QuestionI purchased a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder SE with the standard radio/cd. Nissan offers a double-din BOSE system as an option. I'm interested in replacing my standard system with the Bose system (I see these offered on ebay quite often and some sellers say the standard system can be replaced with the BOSE system and others say it cannot). Bottom line...can I replace the standard radio/CD with a BOSE system that has been removed from a 2005/06 Pathfinder?
Answer
Yes you could.
But it will likely require some wiring that is not installed from the factory (I presume that the standard system is not affiliated with Bose at all, since I have not worked on an '05 in person).
You are talking about interfacing to what Nissan calls an 'upgraded' stereo. It may sound better than the existing one, but that is not much of a reach!
Since you will likely need to hire a professional installer to do this, why not just get a real system?
Not to digress, but if you are going through all of this anyhow, get an aftermarket one. It could fit in either one (or both) dins, it will last longer, sound just as good as (if not far better than) the Bose, plus it could have all the features you might want like MP3 and CD-R capability so you can have 100's of hi resolution MP3 tunes on one cd..
You can get these head units starting at around 70.00 with XM sattelite as well. They will have about 50 watts x 4 channels (25 RMS). This is more than ample power to drive anything you have [or install] in the stock locations. Of course, the sky is the limit, but these I speak of are very reasonable and available at walmart.
Again, I have not seen one of these 2005's, but Bose has never made a durable mobile system in its' history (unless you consider an average life of 4-5 years as being 'normal'. Frankly, I do not.
This may seem hard to swallow, but I know that Bose sounds best in your living room, not a vehicle. The subtle nuances that made them famous at home is not even perceptable while driving a vehicle (or even existent, generally).
So, since you are already considering an 'upgrade' which requires some professional custom work (which is not cheap), my best advice is to do it from the ground up with an aftermarket system (you could likely use the exisiting speakers and wire, if needed, but for maximum sound quality and longer life, replace them as well).
Since it is more straight-forward to install an aftermarket one, this may be the lessor of two evils when over-all costs are considered.
This is a purchase [and not a lease] on the pathfinder so why not get one that can endure some real time and use.
Jm
