Double DIN head units

Howard · 30 Aug 2011 at 14:02

Jez said:
Come off it, its not amazing but its worth the sacrifice, this is what Fox will end up with which looks pretty good given the age of the interior to me:

[IG]http://www.janus-design.net/english/e39doubledin/0000009a5508ddd4e/l006.jpg[/IMG]

Looks quite nice to me. It matches the plastic on the HVAC controls which is something. I don't think it looks "awful" at all

paradigm · 30 Aug 2011 at 14:02

Jez said:
Ah, i see what you mean. That would mean keeping the (awful IMO) ally trim though.

Well yes, but I'm pretty sure that you could do similar for the wood, should he choose to change to wood trim.

[TW]Fox · 30 Aug 2011 at 14:06

paradigm said:
Fox already has the HVAC controls at the bottom due to High-OBC/MID.

I already have the controls there because its an e39

I hate the bezel less than I hate the functionality of the old Nav.

sigma · 30 Aug 2011 at 14:08

The bezel doesn't look that bad.

If you were new to the E39 interior I best 99% of people wouldn't know any different.

If it's that big a deal I'm sure you can find someone who can make you a custom one or modify one for you.

Clown · 30 Aug 2011 at 14:11

Thanks for making this thread Fox, I'm looking at getting one of these too.
I don't know too much about the satnav in the Pioneer. How bad is it?

jigger · 30 Aug 2011 at 14:11

Lucero said:
The Sony may have sub par audio as it is, but sticking it through a decent amp will make it sound better than the pioneer (which is worth remembering). For me, an easy to use and read nav would be key

Might be a bit of a mute point (excuse the pun) with ten year old speakers.

Jez · 30 Aug 2011 at 14:12

In this situation i guess i would just buy both then return the one i didnt favour. Easiest way to ensure that you have the better unit.

NVP · 30 Aug 2011 at 14:16

Jez said:
The AC is already there on E39 cars?

paradigm said:
Fox already has the HVAC controls at the bottom due to High-OBC/MID.

[TW]Fox;19952505 said:
I already have the controls there because its an e39

Oh sorry, my bad. I thought it was like the E46.

[TW]Fox · 30 Aug 2011 at 14:17

jigger said:
Might be a bit of a mute point (excuse the pun) with ten year old speakers.

Yea because new speakers are so expensive.

paradigm · 30 Aug 2011 at 14:20

[TW]Fox;19952596 said:
Yea because new speakers are so expensive.

Good ones are.

jigger · 30 Aug 2011 at 14:21

sigma said:
The bezel doesn't look that bad.

If you were knew to the E39 interior I best 99% of people wouldn't know any different.

If it's that big a deal I'm sure you can find someone who can make you a custom one or modify one for you.

Unless you had driven a KIA

Joking aside it is a ten year old beamer, when its time to sell the car 99% of the potential buyers will probably be struggling to put a baseball cap on properly.

If your happy with the quality and want to fit some better kit on the cheap, then go for it.

Firestar_3x · 30 Aug 2011 at 14:22

Changing speakers without adding an amp is oftern a waste of time anyways.

Participant · 30 Aug 2011 at 14:22

I wouldn't personally care if the top strip didn't precisely match the surrounding dash in a car of that age. In any case it looks like it matches the air vent and aircon bezels pretty well. Just fit it, enjoy it, then return it to original if it makes it easier to sell it or the buyer doesn't want it included.

Regarding Sony vs. Pioneer, if you're not planning on upgrading the speakers or fitting an amp, the SQ factor will make barely any difference. Just go for the Nav you prefer.

paradigm · 30 Aug 2011 at 14:26

This to me would be an acceptable bezel:

jigger · 30 Aug 2011 at 14:26

Firestar_3x said:
Changing speakers without adding an amp is oftern a waste of time anyways.

You mean without replacing the old cable too?

jigger · 30 Aug 2011 at 14:27

paradigm said:
This to me would be an acceptable bezel:

Much better IMO. I could live with that.

[TW]Fox · 30 Aug 2011 at 14:31

jigger said:
Unless you had driven a KIA Joking aside it is a ten year old beamer, when its time to sell the car 99% of the potential buyers will probably be struggling to put a baseball cap on properly.

If your happy with the quality and want to fit some better kit on the cheap, then go for it.

In what way is fitting nearly a grands worth of head unit doing it on the cheap?

Howard · 30 Aug 2011 at 14:32

jigger said:
You mean without replacing the old cable too?

The cable won't make a blind bit of difference, unlike a) better source/amplification components attached to the standard speakers, or b) better speakers (cheap ones won't be better) attached to better source/amplification components

jigger · 30 Aug 2011 at 14:39

Howard said:
The cable won't make a blind bit of difference, unlike a) better source/amplification components attached to the standard speakers, or b) better speakers (cheap ones won't be better) attached to better source/amplification components

That's not what I have been lead to believe. Oxidised copper cable ruins sound quality.

paradigm · 30 Aug 2011 at 14:41

jigger said:
That's not what I have been lead to believe. Oxidised copper cable ruins sound quality.

Whilst this is true (the added impedance will affect sound quality), they would have to be some incredibly corroded cables for it to make an audible difference.