E39 + Alpine iXA-W407BT
Discussion
I fancy a decent wireless in the bimmer, considering the Alpine iXA-W407BT (url]click|http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/alpine-ixa-w407bt.html[/url]. Good choice or is there better?
Car currently has the basic oem business audio - is it pretty much a straight swap and what are the implications? I.e. will the steering wheel buttons work, etc.?
I'd like to be able to use iphone 4 with it too.
Car currently has the basic oem business audio - is it pretty much a straight swap and what are the implications? I.e. will the steering wheel buttons work, etc.?
I'd like to be able to use iphone 4 with it too.
Hi LordGrover,
I can provide a little more in the shape of pictures and feedback - as this is the setup I currently have in my E39!
Here's the pics;
The unit as you know is DVD mechanism-less and as such is shorter in depth than the traditional sized double DIN units out there. It's still fairly deep though and I was hoping that the 'flush' fitting Janus Design E39 double DIN fitting kit could still be used but not have to cut the airbox. Alas this isn't quite the case, so the fascia you see above that I'm using is what's required if you wish to save the 3-4 hours of labour charges to modify the airbox (approx £200-250 or so, generally at a reputable car audio shop) This fascia 'angles the back lower edge' of the head unit up so that it clears the airbox, however the only downside is it has that inch or so lip at the front top edge visible in the cabin. I personally don't mind it at all, but I'd say 80% of E39 guys will recoil in horror that it's not 'oem' !!
The unit is an Alpine, it's quality and performance sells itself as they're one of the very best car audio head unit brands out there, so I don't need to really give it any intorduction. All the functions are fine and work. You'd need the steering wheel adaptor from Alpine, plug it in and that would be available as well - very straightforward. Parrot hands free car kit is built in so no extra boxes or displays or expense is required. If they'd made it just 3-4 cm shorter in depth it'd be prefect for the E39!
If you wish to know a little more please drop me a PM - I'm able to source
Cheers, Dennis!
I can provide a little more in the shape of pictures and feedback - as this is the setup I currently have in my E39!
Here's the pics;
The unit as you know is DVD mechanism-less and as such is shorter in depth than the traditional sized double DIN units out there. It's still fairly deep though and I was hoping that the 'flush' fitting Janus Design E39 double DIN fitting kit could still be used but not have to cut the airbox. Alas this isn't quite the case, so the fascia you see above that I'm using is what's required if you wish to save the 3-4 hours of labour charges to modify the airbox (approx £200-250 or so, generally at a reputable car audio shop) This fascia 'angles the back lower edge' of the head unit up so that it clears the airbox, however the only downside is it has that inch or so lip at the front top edge visible in the cabin. I personally don't mind it at all, but I'd say 80% of E39 guys will recoil in horror that it's not 'oem' !!
The unit is an Alpine, it's quality and performance sells itself as they're one of the very best car audio head unit brands out there, so I don't need to really give it any intorduction. All the functions are fine and work. You'd need the steering wheel adaptor from Alpine, plug it in and that would be available as well - very straightforward. Parrot hands free car kit is built in so no extra boxes or displays or expense is required. If they'd made it just 3-4 cm shorter in depth it'd be prefect for the E39!
If you wish to know a little more please drop me a PM - I'm able to source
Cheers, Dennis!
Hi Lordgrover,
Yes, see this pic to see the depth of the lip
If you opt for the Janus Design E39 double din kit for around 170 Euros, plus postage from Germany, and then you get the airbox modified as mentioned, it will then sit flush. Here's the link
http://www.janus-design.net/english/e39doubledin/i...
This is currently the cleanest looking solution for installing Double DIN aftermarket head units into an E39. I'd estimate the Janus Design kit is around £175 landed here in the UK (not sure if theres any import tax from Germany - if so, it'll be a little more) to have the airbox modified from a reputable car audio installer would be 4 hours of labour (Dash top needs to come off, bits of the front dashboard to gain access, then careful cutting of the airbox and then correct re-sealing) and re-assembly, so likely to be at least £200-250.
You can then choose any Double DIN unit to fit, the Alpine 407BT comes in at around a discounted £530-560 ish online. So for around £925 minimum(ish) you'd have the setup fitted (you'd need a power harness BMW>Alpine & a Aerial socket converter and I'm assuming the fitting of the unit would be included in the cost of the airbox mod, if not, perhaps add another £30 or so on top)
Alternatives are the Dynavin chinese branded/made E39 all in one replacement which comes in at £750 fitted, or the Hualingan chinese branded/made all in one replacement at around £480-500 non fitted. If the Chinese made units aren't for you, you can then either go for the Single DIN units with a flip out screen, single DIN no flip out, or just stick with OEM and perhaps do the £1500 or so retrofit of the OEM 16:9 units.
Things to think about !!
Cheers, Dennis!
Yes, see this pic to see the depth of the lip
If you opt for the Janus Design E39 double din kit for around 170 Euros, plus postage from Germany, and then you get the airbox modified as mentioned, it will then sit flush. Here's the link
http://www.janus-design.net/english/e39doubledin/i...
This is currently the cleanest looking solution for installing Double DIN aftermarket head units into an E39. I'd estimate the Janus Design kit is around £175 landed here in the UK (not sure if theres any import tax from Germany - if so, it'll be a little more) to have the airbox modified from a reputable car audio installer would be 4 hours of labour (Dash top needs to come off, bits of the front dashboard to gain access, then careful cutting of the airbox and then correct re-sealing) and re-assembly, so likely to be at least £200-250.
You can then choose any Double DIN unit to fit, the Alpine 407BT comes in at around a discounted £530-560 ish online. So for around £925 minimum(ish) you'd have the setup fitted (you'd need a power harness BMW>Alpine & a Aerial socket converter and I'm assuming the fitting of the unit would be included in the cost of the airbox mod, if not, perhaps add another £30 or so on top)
Alternatives are the Dynavin chinese branded/made E39 all in one replacement which comes in at £750 fitted, or the Hualingan chinese branded/made all in one replacement at around £480-500 non fitted. If the Chinese made units aren't for you, you can then either go for the Single DIN units with a flip out screen, single DIN no flip out, or just stick with OEM and perhaps do the £1500 or so retrofit of the OEM 16:9 units.
Things to think about !!
Cheers, Dennis!
Edited by DennisCooper on Thursday 9th December 13:00
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