replacing the back plate.

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Level 2

446 points

replacing the back plate.

Hi. I am planning on buying a cosmetically damaged iPod classic 80GB on eBay. The damage is on the back plate, and I was thinking there are bound to some iPod parts available. And indeed there are (again, on eBay). But all the classic ones are pretty expensive. But there are a lot of cheap back plates for the 5th gen iPod 80GB. Does anybody here know whether they are compatible? Can I put a back plate of a 5th gen iPod 80GB onto a 6th gen one?

And just one more thought, how about the front panel? Can I use a 5th gen front panel to replace the 6th gen one? Because actually I kind of like the 5th gen look more than the 6th.

iMac Intel Core 2 Duo 17" 2GHz (on 10.4.11) + MacBook 2.2Ghz White, Mac OS X (10.4.11), iPod nano 3rd gen

Posted on May 29, 2008 4:27 AM

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Answer 1

the fiend

Level 7

23,454 points

May 29, 2008 1:05 PM in response to Leiya Lee

I have read on an "iPod battery replacement website" (can't remember which one - google "ipod classic teeth") that the Classic has special teeth built into the case which will break the case beyond use if it is opened, where as older iPods can be opened and resealed. If this is true, it would suggest two things: 1. that you will not be able to fit the backplate of a 5th generation iPod onto a Classic frontplate; and 2. you will damage the Classic's case beyond use if you open it.

Needless to say, the suppliers of replacement iPod batteries are not happy! So beware.

By the way, how badly "cosmetically" damaged is this iPod? Space inside is tight so a "cosmetic" dent in the case for instance would probably mean damage to the electronics inside, which might only show up occasionally!

Overall, I would recommend that you save your money until you can afford to spend more on an undamaged one or better still, a new one complete with full warranty!

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