[bart332211]

Hi everyone,
Does anybody now a good android auto unit for a bmw e46 facelift model. Looking around for lets say 5-600 euros. Found some cheaper ones like eonon but i read a lor about them that they are pretty slow with navigation. I would like to keep all car functions like the buttoms on my steering wheel.
kind regards,

 

[markusmarkus]

What’s you location in Europe? Are you sure that you want an android head unit? Does your car have factory nav?

 

[bart332211]

i do have nav. And why do you ask if i am sure that i want it? I live in the netherlands.

 

[Effduration]

They're all about the same. "okay" sound and function, poor phone sound... systems are always a little glitchy... I prefer Xtrons and own several.

These days, a lot of people are keeping their E46 stock and using Bluebus or Grom adapters for bluetooth.

 

[bart332211]

They're all about the same. "okay" sound and function, poor phone sound... systems are always a little glitchy... I prefer Xtrons and own several.

These days, a lot of people are keeping their E46 stock and using Bluebus or Grom adapters for bluetooth.

hmm sad to hear they all dont work properly. I really like the idea to modernize my infotainment a bit. since im driving in my e46 a lot around 40k per year.

 

[elfer]

Alpine do a 7" head unit with Android Auto that is ready mounted in a fascia which will bolt straight into an E46. Code ILX-702E46. It doesn't look factory like the Chinese Dynavin / Avin / Xtrons etc units but is doubtless of higher build quality and very likely of higher sound quality. I've not heard it myself though - I have a Dynavin - but if I were buying today I'd consider it. Or you could get a generic fit, shallow mount, mechless 7" head unit from one of the other big brands and mount it into a commercially available fascia adapter. That'd be closer to your budget. The Alpine will have the correct colour illumination though and you know there's no risk it will end up fouling the air vents. It's not cheap, £750 here in the UK, but 40k per year is a lot of hours in the car to amortise it over!

 

[Jcaze46]

I've had an eonon for a year now and it's been great. Way better than a stock nav or radio head unit with grom or blue bus

 

[Darko61]

I've had four Android head units (Xtrons 9" & 8.8"unit and Joying 9" &10.5") and haven't had any issues with any of them, everything worked as it should.
Sound quality is a vast improvement from the stock head unit.
Currently have a Joying 10.5" unit in my BMW E46 and I love it and would highly recommend it, I prefer the Joying unit over Xtrons as they have higher resolution screens (1280x720 compared to Xtrons 1020x600)
The 10.5" screen fits well between the upper AC vents and the lower Hvac controls without blocking either of them, installation was simple as it was an E46 specific plug n play unit.

 

[markusmarkus]

i do have nav. And why do you ask if i am sure that i want it? I live in the netherlands.

Since your car has the nav the head unit is merely a human/machine interface. All of the electronics are in the left side of the trunk. You’ll need a special cable that connects the new head unit with the connectors in the trunk.

 

[bart332211]

Since your car has the nav the head unit is merely a human/machine interface. All of the electronics are in the left side of the trunk. You’ll need a special cable that connects the new head unit with the connectors in the trunk.

yes found out that part already

 

[bart332211]

Alpine do a 7" head unit with Android Auto that is ready mounted in a fascia which will bolt straight into an E46. Code ILX-702E46. It doesn't look factory like the Chinese Dynavin / Avin / Xtrons etc units but is doubtless of higher build quality and very likely of higher sound quality. I've not heard it myself though - I have a Dynavin - but if I were buying today I'd consider it. Or you could get a generic fit, shallow mount, mechless 7" head unit from one of the other big brands and mount it into a commercially available fascia adapter. That'd be closer to your budget. The Alpine will have the correct colour illumination though and you know there's no risk it will end up fouling the air vents. It's not cheap, £750 here in the UK, but 40k per year is a lot of hours in the car to amortise it over!

costs 1000 euro in my area. Thats a little to much for me. But thanks for the suggestion. maybe ill wait till black friday to get a good deal.

 

[bart332211]

I've had four Android head units (Xtrons 9" & 8.8"unit and Joying 9" &10.5") and haven't had any issues with any of them, everything worked as it should.
Sound quality is a vast improvement from the stock head unit.
Currently have a Joying 10.5" unit in my BMW E46 and I love it and would highly recommend it, I prefer the Joying unit over Xtrons as they have higher resolution screens (1280x720 compared to Xtrons 1020x600)
The 10.5" screen fits well between the upper AC vents and the lower Hvac controls without blocking either of them, installation was simple as it was an E46 specific plug n play unit.

have u experienced the joying unit being slow or anything? especially for navigation since i will use that part a lot.

 

[bart332211]

I've had four Android head units (Xtrons 9" & 8.8"unit and Joying 9" &10.5") and haven't had any issues with any of them, everything worked as it should.
Sound quality is a vast improvement from the stock head unit.
Currently have a Joying 10.5" unit in my BMW E46 and I love it and would highly recommend it, I prefer the Joying unit over Xtrons as they have higher resolution screens (1280x720 compared to Xtrons 1020x600)
The 10.5" screen fits well between the upper AC vents and the lower Hvac controls without blocking either of them, installation was simple as it was an E46 specific plug n play unit.

also would like to know what model u are using. The joyings seems to be pretty affordable

 

[Darko61]

have u experienced the joying unit being slow or anything? especially for navigation since i will use that part a lot.

have u experienced the joying unit being slow or anything? especially for navigation since i will use that part a lot.

The unit I have has 4GB of memory, it's very responsive with no lag when using any of the Apps, including navigation

 

[Darko61]

also would like to know what model u are using. The joyings seems to be pretty affordable

I'm currently using the Joying 10.5 inch unit for the BMW E46, 4GB RAM. 64GB Interrnal storage
I also have the 9 inch unit which has the same specs, but I'm loving the larger 10.5 inch screen
BMW Best Android Head Unit Car Stereo Replacement - Joying

Youtube video for 10.5" for E46.....

 

[markusmarkus]

yes found out that part already

Great!

 

[elfer]

costs 1000 euro in my area. Thats a little to much for me. But thanks for the suggestion. maybe ill wait till black friday to get a good deal.

I've seen it for €740 from a German retailer on ebay but still over your budget. It's a tough choice though between an Alpine/JVC Kenwood/Sony in a fascia and a custom fit Chinese head unit. Pros and cons to both, which is better for you depends on your priorities. Take that in to consideration if anyone claims their choice is definitively "best".

 

[bart332211]

I've seen it for €740 from a German retailer on ebay but still over your budget. It's a tough choice though between an Alpine/JVC Kenwood/Sony in a fascia and a custom fit Chinese head unit. Pros and cons to both, which is better for you depends on your priorities. Take that in to consideration if anyone claims their choice is definitively "best".

yeah it definitly is a tough decision. Since ive never used a android auto. And opinions seem to vary a lot. But ive looked into the joying one that one got me quite interested i have to say.

 

[Jcaze46]

To clear up a miscommunication, there's a difference between Android auto and Android powered headunits. A lot of the headunits are powered by a version of Android that has a theme placed on top to simplify it and it's merely just buttons similar to an OEM look. Where as android auto is only if you have an Android phone and mimics your phone screen for music, Google maps and calls. But if you have an iPhone you get CarPlay, same idea you have your iPhone mimicked.

Android Powered:

Android Auto / CarPlay:

 

[Relinsh]

hello i buy a new android, becos a old android is 4.4.4 version. problem is with can bus decoder. when it is connected the radio does not switch off and the car ignition also when you remove the key. without can bus decoder everything works. And old android 4.4.4 with can bus decoder works fine! Who now wich color cabel need to disconect?
video