in on this aswell...

 

Jdm dash kit if you want it to fit right. Then pioneer avic-z140 for the nav

 

most pioneer avic systems are color face changable so you can match it to you gauges or factory lights and you can upload customized loading screen n backgrounds
check out avic 411 forum

 

Just had mine installed in December.

It's a Pioneer AVIC X940BT from Amazon ($570 shipped) , Scosche dash unit, Sony rearview camera, and the Mito02 adapter.

Amazing setup for the $$, couldn't be happier with it, and it cost <$1000 installed.

 

I've had 3 custom Nav systems put into my last 3 vehicles - X included. honest reviews...

Stay away from Avic. It's a pretty standard middle of the road unit but the software is slow. it has some decent features like swipe scroll (like an iPhone) and a very professional looking layout - but I just found it too slow and clunky. My bluetooth would take about 45 seconds to hook up once the car started for example.

I'm currently running an Eclipse AVN726E unit with a top notch dash kit from japan (no idea what brand as I bought it off a member here).

The Eclipse product is now a few years old but it is extremely fast and the hardware inside was just about as good as you could buy 3 years ago.

New, the head units go for about $1,900. I found mine as a display unit locally and got it for $500.

It isn't perfect - no swipe, menu screens look a little childish in my opinion - but it is fast and the sound quality is fantastic. I'm also running a full set of Kenwood Excellon speakers and tweeters + a 450w x 4 amp to power them though.

I'll get some photos tomorrow and post them up.

Edit - I'd also suggest looking for something with a 7" display instead of the standard 6.1" display. 6.1's are nice as they are a front load system. But the 7" screen just works way better for music videos and the Nav screen.

 

Looks good. Is the Z140 just newer than the X940? Scosche looks like it fits well, too. How's the install? Just plug and play through the Mito? I've pulled the radio in my X before, but if I have to do any splicing I don't know if I'll be willing to do the install on my own.

As for bluetooth and stuff. I doubt I'll use that very much. I still use CD's instead of an iPod hookup, as well. Is the navigation slow on the Avic? I mean, I know how to get out of my neighborhood, so will it have loaded my destination by the time I've made it to the highway about five minutes away?

 

The x940 and z140 are both last years model and excellent units. The x is the lower end navi with a smaller screen and the z has the full 7" (this years model is the x950 and z150). They have been slow previously but gotten ALOT better. The newer ones are just as quick and I prefer the layout over alpine. The kenwoods are another great unit but I found them to be generally more expensive. Personally I would buy last years z140 off of amazon since you can get them for a steal right now, and update the firmware to the z150 software when it releases later this year.

As for dash kit, I would only recommend either the jdm one or the American International kit off of eBay.


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Whatever you do, DO NOT get the Metra kit. Sucks. Schosche at the minimum, JDM if you want it to look perfect.

 

+1 I have the OEM with my OEM navi and its niiiiiiice.


but were you being serious about still using CD's? Its nice to be able to create playlists, and switch music within 2 sec, I suggest jumping on the digital bandwagon. Especially with the new unit you buy, it will have to flip, move, shift or whatever in order to swap discs, adding another min or so. I know its not much, but I'm pretty sure you already have an iphone, why not cut down on the stuff stored in the vehicle.

 

I would love an aftermarket unit but don't want to loose the car controls on my stock navi.

SRTOAD4, how did you manage to run the AEM boost gauge up to the steering wheel?

 

Just get the PAC unit to retain steering controls.


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I vote Ebay Dash kit or JDM Mitsu Dash kit. Nothing else will look even half decent.

Car PC may work too, but its a lot of work to get it up and running the way you want it.

 

What is a PAC unit? Stock navi controls wipers, door locks.. And some other stuff

 

Oh my fault, I read that too fast and thought you were referring to the steering controls working with aftermarket units.

I too like that everything is easy to access from the stock navi but once I upgrade..those options will still be available, just a pain to change. I think it's all in the manual for the procedure to change options on cars without navi.


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Wires must have been spliced and extended cause the factory AEM harness is way too short for the boost gauge

 

orrr run a tube into the cabin like a mechanical boostguage...put sensor for aem in the cabin too...i know this works i did it

 

Sub'd for more info, plan on doing this as well and am not car audio saavy(savvy?) either.

 

I also have the x940bt i think i paid 550 shipped from amazon. I love the headunit it has definitely exceeded my expectations. Only issue I have is that the bluetooth speaker for my phone doesn't have the best clarity.

 

I believe that's because our cars are very loud inside, and the mic picks up lots of vibrations. My buddy just got this unit installed in his 2011 Accord sedan, and it's crystal clear. When I bought the unit, it was like $520 shipped from Amazon, but has since gotten more expensive.

 

Centrafuse bitches!

 

Wow, thanks for the info everyone. I'm sure it'll help others as much as it's helped me.

If I can find one of the Pioneer Avic units in the $500-$800 range I'll probably pick it up. Mito02, as well. It looks like I'll need to shop around the trim options. Can anybody PM me a link to the ebay unit?

Last question, has anybody done their own install? How easy is it? If it's pretty much plug and play I'll just do it, but like I said, I don't want to do too much in the way of splicing.

 

Wow, thanks for the info everyone. I'm sure it'll help others as much as it's helped me.

If I can find one of the Pioneer Avic units in the $500-$800 range I'll probably pick it up. Mito02, as well. It looks like I'll need to shop around the trim options. Can anybody PM me a link to the ebay unit?

Last question, has anybody done their own install? How easy is it? If it's pretty much plug and play I'll just do it, but like I said, I don't want to do too much in the way of splicing.

it's 100% plug and play - just make sure you get the connector from the head unit to the wiring harness (most come with it, but make sure). it's nowhere near as hard as it seems. when I did my carPC setup for the first time, I felt stupid for thinking it would be a hassle

disassembly of the dash is easy too. I wouldn't pay a shop to do this install unless it was a custom/special setup

 

I've pulled the radio before when running wiring, so I know what to do with all that. I just saw all the wires back there and I'd be all, "fuck that shit," if I had to splice. Cool, sounds good. I'll probably end up going with this setup.

-Pioneer Avic Head unit (undecided on which one, depends on the deals)
-Metra MT02 connector
-Try to get a JDM dash kit, if not Scosche

 

Eyler check the other forums sale threads. I'm pretty sure I saw a pioneer avic for sale.

 

Trust me the JDM kit really is that nice.

 

Agreed - I still haven't had a chance to get a photo - but it is worth every penny compared to the other products on the market. It makes the rest of it look amateur to be honest.

 

1. Wire harness - Metra MITO-02
2. Double-din dash. Do not buy metra here. Scosche is the cheap option, fits nicely, JDM is the real option, $$$$$. BEWARE - The JDM one does not fit all double din head units!
3. I believe you also need the double din metal brackets. You can find the OEM ones on JNZ tuning or any part site.
4. For the head unit, I personally really dislike Pioneer units. I'm not a fan of the Navi, or some of the audio interface nuances. Kenwood has nice navi, but they tend to be pricier. I'm currently running a JVC, and the newer JVC KW-NT810HDT looks pretty damn nice. I like my older KW-NT3HDT as it has an actual volume knob and front side USB input. For me, that's a big plus.

Wiring isn't too bad. I preferred to bench and solder everything versus using any sort of wire nuts etc. as they can sometimes come loose.

If you want to use Sirius, you need a compatible Sirius module. If you want to use backup camera, you need to buy it, most receivers have an input for it. Same with steering wheel controls, if you have them and want to keep them, there's a module you can buy that does the signal translation.

Pick a headunit you like and go from there.