E38 Android based head unit upgrades

[Lugy]

I've been looking into options to replace the original 4:3 sat nav in my E38, at the moment the screen doesn't work and the general concensus is that it's either the nav unit or TV module.
Instead of spending time/money on fixing what I've already got, I've been looking into the Android based head unit like these ones;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UK-Stereo-9753CU-Android...

I'm not too clued up on all the technical jargon but it seems like it'd basically be like having a tablet in the car giving me my Spotify playlists, various apps, bluetooth calling and could be tethered to my phone for Google Maps sat nav, plus it'd still be a radio/CD player. From what I've read so far it can be connected to my steering wheel controls.

A couple of potential issues I've seen is the possibility of losing the OBC functions and will I be able to listen to music and have Google maps running at the same time? (Probably a daft question but one I genuinely don't know the answer to!)

Any feedback from anyone who has one of these would be muchly appreciated.

[Lugy]

bigdom said:

Not convinced the one in your link will fit, the e38 screen is different on the back, was a pain finding the correct oem 16:9 screen when I changed mine over.

Hmmmm, I've just seen this on that ad...


That most likely rules this one out then, does anyone know of any that will fit? Everything else seems quite positive otherwise.

[Lugy]

I've looked into the standard double DIN head units, but the adapter required doesn't really look too fantastic, otherwise I'd of considered one of the Alpine units.

[Lugy]

DennisCooper said:

Hi,

Unfortunately, there's no E38 specific cheap chinese replacement type head units. The E38 apparently does have innards which prevent these chinese units from fitting properly. I do believe there was also a revision at some point where the innards were changed to accommodate the later 16:9 oem monitor units and I believe affected RHD cars for which the monitor itself had a slightly different placed 'offset' of the cassette mechanism that 'sticks out the back' of the monitor. Due to these restrictions, none of these chinese unit's have an E38 model and is also down to the fact there's a lot less demand for such a unit as compared to the E46 3 Series and to an extent the E39 ones.

On every BMW forum, there's mentions of these chinese units, and where those who have purchased one, feedback indicates they're still low quality in every aspect. Thus, reliability of them is generally much lower than a premium brand unit. It's rare to find feedback like the one above, where a chinese unit works fully and properly and crucially, continues to do so over time. The chances of getting a unit with 'issues' is high. Even if there was an E38 version, it'd currently, be the same, you 'might' get a fully working unit or, you will 'most likely' get a unit with issues/problems.

Lugy - That's a picture I took of my Alpine unit in my E39 a few years ago! The responses above have looked at the E46, for which there's plenty of the cheap chinese unit's available. For the E38, the good news is that some owners have put the unit I currently have in my car, which is the Parrot Asteroid Smart, here's some links for you

http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1...
http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?2...

The USA has enthusiasts willing to try stuff and as you can see, they've installed the Asteroid Smart successfully. Have a search through that forum for other posts, there's some where tablets have been used instead. The bezels have been modified to best hold the tablets and the Asteroid as well as a few other double din unit's where modifications to the airbox have been done, but don't look like the oem unit.

There's nothing else which could be an alternative really, unless you want to start going down the higher end customisation route.

Cheers, Dennis!

The Parrot unit looks quite interesting, the facia adapter looks a bit easier on the eye too - though a bit shiny from what I've seen! Plus it seems to have the main features I want, ie Spotify/internet radio/hands free/navigation.
One thing that worries me however is that someone has said they've had to change speakers and the amp, did you have to do this?
How do you find the unit? Can you get the same apps as any other Android device or is it limited to what's on their own Asteroid Market?