Finally a DSP ready head unit, the AVIN Avant-3

[racer2086]

Looks great thanks for the pic. Was reading some about that i-bus app. Wonder if I can just use it with my phone and the USB I already have in my dash. Should work. Is the app worth it though?

[Breaker38]

Not sure if it’ll work, the app is pretty handy though. Things it does allows I use is the speed indicator in the dash and the 3 flick indicators. Still to play more with the programming.
Update on it just came through yesterday and that’s the second update so it looks like it’s being well supported.

[Breaker38]

6C8A9F9F-870D-4358-BD5D-E76F893F63D8.jpg95FF95B0-09BD-4F09-A44D-89FFCE595F1B.jpgFC57D619-8B49-4523-B1B6-7EA16B3E46E9.jpgE3C0DA0C-BACB-4F32-BCDE-50816A8BF369.jpg71697599-E733-4603-912E-AFD4849D78EE.jpg
Some pics of the OBC and DSP screens

[Breaker38]

07791E65-4C3E-4B4D-A1BC-30AB531B63FC.jpgD61E261B-2485-47E0-B885-E20BDDDB5429.jpg57483918-FDBC-462A-949E-19D0E30F725B.jpg

[westaussie323i]

Seems like some work and some don't, support is absolute crap...good luck if it goes wrong as apparently one the updates caused some units to stop working. I am disgusted with the whole thing what an absolute waste of time and money plus the marketing is completely misleading.

[Breaker38]

Seems like some work and some don't, support is absolute crap...good luck if it goes wrong as apparently one the updates caused some units to stop working. I am disgusted with the whole thing what an absolute waste of time and money plus the marketing is completely misleading.

sucks you’ve had such a bad experience with whole thing

[Thanassi44]

About 45sec start up

Yikes!

Other long-term thoughts? Can you access coding options with all the included plug and play wiring? Or do you have to connect something like the I-BUS app with soldering this?

[Breaker38]

Nah all the usb app and wiring is plug and play. Ibus just plugs in the back and one of the USB ports.
Once start up you just access the app and enter coding

[szymu]

Thanks for the write-up, I've been following curiously.

I have some questions about CarPlay and the installation

- do you only get CarPlay when connected via USB / Lightning?
- are all the features supported (e.g. Siri, screen mirroring, maps, phone)?
- have you tried it with iOS 12 (came out today, but maybe you've upgraded already)?
- since you have a DSP amp (same as I do), did you leave the speaker connections back in place (i.e. still connected to the OEM DSP amp)? or did you wire them to the Avin unit itself?
- does the DSP control screen actually control the OEM DSP amp? or does it emulate its function?

Thanks, I'm seriously considering the unit, but cannot resolve my doubts above without your input.

[Breaker38]

Thanks for the write-up, I've been following curiously.

I have some questions about CarPlay and the installation

- do you only get CarPlay when connected via USB / Lightning?
yes you need to have the USB plug sorted
- are all the features supported (e.g. Siri, screen mirroring, maps, phone)?
as far as I’m aware, not used CarPlay elsewhere to compare
- have you tried it with iOS 12 (came out today, but maybe you've upgraded already)?
nope, to new sorry.
- since you have a DSP amp (same as I do), did you leave the speaker connections back in place (i.e. still connected to the OEM DSP amp)? or did you wire them to the Avin unit itself?
cable to the boot then connects to the dsp amp, no further connection needed, you don’t mess with the speaker connections
- does the DSP control screen actually control the OEM DSP amp? or does it emulate its function?
cant answer that one, over my tech grade sorry

Thanks, I'm seriously considering the unit, but cannot resolve my doubts above without your input.

hope the answers above help, I don’t use CarPlay a lot, not a big Apple maps fan. So use google maps and either stream from my iPhone or use a seperate mp3 device per USB connection

[dillalade]

Guys

I'm about to buy my 750iL 2001 (DSP)

I have been researching and am still not sure which is the best option.

Which has most features that actually work?

Avin 3 or Seicane or something I've not seen yet?

I would like:
Steering wheel controls
Reverse camera
DashCam DVR
Android would be nice for all the modern day bells/whistles.
Compliant with onboard DSP

Any information on any regard with sound - technology in the E38 would be highly appreciated.

Thanks

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[dillalade]

Anyone alive here

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[Breaker38]

Only experienced the Avin unit, it does everything you want, compliance with DSP is the problem and limits options other then Avin I believe. Problem is the price with everything adds up but you get what you pay for

[dillalade]

Only experienced the Avin unit, it does everything you want, compliance with DSP is the problem and limits options other then Avin I believe. Problem is the price with everything adds up but you get what you pay for

Thank you for your input.

So your saying DSP doesn't work with the Avin?

Thanks again

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[Breaker38]

Nope works with the Avin, problem for everything else

[dillalade]

Nope works with the Avin, problem for everything else

Thank you very much for confirming Breaker38

Website says Item on Backorder but contradicted by saying in stock, with no response to my emails in a week.

