Aftermarket android-based head unit install for E39 w/ NAV + DSP, I am clueless!

[Ferruccio]

So I've been using my 540i for 14 years and I've been wanting to upgrade the user interface because what's there right now is just bad.

So I bought an ***** head unit (am I allowed to say that here? I searched the forums and certain brands got turned to asterisks in previous posts) and I purchased a wiring harness which connects up the front dashboard hardware with the stuff in the trunk. I have the wiring harness installed and routed, so there are no physical problems there. The frontal hookup looks obvious and I have no problem there.


However, I have a dilemma: Where the heck are the instructions for the trunk hardware and bypasses?? I've spent weeks scouring youtube videos, my bentley service manuals, and trying to put together just how the trunk stuff is all connected up. I've found nothing. The available guides either are a deluge of dead images (because of photobucket nuking all the old instruction guides from years past) or helpful forum links which are just 404 link rot. I'm not even looking for instructions regarding my particular brand at this point. I've been looking even for instructions from different manufacturers. I'm without a clue. I've been looking at land rover instruction videos hoping I'd find something (since the early 2000s range rovers had similar trunk hardware and wiring harnesses). I've even heard through the grapevine that I need some aftermarket amplifier because I specifically have DSP and it won't work with the head unit. But none of this is mentioned in the instructions on the manufacturer website, the instructions to the separate wiring harness I bought, or any of the physical instructions in the box.

Could you guys guide me to an existing thread on exactly how I am to wire this stuff up, which hopefully isn't filled with dead links and dead images?

[Ferruccio]

So I've still been working on this problem and I finally gave in and had some specialists look at it. Unfortunately, even they don't know what's going on. "The company that starts with an E and has 5 letters" makes garbage installation kits with brackets that do not even line up with the holes that come with the aftermarket head unit. The company has failed to offer any assistance whatsoever for instructions. The well-known company that makes the head unit doesn't even know how to install their own product. I've done lots of custom things in the past and have had no trouble, but with this, I am at my wit's end. I just wanted basic sound to work in such a way that didn't drain my battery the way the default nav computer was doing. Replacing the nav head unit with an official BMW one would have been thousands of $ and horribly outdated.

The lack of replies here tells me that no one here has any idea how the wiring harnesses work for nav-installed E39 vehicles either. I can't blame you though. I guess it will remain a mystery. I'm just frustrated. I hate selling a broken car, especially one that I've worked hard to keep running for all this time.

[DennisCooper]

Hi Ferruccio,

I can understand your frustration, but I'll also put forward that you've unfortunately possibly not been using good search terms. On this forum and plenty others, there's numerous threads about how to install/fit an aftermarket head unit if you wish to retain the OEM DSP amp and speakers.

1. Buy one of the chinese replacement units that have built in support for connecting to the DSP amp
2. Buy one of the chinese replacement units that require the separate purchase of the Resler Interface & iBus App.

The Avin Avant 4 and Dynavin N7 are units that come under the first option, the Avin actually is option 2 just with the option to buy those two elements on their website.
A number of other chinese units work with the Resler Interface and iBus app and I think some e o non's do as well as other clone type brands units.. xtrons etc

You'd also need to buy the 5M extension harness that plugs into the rear and which you install under the carpet, under and behind the glovebox and to the dash area for where the new head unit plugs into.

Do searches on the search engines for 'E39 DSP aftermarket head unit install'

Moving on, then yes, that brand you mention is banned from being mentioned on this forum as some years back many forum members purchased and experienced problems, to the extent I think the site owners kicked them off (or asked them to leave). The other Massive USA orientated BMW forum then had the brand sponsor there and after some months, the same thing happened and another train wreck of a presence and lots of unhappy/angry forum members. They also appeared over here on a UK forum and yes, you've guessed it! lots of unhappy and angry forum members and they were kicked off there too.

Most reputable and established car audio dealers don't stock nor wish or want to fit these low quality chinese replacement units as the risk of issues/problems is high and the last thing they want is a bunch of unhappy customers after a week/month or two back at their doors with faulty or problematic units.

This section on bimmerforums has a few of us who regularly help as best as possible, but sometimes threads do get missed etc.

E39 audio is a specialist area for me and I do reply to as many as I can where I can help/know answers.

It sounds as though you are selling your E39, so I'd suggest re-fitting all the OEM audio modules back in and sell like that. If some of the modules aren't working, you can reduce the price of the car in negotiations or, pick up a known compatible and working replacement and fit that.

For me, if I see a well maintained E39 but see a cheap low quality chinese head unit, I do think 'what else has the owner skimped on?' others perhaps don't, but the better kept examples tend to either have OEM audio or a well executed and fitted high quality and established brand head unit.

I've always preferred high quality car audio and prefer established, respected and reliable brands products. The chinese replacement units aren't anywhere near good/reliable/quality enough so I'd never consider them. It's also why I decided to design, develop and now manufacture my own 'OEM look' fascia so that owners of great E39's can now have very close to OEM looks and a high quality, reliable and far superior head unit in their cars.

Cheers, Dennis!