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I have been trawling through the online hinterland and have had no luck so far in finding an Android Auto compatible head unit.
Has anyone on this forum managed to find one?
The only ones I see are ones with Android 7.0, 8.0 etc..
which I think would not be as future proof as Android Auto
where your phone essentially has the latest version of Android Auto and connects into the dash.
My E55 has the HK sound system fyi. It's a Japanese import so the current unit just doesn't fly due to FM restrictions etc... Factory Head Unit (Japan)
I have been trawling through the online hinterland and have had no luck so far in finding an Android Auto compatible head unit.
Has anyone on this forum managed to find one?
The only ones I see are ones with Android 7.0, 8.0 etc..
which I think would not be as future proof as Android Auto
where your phone essentially has the latest version of Android Auto and connects into the dash.
My E55 has the HK sound system fyi. It's a Japanese import so the current unit just doesn't fly due to FM restrictions etc... Factory Head Unit (Japan)
Am completely unfamiliar with all of this, but would this involve any rewiring to existing amp located in the back (assuming this car uses the fiber-optic setup.
Ive been looking at the "Xtron" units lately, want a modern head unit with blue tooth, SD/Usb storage and most of all the ability to add a back up camera. Replacing a head unit in a E55 is a little more involved than anything Ive dealt with before, I just need to be sure what my current system is and identify what I will need to buy for install so I only have to do it once.
Cant paste the link but the one Im looking at is a Android 9.0 Octacore IN89M211PL.
Ive been looking at the "Xtron" units lately, want a modern head unit with blue tooth, SD/Usb storage and most of all the ability to add a back up camera. Replacing a head unit in a E55 is a little more involved than anything Ive dealt with before, I just need to be sure what my current system is and identify what I will need to buy for install so I only have to do it once.
Cant paste the link but the one Im looking at is a Android 9.0 Octacore IN89M211PL.
Looks pretty slick. My key question would be that is it setup to handle w211s that came with the "fibre optic connection to amp" setup, and on first instance I think it does not:
I have placed an order for the AVIN systems last week and dumped a sizeable chunk of cash there. Will let you know how that turns out once the HU shows up here.
I have placed an order for the AVIN systems last week and dumped a sizeable chunk of cash there. Will let you know how that turns out once the HU shows up here.
Hopefully you have the one with built in fibre optic converter. Last time I checked some of their plug n play models had a separate converter unit. The unit I got from them was some flimsy box made in China, it lasted just over a year and no customer service at all from them at that point.
Hopefully you have the one with built in fibre optic converter. Last time I checked some of their plug n play models had a separate converter unit. The unit I got from them was some flimsy box made in China, it lasted just over a year and no customer service at all from them at that point.
Yes, I have purchased the MOST fiber optic interface along with 6M extension cable. Item currently in transit. Certainly want it to last more than a year! What issues did you encounter?
It would occasionally have short bursts of very loud static, maybe once every 1-2 months for about a year. Then it just failed one day, no more sound. Hopefully they have improved the quality since then. I still can't recommend them due to their lack of after sales customer service.
It would occasionally have short bursts of very loud static, maybe once every 1-2 months for about a year. Then it just failed one day, no more sound. Hopefully they have improved the quality since then. I still can't recommend them due to their lack of after sales customer service.
Ah, that's not good to hear.... Asked them on warranty, they provide 1yr and say they can offer support 7 days a week
In other news, the package has just arrived. It looks like I'll need someone at NASA to put this in place...
Anyone know of any good shops in Dubai who can help with this? Don't know where to start... Head unit (AVIN) MOST Fiber optic adapter 6M extension for power supply Front parking camera Rear parking camera Screen protector Array of wires I have absolutely no idea about
Alright, so after scouting for shops where people actually know what they're doing, I've managed to get this head unit fitted.
Now has Android Auto, Apple Carplay (wireless or wired) using a dongle that came with the head unit. Also includes front and back parking cameras.
The process was quite painful, and took almost 6 hours due to the finicky amp connection through a fibre-optic to analogue converter that came with the unit (cost $100 on its own!!!). Would not advise you to DIY unless you're an expert
Nonetheless, all seems well so far and pretty happy with it, except for no Bluetooth call audio (understand this should be able to be fixed by slightly amending some wiring. Taking it back to the shop next week).
Here's a brief video with a glimpse on the nightmarish installation process and the final result:
Disassembled Amp in the trunk for wiring Fitting the camera into the trunk by replacing it with one of the number plate lights The mess! Critical component. Links head unit to factory amp to make all my Harmon Kardon speakers and sub-woofer work (there is some amp noise disturbance when I have no audio playing but its negligible so I can bare it). Android Auto - Play Music (Wired) FM tuner Apple Carplay (wireless) Android Auto (wired) Head Unit running 9.0 Home page of the head unit
Quality is good. Works well with Harmon Kardon speakers, subwoofer is connected. .
Had to cancel the center speaker as I was hearing some rattling in there during installation (perhaps because I had turned the bass up in the head unit's amp settings). Can't notice a lack of sound after doing that though.
There is some minor background noise from the amp (perhaps given how it's wired) that you can very barely hear when stereo is on mute. Fine with me though as it's barely audible over the engine's sound.
How do I know if I have the fiber optic in my car? It doesn't have the hk speakers. Is there an easy way to tell?
You almost definitely have it. Bose also is fibre optic. I don't know the easiest way but if you pull the boot liner in the trunk and have a look at the amp. You can also look at the CD stacker in glove box or phone in centre console.
You almost definitely have it. Bose also is fibre optic. I don't know the easiest way but if you pull the boot liner in the trunk and have a look at the amp. You can also look at the CD stacker in glove box or phone in centre console.
Alll have fibre optic I think, but don't quote me on that.
They key way to know will be 2 orange colored thin wires leaving the head unit, but unfortunately you would need to remove head unit to find that out. Following is an image below where you see a glimpse of these.
sorry to revive an old thread, had a few questions, does the original cd changer still work? did you ever get the bluetooth phone to work properly?
Not an issue.
Old CD changer will not work (there is 1 CD drive inbuilt in the unit. Yes I did get the bluetooth to work properly, went back to the shop and turns out they did not wire something correctly.
However, 8 months in the screen now refuses to turn on (only comes on periodically but disappears later. It is not a connection issue as I've had the wiring re-checked..... I am in touch with AVIN support to ask for a replacement (it is still under its 1 year warranty).
wow, thats a bummer, keep us updated and good luck with a replacement!
--UPDATE--
I made a $350 deposit and received a new unit, which works perfectly! Looks like they made me whole on the warranty, though I did need to pay the technician to fit the new device and postage for shipping the old faulty unit back. Hope this one lasts!
09-28-2019, 03:38 AM
Job Done (ALMOST)
