Android unit - advice on what to get

jim_k · 20th December 2021, 18:11

Please can ask some advice as I'd like to get an android head unit for Xmas and really stuck on what to get. I'd like to spend £200+ install Currently I have:

Rover TV head unit with 6 changer CD player. I've upgraded the speakers to Harman Kardon and added the tweeters too. I have a 12v digi box in the boot but it has poor reception so doesn't add any value.

What I would like:

Modern sat nav
Reversing camera
DAB radio
CD player compatible
I like the idea or TV capability and rear headset connectivity but this is not essential.

I'm a bit lost on what to get. Some units need DAB tuner, antenna, Sat nav cards, looms adaptors. I don't want this to get too expensive or complicated.

Is there anyone who can advise, oh and also wondering about installers I can use. I'm in Reading although my mobile mechanic said he can install if needed.

Many thanks for any advice or guidance.

Jim

AndyN01 · 21st December 2021, 07:21

Hi Jim.

I have an android Xtrons Unit. It's IN9946 touch screen - now discontinued as far as I can tell.

Looks pretty much like this:
https://xtrons.co.uk/bmw-rover-mg-va...-9-0-pbx9946bl

but it wasn't £300+

While the unit itself is fine and works well, the aftermarket support is zilch so I won't be getting another.

This might be useful:
https://the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/s...d.php?t=316887

Mine has reversing camera - the wiring for which runs from the tailgate (mine's a tourer but you'd still need to run the same wiring from the boot lid in a saloon) all the way along the floor under the carpet by the edge of the seats then up and under the steering column and into the centre console. Not difficult as such but time consuming.

Having said that the camera is brilliant and the unit (I think) adds some marker lines.

I use a Garmin Sat Nav but the thread above has a suggestion.

My Xtrons has DAB and I bought a top line, roof mounted aerial from DABonwheels but I just found out that they've ceased trading. Their service was brilliant.

. The reception is nowhere near as good as my son's 12 year old BMW 3 series and nor as good as a few other cars I've been in. Given that the aerial set up was into 3 figures on its own I'm not too convinced by the Xtrons DAB quality - and you may well need the Xtrons DAB adapter which is more ££££'s. And yes, that's a load more wiring to feed through. But you'll have that whatever you go for. Some of the aerials include GPS so that may help.

Mine has no CD. I don't know how many android units do? But I use a 64GB USB flash drive which had about 6K tracks on it at 320Kbps quality. Can't fault the sound quality for car use.

Don't know about TV etc. I guess that'll be some serious research for you to do.

Hope that helps.

Good Luck.

tonybel · 21st December 2021, 09:10

Hi, I asked the same question a couple of months back and had a just a couple of replies. On recommendation I bought an Xtrons unit and have got to say its rubbish and I regret buying it. installation was a nightmare and i still can’t get the steering wheel controls working, it has a radio, you just cant get a much reception despite installing a replacement arial after getting nothing worth having with the stock rear window arial. The instruction manual that came with the unit was for an older unit, so not a lot of guidance there!

So don’t buy one of those! the smart choice is a pioneer or Kenwood unit, but they are well over your budget of £200 which I would say is too light and my advice is spend £450 plus - or stay with what you have.

AndyN01 · 21st December 2021, 12:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonybel

Hi, I asked the same question a couple of months back and had a just a couple of replies.....

Sorry mate, I must have missed your thread.

jim_k · 21st December 2021, 16:47

Really good advice here. So grateful. Let me consider it and make a call on where to go next.

Rogue · 21st December 2021, 17:18

Further to AndyN01 i also have an Xtrons android touch screen unit which i am very pleased with but fortunately i have not had to deal with them for any customer care issues so i can't comment about that.

Ched · 21st December 2021, 18:28

The best of the chinese stuff is a Dynavin n6 for the bmw e46 which also fit our cars.
They have a pretty good name and more importantly they also come with a 2 year warranty, they also have a customer service dept that answers the phone.

They are not cheap tho. circa £500 , I have just bought a second hand one for my other halves zt which I will fit during the Christmas break.
They seem to be quite popular amongst the bmw fraternity

I had an xtrons unit that was also a complete waste of money in my humble opinion, I'd rather have a hole in the dash than another one of those.

MSS · 21st December 2021, 19:26

This is worth a read, especially post #49

https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/for...=278263&page=5

xsport · 21st December 2021, 20:35

get yourself a kenwood or if you can stretch to an alpine, go for it. if you change vehicles then take it with you,and save your old one to fill the hole !!! at the end of the day , you get what you pay. ..

Terryf · 21st December 2021, 21:20

Fortunately, my old navall 2 is still going strong.

20th December 2021, 18:11	#1
jim_k Avid contributor Rover 75 saloon Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Reading Posts: 199 Thanks: 47 Thanked 44 Times in 31 Posts	Android unit - advice on what to get Please can ask some advice as I'd like to get an android head unit for Xmas and really stuck on what to get. I'd like to spend £200+ install Currently I have: Rover TV head unit with 6 changer CD player. I've upgraded the speakers to Harman Kardon and added the tweeters too. I have a 12v digi box in the boot but it has poor reception so doesn't add any value. What I would like: Modern sat nav Reversing camera DAB radio CD player compatible I like the idea or TV capability and rear headset connectivity but this is not essential. I'm a bit lost on what to get. Some units need DAB tuner, antenna, Sat nav cards, looms adaptors. I don't want this to get too expensive or complicated. Is there anyone who can advise, oh and also wondering about installers I can use. I'm in Reading although my mobile mechanic said he can install if needed. Many thanks for any advice or guidance. Jim

