Oh..look at this, another satisfied customer. In Florida no less, go figure!

Thanks for the kudos... Who's Next?

-Law :thumbup:

Ummm - how about the actual BMW Factory System, namely, the one with the screen in between the front seats. We got that on ours. It's elegant, integrated, not ugly, and, yes, the kids love it.
http://www.bmwusa.com/Image_53da9ed4...162b15302.arox

X5Meister....Where are you when I need ya.

You want to handle this?

Both systems are actually BMW Factory. INViSiON is the supplier for BMW NA with respect to the Dual DVD Headrest Systems. I am not sure who manufactures the BMW Factory Center Console DVD unit, but both units can only be purchased through BMW in the US.

BTW I absolutely love that center console unit...

-LAW

Hi,
One of the reasons we didn't get the single BMW factory armrest console DVD system is because it can only play DVD format.
I wanted a system that supported MPG4, Divx/AVI formats.
I can copy all my kids video on a memory stick and just play them.
I figured eventually the dvd format will be phased out like VHS was, then we'll be out of luck with the Single Armrest DVD console system and not able to get new movie releases then eventually stop using it all together.
At lease with the Invision system which is a BMW OEM part and fully warranteed full has the Mpeg4 and Divx format capability so it can still play new released videos and I can't see these formats being phased out. This was a big deal, at lease for us.

2nd reason:
Your kids don't fight over what to watch on the single screen?
How do you determine which one of your kids gets their way? I hope not by discrimination of age? Maybe rock, paper, sissors is a fair way, I guess?
But if they can all agree on what to watch, that's great!

My kids (boy and girl) like different type of cartoons/movies.
Sometimes one child wants to watch what the other is watching just because he or she is watching it or just bored with their video, but luckly I can switch the source for either screens to display what the the other one is watching.

3rd reason: Also I heard people complaining of adults and even kidss getting neck/eye strains and/or motion sickness from watching at such an angle for long period of time (head looking angled-downward and while vehicle is in motion).

Other than that I think the Armrest system is a nice system too...
What do you mean by integrated? is it integrated with you iDrive or just the wirings are integrated/hidden within the panels.
Where do you input the DVD?

Hsing,

Chuck Norris plays Rock, Paper, Scissors all the time, but somehow always manages to win with the roundhouse kick!

Nobody can beat Chuck!

Attachment 31870

-Law

Factory DVD
 

I stronlgly doubt that DVDs will cease to exist any time before my X5 ceases to exist (at least in my garage), so that wasn't much of a concern of mine.

Nope.

No complaints so far (about a year).

By integrated I mean that the audio is integrated with the factory audio, and not by way of an FM modulator. Back when I got my X5 (and ordered the factory RSE), I considered the Invision system but at that time the audio was not yet integrated. Perhaps that has changed now. The DVD player is below the folding screen, toward the bottom of the center console.

[quote=///MG]I strongly doubt that DVDs will cease to exist any time before my X5 ceases to exist (at least in my garage), so that wasn't much of a concern of mine.


//MG>>>

Hsing meant that the factory center console system only plays DVD's, it does not play MP3's, MP4's, MPEG-4, avi, and dvix files.

I honestly don't know if it even plays burnt DVD's or CD's as well.

The INViSiON Factory BMW product plays all those formats, that is what Hsing meant by ceasing to exist. DVD's will not be phased out anytime soon, but the center console product is not future proof with respect to USB Interfacing and reading different types of media files. The multimedia wave is really opening up to iPod's and Personal Storage Devices that don't involve an entire collection of DVD or CD discs. For example, a 2TB HardDrive that costs $200 can hold like 200 Entire DVD's in it's internal memory, however the center console unit isn't compatible with this type of technology because it lacks a USB port. The center console unit also only has 1 DVD player whcih is a big mistake when letting 2 children watch it. They can never seem to agree on what to watch.

-Law :thumbup:

Missed this thread! Sorry about the late response!

Starting at the beginning...

- The original poster's (hhhm3) story, if it wasn't confirmed by both parties already, I'd think was a big fat lie! Seriously, customer service like that just doesn't exist anymore. Acedeucy is the 'mom & pop's hardware store' in terms of customer service and everyone else is 'home depot.'

- hhhm3, congrats on the setup. Looks absolutely amazing and your kids probably are counting the days to the next trip.

- You brought a system to him that you already bought and he had them professionally install it. You didn't mention how much the installation cost; though I can probably guess the answer. :thumbup:

- Speeding ticket. You live in Canada and got the ticket in NY. I'd let them find you. A buddy got a ticket in Nevada 25 years ago and they still haven't found him in California.

- I think Acedeucy is a Stepford Husband.

- I agree with your assessment of this setup versus the other BMW option which is the center console mounted setup. There are too many disadvantages to that system to list (can play only 1 dvd at a time, 1 screen for 2 passengers, not mounted in front of passengers, mounted low, will not play any advanced tech sources, small screen, low resolution, etc.) and have been discussed on the board in great detail for those interested. Plus the original poster did a great job explaining why he chose one over the other. It is clear that he put some thought into it and personally I think he made the better choice. At an MSRP of less than $300 more for the dual screen setup I know which one I'd pick.

- BTW, for those people that are still confused, both options are OE BMW. One is installed by the factory (center console unit) and the other is installed by the dealer (Invision system). Just check the BMW USA accessories website.

- For the people who don't like the add-on look of it and say it's ugly (which btw, I don't think looks any more or less 'add-on' than the BMW center console mounted setup which I personally think looks completely stupid...and reminds me of the BMW gooseneck map light (has anyone ever bought that thing?!)) your beef is with BMW. Because of changing headrest designs they have consistently backed themselves into a corner forcing any headrest screen to sit physically away from the headrest. There are already 3 previous examples of such setups. The Invision is now the latest and greatest one. It's obvious they realized their problem and tried to work around it by designing the center console system, but that clearly left a lot to be desired as can be attested by the fact that they now have another, better, option.

- For the people who are waiting for total seat integration etc, (!) I think are completely missing the point of a rear entertainment system. I want total integration when it comes to something having to do with the critical functioning of the car like an aftermarket exhaust system whereas other people are fine with a local muffler shop welding on a piece of x-pipe on their $80,000 German car. Someone mentioned the new 7 series screens. Good luck waiting on those. My guess is that if such an option ever became available as a retrofit from BMW, it would cost so much that no one would buy it. It the whole diminishing return argument... Keep this in perspective, for rear seat entertainment for kids I'd bet $50 that they couldn't give a crap if the screens were better integrated into the headrests just as long as Sponge Bob was playable.

- The last comment made by Acedeucy is dead-on IMHO. A single DVD holds 4.7 GB of data and basically 1 movie. You can get a USB memory stick now that holds 64 GB of data which is basically 13-14 movies. Seems like a lot more convenient option than having to carry around a stack of DVD's. It's only a matter of time before larger capacities are available which will increase your choices. Basically it's the iPod argument. Why carry 500 CD's in your car when you can plug in an iPod that has 1,000 CD's on it! Honestly, I feel BMW really dropped the ball big time on this, by not offering a USB connector and ability to play Mpeg files in the center console setup. Had they not learned their lesson already?! Or maybe they HAVE learned their lesson and that is why they now offer a 2nd better option! Game, match, set.

Whew! Hopefully I caught up!

X5Meister,

Hadn't seen you in a few days, did you have a great Easter. You have depleted my referral budget! And by the way, Thanks yet again. I don't know what I would do without ya.

-Law

PS: Hsing, I hope you had an awesome Easter as well!

Easter was great, thanks. What's a 'referral budget' and what did I win?!