Upgrading the head unit?

[ZedFourM]

I currently have the most basic Professional Radio/Single CD in my dash with the basic 6-speaker set-up. Also have the MFSW and CD changer preparation (but no CD changer). I do not have sat nav.

I would like to add a way of playing MP3s (either from a hard drive or - if I have to buy an Apple product - an iPod), and also Bluetooth. Ideally these would use the buttons from the MFSW and display ID3 tags.

I've been reading up on the various solutions that are available from Intravee / Dension Gateway / DICE Mediabridge / Parrot MK19200, but I have also wondered about just replacing the head unit with something more sophisticated.

Anybody gone down this route, and if so what were your experiences?

 

[Mr 9mm]

Hi all,

I'm in the same situation looking to do the same kind of upgrade.

Any advice apreciated.

Andy

 

[WestCDA]

Personal opinion: any aftermarket deck looks kludgy, because of the unique curve and shape on the factory deck face that matches the Z4 dashboard trim.

The aftermarket solutions you mentioned will provide what you're asking for - if you go to an aftermarket head unit, there's not only the 'shoved in the dash' look but you also lose the MFSW control - not something I'd want to give up.

 

[tomscott]

Just keep the old one and swap it when you come to change

Most single deck styles will fit. The pioneer sat nav screen head units are supposed to be quite good I believe, a screen that comes out, doesn't look too shabby but not as cool and the tilting OEM sat nav screen

 

[navid.v]

there is an OEM headunit that has MP3 player capabilities for sale in the buy/sell section, have a look.

 

[th30d0r3]

Out off all the items you mention the parrot will be far more superior than the others. I have installed one in my e46 via the AUX in which means it uses the head unit equiliser/internal AMP and therefore not it's own internal amp to power the speakers which makes it sound naff compared to a CD.
You can also buy the module that allows you to use it with the MFSW buttons. The only downside is you need to have that little screen placed somewhere in your dash (I don't like non OEM things visible in my car, but that's just me).

The parrot will also mean you are able to add a CD changer at a later date since you will retain that connection which will be otherwise used up by the others.

 

[Z4 TEX]

See this thread. It shows an after market install with the Z4 coverplate, which doesn't look too bad.

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=18341

 

[RichardG]

See this thread. It shows an after market install with the Z4 coverplate, which doesn't look too bad.

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=18341

That would be mine, it's an Alpine iDA X-305 fitted alongside an Alpine KCE 400BT unit, I also fitted some 6x9 speakers in the cubbys and an old Alpine amp in the boot. I have also fitted another to connect the HU to the MFSW but can't control the BT unit from the MFSW but I can control the iPod that is stashed in the glovebox.
Tiny bit more of what I did here

 

[goon]

See this thread. It shows an after market install with the Z4 coverplate, which doesn't look too bad.

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=18341

That would be mine, it's an Alpine iDA X-305 fitted alongside an Alpine KCE 400BT unit, I also fitted some 6x9 speakers in the cubbys and an old Alpine amp in the boot. I have also fitted another to connect the HU to the MFSW but can't control the BT unit from the MFSW but I can control the iPod that is stashed in the glovebox.
Tiny bit more of what I did here

That looks so much better than mine what type of adaptor plate is that,I used the autoleads unit looks crap but couldnt find an alternative.

 

[Stuart Truman]

Aren't all M's facelift and as such have the second generation head unit and muti changer that will play mp3 cd's?

Has to be the cheapest option...


Tapatalking...

 

[bat1959]

I fitted an OEM aux connection in the glove box and on top of that I changed my OEM non MP3 CD Radio to a facelift MP3 capable one and sold the old one on ebay.

 

[ZedFourM]

Aren't all M's facelift and as such have the second generation head unit and muti changer that will play mp3 cd's?

Oops. I'm afraid that I never explained myself very well.

The head unit does indeed play MP3 CDs, but I have around 600Gb of MP3s (around 120,000 songs) and in an ideal world I'd like to have all of them with me in the car. Unfortunately none of the head units that I've researched can deal with that size of library (the biggest that I have found is the Kenwood KDC-BT92SD, which can handle 64,000 files) and there seem to be all sorts of performance issues long before you get anywhere near that.

My current thinking is to go for the Audiovox (formerly DICE) MediaBridge and use one of my 160Gb iPods with it.

 

[markeg]

Friend of mine used to have a Phatbox, think they're discontinued now - but the product was pretty good and held huge amounts of data. It was on a hard drive, not solid state, so don't know how it would fare under enthusiastic driving. Does the mediabride support standard drives through the USB interface, or is it just apple products?