• LCD in dash screens » tough choice

I want to order unit which plays DVD/CD/MP3 with touchscreen LCD. I come up with 2 choices:

Clarion VRX935VD



and PIONEER AVH-P6500DVD



I want to add navigation to the system within couple weeks.
I like Clarion a little bit more because it's black and will match dashboard but I want to hear some orofessional opinions in that field. Anyone can share any experience with those units?

Do I need any extra amp to run unit like that? Please let me know, thanx

The Pioneer looks to be really good and is the one i hope to get. Also, I'm pretty sure you can't add navigation to the Clarion unit.

At the moment, you can add a navigation unit to the Clarion deck but the touch screen functions on the 935 won't work with the navigation functions. Clarion IS working on a navigation unit, but it's not released yet. As of now, Pioneer would be the better choice. Pioneer's navigation unit is pretty good too.

Is Pioneer's nav system the AVIC-90DVD??? Based on looking at it on the net...it looks like the AVIC should go somewhere in the dash. Do we have space in our dash for both the AVIC and the P6500??? Or can you mount the nav system in the trunk or something?

I heard Clarion stop selling navigation units because they weren't offer the highest quality possible. They said they will release new units as soon as they will work perfect with no mistakes etc.
But I find it kind of confusing looking at links like that:

LINK 1

LINK 2

Is it possible that Clarion doesn't sell nav in US but sell them in UK?

the unit that possibly work with Clarion is NAX-9500E
Thats user manual for this unit:
User Manual PDF

Anyone have something like that?

wierd....

get the pioneer

Is it cheaper to get the aftermarket Pioneer LCD screen with a navigation unit or the standard navigation unit from BMW in the car and add a dvd player?

Thanks

You can get pioneer dvd/mp3 player + nav unit on ebay for about ~ $2000

BMW offers add=on nav for $1400 but without DVD or mp3 player, and it's definitelly not touchscreen

Also I did some research about BMW nav units and basically most of reviews says they suck

But where do you place the nav system???

Nav goes in the trunk....

I played with both of them over the weekend and damn tough choice

Clarion is nicer visually, black matches much better with the dashboard and most of the menu funtions and output parameters is great too. But I can't connect navigation to it ...even I heard from my ice-guy he can try to connect universal nav....I wouldn't do it because I loose touchscreen ability. Also signal goes thru AV instead of RGB :sad:

Clarion dropped their nav units since there was a lot of problems with rerouting, guiding people in one way streets etc. I guess it was more software than hardware side. They still offer nav for european customers in CD version.

Pioneer is a great piece of equipment. Maybe not that stylish like Clarion.... and color is matching .... I don't know what ??? but definitely nothing in the car. Fast menu and nav makes it pretty good buy not to mention low price (found it on eBay for $1037 + $750 nav unit). You can't beat that
Average installation should take around 3.5-4 hours and cost ~$170 with plastic frame around.

I guess I'll go with Pioneer...unexpensive...fast nav...all touchscreen functions...you can controll volume from the steering wheel (extra $$$)

Good value for the price

found new pix of Clarion

closed:



and open:

i like the second one.

I agree the second one looks cool. However, look into the alpine range! They have some cool units which match the dash even more.
I like the conversion kit that has been used some of these pictures (the plastic surround) Is that the US version? Since the UK one is not as nice looking!!

I like this one:

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthr...threadid=89826