Stereo upgrade help
 

Hi guys!

I have a 2006 4.8IS and I'm looking to upgrade my stereo, partly as the stock one is starting to have issues (dying pixels, sometimes taking ages to turn on) but mainly to have something with bluetooth (and ideally carplay).

I have been doing some research, but seem to have gotten lost on what the options are. Anyone who has done this that could point me in the right direction?

Thanks.

Lots of folks on here have had good luck with Avin and Eonon, there are numerous others as well, just search xoutpost for any of the actual radio names or "aftermarket radio", "radio upgrade", etc and you will get a wealth of information as well of a wealth of installation assistance also. Bunch of threads on here with lots of pics



Avin: https://avinusa.com/
Eonon: https://www.eonon.com/Default.aspx


Obviously I'm not affiliated with either, just giving you a couple of links to browse :thumbup:


Check your X for options, lots of radios are "plug and play" if you know what you have in the truck (factory amp, dsp, etc, etc) and order it accordingly. Ok, probably shouldn't say "lots", but there are a handful.

Let us know what you have now (nav, DSP, etc). It will bring better advice. Personally I went with the Avin Avant-4 with the iBus adapter for DSP, wireless CarPlay/Android Auto and have been very happy with it.

Thanks for the info! Those look like they're made specific for certain models, which sounds great. I started out looking at the usual like Pioneer and those looked like they would be quite difficult to get in there.

According to my VIN readout I have the following:

S677A HiFi System Professional DSP
S609A Navigationssystem Professional

How does this change the possibility of what can be connected? I am wanting to lose the stock nav as I only use Waze anyways, which is a big part in wanting to upgrade to such a stereo.

I must say I really like the look of the Avant-4, looks identical to the stock one!

One question, when upgrading to such stereos, do you lose the internal information you get in the stock one? Like fuel consumption and things like that.

Since you have DSP you will need the iBus adapter anyway and it also will provide all the time settings, consumptions and trip meters of the factory system. It will also provide some minor coding features like DRL, one touch turn signals and cornering lights, etc. You will need an Android based system and the only system I know that is prewired for the iBus adapter is the Avin Avant-4.

What exactly do you mean by the minor coding features?

Have been reading more up on it and it is starting to look like a great option. Is the system responsive? How would you rate the installation? Is it more or less plug and play or is there lots of tinkering to be done?

The iBus adapter is a must for DSP or it will not send the messages to the DSP amp to work so you will have no sound without it or some extensive wiring will be required. Coding things like I listed above are only a few of the options available.

Having the factory navigation takes more installation since you will need to run a harness from the front to the rear of the X5 where all your equipment is now. The navigation screen up front is simply a display and everything happens in the rear under the rear spare tire panel. It will take a few hours but there are instructional videos on the web that provide a understanding of how to do it. Honestly you will have 5 to 8 hours on installation but so worth it in the end.

Here is a list of functionality for the iBus app

• App languages: German, English, Bulgarian, French, Greek, Croatian, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Slovenian, Spanish, Trad. Chinese, Czech, Turkish, Hungarian
• Automatic setting of clock and date at every start
• Display / reset BC data
• Show PDC visualization in 5 levels with color change + distance
• Selection of the PDC image (BMW E38, E39 (Sedan, Touring), E46 (Sedan, Touring, Coupé), E53 and Range Rover L332)
• Display of speed, speed, mileage, coolant temperature, oil temperature, tank content and on-board voltage
• Display of GPS information (address, speed, altitude or compass direction)
• Switch parking heater / ventilation on / off
• Set / activate timers 1 and 2
• Fold the mirror in / out
• Different layouts for different screen resolutions
• Settings can be saved
• Blinking (2 - 7x adjustable)
• Cornering lights via fog lights (activation via signal from the turn signals, not via steering wheel position)
• Daytime running lights via fog lights, parking lights and / or ambient lights from ignition level 1 or 2
• Automatic locking after xx km / h
• Automatic unlocking at ignition level 0 and / or handbrake applied
• Automatic screen change to PDC and back
• Switch to recirculated air with reverse gear engaged
• App starts automatically every time you boot up
• App automatically connects to the interface when connected
• Switch between low and high BC screen possible
• Display of vehicle information
• Curb automatic with reverse gear engaged (travel time of the mirror adjustable)
• Coding LCM, PDC and DSP
• VIN online check for activation of all app functions (required once)
• Individual welcome message when you start the app, also with gong or arrows
• "Panic" button for immediate resetting of all US codes and daytime running lights
• Graphic for showing which doors are currently open (E39 Sedan / Touring)
• Display of BC values ​​in the station wagon (speed, coolant temperature, oil temperature or voltage)
• Update function (automatic check at start + manually in the drawer)
• The bonnet, tailgate and sunroof open are displayed
• Automatic driver mirror
• Automatic mirror folding in / out with radio start / ignition off
• Light control with storable sequence (6 memories)
• Sequence from memory 1 can be played back by pressing the flasher or the vehicle image twice
• DSP control (license required) with memory selection, equalizer, room / reverb as well as balance, fader and treble, bass adjustment
• Coming- / Leaving Home (radio must be connected to consumer switch-off), light sequence can be saved via light controls (memory 2-6) [can sometimes not work!]
• Change the languages ​​in the app
• Change the units displayed in the app
• Optional OBD screen for displaying data from the "Deep OBD" app
• Show the PDC distance in the station wagon
• Daily mileage function with reset
• Coolant and oil temperature can be displayed in color
• Display multiple GPS data at the same time
• Display when the engine is warm
• Performance display via GPS
• Filling bars for various displays
• Text size adjustable
• Colors can be changed via themes
• Many individual adaptations for on-board computers
• OEM Prog function for adapting the displayed data in the combination
• Expert mode to display the I-bus telegrams and power calculation
• MID emulation for querying the on-board computer data and programming the auxiliary ventilation / heating
• Notification with app icon in the status bar when the app is connected to the interface
• Display of music broadcasts as pop-up and / or in the IKE, radio frequency and current title in the media player for PX3 / PX5 models, track title and artist from Poweramp and Spotify, station and title from ZOU-DAB + app
• App is opened when the PDC is active and then closed again
• Control of media / caller volume (tablet / smartphone only) and the tracks in the current player via steering wheel buttons
• Display oil temperature via eKombi module or Deep OBD (only M52TU / M54 / S54) in the on-board computer
• Select times when Coming / Leaving Home is active
• Window can be closed at adjustable speed
• BFD can be activated via rear fog lamp and turn signal if it is coded in the station wagon
• Show oil level
• OEM code function to lock the vehicle
• Display the current title on the BC screen
• OEM CD changer control (connection via AV-IN, CD change possible via buttons 1-6) requires adjustment of the cabling
• PDC popup can be shown over other apps and RFK
• Sport mode with analog displays and 3 different designs
• Quick start bar with up to 10 icons

Wow thanks for all the info!

I think I'm sold on this option, price seems quite reasonable as well compared to other options I saw.

Does this installation for the navigation need to be done even if I plan on using the Maps app that is on there or for example connect my phone through Carplay? I have honestly never used the navigation in my X5 as I much prefer the other options.

And I think the last question for now, I think I saw the stereo has a mic on the front, how well does this work for calls?

I have been reading a few more threads on this topic and want to see if my understanding is correct:

If I want to connect an Android stereo to my DSP equipped X5, I will need the iBus connector and license. But, if I am NOT planning on hooking up the stock navigation to the new stereo (since from what I saw they all come with their own GPS module and I will be using other apps anyway), will I be able to hook it up without the 6m harness going into the truck? As in, is it a plug-and-play in the front?