FeelingLucky Posted October 28, 2010 Report Share Posted October 28, 2010 Does any one actually know what or who Dynavin are? If you google Dynavin pretty much all you get is linkes to this place and e46fanatics It looks eerily the same as the Higain (sp) units on Ebay for quite a lot less and I found some other ones on UK websites that look the same for about £450 - £500 that again look the same. Is it possible these are all the same units made side by side but labelled up differently? They are both Chinese, and they both look similar, but at the hardware level they are fundamentally different. The Hooligan is a Windows CE environment that takes care of all functions. There have been reports of it stuttering and slowing down when things start to get busy (as you would imagine). The Dynavin is essentially two devices in one box, the Radio, iPod interface, Bluetooth, DVD player, CD Player, USB player, Reverse camera and Aux input (I think that's them all) are all handled by dedicated hardware, that is Firmware updateable via USB. The Nav side is taken care of by a Windows CE5.0 environment, running whatever Nav you prefer from MicroSD. This can also be used to play media from USB/SD if desired. The Dynavin has undergone many updates/upgrades in it's lifetime, to the state where it is now an EXTREMLY impressive looking device (very OEM in appearance to my eyes at least) with very few issues remaining (all small). To my knowledge the Hooligan has not evolved and according to the UK reseller, is often delivered faulty to him from China. They're still advertised as being compatible with the BMW CD changer, even though they have never had this feature, and probably never will. I couldnt find any reason to pick the Hooligan over the Dynavin as Dynavin offers better functionality, upgradeability and appearance for no more money (if you buy from the States). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FeelingLucky Posted October 28, 2010 Report Share Posted October 28, 2010 That's good to know. Have just acquired TOMTOM and the k**g*n. I'll put them in a folder somewhere until the time comes. Struggling a little with the maps, but there's no rush. I'll come knocking when I need more help Cheers fella. Failing that, I'll ask Jeff to pre-load the stuff on it! Mine came pre loaded. I was ready for a bit of work getting the Nav working, but I just pressed the Nav button, and there is was. It even locked on to the satelites and showed my location despite being in a garage, with the door down and a house on top. Something my handheld TomTom has never done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejames Posted October 28, 2010 Report Share Posted October 28, 2010 Mine came pre loaded. I was ready for a bit of work getting the Nav working, but I just pressed the Nav button, and there is was. It even locked on to the satelites and showed my location despite being in a garage, with the door down and a house on top. Something my handheld TomTom has never done. That's impressive I emailed Jeff and he says it's not something he would do... Ah well, doesn't look too tough and as you said, the community/support surrounding the units seems superb. I need one of these things in my car. Very tempted by a Rear View Camera too, although very cagey about putting a drill anywhere near it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FeelingLucky Posted October 29, 2010 Report Share Posted October 29, 2010 Very tempted by a Rear View Camera too, although very cagey about putting a drill anywhere near it! Check out this bad boy, http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=250701178316 Fits in one of the number pate illumination holes on the boot handle, no drilling required. It woud be rude not to..... I'm having one, at £20 it's not even much of a gamble. Camera power and Dynavin trigger supply both come from reversing light. Put the car into reverse, and the Dynavin automatically switches to Reverse cam mode, take it out of reverse and it continues from whatever mode you where in, sweet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Turko Posted October 29, 2010 Report Share Posted October 29, 2010 But then surely you'll have mis-matching numberplate lights, which at night will look terrible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jorge- Posted October 29, 2010 Report Share Posted October 29, 2010 Replace the key lock with one I think dicky did that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_330CI Posted October 29, 2010 Report Share Posted October 29, 2010 That's a good point, I have reversing sensors on mine - will changing to a Dynavin have any effect on that? If you have reverse sensors on your car you could just fit a camera in one of the sensor holes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jorge- Posted October 29, 2010 Report Share Posted October 29, 2010 Search ebay for E46 camera, they sell them direct replacements for sensors Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz 330 Cs Posted October 29, 2010 Report Share Posted October 29, 2010 Replace the key lock with one I think dicky did that? dicky had his reversing cam in the redundant fog light IIRC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_330CI Posted October 29, 2010 Report Share Posted October 29, 2010 You know what the cheapest and least invasive way around this is don't you? Learn to reverse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejames Posted October 29, 2010 Report Share Posted October 29, 2010 Reversing isn't difficult - it's the stopping in the right place that's tricky! