Any recommendations for single din head units?

S

Sky-drive

Member
After 4 years ownership of my E85 Ive decided to take the plunge and ditch the standard BMW head unit and look for something more up to date that provides a far better sound.

I would like to bluetooth music from my Iphone to the new stereo. Not sure if I should just go for a straight forward non fancy stereo that doesnt cost the earth. I have seen single DIN systems with a motorised fold out screen that provides Apple Car Play and displays Waze satnav, Spotify and messages etc - seem expensive but has anyone got one of these that they can recommend?

Looked at some of the Chinese stuff that's available however prefer to stick to a known brand: Sony, Pioneer, Kenwood etc.

Also realise I need to buy a black facia adaptor, conversion plug kit and an aerial kit so any links to these would be good too.

No experience of fitting this stuff so any help/advice much appreciated (Im off on holiday next week in the Zed so be great to have a new stereo by then).
 
I had a pioneer fold out screened headunit in a car about 20 years ago, it was light years ahead of the sat nav in the z4 of the same era. I'd not hesitate to have another pioneer unit, although I expect all the big brands would be similar.
 
I have one of these in my 3 series. Great functionality and gives all the functions I need. Phone hooks up automatically etc when I switch the car on.

https://www.halfords.com/technology/car-audio/car-stereos/kenwood-kmm-bt506dab-dab-car-stereo-397942.html

Got Halfords to fit and paid a bit extra to keep all my steering wheel controls. They also have some nice Alpine units.
 
I bought this
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07PPV37FR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And used these
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0714FGW2M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004S6QH5E/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07CZFFYFN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00JEWH9PY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Transformed the cockpit experience and can be reverted back to the normal business stereo easily enough.
Slight issue, didn't realise that the 10 speaker amp was tuned in such a way that the new stereo fried a tweeter. :oops:

I disconnected them and plan on soldering in some caps. So if you have a factory uprated hifi setup. you need to do some research. Or look into replacing the BMW amp and speaker setup.
 
Sky-drive said:
After 4 years ownership of my E85 Ive decided to take the plunge and ditch the standard BMW head unit and look for something more up to date that provides a far better sound.

I would like to bluetooth music from my Iphone to the new stereo. Not sure if I should just go for a straight forward non fancy stereo that doesnt cost the earth. I have seen single DIN systems with a motorised fold out screen that provides Apple Car Play and displays Waze satnav, Spotify and messages etc - seem expensive but has anyone got one of these that they can recommend?

Looked at some of the Chinese stuff that's available however prefer to stick to a known brand: Sony, Pioneer, Kenwood etc.

Also realise I need to buy a black facia adaptor, conversion plug kit and an aerial kit so any links to these would be good too.

No experience of fitting this stuff so any help/advice much appreciated (Im off on holiday next week in the Zed so be great to have a new stereo by then).
Click to expand...
Where did you get to with this?
It's Friday, so I guess you'll be going on holiday with the original stereo?
Or....?
 
Z4C_er said:
Sky-drive said:
After 4 years ownership of my E85 Ive decided to take the plunge and ditch the standard BMW head unit and look for something more up to date that provides a far better sound.

I would like to bluetooth music from my Iphone to the new stereo. Not sure if I should just go for a straight forward non fancy stereo that doesnt cost the earth. I have seen single DIN systems with a motorised fold out screen that provides Apple Car Play and displays Waze satnav, Spotify and messages etc - seem expensive but has anyone got one of these that they can recommend?

Looked at some of the Chinese stuff that's available however prefer to stick to a known brand: Sony, Pioneer, Kenwood etc.

Also realise I need to buy a black facia adaptor, conversion plug kit and an aerial kit so any links to these would be good too.

No experience of fitting this stuff so any help/advice much appreciated (Im off on holiday next week in the Zed so be great to have a new stereo by then).
Click to expand...
Where did you get to with this?
It's Friday, so I guess you'll be going on holiday with the original stereo?
Or....?
Click to expand...

Havent set off just yet but theres still time to sort I guess! Having had the Vanos refurbished and a set of new Goodyears fitted all round this week plus some other odd jobs sorted the piggy bank is looking a little empty!
 
I installed the pioneer mvh-s520DAB.
Doesnt have a cd but I listen to mainly USB so that didn't bother me.
Bluetooth works well and calls with the roof down isn't that bad.
There is a phone app that goes with the HU that isn't too bad.

Sound is way better than OEM and that outweighed the look of the unit.

Also allows the illumination colour to be changed to tie in with the BMW interior.
6039CE9B-E744-4238-A752-CA89E99CC3D2.jpeg
 
steve_naive said:
I bought this
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07PPV37FR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And used these
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0714FGW2M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004S6QH5E/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07CZFFYFN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00JEWH9PY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Transformed the cockpit experience and can be reverted back to the normal business stereo easily enough.
Slight issue, didn't realise that the 10 speaker amp was tuned in such a way that the new stereo fried a tweeter. :oops:

I disconnected them and plan on soldering in some caps. So if you have a factory uprated hifi setup. you need to do some research. Or look into replacing the BMW amp and speaker setup.
Click to expand...

looks a great setup :thumbsup: ... is it wireless Apple carplay or do you have to plug in your iphone?
 
Sky-drive said:
steve_naive said:
I bought this
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07PPV37FR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And used these
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0714FGW2M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004S6QH5E/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07CZFFYFN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00JEWH9PY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Transformed the cockpit experience and can be reverted back to the normal business stereo easily enough.
Slight issue, didn't realise that the 10 speaker amp was tuned in such a way that the new stereo fried a tweeter. :oops:

I disconnected them and plan on soldering in some caps. So if you have a factory uprated hifi setup. you need to do some research. Or look into replacing the BMW amp and speaker setup.
Click to expand...

looks a great setup :thumbsup: ... is it wireless Apple carplay or do you have to plug in your iphone?
Click to expand...

You have to plug your phone in as far as I know. I'm mostly happy to do that so my phone stays charged. It comes with a mic for hands free calls. Also has cables for multi function steering wheel and a reverse camera.

Expensive but very useful unit.
 
Z4C_er said:
dhobbs said:
mvh-s520DAB
Click to expand...
Nice unit! The areas that are circled; is there a foul with the bracket?
Click to expand...
Sorry for the late reply. Yes those areas circles are where the brackets fouled the air vents. I had the shave the down a bit to allow the air vents to sit back flush.
 
Sky-drive said:
dhobbs said:
pioneer mvh-s520DAB.
Click to expand...

does the digital display change to red or is it just the control buttons that change colour?
Click to expand...

You can change the display and button colours independently of each other. Can't remember what colours, I need to check with the unit.
 
Been following this as I’ve been thinking of something similar as ELO and the like are do muffled. I was going to keep the head but change the speakers but any advise on that it just changing the head unit would be appreciated.

Just for your
Interest though I found this.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/313199105132
 
I started by changing the speakers, then added a dension unit for USB music but the head unit is the limiting factor.
Changed that and am now happy with the output :D
 
Definitely going to have to go down swapping the head unit with an aftermarket option at some point. thanks for the suggestions.
 
Hi

I have a Z4 3.0 Auto. I'm taking the plunge and looking to change the stereo. the only thing is. It seems a fairly easy job, I'm sure it's not.

Is it at ease as take the old unit out and plug in the new one, use a new faceplate, the job is done? is this easy enough to do with one hand :thumbsup:
 
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