75 replies to this topic

[DennisCooper]

Hi all,

This is the latest BMW E39 Double DIN fascia from leaders in aftermarket vehicle fitting kits, Connects2. This fascia kit allows installation of a traditional Double DIN head unit without requiring the cabin air box to be cut or melted. This version is a re-work of a previous design and comes in at a lower price point. The fascia tilts the head unit so that the rear lower edge just clears the top leading edge of the air box. This makes the fascia extremely easy to install, even by novices to car audio DIY and represents a very substantial saving in labour and modification costs.

The kit has been designed to also offer a dual solution. It's possible to also snap in the pocket/cubby and the single DIN adaptor and install a single DIN head unit. If at a later date it's decided to change to a double DIN unit, there's no need to go and buy another fascia kit, representing a further saving.

The components are made of high quality ABS plastic, and aluminium for the replacement frame into which the main fascia itself securely and strongly fits into.

This fascia kit is available now at £95 inc delivery to UK addresses, please contact me to place an order. Pictures are below to show the panel and options as well as fitted to give an accurate view.

If there are any questions, please respond and I shall answer them for you.

Dennis.

[LimavadyE39]

Dennis

Is it possible to put a single din flip-out screen in the lower section and the cubby in the upper ?? Thereby negating the issue of flip-out screen blocking the air vents and allowing for placement of iphone/ipod in cubby hole. Oh, and also making the stereo equipment less appealing to sticky-fingers jimmy chav

Ta

[jimmy]

Who you calling a chav?

[LimavadyE39]

No offence intended to anyone actually called Jimmy

[DennisCooper]

Hi,

Limavady, officially no, this fascia panel wasn't designed and devloped for this configuration. The angles of the holding brackets and the way they interlock means they won't sit flush enough. Unofficially, I'm thinking with some modification to the fascia and holding brackets, it may well be possible to locate the single DIN unit at the lower section and modifiy the cubby pocket to sit neatly in the upper section. I'll have a look at it in a little while.

I'm guessing the name calling is because you both know each other?! or do you mean 'generic' chav and were not singling out our resident 'Jimmy' here?!

Cheers, Dennis!

[LimavadyE39]

I'm guessing the name calling is because you both know each other?! or do you mean 'generic' chav and were not singling out our resident 'Jimmy' here?!

Purely generic .. I should know better at my age

RE: Placing of single din to lower partition - Thanks for looking in to this, as if it would be interesting to see.

Thanks as always ...

D

[A.Bev]

Very interesting this Dennis, as you know i am interested in the dynavin system but this could be a cheaper option

which double din unit would you recommend i realy only need tuner ipod conection and bluetooth realy but i suppose sat nav would be a good point for resale.

Need the steering wheel controls to work also.

Thanks Andrew

[jimmy]

I think he's just having a pop at me Dennis!!

[DennisCooper]

Hi Andrew,

Yes, I know many are just waiting for the Dynavin to be released and watch how it fares over the next couple months at least. On paper, the dynavin specifications are really good indeed, if the unit matures nicely over the next 6 months or so to remove any bugs it'll be a good alternative. However, it'll not really get to the same levels of audio quality as an Alpine, Pioneer or Kenwood head unit. So just from this, there'll be two divided camps again!

The unit in the picture is my Alpine iXA-W407BT head unit, I'm going diskless - I really like this unit as it has Bluetooth and a full Parrot system built in, so no need for extra boxes. I'll probably get the GPS add on unit later though - no need as I have Co-Pilot on my Smartphone.

The features you mention of course all add up on aftermarket head units! and on the lower priced ones, you have to 'add in' the Bluetooth box and steering wheel controls, which then bumps the price up! The Pioneer AVH-P3100 DVD is a excellent priced head unit at around £299. The Bluetooth module is another £120 or so. Puts that to around £420 or so. The Alpine comes in at £499 but includes the Parrot system built in, so to me, that's a better overall buy and means less install time and messing around too.

I don't have steering wheel controls, so I wouldn't need those, however the Alpine is steering wheel ready and would need the associated adapter of course.

