thanks Shak,

It would be great if you could share your lessons learnt, feel free to PM me if you want!

Would they be ok with me supplying my own parts?

Thanks

Noor


Noor,

I will PM you by close of play today on lessons learned.

By all means, I think Motor Media would be happy to discuss the pro's and cons of buying your own parts. I decided to go down the 'turnkey' route as this is quite a tricky install and if there was any uncertainty about the reason for anything not working as expected then I didn't want to have to broker discussions between the installer and the parts suppliers. This way, the installer takes on the full responsibility of delivering a working solution and I have a single point of call for warranty on work or parts.

Cheers


Noor, I have PM'd you now...


Shak Many Thanks...

I will be intouch with Motor Media over the next few weeks.

Thanks for all your advise.

Noor
27/4/2010 16:26:57  
 

Posts: 3
Since: 5/2/2010
Status: offline 		Hi Shak,

I am a new QP owner, a 2004 model, which is great. I am interested in this system as for some reason my sat nav thinks I am somewhere I am not. Had a blutooth parrot system fitted with screen, ipod interface connection etc. Went to Henley from the Midlands and halfway down M40 the sat nav got lost. My garage thinks may be ariel came loose as they had the panel off, hopefully that is all it is. Your system looks great, can you advise where it came from, or give contact details please. Many thanks John.
  [1] 2   next >   >>

 
Forum | Section | Top of Page


Eurospares
© 2010 MaseratiForum.co.uk
MaseratiForum.co.uk has no official association with Maserati S.p.A. All associated Maserati logos, names and images appearing on this site are for nominative and informational purposes only.
Banner images are © Copyright Maserati S.p.A./Other Author/MaseratiForum.co.uk, as applicable. Maserati is a registered trademark of Maserati S.p.A.
Terms & Conditions  |  Contact Us