avic d3 installed

[NastyNogaro]

Hey,

just installed the avic d3 install with the metra dash kit. Also relocated my turbo timer from under dash to cupholder spot. Sorry for the shit pic quality and distorting.. using the iphone camera as I left my SLR at school.

Here's a couple shots and one of the exterior. Have to still make a couple adjustments to the faceplate surround but it's chillin for now.

[SoEvoL]

You gonna try to flush it up the kit?

Anyways looks good, how long did it all take you?
I was thinking about getting one myself since the new models are rolling out so hopefully the price drops lower than 599 new.

[NastyNogaro]

You gonna try to flush it up the kit?

Anyways looks good, how long did it all take you?

Yep. As you can see in the first pic the surrounding piece sinks in a little bit. Today I am expoxying it to the main faceplate so it'll be perfect. Shows up a LOT more in pics tho, looks fine in person, but I'm nit picky about interior stuff.

Took me literally about an hour or so. With the metra kit, they give you a harness. Splicing and soldering is my strong point, and the wires were straight forward (yellow - yellow, red - red, etc. etc.)

I also did the bypass by grounding the parking brake and moving the mute wire so my PASSENGERS can watch dvd's while I drive

[olmytsi]

Very nice!!!!!!!!

[jutny]

so the D3 will work with all the stock bose amps and stuff? i've been wanting one (a d3) for a while now, but i really don't want to go through the hassle of putting a real "system" into this car because it doesn't need anymore weight.

so, stock bose => d3, what kind of sound quality improvements if any have you noticed?

[NastyNogaro]

so the D3 will work with all the stock bose amps and stuff? i've been wanting one (a d3) for a while now, but i really don't want to go through the hassle of putting a real "system" into this car because it doesn't need anymore weight.

so, stock bose => d3, what kind of sound quality improvements if any have you noticed?

D3 works with stock amps. It was so easy to do (for me at least) and the sound quality.. wow. Sounds like I have a sub in the trunk during some biggie songs. I LOVE it. Best _____ bucks I ever spent (you wouldn't believe what I paid for it).

A DEFINITE improvement over stock.

[AudiSportB5S4]

awesome. i cant wait to order one. how do you like it? or how does it sound with the bose speakers ?? some say because BOSE has such weird ohms or WHATEVER lol it sounds weird. any input?

[Das General]

Looks ballin homie.

[jutny]

awesome. i cant wait to order one. how do you like it? or how does it sound with the bose speakers ?? some say because BOSE has such weird impedance (measured in ohms) or WHATEVER lol it sounds weird. any input?

fixt, sorry i dont mean to sound like a jerk, but now you know.

the way i see it, it just feeds a signal to the bose amps, and they still do their job exactly like they used to so impedance of the bose speakers does not matter because thats still matched to the bose amps. The reason it would sound better is because of a higher quality preamp / higher preamp voltage output.

[NastyNogaro]

Thanks for the compliments guys.

awesome. i cant wait to order one. how do you like it? or how does it sound with the bose speakers ?? some say because BOSE has such weird ohms or WHATEVER lol it sounds weird. any input?

I don't know too much about the technical aspects like impedance and all that, but from a musician's ear, it sounds amazing. I love it and I was just about to buy a sub and amp but this unit alone pulls it off.

One question though. I am about to buy a backup camera. I have the reverse signal wire run and just tucked in by the drivers side kick panel (left of clutch). Does anyone know which wire is the reverse signal wire? The writeup on audiworld is for a b5 a4 and it shows a blue wire with a white stripe in the brown harness, but the wire in that spot on my car is blue with a red stripe. Can anyone confirm which wire to tap into for the reverse sensor?

[jeproks]

Since you are putting a backup camera and running a wire to the rear of the car, just run the reverse signal wire to the reverse light.

[CruzS4]

looking sharp dude... i have an /////Alpine iva-d900 unit that came out of my buddy's 330ci at villanova when he upgraded to the 335i, and i got the bypass relay as well so my PASSENGERS (heh) can enjoy video while in transit as well. I wish i had spent more time investigating dash kits though because the one the installer used is crap and it's always popping out on the bottom. also jealous of the rob knob i've been looking all over for one

[lowered97a4]

looks like my setup avic d3, rob knob, suede boot,boost gauge. I love the avic makes using the ipod so much easyier nice unit overall

[sweetmeat]

I torn between a d3 for cheap or the new f90t. the install looks real clean, nice work

[SoEvoL]

looks like my setup avic d3, rob knob, suede boot,boost gauge. I love the avic makes using the ipod so much easyier nice unit overall

One reason why I want to go Avic, im currently on factory using a zune with tape adapter and usb charger (phillips 14$ kit), it sounds decent and all, just looks really ghetto with the tape, i rather do aux input wire or install the pioneer ipod kit and probally buy the Iphone 3g and ill just use that on the go.