The Dynavin has all the above (except Parrot) built in.

You are welcome to drop me a PM if you'd like some more discussion on this and the fascia.

Cheers, Dennis.

[A.Bev]

Hi Dennis

Looks like the dynavin is good value providing it is good quality and everything works ok

i think i will hang on till it comes out and see what its like

Cheers Andrew

[da_murphster]

Hmmm.....I had just given up on this and not keen on the dynavin as audio quality is key to me and its just too much of an unknown.

Just last night bought a alpine x100 and bt module from ebay but now I want double DIN!

Will this fit my e39 with business (ie just tape) and no on board computer etc? (ie its just the car picture on the dash)

I assume it come swith both the single and double din adapter kit?

[DennisCooper]

Hi Damurphster,

The kit and it's components are designed will fit ANY E39, which comptuer system you have doesn't have an impact on fitting this. So yes, it'll fit your car 100%. You are also correct in that it comes with the option to use the pocket/cubby and the single DIN adapter as well! I just showed one picture of that option installed.

Once it's installed, it's very sturdy as you'd expect and the build quality is excellent. The fascia itself has that oem smooth look paint finish which picks up finger residue - a quick wipe of that with a good cleaner should sort that. You could install your Alpine X100 an dhave that for a while, and then whenever you do pickup a double DIN unit, you know you have the fascia already in place

Limavady, I should hopefully be able to test out the single DIN and pocket 'swap test' a little later today - I'll update then with my findings.

cheers, Dennis.

[sixspeed]

Thanks for keeping us updated, I'm sure plenty of people will be pleased to see this option available.

Just last night bought a alpine x100 and bt module from ebay but now I want double DIN!

I've got the X100, what module do I need to enable the BT function?

[catboy]

if the dynavin has RCA outs can you not create the audio quality you want through careful external amp selection, drivers and media source?
i quite like the idea of a decent facia for the e39 however im not a big fan of the way a double din like in the pictures above pokes out.. looks too aftermarket to me, but then i guess if people want OEM they wouldn't go with an aftermarket stereo in the first place

i also like the fact it uses the OEM mounting positions and has what looks to be a decent sturdy cage to mount it in; nothing worse than having a stereo flapping about in the wind! I brought a double din facia from ebay (£10) to help fabricate my screen surround for my car computer and i can honestly say it was the most pathetic wobbly piece of crap i've ever purchased..

..nothing 1/2 a kilo of glass and filler couldn't fix though

[da_murphster]

Thanks for keeping us updated, I'm sure plenty of people will be pleased to see this option available.

Just last night bought a alpine x100 and bt module from ebay but now I want double DIN!

I've got the X100, what module do I need to enable the BT function?

My fleabay one came with the KCE 300bt - they retail for about £100.

Catboy - sell me your sterio - looks great!

I still do not understand why the in car pc bit has not kicked off more - with netbooks for £150 it has got to be a cheap way of getting bluetooth, ipod, nav, in car diagnostics (selectable mapping anyone?).

Wish I had the expertise/time!

[catboy]

so far i think its cost me about £350 (inc consumables and cables) and im pleased with the results. still a few things to sort out, but i don't want to go totally crazy with the system; I don't see the point in being able to look-up petrol prices over the internet, interogate OBD2 data on the move, etc., etc., but its all do-able if you want it..

if you're patient and a bit more flexible on system performance you could prob do roughly the same for £250-300, but i've been fiddling with this for 12months (and planning for 4yrs) so i decided to bite the bullet and get it done!

b

[DennisCooper]

Hi there all

In car PC's - more is happening in this area

I think OBD2 connectivity can give some useful information although probably only a few of the parameters will be used by most enthusiasts. Internet on the move will be fantastic for passengers, less so for the driver I guess, and will really come into it's own once the 4G networks get rolled out and working well. Then live streaming of Audio/radio stations and streamed video becomes a reality.

'Some' elements are a part of my install I'm doing at the moment

cheers, Dennis!

[DennisCooper]

Hiya again

Update on the potential to put the Single DIN unit in the 'lower' section and the cubby/pocket in the upper section.

