Got my ICE upgraded over wkend. Quite painful seeing all the speakers/rubber seals/floor mats ripped out... but the end result is so damn good

Some pics of the "operation"...

Door strips ripped out, exposing the bare chassis:


Installing 4-channel amp under front passenger seat (have to rip out the front passenger seat 1st.. ouch!):


A few hrs later, after doing proper cable management and arranging all wires neatly/tying them in. The seat fits perfectly on top:




My sound system sounds so so much better than stock ones. The mid-range is superb... especially with our IN2 quiet interior when cruising... ahh.. nice. Just had to add some soundproofing material to the door areas where speaker is mounted, so the speaker won't rattle against the bare chassis esp when playing State of Trance 2011

When free, will post up photos of the stock speakers (it really looks like crap when you take it out - no wonder it sounds like crap haha).

Mind share where you do this bro. I'm in Penang too.

so if we upgrade our ice like that what warranty will we void exactly? if it is just for the ice i don't mind but if it voids the electronics warranty for the whole car it can't be worth it.

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Added on May 16, 2011, 10:09 pmAlso bro do you mind sharing the specs of the full ICE system that you fitted and the pricing? can pm me if u wanna keep it private thanks.

This post has been edited by icechiller555: May 16 2011, 10:09 PM

what it voids - don't know for sure, but i suppose anytime you touch after-market accessories that tap into existing warranty, then yr whole electronics is void. guess i'll find out when i go for my 2nd service.

my specs... quite simple, really.... didn't change much:
- kept OEM HU
- pegasus 4-channel amp under car seat
- 6" Hertz Dieci speakers (italian brand famous for mid-range, but all made in China lah) + components
- internal wiring for speakers/HU
pricing: all-in-all, nearly 2.5k.

The good thing about this wiring was that it doesn't involve removing the HU. just tap into existing wiring behind glove box.

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Added on May 16, 2011, 10:25 pmwent to my fav car ICE shop... Class Tech Auto on Hutton Lane (after new world park). these guys have been around for ages, and won quite a few awards for their ICE. they carry lots of brands, but typically will push you to Hertz/SoundStream/Edison (take the last one and your pocket will die kau kau )

if you are going there, make appt, and insist that Ah Tew do the wiring for you. he's their senior foreman. depending on how much you are changing (mine consider quite complex)... prepare to spend full day there (i was there 9am - 5pm).

the good news is... now they know how to work w/Insight. I was their "test case" hahaha.... on the job learning

This post has been edited by infinitium: May 16 2011, 10:26 PM

I'm happy with the stock ICE, even though crap when playback Armin's YearMix 2010. Anyway, your setup was nice

Nice Share! Hope my ICE guy know how tap the wiring behind glove box. Hope is a easy/common job for them.

Do let us know after ur second service, what they say about the voided warranty. Thanks bro

That place was good for amp or active subwoofer. Notice the aircond vent cooling them?

The magnet of the original spekers are 'BIG' right? And the speaker itself was really 'HEAVY'. haha

Still using stock player radio speaker.....

Went to an accessory shop and they told me that the insight only has one grounding cable for earth. They were pushing a voltage stabilizer. Told me that it will make a big difference. What do u guys think?

I am happy with the stock audio system too but infinitium got a nice setup there
Kinda pain to see them ripping her apart like that though

When I return mine to replace the front windscreen tint, got 2-3 very fine line scratches though barely visible but Ecotint has no problem replacing them for me I told them ..please don't be rough, its my new baby

Anyone notice the fog light basically useless, only cover left and right mostly, not much forward coverage.

Somehow I am sad about the missing front lower deflector, I questioned my SA but she told me the front deflector is not available for our market. If we look at the bottom of the front ..can see many horizontal slots, obvious something is missing/not installed.

I heard that this batch of Insight will be the last to use the 1.3L IMA hybrid engine, the next gen will be switch to 1.5L individual hybrid, which almost identical to the current Prius (but Prius is still more advance), can run purely electric or engine or both. And the most important is they change the battery from Nimh to Li-ion. Honda claim this new hybrid will get higher MPG than the current IMA. The first model to use this hybrid system should be the 9th Gen Civic.

Guys how often do u do the idle charging of the battery at 3500 rpm for around 5 minutes?

wow... that's good news if it turns out to be true. Our IN2 a little underpowered w/1.3 engine... having a stock 1.5 engine would be much better for pickup. hmmm... if the IN3 comes w/1.5 engine... the new IMA should give it 0.2 horses more... so total 1.7-1.8L engine performance. Not bad!

if the IN3 batt changes to LiOn, wonder if our NimH IN2 batt prices will drop in coming years...

hmmm.. for my 1.5 mth old car... i only did it once... when stuck @ bad jam. nothing to do, so i charge the batt haha.

held pedal down @ 3k rpm for about 2 mins.... until the batt charging indicator is full.

see u guys dis-mental the car like very jialat sia.

if me i will be heart pain to see it.

Woa. Hang on. Electrical mod on an electric hybrid car should be carefully done. Slight change in V, I or R could mess the overall system.

Somehow we didnt mind if u wanna go for it and hopefully we can hear good news (in the form of even better mileage or better pick up).

Well not surprising at all. Same goes to ipad..iphone..the usual I heard..we heard new one coming! The world is always progressing and every second newer better product are appearing. So the best time is to buy when you NEED it. The worst is buying bcoz you WANT it, for this you will never satisfy wanting newer spec product. Price depend on demand vs supply, I guess when the 1.5 Hybrid finally appear..it could be selling at RM130-150K, demand going to be good since fuel are getting costlier every few months and our beloved Govt will not always give duty free CBU vehicles. Oh one more thing for those who are not aware ..RM72,000 total duties waived for our CBU Insight.

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Added on May 17, 2011, 3:11 pmAgree...I read the hybrid battery has a DC-DC converter for the 12V system and it turns on and off as needed. Better make sure any electrical modification are done by professionals.

This post has been edited by iphone: May 17 2011, 03:11 PM

yeah, the first impression seeing them rip out the door panels is quite scary... but after awhile, you'll get used to it. it's nothing to be emotional about - it's just a car. the parts are just fitted on with lots of bolts and plastic parts - whatever taken out can always be put back together.

anyway, after the "operation" is done, i bet you won't regret the changes (definitely no regrets on my side - my ICE now is so much better than crappy stock sound system).

Fog light was invented to improve our visibility to other motorist in foggy or misty condition. So its not really useful to us, but useful for others.

Sometime i got beamed by oncoming traffic due to the glare from our foglamps. I guess its doing its job pretty well.