Avin Avant 4 Installation Guide (Video Link)

[Kam850]

Originally Posted by Fifty150hs

I have the Avin Avant 4. Been very happy with it. I put the back up camera in later. Recommend putting it in the same time you put in the head unit since you have nav you'll be routing the wires the same place. Save you a PITA twice, only once.

Thanks for the heads up. Any recommendations on the cameras? Im all for a "stealthy" install. I saw prices for some of the rear cameras from Avin and so on and I dont want to be adding another $100 to the $700 or so bill just for the radio. I feel like you can get the same camera somewhere else for cheaper.

How is apple car play (if you use it)? Im used to the whole wired experience when it comes to apple car play. But I hear you cant charge and use apple car play at the same time. Is that true?

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by Kam850

Thanks for the heads up. Any recommendations on the cameras? Im all for a "stealthy" install. I saw prices for some of the rear cameras from Avin and so on and I dont want to be adding another $100 to the $700 or so bill just for the radio. I feel like you can get the same camera somewhere else for cheaper.

How is apple car play (if you use it)? Im used to the whole wired experience when it comes to apple car play. But I hear you cant charge and use apple car play at the same time. Is that true?

I got a generic camera from Amazon. It was cheaper than what Avin sells. I'm guessing it probably works the same. I looked for a stealth camera and couldn't find one for the E53. The ones they sell that supposedly replace the trunk lid handle, don't. At least on my 2006. I didn't like the license plate frame variety because there's no adjustment that I could see. If you set it up to be powered off the back up light you'll need a relay if you don't want the picture to flicker a little. The power coming through the back up light circuit is square wave and not constant power.

I have Apple car play, but didn't use it long. I didn't like it because it kept taking over. I like to have the IBUS app up unless I'm using Waze and the carplay kept taking over and putting up what was on my phone. It could be I wasn't using it right? You should be able to use carplay and charge at the same time as the unit has 3 USB inputs. One is short and close to the head unit and it is for the IBUS dongle. The other two have 3' of cable and I ran those into my glove box. Plug carplay into one usb port and you still have one more to charge with.

[Aleman]

Originally Posted by Kam850

Thanks for the heads up. Any recommendations on the cameras? Im all for a "stealthy" install. I saw prices for some of the rear cameras from Avin and so on and I dont want to be adding another $100 to the $700 or so bill just for the radio. I feel like you can get the same camera somewhere else for cheaper.

How is apple car play (if you use it)? Im used to the whole wired experience when it comes to apple car play. But I hear you cant charge and use apple car play at the same time. Is that true?

I have the Avant 4 in my E53, and I only use Android Auto for long road trips. You have to plug in your phone, and the interface is a little clunky. It very weakly charges the phone, and taking calls doesn't work unless you connect to the unit with Bluetooth as well. That said, Google Maps and streaming music service controls work great when connected w/ Android Auto. Same goes for my wife's iPhone on Apple Car Play.

Here's a link to the camera I installed. It looks factory, and it's 'stealthy' enough for me. I agree with others' comments about installing the cam at the same time as the Avant 4, since you'll need to blow apart the interior for both in order to run the wires to the rear of the X5.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07H852D49/

[Kam850]

Alright, so my OEM Nav had a "Freak out" today. Started to open and close mid-drive, turn on and off, screen flashing, it did all sorts of stuff. So uh... now im trying to expedite the process to get a new radio lol.

This is what I have picked so far:

Avin Avant 4 Unit with:

-PX6 (4 GB Ram)
-No DSP Chipset (I have a non-DSP Nav, dont plan on doing a upgrade)
-Extension cables
-Back up Camera (from Amazon)

The last 2 things im stuck on.

1.) iBus App
-Is this only really needed if you want to retain your OBC information on the screen like Consumption 1, 2, Average Speed and so on?
-I did a quick look on the iBus App website, basic OBC license plus USB module + shipping came out to be $83.00-ish. Thats like $40.00 cheaper vs Avin. I wouldn't mind waiting and saving myself $40.00.
-Do all the Avant 4 units come with the stuff to hook up iBus even after the fact? Or am I going to get screwed here by not getting the iBus through Avin?

-Apple CarPlay = I kept reading the forums and pretty much I hear a mix. I hear if you go with "wired car play"...the charging is terrible. It charges your phone slower then the drain rate. Going wireless has its own set of things like you need to click multiple prompts to connect.

