Hi all!

 

In August I posted that I'd just gotten my new 2005 subaru outback wagon and could not get an aftermarket stereo put in. I'd called Crutchfield as well as the place that makes install kits for the local car stereo place and both said they did not make an install kit and they even said they didn't plan to (!).

 

Well, I went back figuring it'd been a few months and their supplier of install kits (Metra, I believe) had an install kit for the 2005 Subaru Outback Wagon "but only the 2.5i". It took forever to get it, and then I ordered the stereo from Crutchfield (a Kenwood EZ 500) and now it's done and I'm all set to go!

 

The Kenwood EZ 500 takes an ipod adapter (also got from Crutchfield, and crutchfield includes the "plug" they needed to install it, and some other cord) AND has an aux output. It's Sirius ready but does NOT have Sirius in it by default, which is better than the Kenwood EZ 700 because the 700 requires that you activate Sirius then deactivate it JUST to get the fm radio to work (!), so the 500 is better in my opionion.

 

Anyway, it's all done and here are pix! :)

 

http://images14.fotki.com/v247/photos/2/267201/1943672/dsc04246_std-vi.jpg

 

http://images14.fotki.com/v256/photos/2/267201/1943672/dsc04247_std-vi.jpg

 

http://images14.fotki.com/v249/photos/2/267201/1943672/dsc04248_stdb-vi.jpg

 

I had them run the iPod cord (circled in orange) AND the aux cord (circled in red) under the center console and it comes out in the little storage area. The aux cord plugs into anything w/ a headphone jack (cassette walkman, mp3 player, laptop, pda, you name it), and you have to get the manual out and activate the "aux" setting on the stereo, but once you do that, "aux" works for the aux cord and "ext media" works for the ipod.

 

The iPod cord makes it so you can control the ipod with the Stereo controls, rather than reaching for the ipod itself. Also, the ipod adapter charges the ipod and also pauses then shuts off the ipod when you turn off the car. It's great.

 

This is great because today we are leaving to drive from Florida to Toronto so yay no more staticky crackly lousy fm transmitter for the ipod!

 

I'm happy.

 

Lauren

Very cool.I like how you routed the wires also.

i got an aiwa stereo for my legacy a few years ago. it broke within a month, got it fixed and it broke again 2 weeks later. i will never buy an aiwa product again.

No way!?!?! Nice work!

 

Questions,

I thought the environmental unit and the radio itself were one unit, they shared circuitry. Obviously this is not true?

 

How can I get my hands on this install kit. Please see if you can get parts numbers... anything! I'm desperate to install a different head unit!!!! I have the LW 2.5i- I'm assuming it is the same as the outback... ?

 

Thanks!

to the post above...

 

 

ive been using my aiwa x517 ever since i got my car in high school, and am still using it to this day, in my 4th year of college...

 

might have just had a lemon..

 

-ali

Hi there! We are stopped in Georgia, driving from Florida to Canada. I'm a 'net addict so I'll be checking email each day.

 

My 2005 Outback Wagon is a Legacy outback 2.5i.

 

I believe that model above the 2.5i that has the integrated climate controls. But the 2.5i is different. When the car stereo place called Metra (the install kit supplier) they asked "does the car have dual zone climate control?" and I said "no" and they said "ok, we have an install kit for it". So the higher model (I think the one that comes w/ the factory cd changer) w/ the dual zone climate controls that they don't seem to have an install kit for yet.

 

The stereo is the Kenwood EZ 500 ...

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-2yphxLIApDH/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?search=kenwood+ez+500&i=113EZ500

..and I ordered it from http://www.Crutchfield.com and also ordered the ipod adapter from them too. Here is the ipod adapter:

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-2yphxLIApDH/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?search=kenwood+ipod&i=113IP500

(search crutchfiled for "kenwood ipod adapter") Free shipping on the stereo!

 

The car stereo place needed some kind of "plug" but it came with the stereo, as did the "stereo adapter".

 

The "install kit" or "harness" was ordered by the car stereo place, and I'm pretty sure they got it from Metra. So if u go to your local car stereo place, tell them that Metra has it.

 

They then ran the ipod cord to the center console for free, but they charged $60 or so to run put the aux cord in and run that back to the center console. The Kenwood EZ 500 has a port for the aux cord, so it's easy.

 

 

Lauren

Get the satellite radio activated. You won't regret it.

Sirius is awesome!!

 

never buy Aiwa, only Priemer. They are the best decks and have 2 yr warranties standard. Priemer is all I will ever own, but as of now i just have my factory w/ Sirius