Vote yes or no for this DIN unit in the Zed

[domsz4]

im erring on yes

do you have a pic in a car (any)

for me if i was considering this my thoughts would be centered around what the screen covers over when its popped up.
the reason i think the OEM screen works in the z (and many cars) is they are situated where when they pop up they do not look out of place or obscure something else. hence the z is on the top of the dash. also they do not stick up too much.

so considering that i wouldn't care too much what it looks like off and folded away as you wont be in the car and wont see it if your like me and always have the radio on when your driving. if it covers heating vents then consider heat issues. frankly cutting the middle vents off the z is stupid and looks a bit odd. will it also cover other stuff like control buttons? does the screen your replacing also give other info. i.e nav/temp/obd stuff?

if the answer to these is no or it will replace other functions or you dont mind etc then go for it. just consider tho that whilst it isnt cutting up your dash it is non standard and not designed to fit in with the surrounding bits and your car is all about looking good and style. it may just look out of place and a bit 1990's need for speed.

like i said erring on yes as i would need to see it with a bit of context. certainly better than the double din stuff IMO

 

[z4lincs]

Think the unit looks great, looked at one myself..but its the awful plastic surrounds that you need to fill the excess space that look awful.. :thumbsdown:

 

[domsz4]

You can use with the flip screen not out and when the screen is out it would cover vents but then i have them shut off and just use heated seats, the unit is quick plain and full of buttons and different coloured lights plus what lights it does have can be set on BMW orange to match the dials etc.
I still want to use my 6 CD changer which im not sure i can or not!?

dunno on that, but i guess you'll get an audio place to fit it so they will know.

what about integrating the steering wheel buttons and phone stuff?

 

[PerryGunn]

Think the unit looks great, looked at one myself..but its the awful plastic surrounds that you need to fill the excess space that look awful.. :thumbsdown:

I agree with this

I wonder if it would be possible, on non-nav cars, to mount something like this by obtaining and gutting an old nav screen housing and using it as a motorised flip-up cover, then installing the DIN unit into the upper dash area at a downward angle inside/under the nav housing?

 

[Terryvision]

said "No" not because of the head unit which is nice.... But only due to the horrible surrounds you can buy that look awful! :thumbsdown:

 

[NeilP]

You can use with the flip screen not out and when the screen is out it would cover vents but then i have them shut off and just use heated seats, the unit is quick plain and full of buttons and different coloured lights plus what lights it does have can be set on BMW orange to match the dials etc.
I still want to use my 6 CD changer which im not sure i can or not!?

You've been given the answer to this already. Your changer becomes useless.

Personally I'm saying no as flip outs ruin the z4's dash line.

If you're set on it however, go to an audio specialist and get them to fabricate you a panel to house an iPad mini or other tablet in there.

You can then remove the cd changer and run a single din unit there and can even retain your steering wheel controls (if present)

 

[Terryvision]

Nice iPad panel mod here, but does stick out too much for my liking!
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=40021&start=90

 

[Adamski]

I would go MP3 and avoid CD changer all together.

Not keen on aftermarket stereos on the zed, but that one looks ok. You might want to upgrade speakers too, as the new head unit will over power existing speakers


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[NeilP]

I would go MP3 and avoid CD changer all together.

Not keen on aftermarket stereos on the zed, but that one looks ok. You might want to upgrade speakers too, as the new head unit will over power existing speakers


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Overpowering speakers is better for a variety of reasons such as reducing the strain on the amp resulting in better quality audio and the fact that the tweeters will use capacitors which are incredibly wasteful of power too.

Sure the amp in question is incredibly small in the grand scheme of things but the theory remains the same.

Though it does make sense to do a full overhaul of the audio system, even if it's a basic 4 channel amp, a pair of speakers in the front and a sub.

 

[srhutch]

Think the unit looks great, looked at one myself..but its the awful plastic surrounds that you need to fill the excess space that look awful.. :thumbsdown:

I agree with this

I wonder if it would be possible, on non-nav cars, to mount something like this by obtaining and gutting an old nav screen housing and using it as a motorised flip-up cover, then installing the DIN unit into the upper dash area at a downward angle inside/under the nav housing?

Has been done already , well the gutting and using something else.

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=55888

 

[PerryGunn]

Think the unit looks great, looked at one myself..but its the awful plastic surrounds that you need to fill the excess space that look awful.. :thumbsdown:

I agree with this

I wonder if it would be possible, on non-nav cars, to mount something like this by obtaining and gutting an old nav screen housing and using it as a motorised flip-up cover, then installing the DIN unit into the upper dash area at a downward angle inside/under the nav housing?

Has been done already , well the gutting and using something else.

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=55888

I'd seen that thread but that's a flat panel, I was wondering if there's enough room to angle at, say, 30 degrees, a DIN-sized unit into the top of the dash with the flap of the nav unit used to cover the new headunit - a bit like the dash-top extended storage option in the previous-gen 1 series.