Thread: Aftermarket Satnav/Audio in D3

Hi Jeff,


I just tried to post a reply but it failed, so hope this doesn't come out twice.

I have an Eclipse 6000 in my Disco 2, with a reversing camera in the rear number plate housing and another on the rear of my camper trailer. I also fitted the CD stacker, but you can use an IPOD system if you are not a Luddite like me. There is also a Bluetooth system available for mobile phone, which I did not get, but may do when my existing phone needs replacing and the existing hands free kit is then rendered useless.

For the Disco 2, the radio slot has to be enlarged from about 1.5 DIN to 2 DIN, but this was no problem. I don't know what size slot the D3 has.

Really Good Points:

1. Very good quality.
2. Very large and clear touch screen, adjustable in angle for bright sunlight.
3. Fully integrated, so no visible "add-ons" etc, and fully insurable, which windscreen and similar mount systems are not (by my insurance company anyway) due to ease of theft.
4. Very simple to use.

Not So Good Points:
1. Mapping is not Australia wide. It uses the SENSIS system which has really expanded over the past few years, but which still only covers towns and main roads and 19 "4wd routes". We have found surprising omissions such as the major road between Ouyen-Piangil-Balranald which is the main route for East coasters travelling to and from Adelaide.
2. Cost. It is expensive, but you do get what you pay for.
3. You have to stop and switch off the ignition to set a destination other than from the map. This is a minor hassle, allegedly a safety feature but it is annoying that it isn't sufficient just to stop.
4. You have to manually set average speeds for city, suburbs and highway if you want the time to destination function to be anything like realistic.

Summary.

Overall it is a great system. Good quality but expensive. Very simple and easy to use. Whether it is good or not for your application depends on where you want to take it. If you want it to show all the great tracks in the Top End, it won't, but it will give you lat and long and it has a breadcrumb function. If you just want it to show you the main routes and most town streets, and offer a combined audio nav package, it is pretty close to ideal. Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Terry

Wow! I couldn't ask for a more complete answer. Thank you very much!

Have you plugged your laptop into the car and asked it if it likes it
I hear you have to tell the D3 when it has new spots or they won't work.....

Bit too hitech for me.

I did see Peter Blasina (the Channel 7 tech guru guy) on Sunrise recently saying he'd lost 6 incar/ indash sat/com thingys to thieves over the past year or so.

GQ

Got a call from the LR dealer, informing me that the AVN 6000 won't fit in a D3 without having to fit a crappy finisher piece.

So, any D3 owners out there with an aftermarket satnav they can recommend?

Originally Posted by cdrtravis

Got a call from the LR dealer, informing me that the AVN 6000 won't fit in a D3 without having to fit a crappy finisher piece.

If that's the big double-DIN unit I looked at, most decent audio places will make you up a surround which will be a near perfect match to the dash...but my guess would be to add another $400-500 to the labour costs for it.

I wanted to keep the dash as it was, but add a screen where the factory satnav goes to do bluetooth phone, satnav, reversing camera and mp3, and connect into the aux on the factory stereo. Alpine do a very nice screen now, but the optional satnav unit doesn't have Aus maps!

What I am now considering is a touch screen fitted there, with a 12v PC in the top glove box. Not sure I be arsed though....bound to be 10x the amount of work I think it will be to get it how I want it.

Originally Posted by Grumndriva

Hi Jeff,


I just tried to post a reply but it failed, so hope this doesn't come out twice.

I have an Eclipse 6000 in my Disco 2, with a reversing camera in the rear number plate housing and another on the rear of my camper trailer. I also fitted the CD stacker, but you can use an IPOD system if you are not a Luddite like me. There is also a Bluetooth system available for mobile phone, which I did not get, but may do when my existing phone needs replacing and the existing hands free kit is then rendered useless.

For the Disco 2, the radio slot has to be enlarged from about 1.5 DIN to 2 DIN, but this was no problem. I don't know what size slot the D3 has.

Really Good Points:

1. Very good quality.
2. Very large and clear touch screen, adjustable in angle for bright sunlight.
3. Fully integrated, so no visible "add-ons" etc, and fully insurable, which windscreen and similar mount systems are not (by my insurance company anyway) due to ease of theft.
4. Very simple to use.

Not So Good Points:
1. Mapping is not Australia wide. It uses the SENSIS system which has really expanded over the past few years, but which still only covers towns and main roads and 19 "4wd routes". We have found surprising omissions such as the major road between Ouyen-Piangil-Balranald which is the main route for East coasters travelling to and from Adelaide.
2. Cost. It is expensive, but you do get what you pay for.
3. You have to stop and switch off the ignition to set a destination other than from the map. This is a minor hassle, allegedly a safety feature but it is annoying that it isn't sufficient just to stop.
4. You have to manually set average speeds for city, suburbs and highway if you want the time to destination function to be anything like realistic.

Summary.

Overall it is a great system. Good quality but expensive. Very simple and easy to use. Whether it is good or not for your application depends on where you want to take it. If you want it to show all the great tracks in the Top End, it won't, but it will give you lat and long and it has a breadcrumb function. If you just want it to show you the main routes and most town streets, and offer a combined audio nav package, it is pretty close to ideal. Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Terry

How did you enlarge the 1.5din to 2din?

Originally Posted by jik22

If that's the big double-DIN unit I looked at, most decent audio places will make you up a surround which will be a near perfect match to the dash...but my guess would be to add another $400-500 to the labour costs for it.

I wanted to keep the dash as it was, but add a screen where the factory satnav goes to do bluetooth phone, satnav, reversing camera and mp3, and connect into the aux on the factory stereo. Alpine do a very nice screen now, but the optional satnav unit doesn't have Aus maps!

What I am now considering is a touch screen fitted there, with a 12v PC in the top glove box. Not sure I be arsed though....bound to be 10x the amount of work I think it will be to get it how I want it.

Hi,

Given the above is similar to what I am planning I thought I would share my thoughts. As I work in IT a CAR PC is a sensible way forward for me.

After looking around for some options for the future, I purchased a CAR PC(still on the way). Not cheap(but yes it was on special), but with a 7" touchscreen, running Windows XP.

It has plenty of storage for audio, DVD's, maps and software. It runs off 12-24V and it's power supply has special delays to compensate for engine cranking etc.

When I eventually get a LR3, the plan is:
- Utilise the location where the factory sat nav goes, get the touch screen professionally installed
- Audio will route into the AUX input on the Disco 3 - that way if it all goes pear shaped the original CD player and radio will still work.

- I will be running:

• For normal road mapping - Destinator - This comes with the kit, so I will try it out.
• For off road - Ozi Explorer (already have this) with Australia 1:250 Maps, more detailed sydney maps, and the Hema Desert Maps pack
• Reversing Camera - to help out with not hitting anything
• Bluetooth Handsfree - I have heard there are problems with this so a bit of mucking around may be required.
• It does have a AM/FM antenna
• It is running Centrafuse as a UI system, but I will probably try a few others.
• I will be interfacing with OBDII for on-board diagnostics
• I hope to get into the CAN interface and get a screen similar to the factory 4wd info screen (but this would be a major project).

So does anyone know of a cheap Diesel LR3?

Cheers,
AP.
DISCLAIMER: I am not recommending this path, just stating the way I am heading.