[a3inverter]

I didn't see a thread dedicated to this in my searches, so figured I'd ask...

6 of my last 7 cars since 1989 have been European (4 VW's, 1 BMW and 1 Volvo). Your typical junkyard is FULL of European cars so I've used them to source upgrades or spares for the last 30 years or so. Most recently, I was able to score all sorts of options for my Volvo wagon (factory bluetooth phone integration, iPod/Audio integration, rear privacy screen, etc.),

The Volvo is now sold off, so now I'm the proud new primary driver of our 2008 EX-L (owned since new - was my wife's ride but we recently picked up a CRV for her), I'm interested in feedback as to what one should look for when one visits the junkyard, both in terms of spares and upgrades.

My guess is that making the cool stuff from the EX-L+Entertainment, EX-L+Nav and Touring models whole involves a LOT of components. For example, I'd love to have the memory seat feature from a Touring Edition, but I suspect you need to pull out an BUNCH of stuff to make that happen.

In terms of spares, I suspect that coils and the fuel pump top the list, but interested in your feedback.

Personally, I'd love:

1. Memory seats
2. A radio with a volume knob that works as intended (ours seems to be wonky)
3. Bluetooth integration (probably cheaper off Amazon - and an Android double DIN head unit solves #2 as well)
4. Roof Rack Cross bars
5. Trailer Hitch

 

[dvpatel]

#1 is NOT going to happen.
#2 as long as you get the same trim radio, it will work but Tourings and higher have a different radio. And there are wiring differences so I'd be careful if you are swapping between the trims
#3 factory BT integration sucked so you need to go after market and just solve both #2 and #3 together.
#4 is doable if you find them in the junk yard
#5 is also possible but the hitch did not come alone. It came with upgraded transmission cooler and was a package.

I would strongly recommend you forget your European car upgrade experience. The Hondas aren't wired for anything extra for the most part.

 

[ScottyOddy]

I didn't see a thread dedicated to this in my searches, so figured I'd ask...

6 of my last 7 cars since 1989 have been European (4 VW's, 1 BMW and 1 Volvo). Your typical junkyard is FULL of European cars so I've used them to source upgrades or spares for the last 30 years or so. Most recently, I was able to score all sorts of options for my Volvo wagon (factory bluetooth phone integration, iPod/Audio integration, rear privacy screen, etc.),

The Volvo is now sold off, so now I'm the proud new primary driver of our 2008 EX-L (owned since new - was my wife's ride but we recently picked up a CRV for her), I'm interested in feedback as to what one should look for when one visits the junkyard, both in terms of spares and upgrades.

My guess is that making the cool stuff from the EX-L+Entertainment, EX-L+Nav and Touring models whole involves a LOT of components. For example, I'd love to have the memory seat feature from a Touring Edition, but I suspect you need to pull out an BUNCH of stuff to make that happen.

In terms of spares, I suspect that coils and the fuel pump top the list, but interested in your feedback.

Personally, I'd love:

1. Memory seats
2. A radio with a volume knob that works as intended (ours seems to be wonky)
3. Bluetooth integration (probably cheaper off Amazon - and an Android double DIN head unit solves #2 as well)
4. Roof Rack Cross bars
5. Trailer Hitch

i just bought a set of cross bars on eBay for $59 delivered. They look identical to my factory Honda set I have on my Pilot. I installed them yesterday but have yet to use them. And when you do get a set you only need to remove the rear plastic end caps on the factory rails and slide the mounting hardware on from there. No need to remove the front of the rails as seen on some YT videos

 

[a3inverter]

#1 is NOT going to happen.
#2 as long as you get the same trim radio, it will work but Tourings and higher have a different radio. And there are wiring differences so I'd be careful if you are swapping between the trims
#3 factory BT integration sucked so you need to go after market and just solve both #2 and #3 together.
#4 is doable if you find them in the junk yard
#5 is also possible but the hitch did not come alone. It came with upgraded transmission cooler and was a package.

I would strongly recommend you forget your European car upgrade experience. The Hondas aren't wired for anything extra for the most part.

Your feedback largely maps to what I had assumed.

WRT #5, I want the hitch for a hitch mounted bike rack, so no need for the full towing enchilada.

 

[WiiMaster]

There are radio differences between model years as well, so be careful with that.

If you wanted Bluetooth, that wouldn't be possible without NAVI either as only the 08-10 NAVI models got any form of Bluetooth, and it was only capable of calls, not audio.

I can suggest some relatively flimsy, harder to find parts you may want to grab though if you can find. Mostly cosmetic stuff.

If the interior color matches, grab the plastic cover for the interior tailgate grab handle.

If it's there, grab the plastic engine cover as well. You can get this from any 05-10, they're all the same minus the different stickers for 3.5 VTEC, 3.5 i-VTEC w/VCM, and the 08-10 style of the VCM sticker.

I wouldn't suggest the fuel pump, as it's a rare failure item on these. I would suggest the ignition coils, the OE coils are quite durable.

 

[Doh]

Just get yourself a direct plug in Bluetooth adapter on Amazon search for Honda Odyssey bluetooth adapter. They have ones that plug right into the CD port on factory stereo and work well for about $50 if my memory serves me correctly. Speaker phone feature isn't super smooth but they do work.
Factory decks will need a code so sourcing one form a junkyard might be tough. Do get yourself a few coils (look for Hitachi) next time your at my favorite part store aka Pic-n-Pull.

