2006 E90 Double Din Dash

grace904 · 08-11-2011, 06:05 PM

I'm new to the forum and recently bought a 2006 BMW 325i, no special packages or upgrades, just a base model. When I bought the car, the display for the radio was broken, almost like someone jammed their fingers into the display. This made me highly upset and thus began my hunt for a kick ass radio set up.

Having no knowledge about anything, my boyfriend and I began to search for a decent sized display for my car, having never heard of a double din, I was iffy on having it installed. I purchased a Metra Double Din Dash Kit, a Pioneer AVHP-4300 from Amazon, an antenna adaptor from Amazon and a wiring harness from Crutchfield also a Pioneer audio/video iPod cord.

I spent roughly $450.00 just on the parts.

This is a picture of the car.

The dash before the install.

The dash after the install.

Hunter51092 · 08-11-2011, 07:27 PM

this is sick!! i was iffy bout getting that too i wanted to see it on another bmw before i got it! how much was everything 450? can u take a picture with light to see the kit a bit better ! =D please and thank you!

bmw325i · 08-11-2011, 07:43 PM

From what I can see it looks good. Post up some better pics if you can.

J0hnny Ray · 08-17-2011, 02:00 AM

More pics please. In daylight.

AWBimmer · 08-17-2011, 06:19 AM

Looks nice but better pics pls!

grace904 · 08-17-2011, 08:09 PM

Here's one, sorry so late to reply back. More to come!

neocleous · 08-18-2011, 08:37 AM

Hi,

I have a Pioneer AVIC F920BT head unit (its also double DIN) and the Metra kit but I cannot get the metra facia to fit properly the buttons on the bottom of the climate control get pushed in and I feel like I am generally bending the facia to try and get it on.

Did you have any problems fitting yours did it go into place without any force or did you have to bend it into place if you see what I mean

grace904 · 08-18-2011, 06:17 PM

Did you file the right edge of the climate controls?

neocleous · 08-18-2011, 06:22 PM

I filled the climate controls on the left and right side underneath where the OEM clip is, just as it looked in the manual.
I have pushed the climate controls as far back as they will go, they are touching the bracket that holds the head unit in place, I can't really see how else I can adjust it.

I take it you didn't have any problems?

grace904 · 08-22-2011, 05:01 PM

I had everything installed at a shop, so if there were any problems with the a/c unit I didn't hear about it. The only "issue" that I had was no steering wheel controls, but thats just another $100 roughly for the part and install. Sorry I'm not much help.

Hedges · 08-22-2011, 05:25 PM

No more heated seats?

grace904 · 08-22-2011, 09:48 PM

My car never had heated seats

White9Brit · 08-23-2011, 03:22 PM

Nice install, looks very sharp.

My wife just picked up an 07 330xi, black and the stereo kinda stinks, so I wanted to surprise her with a nav/DVD system. Pioneer was one of the units I looked at my stereo shop. However, after talking with the tech, he suggested I stay away from them as their reliability has been fairly shotty. This is especially true with BMW systems that have factory amps. He spoke about heating issues and the inherent noisy aspects of their design. The pioneer systems tend to last about 12-18 mths. Or at least what his shop has seen.

I do like them alot though. My brother-inlaw just got a Jensen and that was around the same price point and also very sharp.

At this point, I don't know what to get, Kenwood, Jensen, Sony or Dynavin?

Your install looks awesome, I have heated seats, so reconfiguring the controls will be a bit tricky.

Cheers!

6spdcoupe · 08-23-2011, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by White9Brit

Nice install, looks very sharp.

My wife just picked up an 07 330xi, black and the stereo kinda stinks, so I wanted to surprise her with a nav/DVD system. Pioneer was one of the units I looked at my stereo shop. However, after talking with the tech, he suggested I stay away from them as their reliability has been fairly shotty. This is especially true with BMW systems that have factory amps. He spoke about heating issues and the inherent noisy aspects of their design. The pioneer systems tend to last about 12-18 mths. Or at least what his shop has seen.

I do like them alot though. My brother-inlaw just got a Jensen and that was around the same price point and also very sharp.

At this point, I don't know what to get, Kenwood, Jensen, Sony or Dynavin?

Your install looks awesome, I have heated seats, so reconfiguring the controls will be a bit tricky.

Cheers!

Your dealer gave you solid advice. Personally I would lean heavy on the Kenwood.

Heated seats are not tricky at all. Another piece is all that is needed to relocate to the front pocket.

bmw325i · 08-23-2011, 04:49 PM

I'd recommend an alpine headunit. Pioneer is fairly good too I'd choose it over the kenwood.

bimmercub · 08-23-2011, 07:24 PM

Very Nice!

grace904 · 08-30-2011, 07:16 PM

Thanks! Now I just need to replace the stock speakers.

