[Boogie4bear]

A local installer (not my preferred place of business) said that it will soon be possible to replace the factory radio in a 2018 camaro. I was previously told there wasn't a compatible installation kit. Anyone know if this is true? Thx

[arpad_m]

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[Bumbleboy92]

I've seen individuals upgrade their 7" to 8" and someone installed a 2019+ MyLink 3.0 system into their pre-refresh but both individuals said it was all custom programming and wiring and did not show their process with only final photos.

Gen5DIY offers the 8" to 8" with Nav and have said they are working on a 7" to 8" conversion but it's been a few years without an update which I don't blame them on.

For aftermarket, I personally have never seen another system be installed in place of the MyLink sadly. Maybe it'll come about but probably for the 2016-2018 first since it's older.

[Petrol Head]

You can upgrade the system from the amplifier to the speakers, but I don't think you will ever be able to install an aftermarket head unit like you could in old cars. The display in all Camaros, whether it's a base 4 cylinder LS trim or the top of the line 2SS ZL1 have the climate control and vehicle operation functions (auto headlamp delay time, climate control, remote window operation selector) through the display. Unless the aftermarket has come up with a way to integrate that into an aftermarket stereo which would require GM's software, it's impossible to install a nice Pioneer head unit then run cables to amplifiers like the old days.

I used to do car-fi stuff on the side back in the 90s - mid 2000s. With a simple adapter kit and harness you could install any aftermarket head unit into any car because the radio was an all enclosed unit that was separate from the climate control and other functions of the car. Today all that stuff is integrated, and the actual tuner is a board hidden somewhere in the car. Along with about 20 other circuit boards. The display in the dash is just a touch screen that communicates with all the computers in the car, and there's no room behind the dash to put a large head unit into that spot anyway.

[Boogie4bear]

Thank u for the info everyone.

[Msquared]

Originally Posted by Petrol Head

Today all that stuff is integrated, and the actual tuner is a board hidden somewhere in the car. Along with about 20 other circuit boards. The display in the dash is just a touch screen that communicates with all the computers in the car, and there's no room behind the dash to put a large head unit into that spot anyway.

I agree with all you said. Just to add more detail here, the "radio module" is behind the dash to the right of the glove box. It's not very hard to access, and there are interface units available for 2016-2018 Camaros that allow one to tap the digital feed and send it to DSP units and/or amps for real upgrades in sound quality. And of course you can replace or add speakers/subs. But yes, the touchscreen display is just that: a display that allows control of several systems. I don't think you'll be replacing that with an aftermarket head unit, but I also don't see why anyone would need to.

[Plasar]

• Are you Bose or non-Bose?
• Bose can go with NAV-TV GM 650 and integrate with anything.
• Are you asking because you want better sound?

[StPeteHyper2.0]

Metra has a dash kit for Pioneer. I've been looking into idatalink and Pac for install compatibility. It's the only kit option I've seen but there is a chance.

Metra 107-GM3B & 108-GM3B
Pioneer DMH-c2000nex, DMH-c2500nex, DMH-c5500nex

[ThirdGenNut]

CES is next week (I think). hopefully alpine will have something better than the pioneer 1" remote radio to unveil.

[Zr8000]

The place I have been working with has change out the head units to aftermarket on the camaros. They said it is very expensive to do and about no one does it because of cost. I can see it become more popular once someone makes a system that is not custom fit to the car

[StPeteHyper2.0]

Originally Posted by Zr8000

The place I have been working with has change out the head units to aftermarket on the camaros. They said it is very expensive to do and about no one does it because of cost. I can see it become more popular once someone makes a system that is not custom fit to the car

So far it has cost me just under $850 for all the parts. I can see that labor cost could get expensive but if you're capable of installing yourself may save a lot of money. Also for reference of why anyone would want to do this... I have the base model 7" IOB head unit. Dull and boring vs. the 8". I doubt it would be worth it if you have the upgraded radio system.

[Zr8000]

Originally Posted by StPeteHyper2.0

So far it has cost me just under $850 for all the parts. I can see that labor cost could get expensive but if you're capable of installing yourself may save a lot of money. Also for reference of why anyone would want to do this... I have the base model 7" IOB head unit. Dull and boring vs. the 8". I doubt it would be worth it if you have the upgraded radio system.

Basically what they said. They said roughly about a grand in parts plus labor. I am going to run mine off the stock head unit to keep car as unmolested as possible

[StPeteHyper2.0]

Here's a sneak peek.. not fully wired up yet.

[Petrol Head]

Originally Posted by StPeteHyper2.0

Here's a sneak peek.. not fully wired up yet.

Since your factory system is the base 6 speaker system with the smaller screen, an aftermarket setup is a little easier to integrate than if you had the factory Bose audio and with factory navigation.

Those of us with the Bose system and with Navigation on top of that really have to keep the factory display.

It does look very nice though. Looks like it came from the factory. A lot of aftermarket dashboard units and adapter kits don't fit quite right or stick out abnormally. They did a nice job with that design.