Pioneer AVIC Z1...installed

[NextGen]

I finally got around to installing this headunit. I have only had it installed for a week now and am still getting use to it. This was by far one of the most detailed (not complicated) installs I have ever done. Besides the headunit I also installed the iPod connector and XM radio with nav traffic. I plan on adding a backup camera also. I actually purchased the pioneer camera, ND-BC1, but decided not to install it because it looks to bulky for me.

For those of you interested in installing a unit like this I would suggest to you that this will require a lot of work. You need to be comfortable with car electronics and you need to be comfortable with disassembling parts of the X5.

Okay, enough talk, how about some pictures!

Here is the AVIC-Z1. It has a 30GB hard drive (20GB used by navigation though), 7 inch screen, plays DVD movies but not DVD mp3, includes microphone for voice recognition and is iPod and XM-Sirius ready.


Here is the iPod, iPod connector, and XM unit. I decided not to use the camera.


Okay this player has a ton of features. I am not going to even try to cover them here. You are better off going to Pioneer's website and check it out there. What I do want to focus on is the X5 specific issues I ran into when installing.

My factory system is the Business CD with the MID and DSP. For those that don't know the DSP amp will not turn on unless both the CD and MID are connected. The best solution is to bypass the whole system. The first step is removing the CD and MID.






To get the double din unit installed you will have to make a permanent modification to your dash. I used a hack saw to cut the radio bracket as it cut smoothly and left very few plastic chips.




The Z1 is a perfect fit vertically and has a little bit of space horizontally.


All I need now is a bezel!


Here is the iPod unit. It was small enough to fit into the dash.


I removed the glove box and put the XM unit behind the glove box. This may turn out to be a bad placement as the XM unit has a reset button. I'll have to remove the glove box if the XM requires a reset. I also routed the ipod cable (white wire in this picture) into the glove box. That is where the ipod will be.


I decided to run speaker wire for all 4 channels from the head unit to the rear. I used wiretaps to tap into the speaker wires. I wired up the midranges on the dash with the tweeters in the door. The X5 speakers are 8 ohm. I wired them in parallel style to drop the ohm to 4. The Z1 can handle 4 to 8 ohms. I then decided to wire the front woofers and rear woofers together. Why? Because I wanted more bass response and I never use the fader. The result is...um... acceptable. The factory speakers are just plain awful when connected to an aftermarket headunit however I would say the quality is about the same as the factory (minus the subwoofer as that is not connected).

This is all a temporary setup as I plan on getting an amp to power the speakers and a subwoofer to give me back the lows. I will also upgrade the speakers. My budget won't allow me to do this until next year. If you are in a situation like myself where you can't do everything at once then I highly recommend direct connect to the factory speakers. Just turn the highs down as the tweeters are terrible!

I installed the XM antenna and the navigation antenna in the rear brake light cover. I haven't had any reception issues.

[NextGen]

Here are the wiretaps.


Do not buy the Pioneer double din kit as it doesn't fit the X5.




Here is a screen shot of the ipod interface.

[X5-RWK]

The pioneer units are the way to go for aftermarket Nav systems.

[Kryptonite]

you are truly my motivation! and to think, I was gonna pay off some debt before venturing down this road; to hell with that I'm all on it now:

AVIC-Z1
Ducatiboy Bypass
Ipod Interface
Bluetooth Module
PACS Steering Wheel Controls
XM/NAVTRAFFIC Unit
iLink iPod Connection (For Video & 3rd party GUI)
Rear View Camera (w/ Night Vision)
Front View Camera (w/ Night Vision) ["Look Ma, no headlights!"]
Directed Electronics Video Switcher
7" Headrest Monitors
DLS-UP6's in front and rear
JL-Audio Stealthbox
Zapco Reference 360.4
Zapco Reference 350.2

Let the Games begin!!!!!!!




Kryptonite

[NextGen]

X5-RWK - I like Pioneer too! I have only purchased their units since I was a teenager.

Kryptonite - That is one heck of a list. I want the front and rear cameras also. I prefer to have a split screen to show them both at the same time however that video switcher you mentioned may be a good option. I'll have to check it out.

One other thing to watch out for with the Z1. The Z1 does not have a negative tilt feature like the Exclipse units. The owner's manual says do not installed the unit beyond 30 degrees vertically. In the X5 our dash opening looks to be 40 to 45 degrees. In the daytime my screen colors wash out a little because of the angle. The night time screen is perfect.

[mandream]

I've had my eye on the Z1 for a while, and this thread may be just the incentive i need.

You need to be comfortable with car electronics...

I'm not really, yet... But I may be willing to take the plunge if I can get enough information before I start. So, I have a few questions.

I like that the IPod adaptor fits behind the HU. Aside from behind the glovebox, where else might you put the XM unit?

I'm also planning on adding Bluetooth. Any idea on the size of that unit and where it could go?

I already have an XM Direct unit (http://www.circuitcity.com/rpsm/oid/...oductDetail.do ) that I use connected to my CD changer with the BlitzSafe adaptor. Any chance I'll be able to use the same unit (with a different adaptor) or do I need to buy a new XM module?

I have a non-DSP system. Can I hook up the Z1 to the existing amp as opposed to wiring to the speakers directly? If so, will all the connections be up front - or will I have any hookups in the CD-Changer area?

