[KalevE]

So as the topic says I am wondering if anyone has tried fitting an Android unit there or has managed to do it some other way without cutting up the dash? The reason is of course that I don't want to permanently damage my dashboard and I am afraid that one day, when the new screen dies, there won't be a replacement that would fit in the same hole.



Basically the same style unit but move it on top of the center panel which has those vent holes. I have measured with a mockup made from cardboard and it looks like it could fit there with a custom housing.

And someone has managed to install a unit like this https://www.joyingauto.eu/blog/post/...-bmw-e90-2010/

But what I don't get, is where is the main part located since the car seems to have the original radio also installed. Are they both fitted inside the console and spliced together or might the screen be connected directly to the factory unit?

There is of course the Dynavin N7 route that looks good and Xtrons/Avin options that "almost" fit as good but since I have heated seats and front PDC, I would have to move those controls to the sunglass holder (which I don't have) and screen on top of the dash would be more on the eye level.


Some backstory:

I have had plans of installing an Android HU in my car(s) for about last 5 years.

I used to own an E91 with CCC up until 3-4 years ago and back then there were no plug and play solutions for CCC/CIC equipped cars so I gave up and just used my phone.

Last summer I finally decided to jump back into the world of E9x and got myself an E92 without iDrive especially because I wanted to install an Android unit this time. Imagine my surprise when I started looking into this topic again and now there are a lot of OEM looking options for upgrading CCC/CIC units and all new non-iDrive options require hacking up the dash

[ctuna]

Those Android Head Units are essentially a Nexus or Ipad like device.
There isn't any more to them than some antenna, power and aux output
audio devices. They piggy back off the Main Stereo system .
At least I have not seen any that don't do this.
Before they existed people were using Nexus or I pad like devices
to do the same.
Also since the aux is a low fidelity Input expect degraded audio out of it.

Dynavin is a real head unit all the other stuff is piggyback stuff as far as I know.

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showt...t=nexus&page=6

Go to the beginning of the above thread.

[andy_06xi]

There is of course the Dynavin N7 route that looks good and Xtrons/Avin options that "almost" fit as good but since I have heated seats and front PDC, I would have to move those controls to the sunglass holder (which I don't have) and screen on top of the dash would be more on the eye level.


The Eonon unit looks very OEM in the original radio spot. I don't have PDC -- but I do have heated seats. The post-LCI climate control panel has heated seat buttons and is plug-and-play. So I still have heated seat buttons and kept my ashtray. I guess I did lose my 'hill descent' button (I have an Xi) -- but since I never actually pressed it -- I don't miss it.

[KalevE]

What bothers me is that the Android radio replacement units stick out at the bottom



Only exception I have seen is the Dynavin unit.
I guess it is because it saves some room by not having the space for CD player on top.

Dynavin is about 200 eur more expensive than getting a universal Joying 10.25 single din unit or the dash mounted option from Xtrons/Eonon, but it does look the best.

What I like more about the Android units, is that they have a full Android system on them so I can use them without a phone if need be (Dynavin doesn't have Spotify, Waze etc on the unit itself as far as I know) and I could add a DVR unit with ADAS to them which Dynavin does not seem to support.