Aftermarket nav systems - need answers

[agsam01]

So,

I'm about to be the proud owner of a 2007 A4 2.0T CVT - black on black - with about 15,000 miles. I believe it has the non-Nav Bose radio, but I haven't seen it in a week as they are doing the CPO testing/overall - whateve the dealership does to get a car CPO ready.

The car didn't have Nav and from messing around with the Nav in another A4 on the lot I wasn't really that impressed, so I figured I'd just get an aftermarket system. Only problem is, I went to Crutchfield to see what they have and it told my one single DIN systems would work. I've looked around here though at some of the pics (keep them coming by the way, I'm definitely a pic whore).

So what I am wondering, is will a double DIN fit into the A4 - and if anyone has an a/m Nav - what did you get. my previous car had the Kenwood DNX-7120 - which was nice, but I'd prefer to get the bluetooth and voice control this time.

Thanks for the help

[B7A4Sport]

The Pioneer AVIC D3 seems to be a common one around here; it has red interface lights which match the Audi interior lighting, and looks pretty clean. It also has bluetooth capability, but not sure about voice commands.

Here's a shot of one in an Audi interior, even:

[KAISER8]

I did the Alpine W505.. love the bluetooth integration and nav options

[b6onboost]

I still think the Avic D3 is the one of the best purely because it had adjustable button lights so you can match it perfectly to the dash. There are other units that are better, but IMO mismatching lights are a big no-no.

Most decent units do bluetooth, voice control, navi, ipod, ect.

Single and Double Din units will work. The dash kits are all dual single din, so that's why crutchfield may say double din won't work, but you just cut the bar off the bracket and use a trim ring to cover the gap.

[04Ultrasprt]

check out the avic f-90bt. They got some bad reviews but with the new 2.0 software they are very nice and easy to use. They have the color matching of the D3, built in nav info (no nav disc), bluetooth, ipod cable, and voice commands. Plus you cant pick them up for dirt cheap on ebay!

[cab7a4]

Eclipse (5000 series) like i have is intense...amazing sound and pre amped 5v outputs...navi looks great and is easy to use........alpine are pretty rich as well especiall with the amount of control you have to tune your entire setup(can be cause for operator error) but if you know what your doing youll be fine.....definetley check out eclipse lineup..

[agsam01]

thanks for the info everyone, good to know a double DIN can be put in without too much extra work. now I just need to figure out which unit to go with

[06B7audiA4]

KENWOOD DNX7120...

Picked up for 800 shipped, retails for 1400 at tweeter or any other store...
Look online for deals, i got factory warranty and all
Tweeter installed it for 125, when they ussually do it for 100, so i saved myself like 600$ before buying it from a store, plus tax

Go double din, ull love it...kenwood has a awesome ipod usb connection, i love it
Used to own a Pionerr Avic D2 in my gti

[davis449]

I have a D3, FUCK RNS-E.

[B7A4Sport]

check out the avic f-90bt

It comes with a BT?!

[agsam01]

Definitely doing double din - but like I said - I just had the 7120 - it was nice, the remote sucked, and the nav never recognized when you were on/off a freeway, so while it was a good system, I'm definitely not going to get another one. I had about as good a deal as you, got a floor model from MobileOne for $800, installed for $200, so out the door for $1000. The other problem was everything was extra, nothing was really included.

[04Ultrasprt]

I have a D3, FUCK RNS-E.

lol, I had the RNS-e in my last audi for about oh... 2 weeks. By far it is the best looking unit you can put in your car, good work Audi , but I have about 1000 complaints about it. Anyone ever bothered by the fact that the controls are on the wrong side of the screen for the US?! And seriously, how hard would it of been to make it touchscreen?

[06B7audiA4]

Definitely doing double din - but like I said - I just had the 7120 - it was nice, the remote sucked, and the nav never recognized when you were on/off a freeway, so while it was a good system, I'm definitely not going to get another one. I had about as good a deal as you, got a floor model from MobileOne for $800, installed for $200, so out the door for $1000. The other problem was everything was extra, nothing was really included.

I havent had ANY problems with my 7120, its been about a yr now.

[Quattro]

i am not a huge fan of double dins, so i went with a single din tv (alpine) and alpine nav.

[bcramer]

In terms of quality and features my top pick would be the DNX-8120 then the RNS-E then maybe the F90BT, but most likely something by Eclipse.

I have the RNS-E btw. I wouldn't trade it for aftermarket. I love the integration it has with the MFD and everything else.

[agsam01]

I havent had ANY problems with my 7120, its been about a yr now.

I didn't really have any problems with the 7120, I just wasn't as impressed with it as I thought I'd be and there were some weird issues with the Nav. It is definitely a nice piece, but you do have to add on everything seperately, bluetooth, XM, HD...And it doesn't use voice recognition, which I really want with my next unit, so I'm not trying to bash on Kenwood, but I simply want more features than the 7120/8120 offers is all.

