Replace x5 head unit with alpine media station or keep head unit and add flip up lcd?

[tom-tom]

Hi,

I have decided that i want to replace the head unit in my 2004 x5 with an alpine mobile media station http://www.alpine.com.au/products/pr...sp?modelID=369

I am slightly hesitant to remove it though because i have the factory bluetooth system installed which works great.

I thought maybe i could remove the business cd unit from behind the flip up door, and install an alpine unit similar to the one above but with a slide out lcd that could be concealed when not in use, keeping the original look.

I saw this photo which is very over the top but seems to be slightly on the right track.

http://www.caraudiomag.com/v_feature.../photo_03.html

My idea would then be to have everything connected to the alpine unit, but then have some sort of audio detection circuit that flicked the amps over to the original head unit if i decided to use that or if the phone rang.


My questions really are:

Has any one attempted anything similar?

Can i have the steering wheel controls connected to the alpine without disconnecting them from the stock unit to still be able to use phone answer keys?

Is this just crazy and should i get over my fears and just tear out the whole factory system.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Cheers