M3 with Nav or no Nav

[0-60motorsports]

Anyone know which cable we need to get from XTRONS for cars with HK and Nav from factoy?

https://xtrons.com/bmw-e38-e39-e46-e53-extension-cable-exl005

https://xtrons.com/extension-cable-exl007

[Obioban]

Ok great thanks. Could you also answer the other specific questions that were listed/asked about unit.

Interested in seeing the night lighting colors and overall how it looks in contrast with the rest of BMW dash/console lighting. Thanks.

Are you asking about this?

Since it’s the exact same unit sold for MG and Rover 75 does it still run off the k-bus with steering wheel controls and features like Water temp/ Oil temp/Outside temp?

if so, yes— steering wheel controls work and it can display that Kbus data (plus much more useful stuff, like pulling/resetting codes, voltage display, etc).

If that’s not what you were asking about, what question did you mean?

[old///MFanatic]

Forgot about this. Just measured the screen and observed the knob.
Screen is 3.150" tall, per my caliper.
Knobs are not back lit.
.. I don't think a brightest time of day button illumination picture will be useful.

Ok great thanks. Could you please answer the other specific questions that I asked about in the previous post about unit. They are even numbered to make it simple.

Interested in seeing the night lighting colors and overall how it looks in contrast with the rest of BMW dash/console lighting. Thanks.

[ugaexploder]

I ended up going with Sony XAVAX1000. Slightly older model so it was really cheap, like $300 new, probably $150 slightly used. Still has knob (not illuminated) and usb port in front, with apple carplay being most important feature.

I tossed around the idea of Avin or Dynavin for the OEM look, but in the end it just didn't matter that much to me. It seemed like there are very similar versions you can find on aliexpress that look the same so I decided against it.

Don't like the idea of a head unit faceplate but no cutting is required and the scosche plate tries to blend with the trim lines fairly well.

[Obioban]

It’s been several days, hoping you had time to answers these and the other questions earlier about this unit you introduced?

Forgot about this. Just measured the screen and observed the knob.

Screen is 3.150" tall, per my caliper (probably speced as 80mm). The stock 16:9 screen is described as "6.5 diagonal" by BMW, which mean it's 3.2" tall per a random display size calculator I found online. Once you factor out the dead area, the display heights may well be identical. If not, worst case they are 0.05" different

Knobs are not back lit.

... I don't think a brightest time of day button illumination picture will be useful.

[old///MFanatic]

You can set the backlight color in software-- but on this unit I haven't felt compelled to change it.

I can tell you tonight if the knobs are back lit :P

The screen is certainly not the stock proportions. I don't actually think it is shorter-- just wider.

It’s been several days, hoping you had time to answers these and the other questions earlier about this unit you introduced?

[old///MFanatic]

You can set the backlight color in software-- but on this unit I haven't felt compelled to change it.

I can tell you tonight if the knobs are back lit :P

As in, pic of the OE range rover head unit-- exactly the same as e39 nav, but grey and with beefier knobs.

The screen is certainly not the stock proportions. I don't actually think it is shorter-- just wider. Ultimately, if you want the functionality gain of the bigger screen, the proportion is going to differ from the stock MIKV/avin. Wider is the functional optimal way to go larger, since carplay support split screen these days, width wise-- so I can have nav on the left side and music on the right.

It's a more useful screen, it enables to save 50 lbs from the car without losing functionality, and the looks don't annoy me

1) So it sound like you’re confirming the color is off? But could be changed. Maybe take a photo of it at night showing how it compares to the rest of interior lights.
2) So you don’t known if the knobs are backlit like OEM E46? Yes please inform us, many of us are detailed oriented and that’s a huge detail we’d notice immediately and would bother us.
3)Since you have used a caliper for other measurements. Yes if you wouldn’t mind please quickly get the screen dimensions(H-W), that would help confirm questions that others have said it’s actually shorter too.
4) Since it’s the exact same unit sold for MG and Rover 75 does it still run off the k-bus with steering wheel controls and features like Water temp/ Oil temp/Outside temp?
5)Is there a reason why you’re highlighting this one saves 50 lbs like it’s unique? This weight savings is no different from all the others like Dynavin, and the cheap versions like Avin, Eonon, Xtron “OEM double din” units. No?

[Obioban]

Friend just sent me this picture of him mid e39 install. I do like the screen size, but I do like having the knobs…

[maw1124]

... it enables to save 50 lbs from the car without losing functionality...

In my view (1) you actually gain functionality not just fail to lose it; and (2) this is the dog that wags the tail (of looks) as far as I'm concerned.

This is the reason we have cell phones in our pockets as we walk the streets these days, not a laptop in hand, camera around our necks, walkman in our backpacks, as we walk to Kinkos to print out Mapquest.

Form factor is a distant secondary thought to this huge boost in function.



maw

EDIT... you just don't want to do this...

[Obioban]

Please bear with me as I answer/ask questions. Not trying to come in hot, so no offense intended.
As for the backlight color, now are they the same? I’ve read reviews where they say it’s more a red than the M3 red-orange hue.
Also are the two dial knobs backlight like all the other replicas of OEM? Have read (and photos appear) they are not.

