Avin Avant 4 Installation Guide (Video Link)

[crystalworks]

So I had the opportunity to install one of these into my old X5 and made a video guide. It's still unlisted but wanted to get some input on it before making it public. Let me know what you think. Do I need to add something? Did I forget something? Get something wrong? Etc.

It's a little lengthy but the install of one of these in a factory navigation truck is a bit lengthy so I suppose it's fitting. I am not a videographer so was just trying to get the information across in a way that was understandable. It's not a pretty video at all. Also, let me know if you'd like a PDF guide/thread like my Avin Avant 2 install thread. I would be able to do it fairly easily as most of the pictures and descriptions could be recycled with a few caveats.

Avant 4 E53 Install Guide

[Crowz]

Video came out fine.

How's the radio actually working so far?

[Overboost]

Excellent wire maintenance and great attention to detail. I'm really glad I don't have the factory nav, all that interior removal looks like a pain...

Make sure to post your impressions on the A4, still on the fence...

[Mouse]

Originally Posted by Crowz

How's the radio actually working so far?

So the radio was put in my (now) X5. I've only started to get acquainted with it, but so far, living up to the hype. I'm still figuring out accessibility items as well as little quirks, but speed is definitely noticeable. Little things like steering wheel controls are now instantaneous, where-as before, there would be about a half second delay. Didn't bother me before, but now I could never go back. Specs state that DVR/Dash cam memory is limited only by the amount of space available on media storage, but so far, I can only get it to read 32gb and smaller SD cards. I didn't get the TPMS system with it but am in the process of seeing if I can retro that as the software/app is already included.

When I get more familiar with it, I'll leave some more info or put up a demo video on youtube.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by Crowz

Video came out fine.

How's the radio actually working so far?

Good deal, looking at other X5 head unit install videos I thought it was more than sufficient, but it never hurts to get input. Went ahead and made it public.

Did not have much time to play with it as I shot up to Houston for a couple of days to do the install. It was certainly snappy and seemed like a huge upgrade over the Avant 2 from my limited exposure to it. I liked the previous UI more (I don't like tile UI's in vehicles) but all of that is customizable with these Android units so that's a small gripe. I'm sure Mouse will follow up after having more time to get familiar with the unit.

Originally Posted by Overboost

Excellent wire maintenance and great attention to detail. I'm really glad I don't have the factory nav, all that interior removal looks like a pain...

Make sure to post your impressions on the A4, still on the fence...

Thanks OB. Means a lot coming from someone in your profession. As above, I'm sure Mouse will update when he has time to get familiar with the unit. Initial impressions were positive vs. the Avant 2 in terms of sheer performance capabilities. Time will tell.

[Overboost]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

Thanks OB. Means a lot coming from someone in your profession. As above, I'm sure Mouse will update when he has time to get familiar with the unit. Initial impressions were positive vs. the Avant 2 in terms of sheer performance capabilities. Time will tell.

Question on the unknown pigtail that said backup cam 12V. Is it possible that is a 12V source that is comes from and is triggered by a reverse signal from the CAN Bus adapter?

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by Overboost

Question on the unknown pigtail that said backup cam 12V. Is it possible that is a 12V source that is comes from and is triggered by a reverse signal from the CAN Bus adapter?

Possible. I did not stick a meter on it to see if it switches from 0v to 12v when in reverse. If that's the case I would imagine you could just loop that wire to the pink "Reverse Trigger" wire and there would be no need to run a relay setup off the tail lights. Or maybe that would be redundant as the canbus signal would trigger the head unit to switch video input by itself with no need for the reverse trigger wire? I still like being able to use the PDC button to trigger the camera but I'm sure there is a manual way to do that on the head unit as well.

[Overboost]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

Possible. I did not stick a meter on it to see if it switches from 0v to 12v when in reverse. If that's the case I would imagine you could just loop that wire to the pink "Reverse Trigger" wire and there would be no need to run a relay setup off the tail lights. Or maybe that would be redundant as the canbus signal would trigger the head unit to switch video input by itself with no need for the reverse trigger wire? I still like being able to use the PDC button to trigger the camera but I'm sure there is a manual way to do that on the head unit as well.

I know some of the other systems (Seicane) didn't need anything, the trigger to jump to the reverse camera screen just switched itself as Crowz found out on his installs. The CAN Bus adapter is the only thing that could know of a reverse event so it has to know reverse? Crowz may chime in but that's how I understood it. Even if Avin did not trigger off the CAN message, at least looping it to the trigger wire would be much easier.

Maybe Mouse could check if he gets bored...

[Mouse]

Haha....I wish I had the time to get bored.

[Crowz]

Originally Posted by Overboost

I know some of the other systems (Seicane) didn't need anything, the trigger to jump to the reverse camera screen just switched itself as Crowz found out on his installs. The CAN Bus adapter is the only thing that could know of a reverse event so it has to know reverse? Crowz may chime in but that's how I understood it. Even if Avin did not trigger off the CAN message, at least looping it to the trigger wire would be much easier.

Maybe Mouse could check if he gets bored...

My Seicane just reads the can bus and does reverse switching automatically. No wires needed for it.