E46 Fanatics Forum banner

What's the general consensus on Eonon radio units?

1 reading
73K views 89 replies 33 participants last post by  cgj  
#1 ·
Hey there, new here.

I am thinking about upgrading my e46 radio unit with a Eonon GA9350

What's everyone's experience with this brand? Not hearing great things on other websites..

:eeps:
 
#4 ·
Not sure you'll find a consensus...plenty of folks on either side of the aisle...for and against.

Me, I am happy - not ecstatic with the Chinese units. I have an Eonon that came with my E46. It works, but is a little buggy.
I have recently installed new Xtrons Android 8.0 units in my X5 and E39 and am likewise happy with them and would buy them again. It looks like you can get Apple car play on some of the newer Android units.

There are pretty good reviews on the forums. The one consensus is that service for most of the cheap Chinese units after the sale is quite weak, returns are difficult or not worth it ($), and quality of the electronic parts used inside is not all that great.
 
#5 ·
Not sure you'll find a consensus...plenty of folks on either side of the aisle...for and against.

Me, I am happy - not ecstatic with the Chinese units. I have an Eonon that came with my E46. It works, but is a little buggy.
I have recently installed new Xtrons Android 8.0 units in my X5 and E39 and am likewise happy with them and would buy them again. It looks like you can get Apple car play on some of the newer Android units.

There are pretty good reviews on the forums. The one consensus is that service for most of the cheap Chinese units after the sale is quite weak, returns are difficult or not worth it ($), and quality of the electronic parts used inside is not all that great.
 
#6 ·
One of the bugs I have - is the time is sometimes off.

I got a usb dongle to activate CarPlay - and so far that feature has been working fine.

Another thing to keep in mind - do you have a phone capable of creating a hotspot? If not, you may have a challenge adding things to the unit, as the WiFi range of it is pretty poor
 
#7 ·
I like mine a lot but it’s taken some tweaking to get it how I like it. I still have problems with people being able to hear me on Bluetooth phone calls though. The CarPlay adapter works perfectly (minus problems with people hearing me on calls)Trying to figure that out
Image
 
#53 ·
I have this exact unit - just installed 3 days ago - having issues with radio reception - sometimes works great, othertimes I can't pick up anything. Plus, I cannot modify the main screen like you show - how did you move the icons around?
Other than the radio issue, I'm really pleased with the unit..
 
#8 ·
I really like mine a lot. I especially appreciate the ability to customize the unit with whatever apps I feel like. Sound is on par with the factory head unit.

I do wish the radio tuner app was better, however. Like others, the time is incorrect by an hour when I first start the car and stays incorrect for a minute or two. And the display seems a bit bright at night, even on the dimmest setting.

But overall for the price paid, I'm happy.
 
#9 ·
I am happy overall. Not everything works, but all the important stuff is fine. Radio reception is just OK, no where near as many stations as my wife's newer BMW factory radio, especially FM Biggest problem is dim display and severe reflection off the screen. If it broke I would probably get another just like it because the units that cost over twice as much have many of the same problems, and the nameless Chinese clones have terrible support. The single DIN units that I have tried are terrible - unintelligible displays and many tiny buttons with cryptic tiny symbols on them. At least I can navigate the menus and make the Eonon do what I want without having to refer to the owner's manual every time I use the unit.
 
#10 ·
Yeah, I***8217;m happy enough with mine. It***8217;s not perfect but it***8217;s a huge improvement on stock. And I like tinkering - so the TPMS, backup cam etc are all fun to play with.

Sound quality is way better than I though it would be. CarPlay adapter works well and was definitely worth investing in.
 
#11 ·
Yeah, I’m happy enough with mine. It’s not perfect but it’s a huge improvement on stock. And I like tinkering - so the TPMS, backup cam etc are all fun to play with.

Sound quality is way better than I though it would be. CarPlay adapter works well and was definitely worth investing in.
 
