New Head Unit?

[PMadBro]

One of the first things I'm planning on doing to my new e39 would be to replace the head unit that is currently in the car. What would be the best touchscreen replacement that is currently on the market that I could swap it with? Are there any decent android auto head units around for this model of car?

Thanks!

[ltpickles]

If you don't have dsp get an eBay headunit. You'll save a lot of money but the quality is lacking. If you got the dough get a dynavin n6. Best unit you can buy for this car

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[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

Go high end, simple....

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https://www1.crutchfield.com/p_158RS...omnews=9991754

[Rossagge]

I just bought an E o n o n GA7201(CA7201R). Very beautiful unit. Fits excellent and you can run tons of android based apps. Connects to your android phone via Bluetooth and has WiFi (comes with antennae). Plays DVDs and also comes with GPS antennae, dash CAM and CAN Bus decoder. With all that said, after connecting it, no audio comes through. This is the second unit i received and after trying to troubleshoot and talking with the eBay supplier on his to fix this, still no resolution after a week. I don't have DSP, nor Navi nor Bose. Should just be plug and play with the BMW harness in dash. No trunk harness required to run to dash. With that, be very leary of those eBay units unless someone is selling a proven unit. I can barely find any reviews or troubleshooting guides for this thing. Like i said said, beautiful unit, but no audio. Don't mean to highjack your thread, but of anyone knows about this unit and how to make it work, please hit me up!

PMadBro, I'm looking as well. I might just go with a high end unit like Snotty suggested...but not that high!

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[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

It is pricey, but a friend of mine got one, it is purrrdy good.

I was putting together a small Nuc Intel computer system, got an Intel iCore7, got a few things for it, still need the GPS, and an LCD screen, bunch of other stuff for it. But now, It's fallen off my radar, and now, I just want some good 'ole hi-fidelity in the wagon. So it looks like a complete old school re-wire, hate DSP BS, doing custom speakers, Alpine Type R 6.5" components for the front door, 6x9 Type R's in the ceiling, a choice of either a 10" JL subwoofer in the subwoofer location, or, a dual coil 12" Kicker Competition 12, or a dual coil 15" Type R cut into the floorboard over the spare wheel well, fabricate a really solid floor board with a built in grille for the sub to replace the stock floor board over the spare wheel well. I already have all the amps I will ever need, fitting them into the car, will be the trick. For a head unit, was looking at the $700 Alpine GPS/DVD player that fit into the E39 , but suddenly cannot find it on Crutchfields website. Should be awesome, just gotta commit to ripping out the garbage that BMW called a sound system. I think I will pick up a second set of 2way 5 1/4 Type R components for the rear doors too, 100 watts per door, 150 for each 6x9, and 1000 into 2 ohms for the sub. Should sound significantly better than stock.

[Rossagge]

"Sounds" like it! Haha

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[PMadBro]

No sound? Thats not a very good head unit! I personally wouldn't spend that kind of money on a unit like that, probably around the $200-300 mark would be a good amount, nothing crazy. As long as it supports an amp and a sub I really dont care that much if it has android capabilities, but it would certainly be nice. Are there any known inexpensive brands that work reliably?

[edjack]

"Known inexpensive brands..." a good example of an oxymoron.

Rossagge, methinks you've been hosed. Almost no one has had success, except with the Dynavin unit.

One prominent E39 forum has scratched that company from their vendor list because of quality and vendor issues.

[dannyzabolotny]

I just paid the $650 for a Dynavin N6 because my car had DSP. It works really well and I have no complaints.

Does your 540i have DSP? It's very likely that it does, because a lot of the 540i's came with it. If you have DSP then there's no real "easy" way to replace the head unit without rewiring the whole audio system.

[dohc97]

I have a new Dynavin N6 sitting in my house right now. Just trying to find the time to have it installed. I am not messing with it.

[edjack]

If you have DSP then there's no real "easy" way to replace the head unit without rewiring the whole audio system.

So, is that what you had to do?

[dannyzabolotny]

So, is that what you had to do?

Nope, I installed the Dynavin N6. It's the only aftermarket head unit that works properly with DSP. But it does cost a fair bit of money— $650 when I ordered mine.

[cnsorial]

Second the dynavin. I don't have DSP but I didnt want to mess with the cheaper, unproven options with regards to eBay units. I just wanted Bluetooth, iPod, back up camera, and most importantly--oem looks and functionality.


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[dannyzabolotny]

Second the dynavin. I don't have DSP but I didnt want to mess with the cheaper, unproven options with regards to eBay units. I just wanted Bluetooth, iPod, back up camera, and most importantly--oem looks and functionality.

