M3 with Nav or no Nav

[Obioban]

The top bezel is not aligned with the aluminum trim. It can't be unseen once you see it.

That is because my trim has warped over time— had that look with MKIV, sadly. I’m all too aware of it 🙄

[jdamore44]

The top bezel is not aligned with the aluminum trim. It can't be unseen once you see it.

Hmm, that's not a deal breaker for me. And I'm pretty OCD about my car (as I know most of us here are)

[Epsilon]

The top bezel is not aligned with the aluminum trim. It can't be unseen once you see it.

[Obioban]

Love to see that one installed.

Just now, as I drove to lunch.

Up close and from face level. I swear I don't smoke, despite the dust making it look like I do...

[jdamore44]

After having my Avin flake out of me, I’m trying an xtrons unit this time. Going with the version they advertise as having “automotive grade hardware”… which you’d think would be a prerequisite on a car stereo, but they only advertise one unit as having that.

I was fairly dubious that they were actually not just identical units with different branding, but based on the backs they must have different internals.

Fronts (Identical):




Rear (unrelated, everything in different locations):



Also, the new unit has internal wireless carplay, instead of a dongle.

Love to see that one installed.

[old///MFanatic]

It was never in favor for me. It was just cheaper than Dynavin and maybe it still is. People have since found out exactly WHY it was so much cheaper. oceansize has the most recent unit I believe.

Dynavin set the bar and has always been the audiophiles choice for Nav unit that looks genuine to the E46.

Many car audio shops won’t even install the other like Avin or Eonon.
And even then only if sign a disclaimer you won’t hold them accountable for issues with it.
And if having a bunch of fake buttons that don’t do anything is what makes it look better to someone..sure then get the Avin and not the Dynavin. But agreed as someone already mentioned, no one in real life sees it installed and thinks it’s not factory.

[Obioban]

Xtrons was terrible on my Audi. It would frequently crash and the sound had noise I couldn’t defeat

So far, at least, I’m suffering neither of those.

…. admittedly I’m using CarPlay 100% of the time, so no idea how much crashing would be occurring if I used the unit’s real apps.

[T.J.]

After having my Avin flake out of me, I’m trying an xtrons unit this time. Going with the version they advertise as having “automotive grade hardware”… which you’d think would be a prerequisite on a car stereo, but they only advertise one unit as having that.

I was fairly dubious that they were actually not just identical units with different branding, but based on the backs they must have different internals.

Fronts (Identical):




Rear (unrelated, everything in different locations):



Also, the new unit has internal wireless carplay, instead of a dongle.

Xtrons was terrible on my Audi. It would frequently crash and the sound had noise I couldn’t defeat

[Obioban]

After having my Avin flake out of me, I’m trying an xtrons unit this time. Going with the version they advertise as having “automotive grade hardware”… which you’d think would be a prerequisite on a car stereo, but they only advertise one unit as having that.

I was fairly dubious that they were actually not just identical units with different branding, but based on the backs they must have different internals.

Fronts (Identical):




Rear (unrelated, everything in different locations):



Also, the new unit has internal wireless carplay, instead of a dongle.

[Obioban]

This is too blocky?

To fisher price for me. Looks like the buttons are designed to be used while wearing mittens.

[maw1124]

has the Avant 4 fallen from favor as an OEM look upgrade?

It was never in favor for me. It was just cheaper than Dynavin and maybe it still is. People have since found out exactly WHY it was so much cheaper. oceansize has the most recent unit I believe. Before that, the Dynavin unit didn't even have the branding on the front (as I'm sure some will complain about that). See attached, which is the N7-Pro. Here's a secret: no one not on this Board knows it's not factory.

I would rank your options as (1) the latest Dynavin unit for OEM look + sound quality; (2) Sony if you don't care about OEM look but still value sound quality; (3) restore the pixelated screen and add bluetooth, as this is now a LOT less expensive than it used to be (though you may spend your savings adding DSP amps and subwoofer to bring this option up to par with (1) or (2) above in terms of sound quality); or (4) Avin (which you're virtually guaranteed to hate and rip out or continuously struggle with, from all I've read).

If it's only OEM look and functionality you care about but not sound quality, (EQ, sound shaping, independent subwoofer control, etc.) run the 20 year old factory stuff until it gives out.

maw

[oceansize]

nope, not in my opinion. dynavin is still to 'blocky' for my tastes and the cheaper chinese shit (eonon etc) is even worse.

This is too blocky?

[dr_011]

has the Avant 4 fallen from favor as an OEM look upgrade?

nope, not in my opinion. dynavin is still to 'blocky' for my tastes and the cheaper chinese shit (eonon etc) is even worse.

[M3 Driver]

has the Avant 4 fallen from favor as an OEM look upgrade?

[Epsilon]

Why don't you start an interest list?

Really, it's just the fact that it's not factory. The software is buggy and their support is... meh.



I think if I did this, it would make sense to to allow standalone use. I.E. you pop in the factory monitor up front, but if your Navi is dead, or the radio is dead, you can just run this module standalone for those features (although perhaps I wouldn't implement AM/FM and instead make it Bluetooth / AUX only, just to keep the complexity down).

We will see! BlueBus sales are almost good enough to justify quitting my full time job, at which time I would have all the time in the world to implement something like this.

Thanks!
-Ted