#15 ·
So far I've had a good experience with the GA9150B. I followed Jimmy's install/review

Couple notes:

- I cannot assign the steering wheel buttons to different functions. Default, the speech button changes audio modes (AM, FM, Aux) instead of bringing up Siri/Voice assist.

- The USB ports on the Eonon are very slow charging ~1Amp.

- To prevent slow startup times. In settings/car/advanced set shutoff to: "auto sleep"

Cheers; E46Envyy
 
#18 ·
The steering buttons don't bother me that much since I don't have any on my steering wheel :lmao:


I moved my HVAC unit down without investing in a new dash bracket. I tied some nylon string to springs on the back of the HVAC unit and ran them around and down to the screws that hold the console in place (near the shift lever). That keeps the HVAC unit nice and secure. No one will ever notice the small gaps because it is not surrounded by the proper dash bracket.
I do actually want to buy the relocation kit since my curent front panel is very weared out :(
 
#16 ·
So far I've had a good experience with the GA9150B. I followed Jimmy's install/review

Couple notes:

- I cannot assign the steering wheel buttons to different functions. Default, the speech button changes audio modes (AM, FM, Aux) instead of bringing up Siri/Voice assist.

- The USB ports on the Eonon are very slow charging ~1Amp.

- To prevent slow startup times. In settings/car/advanced set shutoff to: "auto sleep"

Cheers; E46Envyy
 
#17 ·
I moved my HVAC unit down without investing in a new dash bracket. I tied some nylon string to springs on the back of the HVAC unit and ran them around and down to the screws that hold the console in place (near the shift lever). That keeps the HVAC unit nice and secure. No one will ever notice the small gaps because it is not surrounded by the proper dash bracket.
 
#21 ·
Are these Eonon units plug and play with older aftermarket units

I have the situation where I have an old Dynavin unit from around 2011/12 in my car running android 2.2. It works but I would really love carplay plus just a smoother, more up to date user experience.

Would one of these new Eonon units just plug and play with the existing setup? i.e. I there are already the Dynavin connections/adapters for pluggin in an after market setup. Would I just pull out the old Dynavin unit and plug the new Eonon unit in and be set?
 
#24 · (Edited)
I have the situation where I have an old Dynavin unit from around 2011/12 in my car running android 2.2. It works but I would really love carplay plus just a smoother, more up to date user experience.

Would one of these new Eonon units just plug and play with the existing setup? i.e. I there are already the Dynavin connections/adapters for pluggin in an after market setup. Would I just pull out the old Dynavin unit and plug the new Eonon unit in and be set?
Pretty sure it would be plug and play.
 
#28 ·
Firmware upgradable in these Eonon units

Are the firmwares in these upgradable?

I went ahead and ordered a GA9150B which is Android 8.0 from Amazon (my thinking was that even if its a bit more cost wise, I think like $10 more at 219 than the current Eonon webite is showing for the sale, just in case I have problems with it in which case I can return it more easily).

But are these upgradable? The hardware should be able to handle 8.1 or even 9.0 based on specs. Does Eonon put out updates/upgrades to newer versions like a phone maker would?

Also are there 3rd party Android versions for these that would allow upgrading an 8.0 unit to 9.0?
 
#29 ·
Are the firmwares in these upgradable?

I went ahead and ordered a GA9150B which is Android 8.0 from Amazon (my thinking was that even if its a bit more cost wise, I think like $10 more at 219 than the current Eonon webite is showing for the sale, just in case I have problems with it in which case I can return it more easily).

But are these upgradable? The hardware should be able to handle 8.1 or even 9.0 based on specs. Does Eonon put out updates/upgrades to newer versions like a phone maker would?

Also are there 3rd party Android versions for these that would allow upgrading an 8.0 unit to 9.0?
I have a couple of the GA9150B's. Let me answer some of your questions...

It has a external microphone jack.
I too was concerned on sound quality, so I purchased (Amazon) a external mic ---> https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016C4ZG74/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I have not run into the poor sound quality with this mic, but did try the one that came with the radio (horrible) when I installed the unit.

