M3 with Nav or no Nav

[Obioban]

Aren't those aftermarket touchscreen head units easier to install on non nav cars? I thought nav cars have everything in the trunk and so a cable has to be run from the trunk to the head unit.

If so, I guess nav cars only make sense if you really want to stick to stock.

Having done both installs, I’d say comparable. For nav cars you have to run a wiring harness from the trunk forward; for non nav cars you need to disassemble more of the center console, replace a bracket, and relocate the HVAC.

... both are easy.

[old///MFanatic]

Are M3's preferred with oem navigation or no navigation and just the radio?

A car with Navigation will be valued slightly higher than one without.

If you’re asking personal preference that’s another story. Some don’t like it. Some love it. It was a costly option.

[yhp2009]

Aren't those aftermarket touchscreen head units easier to install on non nav cars? I thought nav cars have everything in the trunk and so a cable has to be run from the trunk to the head unit.

If so, I guess nav cars only make sense if you really want to stick to stock.

True only need to replace the bracket in the oem radio so its easier to install an aftermarket unit.. I suppose i was talking more along the lines of preference between nav or non nav. But youre absolutely right

[heinzboehmer]

But if you just want to enjoy the car and have a capable/modern sound system then I'd get the nav and upgrade to something like AVIN or Dynavin. Looks Oem and works well enough.

Aren't those aftermarket touchscreen head units easier to install on non nav cars? I thought nav cars have everything in the trunk and so a cable has to be run from the trunk to the head unit.

If so, I guess nav cars only make sense if you really want to stick to stock.

[DI46LO]

+1 for no nav

[yhp2009]

Really depends on your priorities. If you like keeping things stock and looking to sell in the future, then no Nav is simple, cleaner, and less compromised. Much easier overall
But if you just want to enjoy the car and have a capable/modern sound system then I'd get the nav and upgrade to something like AVIN or Dynavin. Looks Oem and works well enough.
I've had both Nav and no Nav on an e46 and I currently really enjoy the AVIN system despite all its shortcomings. I think we'll see the platform only get better as long as there is a market which is great for the Nav guys

[Toby22]

No nav because weight savings, and don’t have to deal with the pixels going out or it looking outdated (which it is)

As if the entire e46 interior isn’t outdated. Being outdated isn’t a bad thing as it fits the theme of the car. As long as everything is mint

And many no nav owners go for aftermarket nav that look stock anyway lol

[Obioban]

Everything that Obioban said above is true, but with that said I have the factory nav with a bluebus and its great. I had just the radio in my previous car and I like the navi better. I generally have the navi just show the song title/artist dashboard and drop my phone in the door cubby. The bmw navi interface is a bit dated but it's easy to use and fast and the bluebus allows me to ditch the factory TCU module and bluetooth music-streaming and hands-free calling work perfectly.

I have the bluebus with MKIV stock nav on the e39 M5, and it's great. TONS of extra modern functionality with the stock hardware. Far more of a "timeless" solution (cheap chinese head units aren't going to age as well as the stock nav, which very much has a charm to it). If you're sticking with any OE head unit, Bluebus is a no brainer, must have mod, IMO.

... and on that topic, the bluebus microphone for speakerphone sound canceling blows the android head units out of the water. I've been trying, so far without success, to talk the bluebus maker to create a sound canceling board for mics on aftermarket head units. In the android head unit cars, I have to use my AirPods to have people be able to hear me on the phone.

[liam821]

Everything that Obioban said above is true, but with that said I have the factory nav with a bluebus and its great. I had just the radio in my previous car and I like the navi better. I generally have the navi just show the song title/artist dashboard and drop my phone in the door cubby. The bmw navi interface is a bit dated but it's easy to use and fast and the bluebus allows me to ditch the factory TCU module and bluetooth music-streaming and hands-free calling work perfectly.

[///m325i]

I wanted to do a "navigation delete". Can you remove everything and that's it? Does anything need to be coded after removal?

[maw1124]

^^^this... none of which was available when the car was brought to market... which made upgrading it a no brainer as opposed to “fixing” it... I’ve seen the carphonics guys before... their Mercedes page is “under construction” and it’s a Benz I’m inquiring about... we’ll see if I get a response. Thanks, Gents.

maw

[Obioban]

I used and enjoyed the stock nav for just under 15 years. It was way better than people gave it credit for, IMO.

In the end, wireless carplay pushed me off of it. CarPlay has 3 benefits that I see:
1) it can't fall out of date, as iOS updates and new apps drive it-- the head unit is just a display
2) traffic avoidance
3) police locations
4) modern music services support

All in an interface that is properly designed to be used while driving.

I combined it with a Qi charger. So, on short drives I leave my phone in my pocket, on long drives I drop it in the console and it wirelessly charges.

Plus, the Avin enabled a project that allowed me to shave 50 lbs of weight off of my car (eliminated all the factory modules, the brackets that hold them, and the entire factory stereo wiring harness).

And it lets me monitor tire temps and pressures on track, which is useful... and pull/reset codes without getting a laptop out. All told, it's a remarkably legit performance mod. My stereo project saved as much weight as the CF roof or bucket seats :P.

M3 wagon version, right after I installed the Qi charger:



Waze:

[Obioban]

BM53 upgrade site:

http://www.carphonics.co.uk/

[maw1124]

My radio, speakers, NAV, all work exceptionally well except there's a high pitch whine when I turn on the unit. Did my research and found out that our cars have a BM53 unit in the trunk area, there is a repair guy in England that I found on M3 Cutters. His name is Baris Sahan [email protected], he did a Stage-2 upgrade for me, so the processor chip he repaired (cause of the whine) and then the factory amp chips, he upgraded them to higher quality ones for better RMS than stock. I decided to stick with the factory unit and will go with Bav Sound speakers, with the BlueBus, this should be a great solution for me.

So your factory system now has more power? I’ve known guys who could do this on other modules (e.g., replaced and upgraded capacitors in 25+ year old MB ECU) and I’m thinking about it for another car, as opposed to ripping it all out as I did here (Dynavin N7 Pro + BavSound + Hertz). Here, I had pixelation in the nav screen and what I did was actually a more cost effective solution (why spend $1k on a new screen for 12year old tech?!).

In the other car, the head unit is fine so upgrading the factory amp chip is what I’d be after if available. I was actually just wondering this morning if such was available, now that people everywhere have started repairing modules. Does this guy have a site or just an email?

WestBankM4 that system will be just fine with BavSound speakers, as long as you don’t need the modern gadgetry.

maw

P.S. I’m on the hunt... thanks for this... https://www.bmwlt.com/threads/radio-...y-baris.94162/... sent the guy an email.

[WestBankM4]

Partial jack: what’s this “upgraded OEM processor” of which you speak?

maw

My radio, speakers, NAV, all work exceptionally well except there's a high pitch whine when I turn on the unit. Did my research and found out that our cars have a BM53 unit in the trunk area, there is a repair guy in England that I found on M3 Cutters. His name is Baris Sahan [email protected], he did a Stage-2 upgrade for me, so the processor chip he repaired (cause of the whine) and then the factory amp chips, he upgraded them to higher quality ones for better RMS than stock. I decided to stick with the factory unit and will go with Bav Sound speakers, with the BlueBus, this should be a great solution for me.