Just a question on the possibility of upgrading the oem speedo to the nav system offered in the 2006 models.
Im aware anything is possible, but what about the difficulty and price?

 

Short answer is anything is possible with time and money however it is not worth doing. I have the Nav on my 06 and can say its not worth the time, effort and dollars to make the change a reality. The OEM system is slow, out of date and difficult to use compared with current options. You could probably get the speedo and tach for above the steering wheel and the center unit sans the nav screen itself and do what I did. Here is my project details.
I decided to find an alternative to my factory Navigation System. After 4 months and a couple prototypes, I finally achieved the result I was seeking. I wanted to find a way to mount and integrate my smartphone and update the functionality of my nav system.

Challenges to the mission:
1. Update software is expensive and often not up to date.
2. The Nav system on my 06 JCW Cabrio is not user friendly.
3. Mounting and charging my smartphone.

Solution:
1. Bypass the factory nav altogether.
2. Bluetooth integration with stereo. ( I sold all my working HK stuff and went aftermarket Kenwood head unit, Alpine Amp, and Boston Acoustic Speakers)
3. Use the space where the screen was to mount my new Galaxy Note 3 which fits the space almost perfectly.
4. Install a wireless charging system.


Here are the project pictures:

http://imgur.com/a/a86Sb

So far I am very happy with the results.

 

Thats an amazing project. Was it advanced knowledge tech wise? What was the final cost?

 

Thats an amazing project. Was it hard tech knowledge wise? Whats the final cost?

 

It was easy but my starting off position was different than yours. I already had Nav and had already ditched my HK stuff so it was some fabrication of a new trim ring and painting the newly modified ring. Cost was 25 for the ring, 25 to paint it, 25 for the wireless QI charger and 10 for a QI receiver to stick on my phone battery. I have a galaxy note 3 and its a perfect fit. I click it in and it starts charging. i use the carhome ultra app and it loads automatically as soon as bluetooth connects to my head unit. Works like a champ and Google Maps updates daily unlike my oem nav that the upgrade dvd is expensive and outdated when you get it.