stuhlej Posted March 24, 2008 Share Posted March 24, 2008 Hi folks Just joined this happy community and spent the last few hours searching through posts doing some research on my sat nav options and getting hopelessly confused! I'm hoping someone can help me sort of the various options. I'm about to order a new 350Z GT. My requirements are: 1. Good sat nav, with TMC capability. Not bothered about postcode search (my current M3 doesn't have postcode and I've never missed it). 2. Bluetooth phone integration (for hands-free phone use). I believe that this is included with the Bose in the GT pack, so I haven't mentioned it further. 3. Speed camera detection 4. iPod interface (to charge iPod and control from head unit or preferably steering wheel). 5. No wires trailing around the car, and no windscreen mounted GPS units. Should be easy, huh? Options I can see having read many posts are as follows: a) Nissan sat nav with separate speed camera widget (e.g. road angel) and external iPod interface for the Bose. Probably around £1500 + fitting High-end after-market sat-nav/head unit combo (e.g. Alpine) properly installed in centre console. I think the right combo will also provide iPod connectivity but I'm not sure about speed camera locations? Total cost probably around the same as a) c) Portable sat nav (e.g. TomTom 920) with separate speed camera widget (e.g. road angel). I think the right sat nav unit will also control the iPOD with a suitable cable. Approx £550 + fitting. So now my questions: 1. Are the above options accurate? 2. Have I missed any possibilities? 3. What option would you go for, given the chance? All comments/guidance appreciated! thanks Jules Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3FIDDYZ Posted March 24, 2008 Share Posted March 24, 2008 unless you want leather, go for a stock and use the money you save for a kenwood dnx7200 with the ipod, traffic and bluetooth. And the TV and rear camera if your feeling flash!! Makes the tunes better straight away but you may need an after market sub. And then get the seats retrimmed in good leather in the future!! IMO!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuhlej Posted March 25, 2008 Author Share Posted March 25, 2008 Thanks for the advice. I must admit that I really like leather seats and cruise control (for those late night motorway trips) so I'm happy to spend the extra money on the GT pack. Or does the Bose stuff make the installation of an after-market unit such as the Kenwood more difficult? thanks Jules Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinmac Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 The Nissan Birdview is pretty good and I am looking forward to using it when my replacement unit arrives, still its only been 6 weeks now and it is coming all the way from Belgium Back on topic, They are very expensive and IMO if not a "free" option they can be replaced with something a lot cheaper and as good to free up money for other bits and pieces. Basic unit was £1200 in 2005. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuhlej Posted March 25, 2008 Author Share Posted March 25, 2008 Yup - still £1200 today and I'm beginning to see that will buy me a LOT of cool new ICE gear with a much better result. 3FIDDYZ pointed me in the direction of the Kenwood DNX7200 and this looks fantastic. I'm on my way to my local ICE specialist this morning to see if he's got any experience working with 350Zs and to see how much the fitting will be. Only three outstanding questions now (going to ask the ICE guys this these as well but if anyone here has any advice it would be appreciated!): 1. Will the Bose gear included in the GT pack make the install of the Kenwood more difficult? I'm assuming the better quality speakers etc will be a good thing, but I don't want to pay extra money for the GT pack and find it makes installing the Kenwood difficult. 2. Will I be able to use the steering wheel control buttons with the Kenwood attached? 3. Does the Kenwood support speed camera locations via a POI database of some sort? Thanks again for all the help. I have to say I've joined car forums etc before but like the car itself you guys seem to be in a different league Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinmac Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 And I know my place in the ICE league so will leave it to the high flyers from here. Someone will be along soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuhlej Posted March 25, 2008 Author Share Posted March 25, 2008 just answered point 3 above by downloading the Kenwood manual, which states that You can manually load custom points of interest (POI)databases, available from various companies on the Internet. Some custom POI databases contain alert information for points such as safety cameras and school zones. The unit can notify you when you approach one of these points. One down, two to go Jules Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob_Quads Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 IMO I would say your money and wait for the car to come and then get an after market headunit which will do the job much better than the nissan unit for around the same money. Top of the bill at the moment has to be the Kenwood - DNX8220BT It has built in Parrot Hands free (better than standard one as it loads phone book - caller ID etc) It has build in Nav - Supplied by Garmin USB/ Direct 1-wire iPod connection Audio/ Video control 7" Touch Screen Good 5.1 Processing Unit IF you wanted to go on and develop your audio system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuhlej Posted March 25, 2008 Author Share Posted March 25, 2008 Thanks for that Rob_Quads. I just got back from a visit to my local ICE emporium (Noriwich In Car Entertainment) and have to say I wasn't overly impressed with them. They claim to have worked on 350Zs before but couldn't answer either of my outstanding questions (numbers 1 and 2 above) so I'm still hoping someone here can help? I did try out the DNX7200 while I was there though and it seemed to be very good. The DNX8220BT looks even nicer, but at £1084 (http://www.caraudio.ie/view_product.php?partno=DNX8220BT) its a lot more than the DNX7200 (I've seen it as cheap as £670 + £80 for bluetooth module at http://shop.audioimages.co.uk/kenwood-dnx7200-2din-car-audio-video-monitor-receiver-with-builtin-navigation-p-299.html) and I'm wonding if the adjustable screen on the DNX8220BT is worth an extra £250? I can't see anything else that the DNX8220BT has that the DNX7200 won't have when the bluetooth module and iPod cable is added. **Edit** Just seen in the manual that there's a tilt adjustment on the 7200 as well ** Jules Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuhlej Posted March 25, 2008 Author Share Posted March 25, 2008 ...and I think I just answered question 2 by reading this thread (http://www.350z-uk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12461), which looks like the answer assuming the gadget works with the 7200 (not explicity listed as bieng supported). So, now all I need to know is if I'm really going to screw up my chances of getting this all working if I go for the GT pack with the Bose gear. Once that's sorted I can order the car and the clock finally starts ticking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuhlej Posted March 26, 2008 Author Share Posted March 26, 2008 Thanks to everyone that has helped with this so far. Is anyone able to answer my last question above? I need to order the car this week, and I'm still not sure whether getting a GT will make it more difficult to fit an after-market head unit like the Kenwood or not. Does anyone have any experiences they can share? Thanks Jules Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob_Quads Posted March 26, 2008 Share Posted March 26, 2008 The GT kit will make it a bit harder to fit but nothing a competant ICE installer could sort. It just means you need an extra bit to convert the signal from the Headunit for the Bose Amps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuhlej Posted March 26, 2008 Author Share Posted March 26, 2008 Top man - thanks! Order for the GT going in now, then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuhlej Posted March 28, 2008 Author Share Posted March 28, 2008 Thanks to all that offered advice on this. I found another installer in the Norwich area who seem to really know their stuff, and quoted £100 less on fitting that the first guys I tried. Result! Now there's just the small matter of waiting 12 weeks until it arrives and I can get the new toys fitted.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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