TheSamba.com :: View topic - BOSS stereo unit 7" screen install thread BE7ACP-CFT

Wed Feb 15, 2023 3:45 pm

I bought a Podofo $100 unit, because it was way cheap, has Apple CarPlay, and a hide-away 7" screen.
It did not satisfy because the screen cannot angle enough in a Vanagon for good visibility.
Its totally washed out (white screen) when viewing from the driver position.
Podofo does not fit well in a Vanagon.
And then it behaved intermittent, sometimes not starting, stripes on the screen.
That made it 'easy' to flush it (back to Amazon!).

So I returned it and bought a ^^BOSS BE7ACP-CFT^^ $200.
Also a 7" screen.
There are bigger screens, but I didn't want this thing to take over the van.
I don't know if that is a good plan.
The screen unclips, and you can hide it away.

My daughters are gonna take this van on some adventures this summer...
and a girl needs her music.
So I'll be replacing the speakers and adding a subwoofer too.
I'm hoping to retain as much "OEM appearance" as possible

^^BOSS BE7ACP-CFT^^
My knuckle hits the 'volume button' in 3rd gear.
It's an "OK" button for some functions and I think it "mutes" the speakers.
....Can't have that.
My thought is to bend the gear lever, or extend it higher, but that's later.

For now, I have a Q.....
Here's the obvious way to wire it.
But then the red wire can't go thru the VW block connectors, it's separate.
What happens if I just connect the red (ACC) wire and the Yellow (12v constant) wire together?
Where my ACC switch turns the 12v constant off? Does it lose its settings?
What if the van is parked for weeks, is "100% OFF" a better way to wire it?

Wed Feb 15, 2023 4:33 pm

I pulled red off the ignition. I don't remember the exact wire color, but you can find it here.

Also, FWIW, I'm on my 3rd Boss be9acp because the internal amps keep frying. The first and second time I thought it was cheap boss equipment (Still may be), But after the 3rd frying, I assumed there IS some kind of voltage spike in the systems.

Wed Feb 15, 2023 4:49 pm

I installed the same head unit in my 87 last spring.

Dont run constant and acc together off an acc wire you will lose all settings every time the van is shut off. I have let mine sit for a few weeks / month and a half and the power drain is minimal, could start the bus no problem. I ran a constant line from the battery to a 4 fuse block for constant power to the head unit as I didn't want to hack any wires in the factory panel. I also ran a for the switched power to the unit from the ignition.

As for the shifter I ran the gowesty extension with a slight bend to it, it keeps from hitting the round button and putting the radio when going to 3rd. the extension still hits the screen a little if I slam the gears, a little electrical tape wrap helps I think. My shifter play is pretty sloppy and I think with an alignment and new bushings it probably wouldn't hit. Plans for another day.

Over all I like having it for road trips, the angle/location of the screen is pretty hard to see from the drivers seat and I think with time I may switch to a regular head unit and just use the GPS and maps from my phone with a dash mount or maybe an iPad mini. I am also toying around with modifiying the ash tray to house the headunitt possibly.

Wed Feb 15, 2023 8:22 pm

I added a leather MB auto shift handle to the top of my shifter, which allows me to rest my forearm on the armrest and shift with my wrist (short shift kit). No problem with interfering with the radio. I hope you like the Boss, as I've really come to like a similar unit in our EV.

Wed Feb 15, 2023 8:37 pm

dublife13 wrote: the angle/location of the screen is pretty hard to see from the drivers seat

Dang.
I haven't really cranked it up yet.
So are you saying it too needs a spacer to get more screen angle?

Thu Feb 16, 2023 6:51 am

Whatever you do, don't reverse the polarity!!!!!

Thu Feb 16, 2023 11:10 am

Your questions from another thread make more sense here:

Sodo wrote: Bending it rearward seems easy.

You guys like the shift lever extension?
That never occurred to me.
I’ll go sit in the van and make engine noises. :wink:

I need to make some decisions about speakers.
And subwoofer.
Id like to listen to some Vanagon systems (not big bucks).

I don't know if I like the extension because I've never used one and don't have the inclination to try one (although I may someday). I suggested it because it seemed like one way to avoid the interference, adding more angle to the bend as you suggest also seems like a good possibility (I assume you'd heat it to make it easier to bend and avoid kinking the lever).

As for speakers, I vote for dash or a-pillar mounted tweeters for vastly improved high-range sound. This does require component speakers which often have separate cross-overs increasing complexity and price (along with improved sound). If my van is in your neighborhood you're welcome to listen to it but that's a month or two away and I think you'll have this project complete by then.

Dash mounted tweeters, door mounted mid/bass, crossovers and amp under the seats (the cross-overs would fit nicely in front of the glovebox, possibly the amp too), no sub, no speakers behind the OE grill in the door.

