has anybody added an aftermaket nav system?

[RichieZ]

My new car has the MOST fiber optic system, as such it requires a $400 adapter to integrate my ipod and then it doesn't even do titles. Its ridiculous that i drive a brand new car that doesn't play MP3's, don't have AUX in and doesn't even do CDTEXT.

Anyways enough complaining. Has anybody put in an aftermarket DOUBLE DIN system and been happy with it?

I like the interface in our lexus, but it seems like the latest gen NAV isn't available aftermarket. Any suggestions?

PS: no i don't want a garmin nuvi or anything like that

 

[Kaido]

For me personally, I've never really been happy with any in-car navigation units, and most stock stereo units didn't do what I wanted. I know you said you don't want a Garmin Nuvi, but my killer combo right now is a Garmin Nuvi GPS plus an Alpine CDE-102 stereo receiver. I got the $30 iPod cable, which hooks up to my iPhone and both charges it, and lets me control and navigate the iPod app using the radio - I don't ever have to touch the iPhone itself! It's not as integrated into the dashboard as I'd like (wires hanging everywhere), but the functionality is worth it to me.

 

[RichieZ]

Originally posted by: Kaido
For me personally, I've never really been happy with any in-car navigation units, and most stock stereo units didn't do what I wanted. I know you said you don't want a Garmin Nuvi, but my killer combo right now is a Garmin Nuvi GPS plus an Alpine CDE-102 stereo receiver. I got the $30 iPod cable, which hooks up to my iPhone and both charges it, and lets me control and navigate the iPod app using the radio - I don't ever have to touch the iPhone itself! It's not as integrated into the dashboard as I'd like (wires hanging everywhere), but the functionality is worth it to me.

its going in a roadster, so i don't really want loose items hanging around that i need to store away if i leave the top down while I run into a store or something.

its also very important to me to look well integrated into the car.

thanks for the comments, lets keep em coming.

 

[zoiks]

I installed a double din Kenwood DNX7100 in my Mazda6. It was certainly a project since I had to cut out the single din console to accomodate the double din and it took me 3 months to do the custom electrical work (had to create another circuit for the buttons/leds etc). Did a lot of fiber/bondo stuff and got it to fit in perfectly. The after market units are great. I do love my G37 factory Nav though. I can use voice operations to set a destination, find whatever I need and even call someone.
Going back to the aftermarket stuff, I'd check reviews on Amazon.com and crutchfield to get the latest on the pioneer, alpine and kenwood after market units.

 

[Synomenon]

If you don't want a Garmin Nuvi or other similar PND wait for Pioneer's upcoming AVIC-X910BT:
http://www.pioneerelectronics....on-Systems/AVIC-X910BT

 

[RichieZ]

Originally posted by: IsLNdbOi
If you don't want a Garmin Nuvi or other similar PND wait for Pioneer's upcoming AVIC-X910BT:
http://www.pioneerelectronics....on-Systems/AVIC-X910BT

i'm considering the X710BT, which is the same but w/o MSN direct. My friend has an older F series AVIC and its sloooooow as hell when booting up. Hopefully its faster now.

Originally posted by: zoiks
I installed a double din Kenwood DNX7100 in my Mazda6. It was certainly a project since I had to cut out the single din console to accomodate the double din and it took me 3 months to do the custom electrical work (had to create another circuit for the buttons/leds etc). Did a lot of fiber/bondo stuff and got it to fit in perfectly. The after market units are great. I do love my G37 factory Nav though. I can use voice operations to set a destination, find whatever I need and even call someone.
Going back to the aftermarket stuff, I'd check reviews on Amazon.com and crutchfield to get the latest on the pioneer, alpine and kenwood after market units.

My existing stereo is already double DIN (but its a piece of cr*p) and Porsche sells a faceplate adapter for double din aftermarket navs, apparently b/c in japan their factory nav doesn't work? I'm not going to DIY install, I'd rather pay somebody to take care of it in this car.

Its really sad that I can't just add a DICE unit and be done with it like i did in my old car.