[HotSauce]

How's the actual navigation? Who does the maps?

It's pretty competitively priced with the upscale portable GPS units.

Any additional comments on parts/installation/operation?

[lowered97a4]

ya i had mine the same way in the tape deck that sucked, navigation is nice u just gotta have the nav disc in there when u have a set destination or if u wanna do more advanced stuff with it, u can view the maps without it, works really great so many options and features. Wiring takes time get the metra kit and dash kit i used the DIY for wiring diagrams helped out a lot.

[NastyNogaro]

Thanks again for the compliments guys. I fixed the minor trim issue and it is now looking stellar. More pics tomorrow.

How's the actual navigation? Who does the maps?

It's pretty competitively priced with the upscale portable GPS units.

Any additional comments on parts/installation/operation?

Unfortunately since I got this unit as an "open box" unit from circuit city (saved a TON of money and there's not a scratch on the unit) it only came with the WEST nav disk. I ordered the EAST disk on ebay so it should be here this week. It would have come with the unit but circuit city said since it was a floor model that a customer may have stolen the CD out of it.

As for comments on parts/installation/operation:

With the metra kit on ebay (59 bucks) it comes with the faceplate, wire harness adapter, antenna adapter, trim ring, and a few other little gadgets that are probably for other cars as the kit is for audi/vw. Once I soldered the wires from the metra harness to the avic harness, everything was PLUG AND PLAY. I could NOT believe how easy it was to install this unit. I would not recommend paying a shop either as they probably would not do the bypass for you due to liability/legality issues.

Operation: amazing. I am now able to use my ipod (you have to purchase the CD-I200 cable which goes for about 34 bucks although I got mine for cheaper off fleabay . EQ presets are awesome, the stock subwoofer is now given a workout and sounds like I have an aftermarket one in the trunk, but without the rattling. DVD playback quality is good, the screen resolution is more than decent as well, although I've seen better but only on units over $1k. The touch screen is great, works with DVD's, and with any device you hook up to it (ipod, backup cam, etc.)

I'll let the cat out of the bag now. I paid $479 for the unit, out the door of circuit city, as an open box item. THERE WAS NOT A SPECK ON THE UNIT or any of the accessories. I was mildly surprised as it was a floor model, but I am certainly not complaining. So for 479, or even 599, this AVIC D3 dvd/nav unit is (pardon my language) fucking awesome!

interior: done. exterior: done. Time for stage 3 boys..
-nasty

[lemonhead]

Would there be any difference install-wise between the d3 and the AVIC-F700BT? Looks great btw

[Das General]

I've used the D3 navi in several different cars. As long as you have your initial setup complete it works great. However Clints battery kept dying so the unit would reboot and would take some time to figure out where we were, and often times it would put us in the ocean. But I've been in Val's car and her unit worked great.

[lrg8683]

the avic d3 includes EVERYTHING? no need to buy a separate "module" for Nav>

[b00st]

i used metra too...cept i'm a B6 S4.

[b00st]

the avic d3 includes EVERYTHING? no need to buy a separate "module" for Nav>

nope runs on DVD NAV...comes with 2 discs. i keep one disc in the whole time. D3X unit includes ipod adapter and BT.

[lrg8683]

fantastic..

[b00st]

i bought my unit for $599 and 200 mail in rebate from pioneer. but it had to be bought from other than a major retailer. couldn't buy from bbuy or ccity or anything like that. this high end store had then and obviously now they are discontinued. but its a great unit and i couldn't pass up the price. i'll have to check my receipt but i think it might have been cheaper than even 599 at the time.

[NastyNogaro]

and often times it would put us in the ocean.

that's what it did to me when i put the west nav disk in just to see what would happen lol

b00st: How did you get the audi rings to appear on the screen? Someone local told me how to do it but i forgot...

[casawhites4]

that's what it did to me when i put the west nav disk in just to see what would happen lol

b00st: How did you get the audi rings to appear on the screen? Someone local told me how to do it but i forgot...

http://www.avic411.com/forum/

[infinkc]

i never did have time yet to paint my trim ring to match, still prefer it over the metra.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=183624

the d3 allows you to put in any image background off a cd that has the JPG files on it in a picture directory

[Bee Five]

That looks great I have the same unit just sitting around , I'm going to have it professionally installed one of these days.

What boost gauge do you have? That's the nicest one I seen so far, it look's factory!

[S4alan]

If anyone is looking for a good deal, I have on BNIB w/Ipod cable and installation kit (dash and harnesses) for a b5 S4. PM me if interested.