Hi guys-

We installed a Blaupunkt RPD 435 last winter.  Fits fine.  Has a great CD
player, a really sensitive FM unit and 25 watts X 4 channels.  The only
complaint is that the LED's on the panel become invisible in bright
sunlight.

This might be a discontinued unit.  When buying it though, I did not ask for
a stereo for a Vanagon, I asked for one to replace the Blaupunkt San Diego
that the dealer installed when we bought the Vanagon.  That info opened up a
lot of possibilities.

Gary
----- Original Message -----
From: Marc Perdue <marcperdue@ADELPHIA.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2000 10:10 PM
Subject: Re: Anybody - '88 In Dash Stereos with CD Players?

> Don't know about the Sony CDX-4160, but Crutchfield has the CDX-4180
listed as
> being 6 5/8" deep.  The "maximum" depth of a head unit for our beloved
Vanagons
> is supposed to be 6 1/4".  I purchased the Kenwood KRC-2007 per
Crutchfield's
> recommendation that it was the only receiver that would fit, but I'll be
taking
> it back.  It pretty much sucks.  No auto search for songs, the tape drive
motor
> is really noisy, the left channel usually doesn't kick in till I turn it
up
> fairly loud, and, at 25 watts x 4, it's pretty wimpy sound trying to fill
a
> cavernous space with lousy acoustics.  I also had a kind of tough time
shoving
> that Kenwood in; I'm having a hard time imagining putting in something
that's
> 1/2" deeper.  If it's possible, however, that opens up a whole new world
of sound
> possibilities . . .
>
> I'm thinking that I'll follow Bulley's lead and start doing something
about the
> sound and temperature insulating qualities (or lack thereof) of my van.
That way
> I'll wind up with a total system and not just throw a bunch of watts in
there
> trying to out-yell Ma Nature . . .
>
> Marc Perdue
>
> PS--Mine's an '87 Westy
>
> Jeffrey R wrote:
>
> > In a message dated 6/11/2000 11:23:56 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> > vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG writes:
> >
> > << At 03:34 PM 05/06/2000 EDT, Brian Doss wrote:
> >  >Has anybody found an aftermarket CD player/stereo that fits our
Heidelberg
> >  >mounting system and so-on?
> >  > >>
> >
> > Brian--
> >
> > I haven't followed this thread so forgive me if this info is old. I got
a
> > Sony unit from Crutchfiled. They say the space behind the Vanagon is a
bit
> > tighter than it actually is. I fit the Sony CDX-4160--but I can't
remember
> > exactly how deep it goes into the dash. I seem to remember it was about
1/2
> > inch longer than Crutchfield said would fit. The fit is tight but it
does
> > fit. Maybe someone at Crutchfield can tell you what the depth on the
system I
> > have is/ was and that will give you an idea what will fit. I basically
just
> > did routine wiring to fit in the unit. Although the radio it replaced
was
> > also an aftermarket Sony.
> >
> > The cooling fins on the rear of the radio butt right up against the
heating
> > duct that creates the norrow fit behind the dash. I'm figuring out a way
to
> > add cooling fins or add to the existing fins as the radio and CD player
do
> > seem to run hot.
> >
> > Godd luck
> > Jeff
> > 83.5 Westy
> > NYC
>