I was playing around with the bracket whilst working on my car's install today and it's a mixed bag. Officially, no, it won't work as the 'side' holders which can be screwed to the Single DIN unit don't snap into the fascia frame at all. The cubby can be inverted and pushed/snapped into place at the 'top' though. Unofficially, I think you could modify the brackets and perhaps lightly melt them onto the fascia and then they'd potentially hold the 'back/bottom' edge of a Single DIN unit above the airbox to clear it.

I'm not going to have a chance to give that a go really, but it 'looks' like 'something' could be done.

Cheers, Dennis!

[da_murphster]

Dennis do you hold these in stock?

Do you have a shop etc?

I am interested but would like to check the quality and finish before I part with my hard earned (I'm in Reading)

[DennisCooper]

Hi Da Murphster,

I don't actually keep these in stock, however the one I have in my car becomes my 'demonstrator' model. You are quite welcome to take a look at it and as it's removable fairly easily - I don't mind taking it out quickly so you can hold it in your hands.

In relation to your secondary question - Some of my items I'll be offering I do keep in stock and I also have the stock held at my Professional Installer Partner's Shop/fitting bay as well. As you can imagine, those items are our more popular items. This particular Fascia is to a per order basis.

If at some point you'd like to see this, then I can arrange to meet you at the retail premises of my Installer which is in Slough Trading Estate.

Cheers, Dennis!

[MickH]

Hi Dennis

How much for one of these posted with the iso converters?

Cheers
Mick

[DennisCooper]

Hi Mickydojoh

Price including delivery of the Fascia kit is £95 as per my original post. The ISO connectors I'll need to get a price on, is yours the earlier round pin style? or the later flat pin version? (I'm sure they'd be the same price, but always good to double check!)

Cheers, Dennis!

[MickH]

Cheers Dennis, ill try and pull it out tommorow for a look. Its a 99 if that means anything

[DennisCooper]

Hi MickH

A 99 car I'd 'presume' would be the earlier 'Round Pin' type connector, I'll have a look at the product lists and let you know asap. There's plenty of Ebay as well, and they're quite cheap at around £7-10 delivered.

Cheers, Dennis!

[MickH]

sweet, im trying to get the stereo out but the screw has already been pushed through. Any ideas?

[DennisCooper]

Hi all

This product is now out of stock and unavailable certainly for the near term from Connects2. With all the hoopla surrounding when and if and just how popular and good the Chinese made complete E39 all in one units actually turn out to be, understandably Connects2 don't want to commit to a product that might just sit there unsold.

I thought I'd update this thread so that all know this information. It's possible other car audio specialists may still carry stocks and the other alternative is to get the 'older' pricier version which is around I believe. I think that one is around £149.

Of course, should I hear more on the availability of this version/product I'll update accordingly.

Cheers, Dennis!

[niktsol]

Where can i find a DIY guide for the installation of this panel? Is it fit with all 2-din units? I am looking for a panel like that in which , as the title of the post says, no mods to the air box are needed.

Did someone install it?

[DennisCooper]

Hi niktsol

As per my previous posts, this 'actual' fascia isn't currently available. There is however an alternative from another manufacturer called Celsus ICE and thier link is here;

http://www.celsusice.co.uk/shopdisp_3895.php

The Celsus ICE version doesn't have the single DIN option or the little cubby hole pocket, but the rest is pretty much the same. As you can see, there's some instructions posted on that link.

From me, this fascia is priced at £95 delivered !

Drop me a PM if you wish to order

Cheers, Dennis!

[brad]

Dennis
Armour Auto have just released a new double din fascia for the e39 , i will try and get details across to you tomorrow if you havent allready received their launch info.

[DennisCooper]

Hi Brad,

Yes, I've seen that new one, and I want to see one in my hands to see just how far that protrusion is as I saw one on their display stand at a trade show recently. I didn't have much time to really get a good look at it though!

If you can send the information that you have across, that'd be great! and soon, I'll find out pricing and availability for the E39 community from my account manager

Cheers, Dennis!