Thu Feb 16, 2023 2:35 pm

I'd be wary of trying to bend the shift shaft, as it might render rebuilding the lower assembly or adding a short shift kit as nearly impossible.

I just got back from driving the EV up to Kirkland for some EVC cabinetry, and noticed that I'm able to angle the screen toward the driver. This is an adjustment perhaps not available to the T3 owner without a spacer. Have you tried adjusting the screen downward a little more to clear the lip of the dash?

Thu Feb 16, 2023 4:16 pm

Sodo wrote: dublife13 wrote: the angle/location of the screen is pretty hard to see from the drivers seat

Dang.
I haven't really cranked it up yet.
So are you saying it too needs a spacer to get more screen angle?

It's how low it is for me that is the issue, looking down at it is my problem. the screen moves enough in its location, a spacer would make shifting even worse or not possible.

Fri Feb 17, 2023 12:21 pm

Lousy viewing angle for the driver and interference when shifting into 3rd gear. Sounds like this is exactly what everyone needs.

I'll just stick with my $30 mechless, Blaupunkt Columbus 100BT.

Fri Feb 17, 2023 12:50 pm

The Vanagon dash is ideally suited for a remote display that can be mounted along side the cluster. Years ago I experimented with the ipad there and it visibility was terrific. For now I just have a magnetic mount for my phone in this position.

Fri Feb 17, 2023 1:40 pm

Seems like I'd better show some progress.
Jim you can see the iPad mount, and the velcro.
It works really good like that!
But this BOSS unit, having CarPlay will cover most of the needs.

What I really like, is two GPS screens.
One with the roadmap and the turn-by-turn guidance, zoomed OUT a bit.
And the iPad, -->zoomed in tight<-- showing satellite imagery.

I can't complain about the viewing angle. Image is nice & clear

Reverse camera mounted.
I drilled one tiny hole under the rear door seal.
Bent the flange for screwdriver access, then bent it back straight to re-mount the door seal.
I don't know yet if the camera angle is good (as in the pic).

Sat Feb 25, 2023 7:39 pm

Any updates to share? Looking for something comparable and debating between spending $150 on something like this, or $300 on something from a more recognized brand.

Sat Feb 25, 2023 7:54 pm

Maybe more to post tomorrow. 8)
I’m still floggin’ it.
Haven't wired the rear camera yet.

Replaced the rear speakers in those cute little VW pods with Infinity REF3032-CFX $44—> Rear overhead speaker housing upgrade (Tintop, no A/C)

Any good recommendations for the front speakers by the window crank??
What "size" are they?

I'll put a powered subwoofer under a front seat.

What will sound better, a $300 woofer under one seat or a $150 woofer under each front seat?

Sun Feb 26, 2023 2:46 pm

I think I solved the 3rd gear problem.
Now it doesn't hit the volume button shifting into 3rd.

I tied a rope to the gear lever, out the rear hatch and to a tree.
Put it in 2nd gear and drove until it pulled tight, bent the lever rearward.

See YouTube here.

Sun Feb 26, 2023 6:06 pm

:lol: :lol: :lol:

What?!? Isn't that lever a tube and were you concerned that you'd put a kink in it? Or were you hoping to break it so you could buy a fancy 711 shifter?

Sun Feb 26, 2023 6:57 pm

Sodo wrote:

See YouTube here.

I see what you did there. :lol: Clever.

Sat Mar 04, 2023 9:09 am

Same head unit installed. The shifter extension fron Van Cafe easily fixes the issue.u

Sat Mar 04, 2023 7:21 pm

Sodo wrote:

Any good recommendations for the front speakers by the window crank??
What "size" are they?

The stock speakers are 4" in the doors, you can fit 5.25" speakers pretty easily, 6" will be a bit more blocked by the dash. I put 5.25 in mounted behind the panel and used the plastic plastic grill Uniwerk design prints to keep the factory look. I also added the Gowesty window cranks on to give a bit more room for the speaker grills.

I do not care for the speakers I have put in and am upgrading to a component set this spring. I haven't decided the exact locations yet but I am leaning towards making a bracket to mount the tweater in the factory location and a 6" in the lower portion of the door.

Mon Mar 06, 2023 1:48 pm

I came across this post in the thread on the 711 shifter:

MarkWard wrote: Thanks for the documentation. So others know, to a point you can adjust the stock shift lever position backwards or forwards, by lengthening or shortening the rod under the van at the splines. Sliding the splines out moves the shift lever back. Pushing the splines in shifts the shift rod towards the dashboard. There is a point though where it will affect the reverse lockout. The manual has you set it centered in the shifter box, but its not the law.

I wonder if this would move the knob back an inch or so needed to accommodate radios with larger displays?