Navigation/Entertainment system upgrade After Market or OEM retrofit?
 

Hey guys,

after having completed all the exterior work on X5 and going now inside and want to upgrade as well.

I was wondering if anybody knows about a better navigation / entertainment system with touchscreen/ ipod/ iphone music capabilities than the navigation screen that came with my 2005. It doesn't have to after market, but just an upgrade from what came with my E53.

Thanks

I'm having a Pioneer AppRadio 2 installed in mine on Thursday. Here's a link to a rundown/review of the original AppRadio installed in an E53:

2004 X5 iAudio Upgrade (Non-DSP) - Bimmerfest - BMW Forums

I'll let you know what I think of my experience with the newer version.

What kind of upgrade are you looking at? 4G capabilities? Sound wise, I don't think you are going to find anything out there that sounds better then what you now have.

First of all, my X5 is non-DSP as well.

I wanted to integrate my iphone music. I looked into DICE Silverline, Audiovox Mediabridge etc. Then I stumbled across aftermarket navigation systems that I have ipods/ iphones integrated and I have to only pay a little more.

So I want equal or better sound, navigation maps that maybe look better than what I have right now with the my non-updated 2005 maps, 7 inch screen sounds great and touchscreen even better. If I can built in park distance control and maybe rear camera with it even better.

I saw DVN-E39A, link here: dynavin which looked pretty cool, but not sure if that is any good or not. I saw that there is a android version of the DVN-E39 A, but couldn't figure out the differences. I also came across Hualingan e53, link found Hualingan 4th Gen Multimedia Headunit in my E53 BMW X5 - Video Dailymotion . I would love to have the best of the best.

If there is a OEM solution, that's great too.

Any advice and experience would help with my decision making.

There is not going to be an oem solution that will be able to provide you what you are looking for. If you have the factory nav system, you can get BT, and Ipod and satellite control, but the operation is clunky at best. I gutted the system in my E39 (same systems as the E53) with an entire alpine touch screen system, and its great, but it was a pita, and I work in the car audio field. When I got my E53 I told myself that im not going to do the same. You dont have DSP so it makes it a bit easier, you dont have to replace the amp and such. I would look into the kenwood excelon peices, or the alpine peices. The pioneers are ok as well. Remember to find something that will allow you to retain your steering wheel controls. Nothing is going to look as factory as oem, the Dynavins and stuff look close, but IMO they are crap. If you check out bimmerforums under the E39 section there is a TON of info on the units both good and bad, you could start your reading there.

Oh wow, great. I guess lots of reading again. But I check out the alpine and pioneer. I had in my M5 alpine that came with it. It was great, but I no pro, just a consumer that likes toys.

Do you have the model for alpine and ken wood?

Not anything in paticular, just look at the Excelon stuff from kenwood and any of the double din nav peices from Alpine.

Are you sure, this thing got pretty bad reviews.

Yeah, didn't want to say anything but the lower end pioneers I wasn't impressed with.