I had a Alpine radio in my previous car that I installed, and all I had to do is plug my phone into the USB cable that was ran from the back of the unit to the front and boom, got Apple Car Play and my phone is charging fairly fast. I rather use a cable connection for a stable connection (and better quality) vs wireless. I have my Bluetooth on all the time along with my cell data so that part does not bother me. I never attempted to turn each one off to see how apple car play works in other cars/radios. So long story short, I have no idea how apple carplay REALLY works in modern cars.

I just want a easy connection where I don't have to click a bunch of prompts to connect.

I talked to "Customer Support" on the Avin website and they have their WIRED carplay dongle (white) in stock... even tho its says its out of stock... its $69.99. I feel like thats a bit steep. The wireless one is $99.99. Im trying to find something on amazon. Anyone got any recommendations? Im open to both at this point.

Thanks in advance, I hope to have everything ordered by Friday. Really excited that I might be able to to get away with spending under $700 for the entire setup. The Alpine Setup I had was about $450-$500... and it really paid it self off quick IMO. I had a 30-45 min commute one way at my previous job... so the 1 hr - 1.5 hr I sent in the car each day listening to my favorite tunes was enjoyable. The speakers were on their way out though, never got to upgrading the speakers lol.

[Kam850]

Originally Posted by Aleman

I have the Avant 4 in my E53, and I only use Android Auto for long road trips. You have to plug in your phone, and the interface is a little clunky. It very weakly charges the phone, and taking calls doesn't work unless you connect to the unit with Bluetooth as well. That said, Google Maps and streaming music service controls work great when connected w/ Android Auto. Same goes for my wife's iPhone on Apple Car Play.

Here's a link to the camera I installed. It looks factory, and it's 'stealthy' enough for me. I agree with others' comments about installing the cam at the same time as the Avant 4, since you'll need to blow apart the interior for both in order to run the wires to the rear of the X5.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07H852D49/

How did you hook up the camera?

I got the same one. I ran the wires to the front, so I believe I just need to plug the yellow connector from the camera harness to the headunit and connect the red cable from the camera harness to one of the wires on the harness thats on the headunit (i believe its CAM B+? or something like that? or trigger?)

Not sure what to do with the long red and red/black wires on the camera harness. I dont know much about electronics/wiring. I dont have the wire colors for the E53 either (if someone has that please share). Not sure how I should hook up the camera in terms of activation. Do I tap into the reverse lights? (but which wires) or do I do something else?

[nick325xit 5spd]

Just put a small bullet camera by the hitch. No one will ever see it down there.

[Fifty150hs]

My Nav did that freak out many years ago. Do you perhaps have something stowed in the side compartment where the nav unit sits? I had thrown a quart of oil in there and I think it pushed up against something because when I removed it I never had the freak out problem again. Of course, years later I replaced the head unit with an Avin Avant 4. Glad I did. Best upgrade I've made.

"1.) iBus App
-Is this only really needed if you want to retain your OBC information on the screen like Consumption 1, 2, Average Speed and so on?"

Yes, that's what it's for. I wouldn't not get it as it gives you more info available than the obc in the stock nav gives you. You can get the Deep OBD app and it can give you even more. In my opinion with the joke of a temp gauges we have the cost of the IBUS app and dongle alone is worth getting the IBUS for the accurate temp read out.

-I did a quick look on the iBus App website, basic OBC license plus USB module + shipping came out to be $83.00-ish. Thats like $40.00 cheaper vs Avin. I wouldn't mind waiting and saving myself $40.00.
-Do all the Avant 4 units come with the stuff to hook up iBus even after the fact? Or am I going to get screwed here by not getting the iBus through Avin?"

I got mine through Avin as I didn't want any finger pointing if sometihng went wrong.

"-Apple CarPlay = I kept reading the forums and pretty much I hear a mix. I hear if you go with "wired car play"...the charging is terrible. It charges your phone slower then the drain rate. Going wireless has its own set of things like you need to click multiple prompts to connect."

Bought it and used it briefly. It takes control of the unit and I didn't like it.

[Kam850]

Originally Posted by Fifty150hs

My Nav did that freak out many years ago. Do you perhaps have something stowed in the side compartment where the nav unit sits? I had thrown a quart of oil in there and I think it pushed up against something because when I removed it I never had the freak out problem again. Of course, years later I replaced the head unit with an Avin Avant 4. Glad I did. Best upgrade I've made.

