Finally finished with custom in dash LCD screen. Pics!

Some of you may have seen a bunch of posts I've had trying to get this right... As a quick background, I have an Alpine NVE-N872A navigation system. The system is amazing, and connects to a touch screen TME-M770 6.5" LCD screen. I also have an Alpine DVD player connected to it.

The tricky part, was making a custom bracket that I was happy with. I wanted the screen to be flush mount, and wanted it to look as OEM as possible. Finally, after 2 attempts that I was not happy with, I turned to a pro shop to do the install for me. The guys at Sound-in-Motion, in Allston, MA did an amazing custom install for me (www.sound-in-motion.com). The owner, Derek Kenney is one of the top installers in the country, and I decided that my happiness with the screen was worth the price... ($70/hour labor).

Anyhow, here are a few pics of the final result. BTW, I saved them some time by purchasing a BMW OEM Accessory Nav bracket and extras DSC button for them. I basically dropped off the bracket and button, and they got to work on custom building the screen. Its made of ABS plastic btw.


Anyhow, on to the pictures...

The back of the screen:



Front of the screen:



Screen installed and screwed in. Notice that the bracket has screw holes to secure the mount.



Here you can see the screen fits perfectly with the trim around the shift knob installed. The foam fits snug under, and the screen does not move at all



View from the right. Notice how they have the screen angled downwards. This prevents glare, and the viewing angle is great still. It is easy to use the controls while driving, and the screen can be seen in bright daylight too




Another pic.. Notice how they kept the OEM look of the DSC button:

BTW,
Some more pics of the previous install to see where this has come from.


First off, BMW Accessory NAV bracket... This was used for the screw hole alightments... OEM Part #: 51-18-0-015-949. $135 from Crevier BMW.




Attempt #1, done by a different install shop in Burlington, MA. I hated this and immediatley ripped it out...



Attempt # 2, done by the aforemention shop in Burlington... Looked better, cleaner. But still not happy with it. Most people would be OK with this... I'm way too anal...





Anyhow, I'm finally happy with it... I just wish I knew that Sound-in-Motion existed in the first place...

Looks sick.

Do you know how the shop binded the pieces of ABS together?

Originally Posted by 02bimmer325i

Looks sick.

Do you know how the shop binded the pieces of ABS together?

nope, but I'll ask them when I stop back in next week... A few of the members who are installers here might know...

It was most likely held together by CA glue (two part hobby glue).

Derek and all the guys at SIM are the BEST with fabrication, and even more so when dealing with plastics. Everytime I see their work I am once again floored! Great guys and great installers. Just goes to show how you get what you pay for -- how many hours did the bill you by the way?

Freggin Clleannn!!!

Originally Posted by BigT330Ci

It was most likely held together by CA glue (two part hobby glue).

Derek and all the guys at SIM are the BEST with fabrication, and even more so when dealing with plastics. Everytime I see their work I am once again floored! Great guys and great installers. Just goes to show how you get what you pay for -- how many hours did the bill you by the way?

20... I offset the cost by selling my old setup on ebay... It worked great, it just wasn't for me... so that knocked about $700 off the install. I just wished I'd known about them about 6 months ago...

But you're right, great guys there, and I was floored by their work... They had some Caddy in there that had all these custom screens and consoles built etc. Amazing stuff. My gf was actually impressed, which helped ease the shock when I told her the total price tag.. ha..

You're from NJ btw and are familiar with them?

WOW that looks great.


WORLDS APART from the other installs.

Originally Posted by BigT330Ci

It was most likely held together by CA glue (two part hobby glue).

Derek and all the guys at SIM are the BEST with fabrication, and even more so when dealing with plastics. Everytime I see their work I am once again floored! Great guys and great installers. Just goes to show how you get what you pay for -- how many hours did the bill you by the way?

Thanks.

Mike

looking good

That is the best install I have seen down there!

Originally Posted by Lay2Low

That is the best install I have seen down there!

Thanks! I'm really happy with it

that looks really good!

It was about time that an aftermarket installation of a screen in a E46 looked perfect in these forums, IMO... congratulations!!!

Originally Posted by Technic

It was about time that an aftermarket installation of a screen in a E46 looked perfect in these forums, IMO... congratulations!!!

Ha, it should for the price I paid.. But thamks, I agree, they did a sick job. I evebn made sure they didn't reattach the word "alpine" so that it would oem... Also, after having driven areound with it for a few days, the angle of this (compared to my old one) is 1000x better... No more glare while driving in sunlighte, etc.

Look good! I'm glad you were able to finally get something you were happy with. It's hard finding places that do quality work, which is one of the reasons i only trust myself for the work on my car.

Originally Posted by LAFENGAS

Look good! I'm glad you were able to finally get something you were happy with. It's hard finding places that do quality work, which is one of the reasons i only trust myself for the work on my car.

I wish I was that talented to work like that...

Originally Posted by sna77

20... I offset the cost by selling my old setup on ebay... It worked great, it just wasn't for me... so that knocked about $700 off the install. I just wished I'd known about them about 6 months ago...

But you're right, great guys there, and I was floored by their work... They had some Caddy in there that had all these custom screens and consoles built etc. Amazing stuff. My gf was actually impressed, which helped ease the shock when I told her the total price tag.. ha..

You're from NJ btw and are familiar with them?

This just shows, again, you get what you pay for. They are not cheap but....your happy and everyone agrees it looks PERFECT, correct?

I have been in the audio/aftermarket business all my life....if your anyone you know SIM. You lucky to be in Boston -- some of the best installers reside there. SIM, Rich's Car Tunes, Custom Auto Radio -- some really talented and professional guys up there. Did you see the SIM X5 from a few years ago on their website? I have seen that car in person....one of the cleanest, most functional installs I have ever seen using that much equiptment. Glad you love it!

Originally Posted by BigT330Ci

This just shows, again, you get what you pay for. They are not cheap but....your happy and everyone agrees it looks PERFECT, correct?

I have been in the audio/aftermarket business all my life....if your anyone you know SIM. You lucky to be in Boston -- some of the best installers reside there. SIM, Rich's Car Tunes, Custom Auto Radio -- some really talented and professional guys up there. Did you see the SIM X5 from a few years ago on their website? I have seen that car in person....one of the cleanest, most functional installs I have ever seen using that much equiptment. Glad you love it!

I saw the X5 on their website... They have some really cool stuff there.. Manny Ramirez's Escalade was in while I was there, and someone else with a 330i was having a similar screen designed for a car computer (using that same OEM bracket)... Amazing to see such high quality work up close...

Have you done anything else on the audio side? How did you get hooked up with SIM anyway?