Originally Posted by X5only (Post 972813)

This looks really like factory! I wonder how it compares to Dynavin which I'm considering to replace OEM nav/DSP headunit. How is the radio reception? Is it at par with OEM radio? That is critical for me. Dynavin is equal to OEM as far as radio is concerned.

Originally Posted by Rockit (Post 972735)

I had a few minutes today so here is something quick. I have not used it a lot yet, this X5 is a winter car for me.

If your a hard core, has to be BMW look this is probably not for you. I think it looks fine and matches well and all pictures do look much better in person. The plastic surround matches the other plastic in texture and look, its a BMW X5 E53 kit. They remove the CD changer & radio and wood cover. You can make the lights/background orange to match the other instruments but it's mostly blue. There is a small squre antenna they mount on the corner of the dash and you can hardly see it. If you don't have a black dash you notice it more.

The operation of the nav is an 10
Music quietly and adjustable & user friendly 9
Blue tooth operation 9
Back up camera 10 but it looks ugly and obtrusive.
Speaker phone-hands free 10
DVD-CD 9

This is all touch screen, no voice recognition.

You can have up to 4 phones paired, each phone you can set up a list of favorites for that user. This unit is far better than Mercedes and Lexus offer as an all in one message center. I have both cars to compare to. It's pretty much endless what you can do with it. When your older like me you don't have time to use even half the functions. I'm not a geek with this stuff, just giving a brief overview.

I found out I had the wrong model number on my initial post, this is the model number linked, click on Crutchfield link below-I did not buy it from them. I paid $799 installed. Antenna for Satellite & Nav was $100 and the backup camera was $150.
Alpine INE-S920HD Navigation receiver at Crutchfield.com


http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps4205b845.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q...psc87a3689.jpg

I'm not crazy about the way it sticks out and if you don't have a black car it will look funny. This is the only camera that will last they sold me from Alpine.
http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q...psc9fe00d4.jpg
http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps80256b85.jpg

Originally Posted by admranger (Post 972832)

Looks nice and I like that you don't have to have a PhD in Android/geek to get it to work.

However, I am still curious as to how this is amp'd (did you have DSP system before?), and how they integrated into the vehicle (wiring -- how'd they do it as the amp and 'radio box' are in the back of the X5).

Originally Posted by Rockit (Post 972859)

Kirk,

I don't have DSP....I've had that on other cars and I really never noticed a difference in volume from stop to hwy speeds difference...maybe once I was adjusting it on another car and heard a slight difference but it really doesn't matter. This Alpine unit has infinite adjustable to almost anything. Everything about this unit is advanced including the HD Bluetooth.

As far as installation I had it done. I told them I wanted it plug and play and no wires cut and they said the kit does that.

The best thing to do is ask Alpine directly
Customer Service
Alpine Electronics of America, Inc.
(800) 421-2284 Ext.860304
or
(800) ALPINE-1 (1-800-257-4631)

Originally Posted by Lowblock (Post 972918)

They could have positioned the camera better, that just kinda sticks out there.

I like the alpine product, I use it almost exclusively however like in the e38/9/53 it just looks out of place I don't care what bezel you have around it, doesn't look factory however its the price you pay to get the new cool stuff.