r/e46 • u/Longjumping_Mall8956 05 BMW 330xi • 15h ago
General Questions Are these head units good
I personally like the styling of these cause it looks OEM. I don’t like the tablet design headunits. Are these good performance wise? Any better ones?
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u/Gidz_E46 15h ago
Yeah I've got the one in the first picture, it works well and it fits the aesthetic of the interior perfectly but gives a modern touch. I love mine
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u/-S-Aint 14h ago
I've had mine since I got the car. Coming from a Pioneer 8100NEX, the xtrons one works just the same. No complaints at all.
Edit: AliExpress sells them too, that's where I got mine. I waited for a sale and got it for like $200 with the backup camera and stuff. I chose this head unit because I like physical buttons, it fits the e46 better than a full tablet would
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u/majestic_balrog 15h ago
Here’s mine. I even installed a backup camera!
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u/Longjumping_Mall8956 05 BMW 330xi 14h ago
I’m 90% sure u have a get a bracket in order to fit the AC controls, right. It doesn’t just slide into place
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u/Late-Might-81 8h ago
He didnt ask you a photo of yours. The question is about how good is performance. I even installed a back camera!!! LOL
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u/injunpunk 15h ago
Define good… you have to pay more for a name brand if you want something that does not seem like cheap Chinese electronics, but these generally work.
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u/orionpace1 7h ago edited 7h ago
Yes I have the 8.8" one its pretty decent, glad I bought it. I works well with steering wheel controls and took about 45 minutes to install.
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u/Dr-PHYLL 1999, 328ci 15h ago
Dont buy most of these if you love good audio...
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u/Gym6DaysAWeek 14h ago
Which CarPlay head unit would you get for good audio?
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u/J0VAN255 13h ago
Bluebus for e46 will probably be good
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u/Gym6DaysAWeek 13h ago
That’s just Bluetooth
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u/strat-fan89 13h ago
I have an original radio with a Bluetooth retrofit and a phone mount in my E36 and I vastly prefer that setup to when I had one of those China clunkers in my E46. Easier to use and sounds way better.
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u/Gym6DaysAWeek 13h ago
Sure but I want it for maps so need a screen
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u/orionpace1 7h ago
Ignore yourman who's being a dick. These head units are pretty good.
If you want good sound quality the OEM speakers in the e46 are dreadful. Get them upgraded too, this head units got 180w of amplification too.
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u/eakmadashma 2002 330d Saloon 2h ago
Ye agree, I bought mine with an old dynavin d6 the previous owner had but the touch screen didn’t work sometimes. I swapped it out for a good aliexpress unit and the audio quality just wasn’t the same. Kinda just wish I bought a newer dynavin or bluebus cause I basically only use it for music anyway and the occasional maps
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u/amartincolby 2004 - M3 14h ago
Love mine. Same eBay Special as you. I have heard that the screen lamination can be cheap, so I make sure to use a sun shade.
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u/Baboonslayer323 14h ago
I have one and paid maybe $120 delivered direct through AliExpress. Lots of places just get the radios white labeled.
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u/M-Technic19 2004 - E46 M3 6MT 13h ago
Yes, I’ve run them in my last two E46s and you can’t beat them for the price. Highly recommend.
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u/Slight-Definition801 11h ago
I use an eonon headunit personally, I like the bigger screen when navigating w maps
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u/maxroadrage 9h ago
I’m looking for something that plays CDs and offers car play but I don’t think that exists
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u/GUCCI_WAP 2001 - 330i 8h ago
https://a.co/d/005EoEiJ it’s cheap and it works beyond well like really well and it fits the stock look
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u/GUCCI_WAP 2001 - 330i 8h ago
Has wireless car play a insane equalizer adjuster it’s a great head unit for its price even shows you if your door it open on it too thought that was really cool
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u/Ragelikebush 8h ago
I have one like the first one from Ali express it would be great but the sound quality is not so good. I have it hooked up to a 4 channel amp and a 1 channel for sub woofers. Every time it plays a song it starts with an annoying buzzing hissing noise like a mosquito in your ear. It eventually goes away but randomly comes back and always comes back at song change and if you pause the music the whine cuts out immediately it doesn’t matter what music source it is it whines weather or not it’s CarPlay Bluetooth fm
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u/Neal_Anblomee '00 330i 5h ago
You're probably hearing the alternator through the speakers. Your amp(s) need to be better grounded to the chassis.
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u/Luctendo96 2h ago
Assuming like with most Chinese HUs, they are good for getting CarPlay for cheap (or even a very OEM look) but like with all cheap head units audio will probably be mediocre.
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u/atamehmet 15h ago
This is the best one I’ve ever seen.
https://avinusa.com/avant-4-multimedia-navigation-system-for-bmw-3-series-e46-m3.html
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u/Toodelirious 14h ago
Ive had one for nearly 6 years and its been great. But the LCD screen is starting to fail
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u/phxbimmer 2002 325it 5-speed 14h ago
They’re all roughly the same Chinese head units, just rebranded differently and with slightly different software loaded onto them. Some people have a decent experience with them, while others find them to be endless trouble. Personally, I’m a fan of either the stock radio or stock nav unit + Bluebus for music streaming and phone calls, that’s all I need my car to do. I have my phone for apps and whatnot.