Dynavin N6 install -Pics!

[crystalworks]

Well, I can't speak for the Dynavin as to the Sirius/XM built in stuff... but our Avin just got here last week and from what I have read here they have an Android app for those sat services. I'll try it and see how well it works on that unit and post about it in another thread. Install won't be for another few weeks most likely though as I am working on 2 of our other bimmers that needed attention first.

BCredliner... I hear you. When we had Sirius we mostly listened to sports or other talk type of shows. My wife had a few music stations, but the quality always killed it for me.

Originally Posted by thrillcat

I'm also kind of an audiophile, and I can't believe I listen to satellite radio either. But for some reason I do. I've never paid even close to full price for it - it's not worth it. But it's a nice option to have for background music.

I wish they'd compress the talk stations organs the music stations less. Seems like a possible solution?

Either way, I love my Hair Nation.

My wife used to put it on Hair Nation every now and then... I think. We never paid for the service. It came free with our Optima and they just kept giving us free trials after it expired. I never really listened to it, but my wife used it sometimes as you guys mention when you want something easy.

I prefer USB's and full selection of 100% music I know I like in good quality. 320kbs is where I try to have it at since most players don't support flac yet.

[SMOKEY53]

Hey guys,

just got through my install and wanted to put some cliff notes down for those taking this on. I did the install over two separate days. 1 day for the reverse camera. 1 day for everything else. I probably went overboard in my attention to detail, zip tied everything, close to 100% invisible install - but if you were just throwing it in you could get it done in a day.

Tips:

- remove your interior first. Passenger seat, glovebox, trans tunnel trims, rear seat, kick panel, B-pillar trim etc. Removing the glovebox proved crucial for getting access to the rear of the head unit to get all the wires tucked down so the headunit would seat fully. Removing the seat will give you so much more room to move around in the car, and save your lower back from having to sit in the seat and lean forward. Note, you will set off your SRS when disconnecting the seat, so either disconnect your battery first, or plan to clear the code after.

- if you have the Business CD, you MUST remove all the plastic bracket area that they suggest to cut out. It needs to be flush in order for the metal bracket/basket combo to fit in. You won't get the head unit in if it's not 100% square.

- Be careful with running your mic and GPS if you plan to place it in the head liner console. There is only just enough wiring to run the distance. I ran from the overheard console, across passenger side roof lining, down A-piller, under kick panel and along the back of the glovebox. It was tight.

- when placing the mic in the upper console and point at the drive, there are two T10 torx screws underneath the courtesy/map lights that allow you to drop the plastic housing down and poke the mic out the side and point it at the driver. Saves cutting any plastics. I didn't cut/drill/trim any plastic in this install (other than the bracket).


- Put some duct tape down under the lower edge of the headunit, on the textured plastic dash. It will save you putting a bunch of scratches on your dash when you're trying to manoeuvre the head unit into place. Also suggest putting some blue painters tape on the screen itself as some extra protection. The last time I did a head unit install, I put an inch long scratch into my brand new Pioneer screen with a screwdriver accidentally. You can only imagine the rage......

- Don't use the 'license plate light' replacement reverse camera. It doesn't fit, and to make it fit is a compromise. I did do irreversible damage to the bulb holder to get enough clearance to get the camera in that space, I regret that as it is now permanent. I would suggest getting a small butterfly camera with mini connection instead of the big ass RCA style ones which are a nightmare to feed through the tailgate to body grommet.

- For Australians, I bought the DVB-T box (digital tv tuner). I have only done a short test with it, but have only been able to get one channel and I live in the city, so signal should be strong. Suggest this is a waste of money unless you're prepared to mount an external body antenna.

All in all, the part that took the longest was the reverse camera, cutting the bracket, and getting the wiring up to the headliner. If you were happy to have no camera, you already had the OEM large screen and didn't have to trim the bracket, and were happy to put the GPS in the dash and use the inbuilt mic - you would avoid all this.

I also ran full 5ch RCA's and amp trigger wire to the rear of the car. I don't know if I will ever put an amp in and upgrade the speakers (which improved slightly with the Dynavin but are still rubbish), but I had a set in the garage and figured it made sense to run them anyway rather than go through this ordeal twice.

