paulfoley30 Posted July 11, 2010 Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 Thought I'd post a few pictures of the radio before I head outside to fit it: From the front Side What an awesome brand name Back Left to right: Ipod connector Adaptor to connect to the car (can't remember the proper name) Digital booster ariel (I think, I ordered one and this looks like it is one, not everyone will get one of these) Ariel connector MicroUSB - USB lead and stylus for the touch screen Left to right again: CAN bus decoder GPS Antenna Remote control (just incase you can't reach those few inches to the radio (I know the rear seat passengers aren't getting it!)) I'll go and get on with fitting it then! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamesy Boy ACS3d Posted July 11, 2010 Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 Looks good buddy Lots of pics & a review please Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonlpearce Posted July 11, 2010 Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 Looks like you have some fun planned, look forward to the pics when its done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulfoley30 Posted July 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 Realised I forgot to mention the 2Gb MicroSD card with full European maps as well (Don't think you really need a picture of this ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chilly Posted July 11, 2010 Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 hey mate looks good im still waiting on mine but im away till middle of september now booo! looking forward to the review (well i hope i am lol) sorry to be a pain but how long is the ipod lead and the high gain antenna lead , as im looking to run me ipod in to the cubby hole next to my right knee, and was thinking bout running the high gain to the back window as not to have the coax coiled upto get as little interfernce as possible im right excited to see how this works out , ive enen got hold of a reversing cam that replaces one of the number plate holders for 30quid at that price i though id see how it goes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clubsport_chris Posted July 11, 2010 Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 Should be fitted by now wheres the pics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike- Posted July 11, 2010 Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 Macro function is your friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simmy Posted July 11, 2010 Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 What an awesome brand name if only we knew what it was Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulfoley30 Posted July 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 Though I'd give a little teaser I'm on my iPhone ATM, still workingon it. It's all in I'm just working on setting so here's an update so far: GPS Software looks excellent and signal strength is excellent dispite the antenna just being stuck to in inside of the dash Radio reception is actually better than the OEM unit I took out which was aweful when it came to AM DVDs works well Panel gaps and fitment are great Problems: TV - can't get recepton ATM - though my area isn't very good for it bluetooth - struggling to get my whole phonebook uploaded it only gets five of my contacts for some reason R/T button swithes between nav and Bluetooth - to get back from the Bluetooth you have to press the band button Bluetooth voice button - this brings up the normal Bluetooth section rather than voice control Some of these things I'm fairly confident are only setting issues, but others are more perminant any questions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peakey Posted July 11, 2010 Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 Yep ! Can you get digital Radio ? I was told by TTints that a DVB-T tuner is also a DAB tuner so you should be able to get digital radio, I guess this will be like i can get digital radio on a freeview box but it would be good to confirm. Whats the sound quality like ? Can you play MP3's off a disc and a memory card ? Cheers Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul-n Posted July 11, 2010 Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 has it got the same background noise problem as the dynavin units seem to suffer with? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulfoley30 Posted July 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 hey mate looks good im still waiting on mine but im away till middle of september now booo! looking forward to the review (well i hope i am lol) sorry to be a pain but how long is the ipod lead and the high gain antenna lead , as im looking to run me ipod in to the cubby hole next to my right knee, and was thinking bout running the high gain to the back window as not to have the coax coiled upto get as little interfernce as possible im right excited to see how this works out , ive enen got hold of a reversing cam that replaces one of the number plate holders for 30quid at that price i though id see how it goes I'm quite dissappointed with the length of the iPod cable as I was hoping to do the same, I think I would probably just about reach but you would be left with very little cable to actually use it. I think I'm going to have to find some kind of extension or a compeletely different cable to be able to use the iPod comfortably. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulfoley30 Posted July 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 has it got the same background noise problem as the dynavin units seem to suffer with? No mate, now I don't pretend to be an audiophile but I couldn't detect anything of the sort. I am using the standard OEM system speaker and wiring wise so with if you've upgraded you may get something, but I'm happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulfoley30 Posted July 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 Yep ! Can you get digital Radio ? I was told by TTints that a DVB-T tuner is also a DAB tuner so you should be able to get digital radio, I guess this will be like i can get digital radio on a freeview box but it would be good to confirm. Whats the sound quality like ? Can you play MP3's off a disc and a memory card ? Cheers Mark Digital radio is the same as TV - I can't get signal here, I'll try again at work to see if theres any improvement Sound quality is good, again I'm no audiophile but IMO the bass response is better and it can go louder before it distorts I assume so, I have already flattenned the battery playing with it, so I can't check, there is an MP3 logo by the disc slot though, I'll check after I've driven it to work and back. The spare SD card slot has the DVD logo next to it, so I don't see why it wouldn't. I don't have any spare MicroSD cards so I can't check sorry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris Posted July 11, 2010 Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 He called me on Friday, so should be getting mine asap hopefully! Hurry with the review, as if its sh** then i wont bother Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulfoley30 Posted July 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 OK, so pictures of the fitting and the unit as requested. I felt that the actual fitting of the unit was fairly self explanitory, so I haven't gone into much detail with this, simply plug the connector from the back of the existing radio into the lead that came with the new one and the ariel into the correct place (all is labelled well). Attach everything that you've bought with it, keep it all out the way so you can get it in and sitting flush, so heres the story: Firstly follow this guide: http://www.e46zone.