 

[AMCRambler]

I've been debating getting a double din unit for my GTO. I'm in the same boat as you pretty much. The craptacular Blaupunkt unit in the car now is an in-dash cd changer with no aux input. I went from having a carputer in my last car with my entire mp3 colleciton on it to burning cd-r's again and it was getting annoying. I couldn't justify the in-dash navigation though because I really don't use it that much anymore and any time we go anywhere my fiance brings her Tom Tom with. I dvd player unit would have been cool but I really don't sit around in the car that much that I could watch the thing and you have to be parked with the e-brake up to use em anyway so my girl couldn't even watch a movie on it on long trips.

All I was really looking for was bluetooth and mp3 capability and I went and got a bluetooth speaker phone unit with an fm transmitter that works great for that. for my b-day the fiance is going to pick me up a bluetooth capable mp3 player that I can just connect to that speaker phone and play the mp3's through the same fm transmitter. Not much help there I know.

I will say that it's hard to get a head unit that will let you use the factory steering wheel control buttons. I really liked that about the stock unit so I decided to stick with it.

 

[zoiks]

Originally posted by: AMCRambler
I will say that it's hard to get a head unit that will let you use the factory steering wheel control buttons. I really liked that about the stock unit so I decided to stick with it.

That's not entirely true. I connected my Kenwood to my car steering wheel controls. You need to use an external adapter called a PAC SWI and then program all the signals for the steering wheel buttons. They have this for most vehicles as far as I can tell.

http://www.logjamelectronics.com/pacswijack.html

 

[zoiks]

Originally posted by: RichieZ

My existing stereo is already double DIN (but its a piece of cr*p) and Porsche sells a faceplate adapter for double din aftermarket navs, apparently b/c in japan their factory nav doesn't work? I'm not going to DIY install, I'd rather pay somebody to take care of it in this car.

Its really sad that I can't just add a DICE unit and be done with it like i did in my old car.

If you have an adapter available then its probably very easy to install the GPS. The previous generation of Mazda6 did not have double din adapters available for the NA market so I had to improvise and make my own. As far as units go, I chose the Kenwood since it was the only unit (within my price range) that could play mp3 cds while operating the Nav software. At least 2.5 years ago most units came with Nav maps on a cd that had to be inserted if you wanted to use the gps. And the geniuses at Pioneer decided that you couldn't use the music cd when you were operating the gps. After a lot of research, I bought the Kenwood and couldn't have been more happier. I added the phone bluetooth module and the rear view camera etc.

 

[DivideBYZero]

What about this?

Text

I must admit, having full integration that works with the existing monitor and car controls, including the steering wheel is great. I've had the Intravee II in my BMW for a year now and there is nothing like it. BMW's own system that we have in our other car isn't even close in functionality or usability.

 

[RichieZ]

Originally posted by: zoiks

Originally posted by: AMCRambler
I will say that it's hard to get a head unit that will let you use the factory steering wheel control buttons. I really liked that about the stock unit so I decided to stick with it.

That's not entirely true. I connected my Kenwood to my car steering wheel controls. You need to use an external adapter called a PAC SWI and then program all the signals for the steering wheel buttons. They have this for most vehicles as far as I can tell.

http://www.logjamelectronics.com/pacswijack.html

well lucky for me I don't have steering wheel buttons, that wheel was a several hundred dollar upgrade I think? I have $5.6K in options that almost reach the level of my old BMW with Premium and Sport package, haha. Thinking about doing the retrofit of the alcantra GT2 wheel with multifunction buttons.

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
What about this?

Text

I must admit, having full integration that works with the existing monitor and car controls, including the steering wheel is great. I've had the Intravee II in my BMW for a year now and there is nothing like it. BMW's own system that we have in our other car isn't even close in functionality or usability.

this is actually the unit for porsche, its about $400. I might as well pony up another couple hundred dollars to get aftermarket nav that does more than just emulate an ipod as a cd changer.

 

[sjwaste]

I have the Pioneer AVIC F700BT. Slow bootup, yes, but music comes on sooner than it's fully booted so not a huge deal. GPS locks on fast. Not nearly the issues you'll find on reviews prior to firmware 2.0. They fixed a lot, and I'm very happy with the unit. We have it in both of our cars, a 1991 Supra and 2004 Passat.

Ipod/Iphone integration is great (we have both, as well as a touch, so this is from personal experience). Bluetooth is very good, iphone and palm centro.

My only knocks on the unit are the slow boot (about 30 seconds before everything is usable) and the GPS is a little chatty, but that's also something I like when I'm using it in a totally unknown area, rather than a semi-known.

