Really clean installation and excellent write up! When I get the courage to upgrade my OEM head unit I'll have to remember this thread!

 

I've always liked the stock look too but the aftermarket decks sound so much better and have a lot of features.

 

Any reviews on the Boyo? I'm thinking of getting one for my DD. How hard is it to connect up?

Edwin

 

Man this was very helpful. You did a great job!

 

Oh do I have a review on the Boyo camera. Normally running a wire from the front of the car to the back is simple - unless it's a Porsche with the motor in the back. It was a pain to pass the wire through the firewall from the cabin to the engine bay. If I had to do it again I'd pay the extra $75 for the wireless one!!! Other than running that wire the install isn't that bad and the camera works great!

Another problem in Minnesota is that salt and dirt collects and covers up the camera on a regular basis so you have to clean it fairly often. If you don't live where there's snow then I'm sure you're fine.

Paul

 

Thanks!

I need to say thanks a about 45 more times so I can start posting ads on this website. It's such a pain that you have to have 100 posts in order to post an ad. The Bimmer and Audi websites don't have such requirements.

 

Can you explain how the sirius module./traffic thing works? Is there a yearly subscription fee for the traffic? Thanks

Edwin

 

Let me see how many posts it will take to answer your question... here's one

 

The DNX-5120 can take a Garmin GTM 12 Traffic receiver. https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=203&pID=417

It plugs directly in the back of the DNX-5120. The GTM12 is basically an FM antenna. I tied this FM antenna with the Nav GPS antenna and put it under the front windshield sensor. You log into Garmin's site to register the antenna (once you plug the antenna into the DNX5120, turn the unit on and access the Traffic section of the menu and it will give you the antenna id). Use the antenna id to register it on Garmin's site. It's a $60 one time fee!

It works great! It's fairly accurate.

Good luck,
Paul

 

hey Paul,
great write up!

question...is the Metra 70-1784 harness the same for all model years? Just want to confirm this is the correct harness for my 2001.

Thanks!

 

I'm pretty sure it's the same for an 2001 as an 2002 but then again I did not install this on an 01 so I am not 100% sure. You can be sure by pulling out your radio and look at the harness from the car. If there are 3 wire harnesses to the back of the radio (yellow, brown and black like mine) then the Metra 70-1784 is the one.

Good luck,
Paul

 

I'll pull the factory nav out and take a look this weekend.

thanks!

 

How are you liking the 5120? Can you comment on the navigation function as well as screen resolution? I have a AVIC D3 but want to try another carrier

Edwin

 

Great write up...thank you.

J

 

I really like the Kenwood DNX 5120! I had an Alpine CDA-9887 non-nav top of the line Alpine and thought it didn't sound as good as the Kenwood. I also had the Kenwood 792 - bad display and controls but good sound. Also the Kenwood Bluetooth is better than the Alpine but I think the ear piece for $75 is better than either the Kenwood or Alpine Bluetooth. Another one where if I had to do it again I would not get the Bluetooth module.

I really like the DNX5120's Nav. I have a hand held Garmin and the 5120 is very similar to program and intuitive to use. The FM Traffic is pretty good although if you drive by an area of construction all the time everytime you drive by this area the FM Traffic will tell us again.

I would have a smaller screen for the rotory dial volume control and the 3 separate buttons for Nav/Source/Function but that's just me.

The DVD video is pretty good. iPod video is good but controlling the video with fast forward, etc. is not so easy.

iPod functionality is very good. You can quickly scroll down your playlists.

Sirius Sat is pretty good although sound quality from Sat radio (Sirius or XM with my previous cars also) is not CD quality.

I read in some review of slow boot up time - I have NOT experienced this. Boots up in less than 5 seconds.

Lastly I always thought touch screen was the way to go but it really is difficult to reach for the screen and try to push this small button on the screen while driving. Maybe this is where the bigger screen is better. Maybe this is why Audi and BMW's nav systems have a rotory dial. It would be nice to have buttons on the steering wheel. The 996 Porsches don't have this feature.

Paul