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=2628 until you get everything out and your car looks like this, in this picture I have already placed the aircon unit where the sunglasses holder used to be, this is only temporary until I can get the unit from BMW: In my case it seemed that Marty had greatly understated the amount of effort required to get everything out, I was quite worried some thing was going to break, especially with the the dash creaking quite alarmingly but eventually I manned up and managed to get the air con controls and the sunglasses holder out. I tell you what, I am glad I chose this route, I would not be comfortable cutting all this apart just to bodge it back together: Anyway, take the unit and start plugging things in, eventually you end up with a fair bit of spaghetti, you can see the red tape that I use to hold the GPS antenna in place on the left side of the hole where the vents would be: Quick test fit: and so testing begins, this is the home screen: Radio: Nav: I've taken this down for now because I've just realsed it shows exactly where I live and you can't be too careful lol, I'll post another one tomorrrow Phone: It seems my claims of an excellent fit were a bit premature, this screw hole doesn't quite line up with the threaded hole behind however there is another that I have already used almost directly above it and it fits on the other side so I didn't think taking a drill to me brand new radio was required: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulfoley30 Posted July 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 And here it is with the trim back in place: There is a slight difference between the gaps along the side and across the top when I refitted the wood piece, however they gaps are the same at each side, so it doesn't bother me - it looks better in the flesh, though looking at these pictures makes me want to go out and see if I can do something about it: And last, but not least a longer shot with all the trim pieces back in, I personally think it fits in excellently, I have ran the wires for the iPod and the TV antenna out along the side of the aircon controls until the new panel can arrive from BMW: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panzer007 Posted July 11, 2010 Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 That looks the 'dog's nannas', nicley done. On the TV thing, I've got one coming from the States and I've been told that a seperate digital tuner might be required? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulfoley30 Posted July 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 Though I'd give a little teaser I'm on my iPhone ATM, still workingon it. It's all in I'm just working on setting so here's an update so far: GPS Software looks excellent and signal strength is excellent dispite the antenna just being stuck to in inside of the dash Radio reception is actually better than the OEM unit I took out which was aweful when it came to AM DVDs works well Panel gaps and fitment are great Problems: TV - can't get reception ATM - though my area isn't very good for it bluetooth - struggling to get my whole phonebook uploaded it only gets five of my contacts for some reason R/T button swithes between nav and Bluetooth - to get back from the Bluetooth you have to press the band button Bluetooth voice button - this brings up the normal Bluetooth section rather than voice control Some of these things I'm fairly confident are only setting issues, but others are more perminant any questions? Couldn't get the bluetooth to work properly with my iPhone 3Gs, there was no sound coming through from my end and the phonebook wasn't uploading properly, i would have tinkered for longer but the car battery died iPod link didn't seem to be functioning properly either, once again I'll have another play tomorrow once I've taken the car for a drive to get some life back in the battery. Other than the above I can have no complaints, the nav seems to work well (though I haven't tested it properly - will ask it to take me to work in the morning) Sound quality (to my ears) is great Radio reception is excellent Fits well Steering wheel controls work - but do different things, the arrows seek on the radio rather than changing presets and the voice button changes to the Bluetooth page, with the R/T button switching between phone and Nav Also the volume seems very high, a normal listening volume on the radio is only at about 10% meaning that it isn't long before its either too loud or too quiet. Though I might just be spoilt by the BMW unit I took out which seems to change very little every time you pushed the button Any other questions, don't hesitate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulfoley30 Posted July 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 That looks the 'dog's nannas', nicley done. On the TV thing, I've got one coming from the States and I've been told that a seperate digital tuner might be required? I would imagine so, I think they use a different standard (of incription and compression) over there, we use PAL over here and they use NTSC over there. I'm not sure if this carried over with the digital switchover or not, sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris Posted July 11, 2010 Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 Why did you need to take the air vent out? And why did you put it back after the head unit? Sorry just never seen it done that way before, and maybe its a unit design thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulfoley30 Posted July 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 Why did you need to take the air vent out? And why did you put it back after the head unit? Sorry just never seen it done that way before, and maybe its a unit design thing. Yeah mate, theres a black plastic divider between where the climate controls sit and the single din radio sits, looks like this: The two holes at the top and the two holes at the bottom of the vents overlap, with one screw going through both with the vents in front. The new radio does the same, competely replacing this peice, as you cansee witgh the silver parts with the holes in in the earlier pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris Posted July 11, 2010 Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 Ahh i see! Yeah makes sense, although when ever ive tried to get the vents out they never do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrimja Posted July 11, 2010 Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 I want one. Updated review every day please. Lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mobilejo Posted July 11, 2010 Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 looks sweet! I like the interface. If I didn't have OEM nav I would get this, never bother with OEM retrofit. How do you find the anti-glare properties of the screen? It looks quite reflective? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