Can't wait for my car now

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[westaussie323i]

Good luck dealing with those idiots at Avin...I sent my shit box unit back and lost $600 on install and they couldnt care less. There are a bunch of owners with problems as they made the mistake of cc'ing everyone so it seems that some work and others don't but you shouldnt expect any straight talking and they NEVER answer the phone

[dillalade]

I hear.you and have read about your experience.

It's very difficult, as clearly the device when it's functional apparently provides for a very comprehensive AV solution to our ~20 year old car.

But then I also am aware first hand that they are really quite terrible with there customer service given they don't want to respond to my email about a simple thing regarding there current stock levels.

I'm stuck.

For the meantime will a 3 pole or 4 pole 3.5mm jack connected to the center back console provide me with an Audio In Jack solution for the time being?

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[westaussie323i]

I make do with my CD stacker. I tried the rear AV socket which used to work well in the other E38 I had, but this car doesn't seem to like the lead I am using....is there different types of 3.5mm plugs/quality?

When I fitted their original unit in my E39 M5 there was no DSP solution so I went with GAS crossover, after market amp and Bavsound Stage 1 kit. Back then Tommy would answer his emails and even phone calls as there were a couple of issues (along with the dickheads that fitted it) but obviously Tommy is a bigshot now or has so many pissed off customers that he hides from them now (my opinion) so proceed with caution

[dillalade]

I make do with my CD stacker. I tried the rear AV socket which used to work well in the other E38 I had, but this car doesn't seem to like the lead I am using....is there different types of 3.5mm plugs/quality?

When I fitted their original unit in my E39 M5 there was no DSP solution so I went with GAS crossover, after market amp and Bavsound Stage 1 kit. Back then Tommy would answer his emails and even phone calls as there were a couple of issues (along with the dickheads that fitted it) but obviously Tommy is a bigshot now or has so many pissed off customers that he hides from them now (my opinion) so proceed with caution

Makes sense I guess.

I would have thought you'd need a 4 Pole 3.5mm jack, as the port we are discussing is a AV port not just a Audio port.

Therefore the signal is split over 4 pole jack.
A 3 pole jack will probably provide no output or only 1 of either the audio or video.

Let me know if that works.

If this works in the meantime then I don't need to be so impatient with the aftermarket head unit retrofit approach.


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[Frankie]

....will a 3 pole or 4 pole 3.5mm jack connected to the center back console provide me with an Audio In Jack solution...?

There are two ways to obtain a "clean" aux-in solution:

• Grom
• BlitzSafe

Both work in place of the CD changer connection. BlitzSafe is for cars without DSP only while Grom works both ways (requires $70 DSP adapter).

The only aftermarket nav I would consider for the E38 would be Dynavin, but it won't fit without cutting....leaving us with no good options, and I doubt there will ever be one. Stop wasting your time. There's still much life left in factory Mk4 navs paired with factory Bluetooth TCUs (and/or Grom Bluetooth for phone audio streaming). Add a BM53 radio if you want XM/Sirius with a dedicated aux-in channel.

All this can be had for much less than the price of a dodgy aftermarket nav, and will actually work!

[dillalade]

There are two ways to obtain a "clean" aux-in solution:

• Grom
• BlitzSafe

Both work in place of the CD changer connection. BlitzSafe is for cars without DSP only while Grom works both ways (requires $70 DSP adapter).

The only aftermarket nav I would consider for the E38 would be Dynavin, but it won't fit without cutting....leaving us with no good options, and I doubt there will ever be one. Stop wasting your time. There's still much life left in factory Mk4 navs paired with factory Bluetooth TCUs (and/or Grom Bluetooth for phone audio streaming). Add a BM53 radio if you want XM/Sirius with a dedicated aux-in channel.

All this can be had for much less than the price of a dodgy aftermarket nav, and will actually work!

Legendary advice.

Thank you so much, off to research

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[westaussie323i]

Just contact GROM but they said that the product wont fit the 1996 E38 with DSP....but cant always trust a help desk. Has anyone fitted their gear to a vehicle that isnt compatible?

[dillalade]

So I ordered the AUX solution BMWTA1, then went on the site this morning and found another solution:

BMWTU3
https://gromaudio.com/store/usb_adap...d_car_kit.html

Gives 4 interfaces in 1:
(1) Aux In (2) With a USB port for charging purposes
(3) Bluetooth Connectivity
(4) USB port/cable for iPod/android/usb dongle playback options.

This BMWTU3 seems like an absolute winner of a solution for my DSP 2001 E38.

Can anyone confirm my findings, it seems legit.
Has anybody has any experience with this option?

[dillalade]

This maybe worth exploring:

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F222892430376

https://youtu.be/u-GZLyuGR6k

Has 7 series E38 1994-2001 compatible with Business Cassette.
But no mention of DSP compatible.