Aftermarket head unit

[dr_011]

Guess I'm the outlier here but I like my Avin unit. I've had 3 so far (due to upgrading specs, not issues). I prefer the 'OEM look' and I use everything offline (navigation, music) so car play and android auto aren't interesting to me. Sound quality dramatically improved over the stock HK. Support has been fine and setup is pretty easy IMO. I added the Induktiv wireless charging pad as well to keep my phone juiced up. It's a great setup all around.

[liam821]

CarPlay. The only modern car feature I value.

This is really all I needed as well. Both my cars have HK and they both sound awful stock headunit or aftermarket - so whatever at least now I can wirelessly CarPlay. I have a Eonon something in my 330i and an Essgo in the M3. The Essgo looks like just like the factory navi headunit, while the Eonon has the larger screen. They both work as advertised. The Essgo was $102 and I paid a whopping $145 for the Eonon.

[Obioban]

Honest question as it's on my project list. Unless your OEM head unit is fried or pixels are all dead, why would you go with a questionable aftermarket solution vs BlueBus? Cost, ease of install, functionality and audio quality all seem to be in the favor of BlueBus based solely on what I've read.

CarPlay. The only modern car feature I value.

But, as Baris pointed out above, you can now do that with the stock MKIV.

[Baris - Carphonics]

For those who installed the very poor quality Chinese 6 meter extension cable, or about to, bare in mind you’re adding 6 meters of poor quality speaker cables and also losing voltage to your stereo. If you installed amplifiers, then it’s fine.

Better quality cables can be bought. I make them in house.

https://carphonics.co.uk/shop/shop-by-car/bmw/5-series/e39-5-series/high-grade-extension-cable-for-aftermarket-systems/

I also have Harman kardon connectors for going aftermarket.

https://carphonics.co.uk/shop/shop-by-car/bmw/3-4-series/e46-3-series-1999-2007/harman-kardon-connector-for-external-amplifier-installs/

And if you like OEM look and want CarPlay, you can have it.

https://youtu.be/MSjVreVGfLQ?si=eGbMJs7Bas3t-n99

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFQ85AfKD5f/?igsh=Z2h2MWw1MG16enlv

I also have a large supply of brand new TFT screens, in which I will be bringing out detailed guides on how to change yours. This will include tips and tricks to make it easier and not to break any clips.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DENnWGsqu5b/?igsh=MTN3NXJ6aTJqYjM0eg==

[lemoose]

Honest question as it's on my project list. Unless your OEM head unit is fried or pixels are all dead, why would you go with a questionable aftermarket solution vs BlueBus? Cost, ease of install, functionality and audio quality all seem to be in the favor of BlueBus based solely on what I've read.

Carplay navigation. I have the bluebus on my M5 but my M3 is my daily and living with carplay is so much easier. If only I could figure out how to get the damn buttons to dim with the rest of the interior, I'd be 100% satisfied with my unit.

[oceansize]

Honest question as it's on my project list. Unless your OEM head unit is fried or pixels are all dead, why would you go with a questionable aftermarket solution vs BlueBus? Cost, ease of install, functionality and audio quality all seem to be in the favor of BlueBus based solely on what I've read.

I don't have any qualms about having a touch screen in my car, doesn't bother me in the least. I have Sony head unit and CarPlay works great, steering wheel controls work great, and nothing else needs to exist.

[Keith_MN]

Honest question as it's on my project list. Unless your OEM head unit is fried or pixels are all dead, why would you go with a questionable aftermarket solution vs BlueBus? Cost, ease of install, functionality and audio quality all seem to be in the favor of BlueBus based solely on what I've read.

[Obioban]

By process of elimination... Xtrons.
Had a Sony in the truck and it was crappy. Also, looks way out of place in the M3
Had a Pioneer in the suburban, and it was hot garbage. Also, looks way out of place in the M3
Dynavin looks like fisher price, with the huge buttons. Never was really even an option for me, just based on looks.
Went through 3 Avins on the M3, and they were all unreliable.

