Build a Sweet Sound System for your Smart Fortwo for Under $600

 I love my Smart Fortwo, but the one thing I found lacking was the sound system it came with.  I didn't have the stock one, but the one my dealer had put in wasn't too great.  It was a single-din CD player and some dual-cone door speakers. The problem was that having just two speakers by your feet doesn't really cut it if you like to hear the full sound of the music you are listening to. Recently my car was broken into and I had to replace the stereo, so I decided to upgrade a bit.  I decided to make a list based on what I got (not all the components are exact, but it is close based on what Amazon sells today). Here's how to transform your smart into a great mobile sound system on a tiny budget.

The above, depending on Amazon's ever-fluctuating prices, should run around $540, assuming you do the installation yourself.  Now I'll get into some more details and tips about the components and how to install them (note: I will update this post soon with demonstration pictures. say tuned).

• The head-unit:  The AVIC-U310BT from Pioneer is a nifty double-din unit that includes IPOD integration, navigation, and compatibility with a host of other devices like USB memory sticks, Sirius tuners, XM tuners, HD Radio tuners, etc.  Using the adapter above, it will look attractive in your Smart to the point of looking like it is actually supposed to be there.  You can even customize the color of the LED's on the unit to match those of the interior of the car.  I found that "Amber" works very well for that purpose.  The one catch with this unit is that unlike the $700 units with bigger screens, there are basically no POI's to speak of.  Though there are parks and public spaces, there are no gas stations, supermarkets, restaurants, etc.  For that you have to pay an extra $99 to Pioneer for an SD card loaded with them.  However, you can also create your own .CSV files and download them off of places like POIFriend.com for free.  You can even make a custom list for a road trip you are going on (I'll write another post about this later). All in all, I recommend this. Please note: mine shipped with an old firmware that caused it to crash all the time when pairing with my blackberry.  If this happens, use the link below to update the firmware to 1.0003. That totally fixed the issue for me. Sure, it doesn't have a 7" screen, and you'll have to make your own POI lists or type in the address of your destination sometimes, but hey its not $700-$1000, and it is sort of nice to have those physical knobs and dials in addition to the GPS.
• The sub: I actually have the Bass 600 in my car, which is a bit smaller but really fills out the bass tones much more. The only reason I put the Bass 1200 is that today for some reason the Bass 600 is a lot more expensive on Amazon. It was built for pickup trucks to go under the seat, and it may not look like much but in the tiny cabin of the smart, you'll be hearing the full range of your music that you are supposed to be hearing.  Some people put it underneath the dash in on the passenger's side, but I'm worried about de-magnetizing my iPod in the glovebox.  I used the included screws to attach it to the almost-vertical wall behind my driver's seat.  It sits there, not in the way of anything, is well-ventilated, and sounds great.  I was able to fish all the wires under the carpet.  It took an afternoon to do it, but I'm no electrician and I figured it out.
• The head unit adapter:  The material on this looks exactly like the material on my wife's smart's stock radio, so it looks as stock as it is going to get :)
• The speakers: These were the first ones that came up on my search results. I have whatever the dealer decided to put in there, and they sound good.  Any 5.25" speaker will do in the smart, so that is up to your preference.
• Connecting an iPod: Pioneer says you need to get a $20 cable to connect your Ipod to the system.  In reality there is a USB port on the back of the unit, and you can just use the white cable provided with your iPod.  I used the male-to-female USB cable that came with the head unit and fished that into my glovebox (there is some space above it on the side).  I then plugged my white iPod cable into that inside my glovebox. That way if someone comes with another USB device or thumbdrive, I can plug that in too.
• The GPS antenna.  The system comes with a GPS antenna that is about one-inch square.  I found that a great place to hide this is underneath the plastic center console, which will be off anyways for your stereo installation.  I also put my Fastrack in there.
• The Bluetooth mic:  Yes, this stereo has Bluetooth too!  There is a gap to the right of where the stereo goes in where you'll be able to fish the mic through and clip it onto the right-side-wall of the cubby next to the steering wheel.  

Here are some helpful links to help you with the install and operation of your new sound system:

• http://www.evilution.co.uk/212 - How to remove your stock stereo (helpful on how to remove the bits of the dash to get access.  The rest of the evilution site, by the way, is extremely valuable for DIY stuff on your smart.
• avic411.com/forum/viewforum.php - Forum on the Pioneer AVIC U310BT
• poifriend.com/ - Great place to download POI's for the navigation system
• www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Products/CarAudioVideo/In-Dash/GPS-Navigation-Systems/Download+AVIC+FEEDS - download the AVIC software for your PC
• www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Products/CarAudioVideo/In-Dash/GPS-Navigation-Systems/AVIC-U310BT - download the firmware update for your receiver (IMPORTANT)

FCC Disclaimer: I have never recieved anything from any of the manufacturers above gratis.  However, if you purchase by clicking the links above, I will get referral fees.  If you found this helpful, go ahead and use those links and I hope you enjoy your Smart Fortwo as much as I do :)