Bought a 2008 MC with the stock nav system, it is ok but pretty limited. Are there other nav systems like a Azentec system out there that I can replace mine with, or am I stuck with it?

 

Not without heavy modifications. There is a double din dash piece from Japan that is available, but you'll need to really hack it up to fit it. And it wouldn't replace the existing screen.

I'd say you're pretty much stuck.

 

oh would i love the challenge. i think the screen in the speedo is a perfect location. problem is it also controls the stereo and other car functions. newministuff sells a harness to connect an a/v source. not sure about the resolution, though. hmm, installing a touchscreen in it's place with a switch to receive the orginal video input or a carpc that you can run garmin mobile pc as well as videos, mp3s, obd-ii info, back-up cam, i.e. would be sweet. if you really can't stand the oem nav, keep a portable gps in your secret compartment and just stick it over the oem screen.

 

The oem nav isn't all that bad, it is the navigability, layout of the operating system and the lack of any kind of input besides an ipod.

I love the location of the screen and would keep it if I can. Are there any alternative A/V inputs you can show on the screen?

 

all i know of is newministuff's av harness. not sure that's what you're asking, though.

 

I don't think the OP is looking to rip the system out, rather use the components with new software to get better results. This is possible on some other cars and handhelds, curious to see if anyone can hack and develop for the Mini setup.

 

Thanks for the responses, sorry its been a little confusing...I looked at newministuff's http://www.newministuff.com/new/shop...uctshow&id=593 This seems to be what I'm after. Does anyone have any experience with this?

 

The Azentec System is a complete replacement for the Audio/Video/GPS system in a car. And although you could install one when they become available you would still have the problem of all the Mini diagnoatics and computer realted stuff to deal with. These are so intergrated into the car that it is difficlut to do any thing with them.

Have you seen the price of this cable. It is currently 439.00 British Pounds which converts to $666.06 on todays rates. And all that gets you is a way to input a video signal to the NAV Screen

This cable would allow you to input a video signal from a GPS unit so that it could be dispalyed on the Mini NAV Screen, but all the input to the GPS unit would still have to be done on the GPS Touch Screen. So that seems a little crazy. Why have one screen for input an one screen for display. Seems not very useful to me.

Now if you were to go with a Carputer then that would be another story except for the fact that you still need some sort of input device which the Mini NAV Screen does not allow for. You would have to have another Touch Screen or Keyboard/Mouse combination. Going with a touch screen for input again would make it redundent. And going with a keyboard/mouse combination would make it very difficult to use.

 

I agree that this A/V interface seems very expensive, but I would still like to know more about how it works and how difficult it is to install. How do you switch to alternate inputs? Can it activate a back-up camera automatically?

Maybe a new topic is in order. It's kind of hidden here.

There is a youtube video showing it in action, but not how it is controlled.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsXX71ja0d0

 

i am so jealous. another of mikeythemini's video show an interface menu bar up top with TV as an option. i'm guessing that's how you switch to the A/V input.

 

the videos in the above posts look like they are coming from Ipods. Newministuff's interface claims that it can hook up to "any AV source" even a back up camera. If that is the case and you can navigate to that AV source through the top menu it seems like the way to go, even though it is pricey

 

anyone know what is going on with newministuff.com, I tried emailing and calling them and got nothing

 

Would it be possible to install a third party GPS (such as the Garmin GVN 53 - https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=134&pID=10573) system using this A/V input?