 

[WiiMaster]

GTA Car Kits is a little more expensive but from what I understand works pretty good.

Factory decks will need a code so sourcing one form a junkyard might be tough.

Not necessarily. Getting the code is pretty simple as long as you have the unit serial number and note down the VIN it came from.

 

[Black88GTA]

Factory subwoofer kit (if you care about that sort of thing). Add-on option for the EX-L. Not very impressive, but adds a bit of depth and seamless OEM integration.
If your car has NAV, try to find the newest map DVD you can in a yard car. I know, most people don't use the built in nav anymore but I've had to fall back on mine when I was in an area with no cell service and my phone crapped out. Was kind of a lifesaver that day. You don't need it until you need it, and something like a nav DVD would be probably nearly free from a yard.

 

[Juggawut]

Factory subwoofer kit (if you care about that sort of thing). Add-on option for the EX-L. Not very impressive, but adds a bit of depth and seamless OEM integration.
If your car has NAV, try to find the newest map DVD you can in a yard car. I know, most people don't use the built in nav anymore but I've had to fall back on mine when I was in an area with no cell service and my phone crapped out. Was kind of a lifesaver that day. You don't need it until you need it, and something like a nav DVD would be probably nearly free from a yard.

Do you think the wiring for the factory subwoofer exists if one was never installed? I have wondered about this one as well. The highs are wonderful from the factory speakers in my EX, however the bass is definitely lacking. I don't need a lot of bass, I just want to hear a fuller range of lows with my music. The tiny factory sub may be just fine for me.

As a former audiophile, I was once heard coming from blocks away. While I still appreciate a sound system that can be recorded with a seismograph, it's just too dang loud for me anymore.

I do have a factory sub box from a 2005 escape with an audio package. I did plan on one day figuring out the pin out on the proprietary harness connected to the amp so I can splice it into the Ody and mount it as far forward in the in floor storage as I can, but grabbing a factory sub from another Ody and just plugging it in would be nice too.

 

[jiantao]

Crossbars and hitch, you can probably buy from Craigslist, if you cannot find in a junkyard. I have a set of Thule crossbars on mine that I bought from Craigslist. Have been reluctant to put on a hitch for bikes given the car is so low already.

 

[Juggawut]

Crossbars and hitch, you can probably buy from Craigslist, if you cannot find in a junkyard. I have a set of Thule crossbars on mine that I bought from Craigslist. Have been reluctant to put on a hitch for bikes given the car is so low already.

I've seen some aftermarket crossbars on odysseys and they look sporty to me. The OE crossbars blend in fairly inconspicuously and are not so exciting in that aspect.

 

[jiantao]

I've seen some aftermarket crossbars on odysseys and they look sporty to me. The OE crossbars blend in fairly inconspicuously and are not so exciting in that aspect.

I actually prefer the look of the OEM crossbars, and I'd imagine they create less wind noise. But my Thule ones are relatively easy to remove if not being used.

 

[ScottyOddy]

Your feedback largely maps to what I had assumed.

WRT #5, I want the hitch for a hitch mounted bike rack, so no need for the full towing enchilada.

Before you install the hitch be sure to chase the threads of the mounting holes in the chassis with the correct sized chaser to rid the holes/threads of rust and debris otherwise you run the risk of breaking the welds of the factory nuts when trying to install bolts. For a few bucks and a few extra minutes of work it is well worth the reward vs the risk

 

[ScottyOddy]

This what I just bought a few days ago and look just like my Honda crossbars for my Pilot

2X Top Roof Rack Cross Bar Fit Honda Odyssey 2005-2010 Cargo Carrier Crossbars 632111970110 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 2X Top Roof Rack Cross Bar Fit Honda Odyssey 2005-2010 Cargo Carrier Crossbars at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[Black88GTA]

Do you think the wiring for the factory subwoofer exists if one was never installed? I have wondered about this one as well. The highs are wonderful from the factory speakers in my EX, however the bass is definitely lacking. I don't need a lot of bass, I just want to hear a fuller range of lows with my music. The tiny factory sub may be just fine for me.

It did not on my 2005 (although they may have switched things up in later model years). I had to get the sub itself, the dash switch, the harness, and all mounting brackets / hardware when I did it. Install was fairly straightforward, especially if you have experience doing this kind of thing.

I have also done relatively complex sound system installations on cars in the past, but like you just can't be bothered to go all out anymore. The Honda sub is definitely nothing to write home about, but does help, especially at lower volumes.

 

[DennisDragon]

Some upgrades I look for at junk yard:
1. Underfloor Lazy Susan
2. Chrome interior sliding door lever
3. 05-07 Touring 2nd row center console (More storage space!)
4. 08-10 2nd row jump seat (2 more cupholders!)
5. Extra RES headphones
6. Chrome tailgate trim

 

[Dragoon89]

Is it viable to look for the HVAC actuators in a junk yard?

 

[WiiMaster]

Is it viable to look for the HVAC actuators in a junk yard?

Maybe. Stuff that's common failure isn't necessarily something you want to get from a junkyard but I think those aren't common enough to not be worth looking for.

 

[stewsmith1]

I put OE crossbars on my '14 EX-L and these made wind noise and rattled, especially with the sun roof open, until I determined that one end of each bar floated in the housing. The other end is bolted tight. I shoved the small end of a waterproof shim into the space at the top of each bar where it enters the housing and broke it off in there and that stopped the wind noise.

 

[Billdyssey]

Sell it while it's still drivable and buy a Toyota.