John - if I'm in the wrong place with this thread, PM me


There was another thread talking about Navigation systems that I was going to post this in, but I can't find it. There were a few people in that thread who were curious about the AVIC-D1 and the custom dash I was putting in......well, it is about 90% done.

Since I've got a whole thread to devote to this (and I'm bored at work right now ) I'll tell most of the story.

I have a 2002 BMW M3 that came with Navigation from the factory; however, in 2002 you got CD-Rom based navigation which limited everything you could do with the system. I had a tape deck and the BMW 6-Disc trunk changer that came with the car skipped everywhere - F'n German's don't build any of the "American options" right just to piss in our Wheaties.....anyway......I was left quite a bit "wanting". Especially when the DVD-Based guys were able to add iPod's and Sirius and back up cameras and DVD players and all the good stuff. So I started researching costs on changing to a DVD Nav system and adding the Alpine adapters to allow for all those goodies. That came out to about $2500 before install all said and done - then I discovered the AVIC-D1:

And on to the pictures:

Difference in size between BMW Nav head unit and D1



Getting started on the mold



My trunk monkey



The wonderful wiring nightmare of a BMW

 

The isofixed mold that serves as the bracket for the head unit





Test Fitting

 

Trim painted Piano Black



Installed



^yes, we're going to paint the door trim eventhough the only time it is an eyesore is in pictures.





The D1 in Day mode:



D1 in night mode:



We still need to polish up the clear coat (got to let it cure first), paint the door trim, and build a rear deck mount to hide the antanaes/iPod/RCA inputs/V1.

 

nice verry nice