[bcramer]

I didn't really have any problems with the 7120, I just wasn't as impressed with it as I thought I'd be and there were some weird issues with the Nav. It is definitely a nice piece, but you do have to add on everything seperately, bluetooth, XM, HD...And it doesn't use voice recognition, which I really want with my next unit, so I'm not trying to bash on Kenwood, but I simply want more features than the 7120/8120 offers is all.

RNS-E is capable of voice recognition.

[Pworld]

What if u have factory bluetooth? do any of these aftermarket units mess up the factory bluetooth functionality?

[Audi007]

The Pioneer AVIC D3 seems to be a common one around here; it has red interface lights which match the Audi interior lighting, and looks pretty clean. It also has bluetooth capability, but not sure about voice commands.

Here's a shot of one in an Audi interior, even:

this unit fits the car well

[nramsey]

I had the AVIC-D3 in my 350Z for a year or so (before i traded the car on my avant). The unit is a bargain but it's not perfect. The ipod interface is awesome, but the sound quality wasn't perfect. I got alot of hiss "noise" when I turned the volume up when using the ipod only...didn't do it in CD or radio mode. The unit can do Sirius or XM, but the Sirius interface SUCKS...the display is very limited and you have to choose between Artist/track/channel display...it won't rotate between them. It will do XM traffic which is cool, but the tuner for that is like $200. It's also a DVD nav unit, so you can't listen to a CD while using the nav very easily because it has to read from the DVD while moving from zone to zone as you drive. Nav works great though, and touch screen is really nice. No fingerprints either. I'd highly recommend it for the price.

*edit* That picture in the audi is a bit misleading. It looks like the unit matches the matte finish of the Audi dash. It doesn't...the D3's face is a gloss "piano black" like surface. You can set the button colors to an infinite number, but the display only had like 6 colors to choose from.

[staticuxo]

i'm also thinking about the avic-d3. using the ipod connection, can you fully browse artists, albums and playlists via the screen without any difficulty? i've never used one of these, and that's what i'd be using the most.

also, is the navigation and bluetooth/ipod integration better than the rns-e?

[B6JoeS4]

pioneer f90bt. its a premier series head unit so it the more high end model with high voltage preouts which is better if you plan on upgrading the rest of the system. i have had my f90 for about two weeks now and the startup time is pretty slow but by the time you back out of your driveway, its ready to go.

[nramsey]

i'm also thinking about the avic-d3. using the ipod connection, can you fully browse artists, albums and playlists via the screen without any difficulty? i've never used one of these, and that's what i'd be using the most.

also, is the navigation and bluetooth/ipod integration better than the rns-e?

Yes. When you're in ipod mode, at the top there are buttons to access all albums, artists, genres, and playlists. Click one of those and you see the full list which you can scroll through. Click an artist for example, then you see all albums by that artist. Select and album then, and you see all tracks on that album. Works great.

No idea about how it compares to the RNS-e...never used that. I also didn't have the bluetooth module for the D3, I think it was an extra thing you could add for more money.

[Vorsprung]

pioneer f90bt. its a premier series head unit so it the more high end model with high voltage preouts which is better if you plan on upgrading the rest of the system. i have had my f90 for about two weeks now and the startup time is pretty slow but by the time you back out of your driveway, its ready to go.

you have any pics of it installed? I haven't seen any of this unit in an A4 yet.

[AWDTURBO]

i had a D3 before in my MK4 Jetta and will possibly install it in the Audi as well.

[4RingRook]

Does anyone that is running an aftermarket nav system use the sharkfin antenna?

[Weem]

I have the Avic Z2 installed and I can tell you it works great. I can throw some pics up later for you if you want

[Weem]

Oh, and I was reading the above posts about IPOD usage. The setup I have in my car is that I have an aux. for the IPOD so I can control it. As far as the XBOX goes, it is set up so that the IPOD sound takes priority. IE, if my boy is playin xbox I can listen to music on my IPOD while he plays, or if I'm on a road trip or something I just unplug the IPOD and the Xbox sound comes back.

If you go for a Pioneer, id suggest using aux. for the IPOD and not the IPOD bottom plug in. The reason for this is because I don't believe the IPOD functionality on the Pioneers is "full speed ipod control" as featured in other head units. My friend had the IPOD connector for his Z2 and selecting/scrolling through music on the head unit was sooo slow.

Plus, I just like selecting music on the ipod itself anyways, but that's all just personal preference.

[harryd14]

KAISER8 how do you like the alpine W505? i have been looking at the new alpine nav units (i have always been a huge alpine fan) and have really been impressed by the W505 on paper and looks, but have never seen it in an A4 as its pretty new... how is the navigation setup and everything else? i saw the buttons were blue but you could change the screen to red, is it not possible to change the color of the buttons as well? would love to hear what you think about it as i am seriously considering buying one over the summer

[ArmanB7]

I had the AVIC D3, sold it. Its not perfect