Yep, you can't really beat the Dynavin's looks as far as keeping it OEM goes. Single- and dual-DIN head units all look like crap in an E39 due to its dashboard setup.

[qcdstick]

Not saying it looks fantastic, probably a different head unit could match the coloring and feel a bit better. But with some work it's not impossible to make a single din work in these cars.

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[adwebinc]

If you want the "stock look", then your choices are limited to either ***** or Dynavin. If you have DSP, then you are limited to Dynavin.

I have the ***** in my e46 and put the Dynavin in my daughter's e39 as she has DSP. Frankly, the functionality of the ***** is better. Sound quality is about the same. Biggest difference is that ***** continues to improve the product and the Dynavin is stale.

If you buy the ***** though, just buy directly from them not on eBay. I have received good support from them.

If you don't care about the stock look, well then your options are wide open.


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[awltoga]

I guess I am slow on the uptake... Is ***** for generic Android head unit?

If you want the "stock look", then your choices are limited to either ***** or Dynavin. If you have DSP, then you are limited to Dynavin.

I have the ***** in my e46 and put the Dynavin in my daughter's e39 as she has DSP. Frankly, the functionality of the ***** is better. Sound quality is about the same. Biggest difference is that ***** continues to improve the product and the Dynavin is stale.

If you buy the ***** though, just buy directly from them not on eBay. I have received good support from them.

If you don't care about the stock look, well then your options are wide open.


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[dannyzabolotny]

I guess I am slow on the uptake... Is ***** for generic Android head unit?

No, it's for the E O N O N head units (remove the spaces). The forum software censors that name out because a lot of people here had a bad experience with them.

[ViolinARC]

I ordered from AliExpress because of their return/refund policy and installed a "cheap" no name Chinese Android HU for $200. It works just fine (albeit a little slow for GPS sometimes). Certainly an improvement over the stock HU...especially for $200.

E O N O N is a known failure so make sure you do some research first. The Dynavin is proven but IMO, a bit on the pricey side when comparing to the competition. If they would have dropped the price a bit (like $300 ), it might be the unit I'd be using today...

EDIT: Oh yeah...no DSP here.

[PMadBro]

I'm pretty sure I have DSP. Damn, it looks like I'm going to have to eventually bite the bullet on this one because my stock unit is pretty much done for, 90% the pixels are gone so far. Oh well, time to save up! At least I know Ill be getting a quality head unit. Thanks for the help guys!

[schatzy62]

I'm pretty sure I have DSP. Damn, it looks like I'm going to have to eventually bite the bullet on this one because my stock unit is pretty much done for, 90% the pixels are gone so far. Oh well, time to save up! At least I know Ill be getting a quality head unit. Thanks for the help guys!

Easy way yo tell if you have DSP is if the top rocker button on the right side of the display says "AUDIO DSP". Without DSP it will only say "AUDIO".

There are many places out there that will do Pixel Repair for you, around $100-250.00 here are three places easily found on google

http://www.bestpixelrepair.com/82-bm...repair-service

http://www.bimmeronly.com/MID-and-Ra...c_1013418.html

https://www.bavtekinc.com/services/mid-lcd-repair

OR

you can buy the part for $30.00 - 75.00 and do it your self. No need for soldering and it takes about 30 minutes if you have never done it before. I have done 3 now and I can get it done in about 15 minutes. here are a few places to get the part from.

https://www.bavtekinc.com/bmw-e38-e3...silver-ribbon/

http://www.bestpixelrepair.com/151-bmw-lcd-displays

And the place I use to get them is: http://www.akspeedo.com/bmw-lcd-pixel-repair-shop.php This comes with full instructions and delivered about a year ago was $38.

[Rossagge]

I decided to order and wait for the harness that fits my car and E O N O N. The seller said this should work for mine. It's non DSP. If you have DSP the GA7201 with the extra harness will work. This is it softly installed. $255-300 depending where you buy and what extras.. Dash cam etc. Plus $70 for the 5m harness, A0579, that goes from the trunk to the dash.

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[awltoga]

Thanks I appreciate it.

[ViolinARC]

I decided to order and wait for the harness that fits my car and E O N O N. The seller said this should work for mine. It's non DSP. If you have DSP the GA7201 with the extra harness will work. This is it softly installed. $255-300 depending where you buy and what extras.. Dash cam etc. Plus $70 for the 5m harness, A0579, that goes from the trunk to the dash.

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+1...that's how mine looks, minus the brand name on the bottom. $258 including shipping for the non-DSP...makes the factory speakers sound much better. Good enough for me...

[Rossagge]

+1...that's how mine looks, minus the brand name on the bottom. $258 including shipping for the non-DSP...makes the factory speakers sound much better. Good enough for me...

Will do. Harness should be here in a few days. Did your's require it?

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