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peakey Posted October 30, 2010 Report Share Posted October 30, 2010 Guys, Thought i would let you know that my Dynavin turned up yesterday from Jeff in the states, fitted it in under 2 hours (and that was taking my time !) and apart from one issue (the antenna sticks out too much so i am having to buy an additional fitting for it to sit flush in the dash) i am well happy with it. Everything works great, got iGo and TomTom working perfect, look and user interface is spot on. I ended up getting stung for £70 in total from customs so the total cost was £520 but i feel this is well worth the money for what you are getting. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejames Posted October 30, 2010 Report Share Posted October 30, 2010 Thanks Peakey, that's good to know. Would you mind elaborating on the antennae issue please? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peakey Posted October 31, 2010 Report Share Posted October 31, 2010 Thanks Peakey, that's good to know. Would you mind elaborating on the antennae issue please? Thanks. No worries, the problem is that the antenna adapter sticks out from the back of the unit but about an inch, but there isn't that much room at the back so it wont sit flush with the dash. I have butchered the adapter so it fits but have made a bit of a pigs ear of it and now the FM reception is not too clever. I am going to have another go at it this morning but failing that i will need to buy a new antenna and use a right angle adapter so it fits better. Note that this problem only affects RHD cars due to the angles of the plastic wall behind the stereo, the unit is the same for LHD and RHD but they didn't spot this issue and should probably supply a shorter adapter for RHD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejames Posted October 31, 2010 Report Share Posted October 31, 2010 Cheers Peakey. I've just found FeelingLucky's thread on e46fanatics. Please let us know if you successfully find a usable off-the-shelf option. Cheers! Is this any good? It's 99p delivered from ebay... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peakey Posted October 31, 2010 Report Share Posted October 31, 2010 Cheers Peakey. I've just found FeelingLucky's thread on e46fanatics. Please let us know if you successfully find a usable off-the-shelf option. Cheers! Is this any good? It's 99p delivered from ebay... Yeah thats it but I need a new adapter cable now as well as i have broken the one that came with the unit :-( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_330CI Posted October 31, 2010 Report Share Posted October 31, 2010 Does the dynavin antenna wire go directly do the cars outside antenna, or does it retain the BMW amplifier? Also, is the tv signal achieved through the same antenna, or a separate one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peakey Posted October 31, 2010 Report Share Posted October 31, 2010 Does the dynavin antenna wire go directly do the cars outside antenna, or does it retain the BMW amplifier? Also, is the tv signal achieved through the same antenna, or a separate one? I dont know the specifics concerning the amp, all i know is that you get a lead with the Dynavin that connects to the BMW aerial lead and into the Dynavin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Turko Posted October 31, 2010 Report Share Posted October 31, 2010 To be fair, I think Jeff mentions the antenna adaptor needed for RHD vehicles in his installation instructions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peakey Posted November 1, 2010 Report Share Posted November 1, 2010 To be fair, I think Jeff mentions the antenna adaptor needed for RHD vehicles in his installation instructions. He doesn't mention that Turko but i am not blaming him in any way, i have let him know and he is going to look to provide an additional fitting for RHD owners. It has been mentioned on the forum in another thread now however and i am currently on that and will update it after i purchase some adapters to confirm if they solve the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejames Posted November 6, 2010 Report Share Posted November 6, 2010 Hi Peakey, have you managed to sort yours out yet? Any joy with that adaptor? Thanks, tJ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peakey Posted November 6, 2010 Report Share Posted November 6, 2010 Hi Peakey, have you managed to sort yours out yet? Any joy with that adaptor? Thanks, tJ. Not yet, I've identified the part i need but still waiting for it to be delivered :-( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejames Posted November 6, 2010 Report Share Posted November 6, 2010 OK mate. Let us know how you get on, please. Cheers Don't suppose any of you guys are Surrey direction? And wouldn't mind me having a look at theirs..? Ta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peakey Posted November 7, 2010 Report Share Posted November 7, 2010 not me, I'm in Stafford ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peakey Posted November 8, 2010 Report Share Posted November 8, 2010 Right, antenna cable turned up and all sorted, I still had to alter the cable but it was much easier to change than the one that comes with the Dynavin and I now have everything in and am very happy :-) Check this thread out for details. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
