What slide in radio\navigation system?

[jeremytaylor]

I can thoroughly recommend the Pioneer AVIC unit. It fits a standard DIN slot, has DVD disc covering the whole of Europe, has TMC traffic info coverage, has a fold-out screen, and when not in use looks like a very plain stereo. It also has a removable face.

It's quicker than the Command in my E320, and has touch-screen operation (although I think this is a mixed blessing). I believe it has a gyroscope and speedo-feed, but am prepared to stand corrected on this. I think the new version should be about £1500 fitted with a multi-CD if you want one. Yes it's more than a Tom Tom/Garmin/etc. but it's also a whole lot better.

 

[glojo]

I can thoroughly recommend the Pioneer AVIC unit. It fits a standard DIN slot, has DVD disc covering the whole of Europe, has TMC traffic info coverage, has a fold-out screen, and when not in use looks like a very plain stereo. It also has a removable face.

We have the AVIC 9 with numerous options installed in the command and control area (back seat drivers position)

Hopefully I am going to install a very basic, easy to use system for when I am not in the vehicle.

Regards
John

 

[BTB 500]

Yes it's more than a Tom Tom/Garmin/etc. but it's also a whole lot better.

It's certainly a lovely bit of kit, and a much neater installation. And less nickable.

But is it any better, functionally, than a £400 TomTom? Which comes with street level mapping for all of Europe (and the USA and Canada) on a 20Gb hard disk. You can update anything on it via the USB port on your PC, any time. Choice of TMC or a proprietary (subscription) traffic service. Text-to-speech for reading out place and road names when navigating. Bluetooth hands-free, using text-to-speech for text messages. Real-time updates of mobile speed camera locations via Bluetooth (if you want). Solid state gyro. Auto volume and brightness adjustment. Touch screen, and radio remote (dash mounted or hand-held). MP3 player. IPod control. Etc. etc.

http://www.tomtom.com/products/features.php?ID=212&Language=1

 

[jeremytaylor]

Ahh, I see.

Well, last week I hired an SLK in Germany with the basic APS50 sat nav. This is a Din-sized unit with a small picture of your route direction (similar to what you access on the small display in the middle of the dials on a Comand-equiped E). Despite the spoken directions being in German, we had no problem with it.

I would not for one minute suggest that you buy one of these from your friendly MB dealer, but I believe Blaupunkt, Becker, etc. make similar after-market units (is APS50 made by Becker?) which I would imagine work in a similar fashion.

 

[jeremytaylor]

But is it any better, functionally, than a £400 TomTom?

http://www.tomtom.com/products/features.php?ID=212&Language=1

The only 'portable' nav unit I have experience of is a Road Angel Navigator, and I find the screen too small to show enough detail. I have not used a Tom Tom but have heard mixed experiences from people who have. But, hey, if you're happy with it, that's great!

 

[DITTRICH]

I have just had a Kenwood DVD/CD/Tuner system installed in the W202 with a motorised 7'' screen. This is linked to another box well hidden away containing a garmin unit with an SD slot. No cables, screen hidden when not in use, no satnav give away telltale signs, removeable fascia. The garmin unit is new for 2006 only been out a few months. Not sure what the equivalent portable unit is though. However, this is a nice solution as I can burn all my albums onto 1 or 2 DVD's and listen to the music at the same time as using the satnav. With some other systems, the satnav is on a DVD disk but my system has it in a hidden box.
Les