CarPlay Unit ? Is this Sh&t?

[Slideways]

whoa. the Xtrons comes with a harness to connect the nav cars to the car without running the extra harness?! Where did you get the converter in the first pic?

No, you need to run the 6 meter harness. It is not that bad other than figuring out how to remove the door sill cover. In the video below, ignore where he runs the cable around the fold down rear seats. The better way to route the cable is using the factory foam grommet under the side rear seat cushion that sits under the rear seatbelt. Removing the rear door card also helps.

Per Xtrons' instructions, those blue and white connectors for the nav screen are not used.

[sev]

Does anyone know what the blue connector for the OE Nav screen is for? There is a blue connector on the Xtrons harness that is keyed for the blue plug and I am wondering if that needs to be connected. The main 6M harness that goes to the trunk does power the unit and it plays audio. Added a few picture of the nav connectors that I found on another post:

whoa. the Xtrons comes with a harness to connect the nav cars to the car without running the extra harness?! Where did you get the converter in the first pic?

[Shonky]

Doesn't apply to my car, so I'm very low confidence about this, but don't only the nav cars need the harness?

That is correct. Only nav cars need the extension as most of the brains are in the back. The non nav cars have the right wiring to front so don't need the extension.

My point was there's enough wiring in the blue or white connector to pass audio to the back but they just don't bother using it.

[Obioban]

In theory there is not really a need for the 6m main extension but they just seem to do it that way to cover the lowest spec ie no nav and no HK. You would still need the antenna extension or take over controlling the radio in the BM53/54. There is power, ibus, permanent power, switched power and audio all available on the white connector. After all it can be an audio source via the CD or tape deck.Although there is only two channels the front rear fading is done in the rear BM5x module.

The blue connector is just the video signal for the front display. The actual generation is done in the rear in the Nav computer. So for these solutions I don't see any need to connect it as there's no pass through to display the original display on these units.

Edit: I might have blue and white wrong way around here in which case blue would have some use but it's overridden by the big extension cable.

Doesn’t apply to my car, so I’m very low confidence about this, but don’t only the nav cars need the harness?

[Shonky]

In theory there is not really a need for the 6m main extension but they just seem to do it that way to cover the lowest spec ie no nav and no HK. You would still need the antenna extension or take over controlling the radio in the BM53/54. There is power, ibus, permanent power, switched power and audio all available on the white connector. After all it can be an audio source via the CD or tape deck.Although there is only two channels the front rear fading is done in the rear BM5x module.

The blue connector is just the video signal for the front display. The actual generation is done in the rear in the Nav computer. So for these solutions I don't see any need to connect it as there's no pass through to display the original display on these units.

Edit: I might have blue and white wrong way around here in which case blue would have some use but it's overridden by the big extension cable.

[Slideways]

Does anyone know what the blue connector for the OE Nav screen is for? There is a blue connector on the Xtrons harness that is keyed for the blue plug and I am wondering if that needs to be connected. The main 6M harness that goes to the trunk does power the unit and it plays audio. Added a few picture of the nav connectors that I found on another post:

[maw1124]

I have the Dynavin D8 and recently it's been lagging a lot and getting stuck with my CarPlay. Also wish the screen was a bit clearer. Which version do you have? I wonder when they will come out with the D10...

I'm on the N7 Pro. You do have to stay up on the firmware updates, so I'd check into that if you're having performance issues. Just like an iPhone that needs an update will start acting weird.

Pics below. The screen glare in my convertible in FL is pretty intense. But I'd just as soon have the screen off anyway. I'm only using it for music -- too many screens in life as it is.

Obioban "widescreen" unit with the Germanic chrome halos around the knobs (think Audi VW Group) doesn't look half bad either.

maw

[duperdog]

I have a vert and curious if anyone has experience with sun/glare with any of the aftermarket units? Any recommendations? Thanks

[0-60motorsports]

I've been 100% pleased with my xtrons, other than it not having a matte screen-- which I'm currently addressing. Would recomend for sure.
Admittedly I'm in CarPlay 99.9% of the time (basically only leave if I need to use it to pull a code), so can't really comment on the native interface much. Certainly doesn't lag in CarPlay.

Looks pretty stock, while having a nicely sized screen. In the 3 years I've been running it, the Xtrons has proven to be bulletproof reliable (unlike the 2 Avins I had before it, despite one of them having an identical front fascia). Install is plug and play. Would recommend.

Looks so good.

[Keith_MN]

I did a significant audio upgrade for my van last year and my biggest regret is the $800 Pioneer head unit I got doesn't have a digital FM tuner. Didn't even occur to check, just assumed it had it. Looking around at Xtrons, Dynavin, etc, I'm not seeing any of these call out that they can receive FM digital. Anyone know otherwise? I live in a great radio market and like to take advantage of that.

[Obioban]

I've been 100% pleased with my xtrons, other than it not having a matte screen-- which I'm currently addressing. Would recomend for sure.
Admittedly I'm in CarPlay 99.9% of the time (basically only leave if I need to use it to pull a code), so can't really comment on the native interface much. Certainly doesn't lag in CarPlay.

Looks pretty stock, while having a nicely sized screen. In the 3 years I've been running it, the Xtrons has proven to be bulletproof reliable (unlike the 2 Avins I had before it, despite one of them having an identical front fascia). Install is plug and play. Would recommend.

[jpy1980]

Yeah, Jeff Bechtel is why I went with them and have been with them this long. One, he's great sales and support. Less well known is how involved he has been in evolving the product. Yes the buttons are a let down but the volume knob, stealth fitment and sound quality mean I rarely use them. Set it and forget it music as far as I'm concerned. My criticism of the N7 Pro and newer is you can no longer turn the screen off like you could on old models by holding the Mute button (which was quietly my favorite feature). People REALLY didn't know it wasn't OE with the screen off.

"Is this the factory sound system?!?!" Me, sheepishly: "No, not by a long shot. Just looks like it."

maw

I have the Dynavin D8 and recently it's been lagging a lot and getting stuck with my CarPlay. Also wish the screen was a bit clearer. Which version do you have? I wonder when they will come out with the D10...

[0-60motorsports]

Checkout Rendition and their headunit as well....

https://renditioncustom.com/products/bmw-e46-android-head-unit?variant=49313040367904

[usdmej]

Its not difficult to integrate Sony, I used Enfig and the list of Sony's are at the bottom of this page. His kits come with all the harnesses, USB plugs, etc. Super clean and easy installation.

https://enfigcarstereo.com/bmw-3-ser...acement-parts/

i agree with you there, but a lot of folks do not like the double din and huge bezel look on the E46 so they dont consider it well "integrated"
tbh if i had to do it all over again i woulda went with an enfig and double din solution over the Avin i picked. especially since i ended up further builidng out my system (amp+speakers)

[usdmej]

I'll add Dynavin to this list. Better than the "direct from china" crowd in all ways (sound quality, installation, customer service, all of it), closer to the "alpine/sony/pioneer" crowd, but PnP and easy to install. You'll pay a premium though -- Sony/Pioneer pricing.

maw

ahh yes i forgot, Dynavin would be the sole option solidly inbetween the chinese units and the established car A/V brands.
clearly a direct from china unit, but well sorted with strong stateside support (that's baked into the price)