08-11-2011, 06:05 PM	#1
grace904 Grace904 3 Rep 7 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 325i Sedan Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Florida iTrader: (0)	2006 E90 Double Din Dash I'm new to the forum and recently bought a 2006 BMW 325i, no special packages or upgrades, just a base model. When I bought the car, the display for the radio was broken, almost like someone jammed their fingers into the display. This made me highly upset and thus began my hunt for a kick ass radio set up. Having no knowledge about anything, my boyfriend and I began to search for a decent sized display for my car, having never heard of a double din, I was iffy on having it installed. I purchased a Metra Double Din Dash Kit, a Pioneer AVHP-4300 from Amazon, an antenna adaptor from Amazon and a wiring harness from Crutchfield also a Pioneer audio/video iPod cord. I spent roughly $450.00 just on the parts. This is a picture of the car. The dash before the install. The dash after the install.
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08-11-2011, 07:27 PM	#2
Hunter51092 Major 71 Rep 1,285 Posts Drives: Bmw Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Miami iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW [0.00]	this is sick!! i was iffy bout getting that too i wanted to see it on another bmw before i got it! how much was everything 450? can u take a picture with light to see the kit a bit better ! =D please and thank you!
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08-11-2011, 07:43 PM	#3
bmw325i Major General 223 Rep 5,120 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 325i Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: United States iTrader: (8)	From what I can see it looks good. Post up some better pics if you can.
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08-17-2011, 02:00 AM	#4
J0hnny Ray Engineer 4 Rep 98 Posts Drives: 2006 325i MT (E90) Join Date: May 2011 Location: OC iTrader: (2)	More pics please. In daylight.
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08-17-2011, 06:19 AM	#5
AWBimmer Major General 344 Rep 6,176 Posts Drives: E92 335D Pre-LCI \| E63 M6 V10 Join Date: May 2011 Location: UK iTrader: (4)	Looks nice but better pics pls! __________________ BMW E92 335D \| Lower Klasse IG: @that.m6
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08-17-2011, 08:09 PM	#6
grace904 Grace904 3 Rep 7 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 325i Sedan Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Florida iTrader: (0)	Here's one, sorry so late to reply back. More to come!
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08-18-2011, 08:37 AM	#7
neocleous Private 7 Rep 69 Posts Drives: 325i SE E92 Coupe Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Hi, I have a Pioneer AVIC F920BT head unit (its also double DIN) and the Metra kit but I cannot get the metra facia to fit properly the buttons on the bottom of the climate control get pushed in and I feel like I am generally bending the facia to try and get it on. Did you have any problems fitting yours did it go into place without any force or did you have to bend it into place if you see what I mean
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08-18-2011, 06:17 PM	#8
grace904 Grace904 3 Rep 7 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 325i Sedan Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Florida iTrader: (0)	Did you file the right edge of the climate controls?
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08-18-2011, 06:22 PM	#9
neocleous Private 7 Rep 69 Posts Drives: 325i SE E92 Coupe Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	I filled the climate controls on the left and right side underneath where the OEM clip is, just as it looked in the manual. I have pushed the climate controls as far back as they will go, they are touching the bracket that holds the head unit in place, I can't really see how else I can adjust it. I take it you didn't have any problems? Last edited by neocleous; 08-18-2011 at 06:34 PM..
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08-22-2011, 05:01 PM	#10
grace904 Grace904 3 Rep 7 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 325i Sedan Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Florida iTrader: (0)	I had everything installed at a shop, so if there were any problems with the a/c unit I didn't hear about it. The only "issue" that I had was no steering wheel controls, but thats just another $100 roughly for the part and install. Sorry I'm not much help.
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08-22-2011, 05:25 PM	#11
Hedges Major General 116 Rep 5,178 Posts Drives: 12 C63 AMG Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Toronto iTrader: (8)	No more heated seats? __________________
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08-22-2011, 09:48 PM	#12
grace904 Grace904 3 Rep 7 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 325i Sedan Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Florida iTrader: (0)	My car never had heated seats
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08-23-2011, 03:22 PM	#13
White9Brit New Member 1 Rep 8 Posts Drives: 2006 330 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	Nice install, looks very sharp. My wife just picked up an 07 330xi, black and the stereo kinda stinks, so I wanted to surprise her with a nav/DVD system. Pioneer was one of the units I looked at my stereo shop. However, after talking with the tech, he suggested I stay away from them as their reliability has been fairly shotty. This is especially true with BMW systems that have factory amps. He spoke about heating issues and the inherent noisy aspects of their design. The pioneer systems tend to last about 12-18 mths. Or at least what his shop has seen. I do like them alot though. My brother-inlaw just got a Jensen and that was around the same price point and also very sharp. At this point, I don't know what to get, Kenwood, Jensen, Sony or Dynavin? Your install looks awesome, I have heated seats, so reconfiguring the controls will be a bit tricky. Cheers!
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08-23-2011, 04:49 PM	#15
bmw325i Major General 223 Rep 5,120 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 325i Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: United States iTrader: (8)	I'd recommend an alpine headunit. Pioneer is fairly good too I'd choose it over the kenwood.
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08-23-2011, 07:24 PM	#16
bimmercub Private 0 Rep 79 Posts Drives: 325I Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (1)	Very Nice! __________________ Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before
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08-30-2011, 07:16 PM	#17
grace904 Grace904 3 Rep 7 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 325i Sedan Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Florida iTrader: (0)	Thanks! Now I just need to replace the stock speakers.
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