Overall, it's a great improvement. Spotify works great with A2DP. It picked up all my contacts from my iPhone 5 straight away. I'm sure once I spend some quality time with it I will have more feedback.

[LVP]

I'm going to treat myself to one of these if I can get her to go 6 months without a (major) repair. Doable?

When I do bite the bullet, I'd like to find a mic install that uses the BMW mic position and looks stock. I haven't seen this so far in any of the write-ups. Anyone seen this done? Could you just mount it behind the stock grill piece, or disassemble the plastic housing of the Dynavin one and mount behind the factory piece?

[SMOKEY53]

Originally Posted by LVP

I'm going to treat myself to one of these if I can get her to go 6 months without a (major) repair. Doable?

When I do bite the bullet, I'd like to find a mic install that uses the BMW mic position and looks stock. I haven't seen this so far in any of the write-ups. Anyone seen this done? Could you just mount it behind the stock grill piece, or disassemble the plastic housing of the Dynavin one and mount behind the factory piece?

I wanted to do this too as I don't really like the mic hanging out of the roof, looks a bit unfinished.

The problem is, the factory mic vent you see is actually the mic unit itself. The vent doesn't separate from the microphone, it's just one chunky, all in one box.

If you were to do anything it would have to involve the larger square panel next to it.

But then your issue, as has been mentioned a few times in this thread, is that the mic is very directionally sensitive. It needs to be pointing at the driver's mouth, which makes it difficult to conceal it and at the same time have it facing in the right orientation.

Maybe if you're handy with electronics you could work out how to utilise the factory mic, but I had a quick look at it - it has 3 wires going in at the microphone, and no idea where they run to. The Dynavin requires a 3.5mm male jack to plug in, so you'd have to make all that work - and even then the sensitivity and volume may not match.

[Doru]

Originally Posted by SMOKEY53

I wanted to do this too as I don't really like the mic hanging out of the roof, looks a bit unfinished.

The problem is, the factory mic vent you see is actually the mic unit itself. The vent doesn't separate from the microphone, it's just one chunky, all in one box.

If you were to do anything it would have to involve the larger square panel next to it.

But then your issue, as has been mentioned a few times in this thread, is that the mic is very directionally sensitive. It needs to be pointing at the driver's mouth, which makes it difficult to conceal it and at the same time have it facing in the right orientation.

Maybe if you're handy with electronics you could work out how to utilise the factory mic, but I had a quick look at it - it has 3 wires going in at the microphone, and no idea where they run to. The Dynavin requires a 3.5mm male jack to plug in, so you'd have to make all that work - and even then the sensitivity and volume may not match.

I epoxy-ed my mic on the plastic plate - look at the pic I posted. You can swivel the mic in whichever direction you want afterwards. I know, once I had it positioned, I never moved it afterwards. Works very well, no issues.

[Ricky Bobby]

Pics of the final install to see how clean it is! Thanks for posting the tips, did you leave your GPS antenna in the headliner too or just up near the vents?

[SMOKEY53]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

Pics of the final install to see how clean it is! Thanks for posting the tips, did you leave your GPS antenna in the headliner too or just up near the vents?

No dramas. Will try get a pic later.

GPS Antenna went up inside the headliner, in the plastic overhead console. Was running cables up there for DVB-T antenna, Mic and dashcam so it was no big deal.

I have not wired up the trigger wire for the reverse camera yet, or mounted my USB sockets....so I'm still not 100% done.

Anyone know where I can download iGo maps for Australia? (Mine came with N/American maps).

[SMOKEY53]

Yeah - I did see your setup and considered doing it that way, but I wanted to avoid any cutting or glueing. Normally I'd have no issue with sacrificing that little panel and replacing it down the track if needed, but wreckers charge and arm and a leg for BMW parts (as I'm finding out).

Doru's setup:



Mine is setup like four.8is, I also took the little foam hat off the mic too as it kept catching on the sun visor.

[bcredliner]

Great post Smokey53.

[SMOKEY53]

No worries.

Here's a quick snap.

I also put a new open screen on but need to wait for it sleep before I can grab a shot.




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