I guess I'll need to run the Satellite and Navigation antennas to the back - but that shouldn't be much different than when I ran the Ice Link Cable from the changer to my ash tray, correct?

Sorry for all the questions - there will likely be more to come - but I really want to try to do this myself, if at all possible.

TIA,

Mike

[NextGen]

I like that the IPod adaptor fits behind the HU. Aside from behind the glovebox, where else might you put the XM unit?

My original plan was to put the XM unit in the glove. It will fit in there perfectly. I just didn't like the idea of losing the little bit of space that we have in there. I also thought about putting it under the passenger seat, but I didn't want to run wire down there. Those are about your only options as you are limited by the distance of the IP Bus and data connector from the XM unit to the Z1.

I'm also planning on adding Bluetooth. Any idea on the size of that unit and where it could go?

I don't have this option as I don't have a bluetooth phone. But I have read that the unit is very small. It will probably fit in the dash. I also read that this unit does not require all the wiring like the other ones. All you have to do is connect it to the Z1 and you are done. You should be able to get the dimensions from the Pioneer website.

I already have an XM Direct unit (http://www.circuitcity.com/rpsm/oid/...oductDetail.do ) that I use connected to my CD changer with the BlitzSafe adaptor. Any chance I'll be able to use the same unit (with a different adaptor) or do I need to buy a new XM module?

I wasn't able to follow that link. You will need a Pioneer XM module as Pioneer communicates with the units through the IP-BUS.

I have a non-DSP system. Can I hook up the Z1 to the existing amp as opposed to wiring to the speakers directly? If so, will all the connections be up front - or will I have any hookups in the CD-Changer area?

Because you have the non-DSP amp you have a lot less headache than I had to deal with. You can connect directly with the non-DSP amp. Also all four channels are wired to the factory radio harness. So all you have to do is wire your Z1 to an aftermarket harness and you are all set.

I guess I'll need to run the Satellite and Navigation antennas to the back - but that shouldn't be much different than when I ran the Ice Link Cable from the changer to my ash tray, correct?

That is correct. I put both of mine in the rear brake light cover. I ended running each wire on opposite sides of the vehicle because the Pioneer manual said to run XM separate from other wires to minimize interference .

Sorry for all the questions - there will likely be more to come - but I really want to try to do this myself, if at all possible.

I was in the same boat as you when I started my project. I would not have tried this without all the helpful information I got here on X5World.

[NextGen]

You will also need to tap 3 wires, VSS, Reverse, and Parking brake. I tapped the VSS and parking brake wires at the cluster. Use an allen wrench to remove the two screws holding it in place and then slowly pull it out. You will need to leave the X powered because you will have to drop the steering wheel to get to it. Here is a write-up on how to remove it - http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/i...t-cluster.html.

You can also find these wires in the online WDS. My cluster has 3 connectors on the back. Two are toward the passenger side and one is toward the driver's side. The VSS wire comes off the top connector on the passenger side. It is a black-white wire. I tapped into it with the pink\lavendar wire here.


Although you can tap the parking brake wire from the traditional place, I decided to tap it here because I was already in here. The parking brake wire is on the connector that is on the driver's side. It is one of the few wires that have 3 colors. It is blue-brown with yellow tick marks.


The reverse wire will require some work as directly connecting to one of them is not a good idea. The problem is that the power is sent out in pulses instead of a steady stream. The Z1 allows you to monitor the connection. When I put the X in reverse and monitor the status it changes from High to Low (Back Signal on Z1). It should always be High. To make it work correctly you need to get a relay http://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e53-forum/...ighlight=relay.


I put the iPod in the glove box. I ran the cable through the hole where the strut is located. This has to be done with the glove box disassembled because you will have to remove the strut to get the ipod connector through the hole!




Oh by the way make sure you get an aftermarket radio harness that has all the wires. I got mine from a local auto shop but I think you can get it online. It has every wire, even ones that are not used. This one is much better than the one I got from Crutchfield (which I sent back). Try looking for it on BestKits.com, BHA9003.

[mandream]

Thanks for all the info. I was encouraged after your first response - I'm a bit nervous after the second. Not sure how I feel about removing the cluster and tapping the wires.

As warned, a few more questions.

Are you planning on doing anything with your MID? I've read that some people try to re-locate it to retain control over functions like setting the clock, trip settings, etc. Not sure this is a big deal to me, but I'm not sure I like the idea of not being able to set the clock, mpg, etc.

What about steering wheel controls? Do you know how involved the interface install is?

If I go with the Z1, I'll likely use this bezel http://www.mybimmer.net/x5doubledintrim.htm I'm not clear how the Z1 and or the bezel are secured inside the new opening.

Thanks again,

Mike

[rlouis]

The Bluetooth module is acutally 1/4 the size of the iPod module (half the width, and half the height) and has 1 cable to connect to the Avic.

This information is great! I've been stock piling all these parts and may have the guts to try and install everything now

Was wondering if and where you installed the mic?? Read a lot of complaints about the positioning and sound of the factory mic, and was wondering where the best location for the pioneer mic might be.

Also, can you be more specific on where you installed the NAV antenna ("rear brake light cover"), ie, actually in the center or side rear brake light assemblies or under the rear wing on the roof (or whatever its called) ??

Thanks!
-Ray