Avin Avant 4 Installation Guide (Video Link)

[X5chemist]

Ouch, looks just as hard to replace the oil pan gasket!
Mine does not have DSP. I'm still on the fritz about trying to install an aftermarket unit. Why can't stuff be plug and play? This weekend or next, the CD player/Bluetooth harness will be installed. If it works, it will buy me time before doing a major radio upgrade.

[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?

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by 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?

You need the extension cables. You have the factory nav so the factory radio is located in the rear. If you want to use a nav app on the head unit it needs gps signal, it can't take it from the phone. Best way to go with nav is to use your phone as a hot spot and connect wifi. Blue tooth won't get it done. You also need wifi for IBUS app updates.

I like to charge my iphone too, so I installed a usb port inside the center console/arm rest. I tapped always on power going to the rear cigarette lighter. I plug a usb lightening cable in there and the cable comes out between the cover and the interior of the arm rest. Works great.

[Kam850]

So im mid install on my E53.

I need advice on the NAV. I plugged in my externsion cable to the cable that I unplugged from the CD NAV DRIVE. Not sure if I should unplug the 2 other connectors that go to the unit (incase of stored codes or something).

I also noticed that they gave me a black box with a coaxial connection which again...im assuming is a gps antenna. So im not sure how to go about this... run my externsion wire for GPS and dont bother with the little black box they gave...or leave everything plugged in on the GPS side (OEM NAV) and just plug in the black box they gave me to the avin head unit.

I didnt order any extra nav or anything...and i feel like I should go one way or the other. What do you all think?

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by Kam850

So im mid install on my E53.

I need advice on the NAV. I plugged in my externsion cable to the cable that I unplugged from the CD NAV DRIVE. Not sure if I should unplug the 2 other connectors that go to the unit (incase of stored codes or something).

I also noticed that they gave me a black box with a coaxial connection which again...im assuming is a gps antenna. So im not sure how to go about this... run my externsion wire for GPS and dont bother with the little black box they gave...or leave everything plugged in on the GPS side (OEM NAV) and just plug in the black box they gave me to the avin head unit.

I didnt order any extra nav or anything...and i feel like I should go one way or the other. What do you all think?

It connects to the radio/nav wire that is under the battery box. The radio is there too. Run the GPS wire and connect it to the existing antenna. Cleaner IMHO. The Nav doesn't store any codes.

[Kam850]

Originally Posted by Fifty150hs

It connects to the radio/nav wire that is under the battery box. The radio is there too. Run the GPS wire and connect it to the existing antenna. Cleaner IMHO. The Nav doesn't store any codes.

I got a 2006 E53 with Factory NAV, non DSP. (11/05 production date)

I only have the Radio/Tuner Module (BM53) in that battery box/carriage there along with some smaller modules without any coaxial/antenna plugs. I got more modules on the left hand side, behind the side panel (where the CD NAV System is located). The BM53 module only has one "antenna" connection (whatever it is for).

The radio/tuner module is where the BMW OEM Quadlock is originally connected to along with a 2nd connection with what I believe is the antenna for the radio.

So im a bit confused by your answer.

Are you saying that the one coaxial connection that originally is at the radio/tuner module does both? Radio and GPS?

OR

Are you saying that I'm supposed to look for another module/connection near the battery carriage/box?

Right now nothing is connected to my Radio/Tuner module in the back. Just have my AVIN (Radio Antenna Extension and Quadlock) plugged into the BMW wiring harness and ran to the front.

I read a bunch of posts and I believe some are confusing me as maybe there was differences between X5 E53 years with similar options etc.

I guess to clear things up, I just need to know where the RADIO antenna extension cable connects to the E53 and where the GPS extension cable connects to in the E53.

I had to call it quits today, it got dark. I hope once I figure out where the extension connects to (along with the radio extension cable if I got that wrong) then assembly should be pretty easy and I ran the back up camera wires to the front already too, but Ill finish that up at a later date. I hope I get this done tomorrow. If not I guess im driving my 850 to work until I get this done.


EDIT: This is my first rodeo with a E chassis BMW and doing any sort of radio upgrade.

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by Kam850

I got a 2006 E53 with Factory NAV, non DSP. (11/05 production date)

I only have the Radio/Tuner Module (BM53) in that battery box/carriage there along with some smaller modules without any coaxial/antenna plugs. I got more modules on the left hand side, behind the side panel (where the CD NAV System is located). The BM53 module only has one "antenna" connection (whatever it is for).

The radio/tuner module is where the BMW OEM Quadlock is originally connected to along with a 2nd connection with what I believe is the antenna for the radio.

So im a bit confused by your answer.

Are you saying that the one coaxial connection that originally is at the radio/tuner module does both? Radio and GPS?

OR

Are you saying that I'm supposed to look for another module/connection near the battery carriage/box?

Right now nothing is connected to my Radio/Tuner module in the back. Just have my AVIN (Radio Antenna Extension and Quadlock) plugged into the BMW wiring harness and ran to the front.

I read a bunch of posts and I believe some are confusing me as maybe there was differences between X5 E53 years with similar options etc.

I guess to clear things up, I just need to know where the RADIO antenna extension cable connects to the E53 and where the GPS extension cable connects to in the E53.

I had to call it quits today, it got dark. I hope once I figure out where the extension connects to (along with the radio extension cable if I got that wrong) then assembly should be pretty easy and I ran the back up camera wires to the front already too, but Ill finish that up at a later date. I hope I get this done tomorrow. If not I guess im driving my 850 to work until I get this done.


EDIT: This is my first rodeo with a E chassis BMW and doing any sort of radio upgrade.

If I recall correctly, the radio antenna wire is in the quad lock that the big extension cable plugs into. The coax wire goes back to connect to the nav antenna. You can disconnect everything to the nav in the back and remove it. The module you're seeing below it is probably the telematic unit, which is the bluetooth module. You won't need that anymore either. Unplug it at a minimum. It has been known to cause parasitic drain on the battery. Since you don't need it anymore unplugging it prevents that as a possibility.