Overall, I installed both myself for under $1000. Totally worth the $375 per unit I paid (plus another 40 per on ipod cables). The passat required about $100 in accessories, the supra just needed a $10 harness adapter. Both required my time to connect up the adapter harnesses, find a clean spot for the ipod cable, and mounting the GPS antenna under the dash. I will say this, both look very factory because you can change the illumination colors, they dim with the interior, etc. Most importantly, you can mount the GPS antenna under the dash for a very clean install.

 

[Synomenon]

The AVIC-F700 and F900 were pretty good units once you overlook the slow boot times. I can't wait to see reviews on the X710 and X910.

 

[sjwaste]

Originally posted by: IsLNdbOi
The AVIC-F700 and F900 were pretty good units once you overlook the slow boot times. I can't wait to see reviews on the X710 and X910.

I just ordered the 3.0 update plus iGo maps update (I think it upgrades iGo to 8.3, too). $60 isn't a bad deal for a map update, so the firmware will just be an added bonus.

I'll post back with how it works. It won't be here til late July/August. $60 is the preorder price.

 

[Synomenon]

Wow, the X910BT and X710BT are already out. Just checked Crutchfield and they have them in stock.

 

[BoberFett]

Bumping this thread to see where things are at.

RichieZ Did you ever get something installed ? If so, what do you think of it?

sjwaste Where the heck did you find those units for $375? Clearance?

I just picked a new (used) car this weekend. Got a sweet deal on a beautiful '98 Mark VIII LSC with only 57K miles. Stereo is pretty weak though. The speakers have the JBL logo on them so I don't know if the head unit is the weak point or if the whole system is crap. Think I might start with a new stereo and see how that works with the existing speakers. I'd love to add a navigation unit with all the bells and whistles but I'm leery of spending $700+ to find out I'd have been better off just getting a more basic stereo and standalone GPS.

 

[franksta]

Originally posted by: IsLNdbOi
The AVIC-F700 and F900 were pretty good units once you overlook the slow boot times. I can't wait to see reviews on the X710 and X910.

I have a 710 sitting on my kitchen table I'll probably put in this weekend.

 

[ChaosDivine]

Originally posted by: BoberFett
I just picked a new (used) car this weekend. Got a sweet deal on a beautiful '98 Mark VIII LSC with only 57K miles...

Mark VIII?! Head on over to LincolnVSCadillac.com stat!

 

[BoberFett]

Sweet, thanks for the link. Been looking for a good Mark VIII site.

 

[ChaosDivine]

Originally posted by: BoberFett
Sweet, thanks for the link. Been looking for a good Mark VIII site.

It's about the best resource there is for all models of Lincolns (I can personally attest to this) and Cadillacs (not rich enough for a CTS-V yet )

 

[BoberFett]

Just went to a local Best Buy and they have a couple of F700BTs on clearance for $466. I'm giving it serious consideration.

 

[sjwaste]

Originally posted by: sjwaste

Originally posted by: IsLNdbOi
The AVIC-F700 and F900 were pretty good units once you overlook the slow boot times. I can't wait to see reviews on the X710 and X910.

I just ordered the 3.0 update plus iGo maps update (I think it upgrades iGo to 8.3, too). $60 isn't a bad deal for a map update, so the firmware will just be an added bonus.

I'll post back with how it works. It won't be here til late July/August. $60 is the preorder price.

The F700BT with 3.0 is a lot more responsive. Still takes about 10-15 seconds to boot, especially with bluetooth enabled, but there's far less UI lag now. When you touch a button, it responds. Overall, I'm very happy with the unit, especially for the $375 that I paid. For the person that asked, yeah, It was from 6ave.com when they went on clearance. I installed one on mine, one on our other car, both with ipod cables, plus all tools and adapters for under $1000. Not bad for two installs and an afternoon of my time.

 

[RichieZ]

i ended up just getting a hardwired FM transmitter.

It also charges my iphone which has all my music and a navigation app. For the most part I really just wanted iPod integration and this is enough. My porsche doesn't have steering wheel controls so I'm not really missing out on much.

http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-e...uct.php?model=DPR-RDS1

Similar to old DICE unit in my old BMW but you have to use the iPhone controls, which is fine i guess.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I added one to my motorcycle.

 

[SSSnail]

Yeah, portable GPSes work really well.