"1.) iBus App
-Is this only really needed if you want to retain your OBC information on the screen like Consumption 1, 2, Average Speed and so on?"

Yes, that's what it's for. I wouldn't not get it as it gives you more info available than the obc in the stock nav gives you. You can get the Deep OBD app and it can give you even more. In my opinion with the joke of a temp gauges we have the cost of the IBUS app and dongle alone is worth getting the IBUS for the accurate temp read out.

-I did a quick look on the iBus App website, basic OBC license plus USB module + shipping came out to be $83.00-ish. Thats like $40.00 cheaper vs Avin. I wouldn't mind waiting and saving myself $40.00.
-Do all the Avant 4 units come with the stuff to hook up iBus even after the fact? Or am I going to get screwed here by not getting the iBus through Avin?"

I got mine through Avin as I didn't want any finger pointing if sometihng went wrong.

"-Apple CarPlay = I kept reading the forums and pretty much I hear a mix. I hear if you go with "wired car play"...the charging is terrible. It charges your phone slower then the drain rate. Going wireless has its own set of things like you need to click multiple prompts to connect."

Bought it and used it briefly. It takes control of the unit and I didn't like it.

For the iBus app... might as well. I guess I just got to figure out if anything extra is needed if I buy the iBus app and adapter from the iBus company. Worried that the Avin might not come with the special ibus plug or whatever. I get that Avin is offering DSP option, but I dont need it so why pay the extra? I have a feeling that it should just have normal OBC function included for at least $20 less.

I guess I can purchase a apple car play module later. Not sure what people mean by "taking over the unit". I head a few people mention that. If you use apple car play, thats what it does, Apple Car Play takes over the unit. Unless what people mean that its hard to quit/disconnect or use anything else because Car Play butts in.

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by Kam850

For the iBus app... might as well. I guess I just got to figure out if anything extra is needed if I buy the iBus app and adapter from the iBus company. Worried that the Avin might not come with the special ibus plug or whatever. I get that Avin is offering DSP option, but I dont need it so why pay the extra? I have a feeling that it should just have normal OBC function included for at least $20 less.

I guess I can purchase a apple car play module later. Not sure what people mean by "taking over the unit". I head a few people mention that. If you use apple car play, thats what it does, Apple Car Play takes over the unit. Unless what people mean that its hard to quit/disconnect or use anything else because Car Play butts in.

The DSP option that Avin offers is a on board chip set. If you have DSP with your existing system you must get the IBUS app. It doesn't sound like you do though, so the only thing you need the IBUS for is OBD functionality. The on board DSP by Avin is just personal preference. I think a couple people on this board have that option and love it. I didn't get it.

If, like me, you like to have the OBD displayed, the Carplay takes over and you can't see it without pushing buttons. That was annoying and it really doesn't offer anything besides email functionality which I don't use in the car. You connect the phone with blue tooth and your phone book is available as is the phone. If you like using the phone hands free in the car, I'd get a microphone as the one that comes with the unit is garbage. I connect the wifi to my phones hot spot and the apps, like waze, work. You can even program the unit to open waze when you push the nav button. Only app I haven't been able to get to work is iHeart.

[Kam850]

I read up on how apple carplay works... seems like the newer units/cars pretty much have a USB port/ability to just charge your iPhone and display data from phone to your screen all in one go. Other than that apple car play pretty works the same as hot spotting your mobile data to an AVIN unit and just using the apps from the Avin unit vs your iPhone.

Correct me if I understood this wrong.

If that's the case I think ill just order the unit and if anything...ill add a carplay module later. Most likely wireless. I really do want to have the ability to charge my phone while in the car. Having a modern iphone... you're kind of SOL since you only have one port on the phone. As long as the Bluetooth way, doesn't degrade the quality of music/sound too much, ill be fine. I know in the past when cars started to have the ability to play music through Bluetooth in factory units, I just had to crank the volume on the radio a little higher than normal because the volume seemed quieter.

Anyway, Im ready to purchase the unit, Ill probably just buy iBus though AVIN. Its only really a 35 dollar difference. Not sure if I need the OPTIONAL GPS EXTENSION cable.... if I go off my phone (data or carplay) I think I should be fine... right?