Double din with all goodies installed.

[SPB]

I am almost done with the installation of a double din head unit with all the necessary goodies. Pictures will be uploaded soon.

I would like to thanks all of you that answered in my previous posts in various questions I had before the installation.

Here is what I installed and a short description of the whole procedure.

Head unit Kenwood DNX 7200 with built-in Garmin navigator
Headrest monitors Alpine TME-M780
Kenwood Bluetooth module
Kenwood TV tuner
Pioneer universal back up camera
iPod video integration
My bimmer double din bezel

I tryed to avoid as much as possible any permanent modifications in my car. Everything I done is a 100% reversable with minimum spare parts and additional expenses.

Starting from the Kenwood head unit the only I can say is that it's absolutely awsome. Very nice design with minimum buttons. Almost everything is controled from the touch screen. All steering wheel controls are available and I have all OEM functions. Installing it in the dash was very easy however it took me almost half day to convert the dash. I am not gonna say the whole procedure again as it has been discused many times and is very well documented. I will only mention that I managed to cut the plastics required to be removed in order to fit the double din head unit in such a manner that can be re-positioned using some CA glue or epoxy in case I will decide to sell the car and keep the electronics.
I used the installation frame that came with the head unit and secure it in the two vertical plastic pieces of the dash with four bolts. That way I can remove the head unit any time I want without the need to spend time to re-adjust it and re-position it. I just use the remove keys and pull the head unit out of the frame.

The Garmin navigator works flawlessly. I installed the antenna under the rear spoiler in the place where BMW locates the OEM antenna. Again I follow the instructions posted here in other threads.

I was planning to install all modules in the rear left compartment but the length of the cables made me change my plans. So the TV tuner module was installed under the back seat and the headrest monitors hide away box was installed under the drivers seat together with the Bluetooth module. Both of them are hidden in a first aid box that I purchased for this reason and installed under the drivers seat.

The antennas of the Kenwood TV tuner are also amazing. They are a very slim wire like the wire that is used for the heated rear window. They are both installed on the front windshield. One on the drivers side and one the passenger's side.

The back up camera is installed in the place where the OEM camera is installed. It fits perfectly and has a small offset so when the reverse gear is engaged shows the edge of the bumper so I know exactly the distance of my bumper from the rear car.

For the iPod I was planning to install it in the center console box using a Dice video cradle. I bought the craddle and even if it's a very nice unit is not workable for me cause the input of the Kenwood cable is on the back of the cradle and not on the bottom so I don't have the necessary clearance to bolt it on the bucket of the center console box. So I will install the cable on the glove box as BMW suggests.

By the way the Dice craddle is available for sale. Needles to say never used. If any one is interested let me know.

I still have some connections to make as I am doing the installation during the weekends only. I hope I will be able to upload some pictures soon.