Tried an Xtrons on a whim, and it was flawless for years. Got a 2nd one, because I decided I valued larger screen more than factory MKIV look, and it's been equally flawless. My only complaint is I wish the screen was matte without an overlay.

... though now that there's CarPlay on the factory MKIV options, I have some pretty strong regrets I didn't stick it out with that.

disclaimer:
zero consideration given to sound quality. I only have 2 speakers in my car (weight reduction), and basically listen to podcasts only. I just care that it looks factoryish, works reliably, has wireless CarPlay, has a functional speakerphone, and enables weight savings. I'm not saying the xtrons sounds good or bad-- I legitimately don't know.

[maw1124]

I have the dynavin and like it... Just for the love of life do NOT BUY AVIN.

^^^ That's the part. Year after year, user after user, same experience.

That XAV-9000 has the ESS Sabre DAC chips that have basically turned that industry upside down so it makes the point -- the branded units are the best SQ you're likely to find for a car.

But right behind that, for factory looks, is the Dynavin.

I care about music and sound quality (tube amp and '81 Klipsch Heresy in my office), and my Dynavin has been just fine. The XAV-9000 will probably go in another car this spring.

maw

[beyondm3]

So for SQ the consensus is to avoid the OEM drop in and go for A branded option?

I have an xav-6000 in my 540 and I stream tidal to it and wanted to keep of OEM look in the M3. I however do not want to compromise on SQ.

I picked up the xav-9000es for the M3 but my gut is kinda fighting me on the aftermarket look. Not that it looks bad just not OG.

[sleepyonthehighway]

I have the dynavin and like it. Only issue so far comes with using Siri, it cuts out for the first second or so. “John replied “——— downtown” which isn’t helpful.

Just for the love of life do NOT BUY AVIN. i purchased their headunit, didn’t like it, tried to return it and they basically refused to give me an RMA. after weeks of haggling they finally did, so i sent back my unit and heard… nothing. No refund, no response despite trying several times. Had to have my CC refund me instead.

[GreyM340i]

I first tried the Xtrons however I sold it after a few months and got the new then Sony 6000 in the image below. It’s been great so far.

[karter16]

Having spent years shaking my head at everyone buying the chinese units and having all sorts of trouble with them I most definitely stuck to my principles and.... bought an xtrons..... 🤨

In the end the more I researched the traditional companies' offerings and the problems people had with them (particularly with CarPlay and the like) the more I felt that I was going to be compromising on both reliability and OE-like integration/looks.

I decided therefore to have a go first with one of the chinese units and then if it was no good to ditch it and go with a traditional company. I went for this model https://xtrons.com/bmw-rover-mg-andr...l-4g-ix8246bhl as I didn't want a big screen stuck to the dashboard, and I felt that the unit that mimics the original nav is an unnecessarily aged design.

So far I'm 3 months in and the experience has been significantly better than I was expecting. Crucially the unit has been reliable for me as has the CarPlay solution. It's fast, it looks about as OEM as you could realistically hope for, and support from Xtrons has been good.

Note: I'm aware that one of the key criticisms of these sorts of units is that reliability is variable from unit to unit. Therefore if anyone is taking this as some sort of endorsement please be aware that while my experience has been, so far, good, there's plenty of evidence out there on this forum and others that your experience may well not be the same as mine.

[ugaexploder]

If you decide to go with the traditional companies (JBL, Sony, Alpine, etc.), most of the Sony "XAV" units are designed so that it can fit easily above the air vents since only the upper din extends, but the lower half is shallow.

I went with Sony XAV-AX1000 because I like volume knobs, non-glossy screen, and front USB port. I also like it that it's a little older unit which better fits the vintage of the car as well.

[genesis]

I went w a Sony head unit. Apple CarPlay and sound quality being the 2 main considerations…not as close to OEM looking like the Eonons and the others, but it is what it is. I had the XAV-AX5500 and later upgraded to the 6000 for wireless CarPlay