21st December 2021, 07:21	#2
AndyN01 This is my second home Toyota RAV4 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Tamworth Posts: 3,068 Thanks: 2,478 Thanked 1,579 Times in 968 Posts	Hi Jim. I have an android Xtrons Unit. It's IN9946 touch screen - now discontinued as far as I can tell. Looks pretty much like this: https://xtrons.co.uk/bmw-rover-mg-va...-9-0-pbx9946bl but it wasn't £300+ While the unit itself is fine and works well, the aftermarket support is zilch so I won't be getting another. This might be useful: https://the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/s...d.php?t=316887 Mine has reversing camera - the wiring for which runs from the tailgate (mine's a tourer but you'd still need to run the same wiring from the boot lid in a saloon) all the way along the floor under the carpet by the edge of the seats then up and under the steering column and into the centre console. Not difficult as such but time consuming. Having said that the camera is brilliant and the unit (I think) adds some marker lines. I use a Garmin Sat Nav but the thread above has a suggestion. My Xtrons has DAB and I bought a top line, roof mounted aerial from DABonwheels but I just found out that they've ceased trading. Their service was brilliant. . The reception is nowhere near as good as my son's 12 year old BMW 3 series and nor as good as a few other cars I've been in. Given that the aerial set up was into 3 figures on its own I'm not too convinced by the Xtrons DAB quality - and you may well need the Xtrons DAB adapter which is more ££££'s. And yes, that's a load more wiring to feed through. But you'll have that whatever you go for. Some of the aerials include GPS so that may help. Mine has no CD. I don't know how many android units do? But I use a 64GB USB flash drive which had about 6K tracks on it at 320Kbps quality. Can't fault the sound quality for car use. Don't know about TV etc. I guess that'll be some serious research for you to do. Hope that helps. Good Luck. __________________ Andy. http://www.midlandsnanomeets.co.uk/ Last edited by AndyN01; 21st December 2021 at 12:47.. Reason: spelling

21st December 2021, 09:10	#3
tonybel Avid contributor MG ZT 190 SE Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Stone Posts: 173 Thanks: 66 Thanked 29 Times in 24 Posts	Hi, I asked the same question a couple of months back and had a just a couple of replies. On recommendation I bought an Xtrons unit and have got to say its rubbish and I regret buying it. installation was a nightmare and i still can’t get the steering wheel controls working, it has a radio, you just cant get a much reception despite installing a replacement arial after getting nothing worth having with the stock rear window arial. The instruction manual that came with the unit was for an older unit, so not a lot of guidance there! So don’t buy one of those! the smart choice is a pioneer or Kenwood unit, but they are well over your budget of £200 which I would say is too light and my advice is spend £450 plus - or stay with what you have. __________________ Running like a train & leaking like a sieve

21st December 2021, 17:18	#6
Rogue I really should get out more....... 75 CDT SE 160 Saloon Join Date: May 2017 Location: Thorpe St Andrew, Norwich Posts: 2,644 Thanks: 1,386 Thanked 1,096 Times in 774 Posts	Further to AndyN01 i also have an Xtrons android touch screen unit which i am very pleased with but fortunately i have not had to deal with them for any customer care issues so i can't comment about that. __________________ Glutton for punishment --- Previously ... 2.6 SD1 x 2, 3.5 SD1, 820S, 820Si x2, 216 Gsi, 220T saloon, 414, 45 1.4 x2 and now a Cowley 75 CDT

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21st December 2021, 16:47	#5
jim_k Avid contributor Rover 75 saloon Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Reading Posts: 199 Thanks: 47 Thanked 44 Times in 31 Posts	Really good advice here. So grateful. Let me consider it and make a call on where to go next.

21st December 2021, 18:28	#7
Ched I really should get out more....... MG ZT V8, MGZT 135 derv ,MG TF 135 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Romsey Posts: 2,293 Thanks: 553 Thanked 573 Times in 385 Posts	The best of the chinese stuff is a Dynavin n6 for the bmw e46 which also fit our cars. They have a pretty good name and more importantly they also come with a 2 year warranty, they also have a customer service dept that answers the phone. They are not cheap tho. circa £500 , I have just bought a second hand one for my other halves zt which I will fit during the Christmas break. They seem to be quite popular amongst the bmw fraternity I had an xtrons unit that was also a complete waste of money in my humble opinion, I'd rather have a hole in the dash than another one of those.

21st December 2021, 19:26	#8
MSS This is my second home Rover 75CDT, Jaguar XF-S 3.0V6, V'xhall Omega V6 Estate, Twintop 1.8VVT, Astra Estate and Corsa 1.2 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Suffolk Posts: 7,083 Thanks: 283 Thanked 624 Times in 440 Posts	This is worth a read, especially post #49 https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/for...=278263&page=5

21st December 2021, 20:35	#9
xsport Posted a thing or two rover 75 club se Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Leicester Posts: 1,636 Thanks: 358 Thanked 419 Times in 310 Posts	get yourself a kenwood or if you can stretch to an alpine, go for it. if you change vehicles then take it with you,and save your old one to fill the hole !!! at the end of the day , you get what you pay. ..

21st December 2021, 21:20	#10
Terryf Gets stuck in Rover 75 Saloon BRG Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Retford Posts: 573 Thanks: 119 Thanked 142 Times in 69 Posts	Fortunately, my old navall 2 is still going strong.