BOSE BLUETOOTH AUDIO UPGRADE KIT

[ShaunLCG]

I installed the below Bluetooth kit from Z-Tech at the weekend on my 2008 350Z GT and I thought I would make a post about it to help others, as being a later model it has some variation to the guide that is supplied to with the kit, which I think was based on a 2004 model.

 

https://www.cs2000-z-tech.co.uk/products/350z-bose-bluetooth-upgrade-kit

 

If anyone finds this post and needs some help, I’ve made some notes below where my install differed from the guide (that I can remember).  If there’s anything you’re still struggling with, send me a message and I’ll see if I can support.  Sadly, I didn’t think to photograph everything.

 

Firstly, the gear gaiter surround is different, but still pulls up with relative ease.  I found it much easier to unscrew the gear knob and remove this piece altogether, to give more space to work.  There are two connectors on the back that need unplugging to remove it, one of which is the AC control unit ribbon, as noted in the guide. 

 

The next difference is the satnav screen instead of the cubby hole.  The screen can stay in place, but the button panel below it has to come out to reveal screws that hold the centre console in place.  To remove the button panel you need to take off the plastic insert between this panel and the screen.  I can’t find the thread on here now, but at the weekend I found a post on here explaining this, so thanks to whoever provided that. 

 

As a side note, I don’t know if it is age of the materials or just the general finish, but this insert and the button panel will scratch with a fingernail, let alone any type of tool you use to remove it. 

 

Once the insert is removed, there are two screws holding the button panel in place that need to be undone and then the button panel should pry up quite easily, but has a rather tricky connector to remove, as the wiring is very short.  If yours is like mine, careful not to scratch the button panel on the dash trim whilst trying to remove that connector.  Once that button panel is out of the way you can get to the screws for the centre console per the guide.

 

I found there were additional screws to remove to get the head unit free from the console trim (image 1) and also found it easier to remove the two bits of metal on either side of the head unit that attach to the centre console trim; the guide has you take the 4 screws on each piece out, but I also removed the single screw on each to free it up altogether (image 2).  I’m not sure if you can fully remove the dash with these still in place, but I couldn’t get it past the bit of plastic that remains spanning the width of the centre console and the AC control unit (image 3).
 

 

 

 

Final thing that was different from the guide was the hole to pass the red and black cables through on the back of the head unit, but it is only in a slightly different position and shape.  There was a small plastic sticker over a rectangle that I removed to pass the cables the sticker is in the photo below for reference, at an angle above the revealed hole.

 

 

It probably took me 4.5 to 5 hours, which is way longer than the guide but then I’d never attempted anything like this before.  I also spent ages fiddling around trying to undo the various electrical connectors and as noted above, took off a couple more bits than the guide suggested.  I wasn’t particularly confident going into it, but the guide is good and Chris who created the module responded to a couple of emails I sent in advance, really helpful. 

 

Overall, I would say if you’re expecting a simple slot-in-place type install then get some help from someone who has a bit of knowledge for these things, especially if you’ve never used a soldering iron before, as this is the critical bit.  It was a bit unnerving at times, but with a bit of lateral thinking when the guide didn’t quite match what I was looking at, it was not too bad.  I would definitely recommend something to keep all the screws organised for each step - I used an egg box.

 

The main thing is that it is all working really well,and I can now play music, podcasts and up to date navigation through my phone.  There are little pops of audio feedback when I first start the car up, which is probably something to do with the way I installed it, but no interference on the audio after that.  So, I’m happy and chuffed I managed it.  Big thanks to Chris at Z-Tech for developing it!

Edited April 25, 2023 by ShaunLCG