Clarion M303

N369RM

Member
Jan 1, 2010
111
Destin Florida
Boat Info
1998 270 DA
Engines
7.4 Merc, Bravo III
I am looking to install this with the bluetooh feature. Plan to also add amp and sub-woofer.

I have a bluetoon set up in my airplane and it works great so am assuming same here for my I-phone play lists.

Also will replace old wired remote with newer model.

Anyone have any experience with these?

Thanks!

Ron Mason
 
Not familiar with head unit but I had the new wired remote by clarion and at night it's brighter then the sun with no dim and no dust cover so make something up to cover it for night cruising and you need to use the updated cable. The old one does not work
 
I just installed the Clarion M502 unit in my 370.
i love the Bluetooth.
i was able to match the color coded wires from the old unit to the new one.
i had to run a new cable for the remote and enlarge the opening where the old one was.
all in all not a bad install though
 
Not familiar with head unit but I had the new wired remote by clarion and at night it's brighter then the sun with no dim and no dust cover so make something up to cover it for night cruising and you need to use the updated cable. The old one does not work

I wired my remote light to the cockpit lights. I figure if the cockpit lights do not bother me then the remote won't either, otherwise it is off underway.

MM
 
I wired my remote light to the cockpit lights. I figure if the cockpit lights do not bother me then the remote won't either, otherwise it is off underway.

MM

Mike,

How did you do that? My harness was totally enclosed so I wouldn't even be able to see the backlighting wires.


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Todd
 
Bill (zz13) hooked me up with a flush mounted 3.5mm jack which goes to red/white RCA connector style connectors. In our set-ups there's an aux input on the clarion that accepts the RCA connectors. You can either get a cable with 3.5mm connectors for hard wiring or as Bill did get the miccus Bluetooth receiver off amazon for ~$35. I have since done the same and just stream music or my ipod to the stereo from anywhere on the boat wirelessly. I also got the miccus Bluetooth transmitter so I can pump my non bluetooth tv/DVDs through the cabin speakers too. One of my favorite upgrades so far.
 
I don't really have a review yet, but I am looking at the unit as a replacement for my Clarion XMD1. Since this unit is being replaced in a cabin, it is cheaper , and seems to maybe have more features than the CMD series.
 
Installed the M303 this spring with XM and the wired remote. +1 on the remote blinding you at night, I just put some tint tape on the display and it helped out immensely. The bluetooth function works well, and is easy enough to program. You will need a new wire going from the head unit to the new wired remote if you so choose to include that in the upgrade (the old wired remote will not work with the M303). After a few months of use, I would recommend the head unit.
 
meant to post here

I guess I am going to go with the Clarion M303. I was hoping that it would work with the other components (disc changer, hard wired remote). After reading this thread, it seems that nothing will work with the new head unit. I could live with just the volume control working on the hard wired remote control. Since the light on the new wired remote is so bright I might just go with the wireless RF remote (no buying a new wire or having to run the wire and no brightness issue, also the wireless remote is cheaper).

When you guys changed out to the M303 your disc changer did not work at all and the hard wired remote did not work at all including no volume control, is that correct?

Any thoughts on skipping the hard wired remote and going to the cheaper wireless remote?
 
Went with the M303 head unit, jury is still out. I did get the Clarion wireless RF remote control. The remote control is supposed to be waterproof and float, pretty slick. Remote works well so far.

Now having speaker troubles. From what I can tell, today's Clarion 6.5 speaker will not fit in the 1997 270 Sundancer 6.5 stock hole. There are other speakers that fit the stock hole but most have a deeper depth which causes issues with the bulkhead/support.

Anyone find a direct drop-in 6.5" replacement for the Clariion stock speakers for a 97 270 Sundancer?
 
I went with the M303 and the MW1 wired remote. The bluetooth works great in every corner of the boat, and remote is great and fits in the old helm location with minor modification.
IMG_2195.jpg
 
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This spring my older Clarion M455 bit the dust. My initial thought was to upgrade to the M303 until I found out it would make my two wired remotes obsolete. You can get this adapter http://www.discountcarstereo.com/CCUMRA1.html but you loose some of the functions on the remotes. It would have cost me ~$300 to upgrade my old remotes to work with the M303. In the end I paid $125 to have the M455 repaired which lets me keep my older, but still working, remotes. It was tough to put that much money in to an old head unit, but better than the almost $500 it would have taken to upgrade everything.
 
I've got the m303....tip-if you hardwire a remote to the dash, put the Y-plug there with the wireless remote module at the dash too....that will give you more wireless range when you are behind the boat swimming
 
I've got the m303....tip-if you hardwire a remote to the dash, put the Y-plug there with the wireless remote module at the dash too....that will give you more wireless range when you are behind the boat swimming

Did the exact thing; It works great! Very happy with the M303 and it's features including the interface with my iPhone and Pandora.
 

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