Reviews on it complain on how it’s the Exact same unit Xtron sells for the ROVER 75 and MG ZT, is this correct? That’s why it looks more styled for the Rover cabin with chrome trimmed knobs and non BMW button positioning than the E46. And after 15 years of aftermarket copies in market one might expect the basics of a navigation unit to have a screen that’s anti-glare like all the current and past quality E46 units. This is strictly a cost issue of quality hardware.

Well one can buy the OEM BMW knobs, so you may be able to rectify that. The screen being wider and slightly shorter may just look odd just since no one else has done it in an OEM look. So maybe they’re on to something? It just doesn’t look period correct or OEM to me imho. And that to many is a major selling point, and quality. This isn’t the worst looking unit, but it’s not at the top of the list to me as far as OEM looks. I’d say it’s in the middle somewhere.

You can set the backlight color in software-- but on this unit I haven't felt compelled to change it.

I can tell you tonight if the knobs are back lit :P

I assume, if it's shared with range rover, that it is shared because range rover actually used the BMW navigation/radio hardware.

As in, pic of the OE range rover head unit-- exactly the same as e39 nav, but grey and with beefier knobs.

E39:


range rover:


The screen is certainly not the stock proportions. I don't actually think it is shorter-- just wider. Ultimately, if you want the functionality gain of the bigger screen, the proportion is going to differ from the stock MIKV/avin. Wider is the functional optimal way to go larger, since carplay support split screen these days, width wise-- so I can have nav on the left side and music on the right.

It's a more useful screen, it enables to save 50 lbs from the car without losing functionality, and the looks don't annoy me like a trimmed double din or the fisher price button units (which also have a smaller screen). Seems like the least bad compromise to me.

Edit:
I'd also point out that BMW didn't find the screen proportion to be holy. They did 4:3 and 16:9 and something else I can't determine and text screens:





... I do kind of love this style of nav, just for the absurdity of it:

[old///MFanatic]

backlight color is the same…

Please bear with me as I answer/ask questions. Not trying to come in hot, so no offense intended.
As for the backlight color, now are they the same? I’ve read reviews where they say it’s more a red than the M3 red-orange hue.
Also are the two dial knobs backlight like all the other replicas of OEM? Have read (and photos appear) they are not.

They basically took the stock heat unit size and filled it, width wise, with screen, and left a strip below tall enough for 2 knobs-- and filled the center with the above described buttons. I think it's about as OE looking as can be expected, while not being OE.

Reviews on it complain on how it’s the Exact same unit Xtron sells for the ROVER 75 and MG ZT, is this correct? That’s why it looks more styled for the Rover cabin with chrome trimmed knobs and non BMW button positioning than the E46. And after 15 years of aftermarket copies in market one might expect the basics of a navigation unit to have a screen that’s anti-glare like all the current and past quality E46 units. This is strictly a cost issue of quality hardware.

The two short comings IMO are the chrome trim knobs and the glossy screen-- which I will likely try to address with a matte screen film.

Well one can buy the OEM BMW knobs, so you may be able to rectify that. The screen being wider and slightly shorter may just look odd just since no one else has done it in an OEM look. So maybe they’re on to something? It just doesn’t look period correct or OEM to me imho. And that to many is a major selling point, and quality. This isn’t the worst looking unit, but it’s not at the top of the list to me as far as OEM looks. I’d say it’s in the middle somewhere.

[Obioban]

The knobs imho are only part of the issue with its glaringly (pun intended) awkward non BMW looks. The screen looks like those cheap Avin’s that have huge glare(glossy screen). Then the whole layout of faceplate and screen dimension looks nothing like OEM. Now that’s not saying something can’t be an upgrade over stock looks, Just here they don’t look to have wanted to improve but more or less “try” to make something work with what they had with as little cost as necessary.

I don't actually agree-- buttons are the same dimensions and shape as the climate button below, backlight color is the same, has the factory trim line molded into the casing. They basically took the stock heat unit size and filled it, width wise, with screen, and left a strip below tall enough for 2 knobs-- and filled the center with the above described buttons. I think it's about as OE looking as can be expected, while not being OE.

The two short comings IMO are the chrome trim knobs (which is why I'm looking at knob replacements) and the glossy screen-- which I will likely try to address with a matte screen film.

[old///MFanatic]

Dims on the AVIN knob (that I assume is shared with the XTRONs):

The knobs imho are only part of the issue with its glaringly (pun intended) awkward non BMW looks. The screen looks like those cheap Avin’s that have huge glare(glossy screen). Then the whole layout of faceplate and screen dimension looks nothing like OEM. Now that’s not saying something can’t be an upgrade over stock looks, Just here they don’t look to have wanted to improve but more or less “try” to make something work with what they had with as little cost as necessary.

[Obioban]

Wonder if the knobs off the MKIV nav will fit on there

This is always an option too: https://www.digikey.com/en/products/filter/knobs/568 (or similar from other vendors). Just need to dig through the fifty million things on there to find one that fits and looks good.

Dims on the AVIN knob (that I assume is shared with the XTRONs):

[maw1124]

^^^ and this is why you need at least automotive grade capacitors and such. These days, for ECU's and such I go for aerospace grades when I can because I don't want to fettle with it every few years. I had a '92 MB ECU rebuilt with capacitors that should literally never go bad for just this reason. Also, Dynavin for the same reason. Just pay a few hundred more now for beefier guts and be done with it. Especially since what you're buying now is the stuff Macintosh and Carver were born from. No need for even cheaper chinesium.

maw