Greetings...


Well, my GF managed to really **ck up my interior on a road trip...


She was filling up her Mimosa roadie cup, but put it in a air tight sippie sports cup type container... yes.... Mimosa!


We get going 5 minutes from the house...she opens, and yup...all over the place.... Not going to repeat any other details other than, my OEM crappy radio works, but screen is black.


Im going to replace it with a double Din Nav system with XM, video in motion, etc.




Im no audiophile, but rather barely listen to music in the car...that said, im keeping the stock bose components by way of the $650 module needed.


I understand the major 3 brands many are installing for decks are Alpine, Pioneer, and Kenwood.




Im a droid user...the GF is Apple... Im seeing Pioneer runs both, Kenwood partial to droid, and not sure about Alpine, other than their website blows.




Screen size: id like to go big as I can...7"...for watching movies , and to make the car look more current.
My S4 OEM screen is around 5", but its in a way better viewing area for watching movies than the P car.


Just looking for some advise on what others have enjoyed or not about brands, screen sizes, installers, or SELF install?


I cant take it any longer...not having a screen im able to read.



im leaning Pioneer...


retail installed is around $2250-$2450.... unless I do it myself, and buy all the stuff online, I can manage all for $1700.00 . Im not a real warranty guy.... Buying from an authorized dealer doesn't mean a whole lot to me.
is it worth installing myself? I have to remove all my carpeting to install dynamat anyways, including the entire center console...


If I have a pro install, im in MN. Who do I trust with my car. who wont F up my sports seats and sit on the bolster while installing the deck? im picky.


Thanks for any of your ideas on my rambling....Haha.




PB.

 

When I had my OEM receiver swapped for an alpine, the installers didn't really know what they were doing. As a result, my rear speakers don't work. The rear speakers need to be set before the old receiver is removed or something to that effect. someone else on the forum will understand that better than me.
Unfortunately, I had sold my OEM on ebay before I found that out. Now it will cost me a lot of money to get full sound. Not a big deal since the cab is small...it just grates on me knowing that it isn't right.

 

Have you considered Dinavin?

 

No...just looked em up...appears they are an apple friendly system...im not an apple person.


looks like they are set up to service 2009 and on MY cars. im an 08 MY.


Nice looking setup though.


P Lady...thanks for the tip. The more and more I think about the whole thing, the more I want to have it installed by the pro's... my installer for my project has 20 years experience. Im being cheap because there was nothing wrong with my OEM head unit, and now im face dwith a $2.5k pill.

 

When I upgraded the system in my 996 C4S, I went with a Kenwood head unit. Overall, I was happy with it. One thing that was important to me was a **** to control volume. It's much easier when driving than buttons. It requires a slightly smaller screen, but that's a reasonable compromise to me.

Good luck!

 

Thanks Dennis.... I do like your idea on the ****...
and yes...one has to compromise down to a 6.2" screen to gain the ****.


I think the knobless decks are just one more thing to break... at the same time, im wanting the 7" screen.


Oh well.


I wouldn't mind just having my OEM deck working again.
taking these cars in for any service, invites an outside party into my interior... will they **ck up my seat bolsters, have a screwdriver in their pocket, grease/oil on their pants, on their hands.


That's part of why id consider doing it myself being plug and play.


My proposed installer uses a snap on tool cart that he lays on and rolls himself across both seats not even touching them.... I like the sounds of this. more yet, id like to own one.

 

Well you're looking at $1000 for a top of the line Pioneer deck (8200NEX) plus another $700 for the trim kit and Bose adapter (if you don't have Bose, then it's only $200 or so). The install should take somewhere from 2 to 4 hours, so the quote you got is about right. There's actually quite a bit to install for the HU (like sat antenna, gps antenna, running the mic cable, and splicing here and there). If you're not experienced, I would say just "pay the man" to do it. It's harder than it looks.

 

Watch movies???

 

i have this kenwood excelon in my 2nd car and it's excellent. it has android auto for me and apple carplay for my gf. all my texts, calls, and live traffic get routed through the headunit. i can control spotify and sirius from the huge touch screen. i can say "ok google" and access voice commands like "play thong song" or "text slutty jen". i highly recommend it.

http://www.kenwood.com/usa/car/excelon/ddx9903s/

 

Replaced factory amp/head unit with jl audio amp/pioneer adh 4200 Nex. And bracket/face plate at a cost of $1800 for everything. Install took all day (8 hrs.) With an experienced tech. I'm always listening to my music, final straw to replace everything was a 2500 mile road trip that started through the dragon tail. My issues were my factory system wouldn't recognize half my music on my flash drive and a bad amp. Now I love the system and the car even more. For me it was $ well spent.

 

Looks super!


For some reason....my VIM isn't working...the installer wired in the VIM bypass...I get a stupid screen warning I don't know how to get rid of it....


Maybe I had a **** installer?


I have the new model avic 8200....


I understand the lower left corner can be held for 10 seconds to put system into default to activate VIM while in motion...seems like a PITA everytime I start the car.


Anyone>??