You can upgrade the Android version.
(xda developers has a good section on the MTCD/MTCE PX5 android head units [this is what the GA9150B is]), but I'd wait for a couple of versions to be released before upgrading to Android 9. When you switch out the ROM, the 'source' can be taken from a different hardware reseller, and not all the features will work. Wait for a update to one of the more 'mainstay' versions (like hal9k).
 
#33 · (Edited)
I used this one on my X5 and is really small and works good in both day and night driving. Cost is $12.99. I also coupled this with the DDVR HD front camera that records front and rear whenever the car is on. It uses a separate Android app that allows the front HD camera to read the lines in the road and gives alerts for lane departure and collision avoidance if you get too close at speed. You can also view either camera at anytime while driving and records both to its own microSD card. It is loop recording so the latest videos overwrite the oldest videos. I never need to take the card out or clear the videos.

http://amzn.to/2ibYp9j

Image


Image


Image


Image


Image


Image
 

Attachments

#34 ·
I have recently upgraded from a GA8150a to a GA9350 (android 9.0).

The fluidity of the unit is more slick (suspect could be improved if it had the octa core instead of the quad core chip??) and the apps are certainly of a more modern design but personally I prefer the more simple style of the older apps - they are easier to navigate when glancing at them while driving.

The bluetooth is certainly better. I no longer have complaints from people I am speaking to of them hearing an echo of their own voice which made the conversation almost impossible!

Also the layout of the buttons on either side of the screen make more sense than my old GA8150a.

One thing that is disappointing is I do not think the sound quality is as good as my old GA8150a. It does not have the depth and rounded sound quality of the old unit.........shame, as this is "supposed" to be an upgrade!

One issue I am having is the DAB radio app will not play sound. It has perfect signal and I can see all the radio stations but no sound. I am wondering if the Eonon V0054 DAB+ unit I have connected is not compatible with android 9.0 ??? I have sent Eonon an email today for help.

Three days in.........will try and remember to post again after more time testing.
 
#50 ·
One issue I am having is the DAB radio app will not play sound. It has perfect signal and I can see all the radio stations but no sound. I am wondering if the Eonon V0054 DAB+ unit I have connected is not compatible with android 9.0 ??? I have sent Eonon an email today for help.

Three days in.........will try and remember to post again after more time testing.
So after daily emails with Eonon customer service trying to resolve the DAB+ sound problem we have tried:-
1) deleting the new version of the DAB+ app and running the old version. This resulted in having sound but broken sound coming in and out every 1/2 second or so.
2) upgrading the software to the GA9350 - no improvement with either app.

My suspicion is that Eonon have not created software/app for the V0054 to work with android 9.0 even though they advertise the GA9350 on their website to run the V0054 for DAB+ radio! As of Monday 1st July I have been asked by Eonon to give them some time to resolve the issue (that should never have existed before putting the GA9350 to market!). Perhaps they are now creating an app that will work??
I will give them until some time next week to provide a solution before requesting a full refund if they cannot, and will go back to using my trusty GA8150a.
 
#35 ·
Thinking about getting the GA9350 for my son's car. Some questions I have about the unit-
For apple car play- do you need a dongle to make this work? Or will it work with BT?
Where is everyone running the USB wires off the back of the unit?
Does anyone use that USB port on the front of the unit?

TIA
 
#36 ·
Yeah you have to buy a separate dongle to get CarPlay working. It’s like $40-50 bucks on eBay or amazon. It won’t work over bluetooth
I have some running to a double port underneath the arm rest. I have the GA9150KW and it doesn’t have a USB on the front. I don’t think the 9350 does either but I could be wrong. The only change I thought it had was Android 9.0 OS instead of 8.1
 
#38 · (Edited)
Yeah that dongle is going to be the exact same thing you’ll find anywhere else I assume. They all require an app to be downloaded on the headunit and then it’s plug and play. Works really well!

There is a microSD card slot in the front for a GPS card or for extra storage. Is that what you’re thinking of?