AVIC-D3 Review!

[JasonKilpa]

It is the Metra kit but right now I'm at work and don't have the Metra part number.

I would love to do a write up but I didn't get any pics of me installing it. I will see what I can do though.

 

[tunersteve]

It is the Metra kit but right now I'm at work and don't have the Metra part number.

I would love to do a write up but I didn't get any pics of me installing it. I will see what I can do though.

Just that part # would be a big help. Still badass!

 

[Rally Ninja]

Just go to Metraonline.com and put your car info in. I think its like 99-7505?

Just got done installing the avic.....had to do some other stuff but man 10hr job for me lol.

I just put the sirius unit under the passenger seat.

 

[Pirana]

Does anyone know if it will work with an iPhone?

 

[CHICO2003]

yeah... video playback, just like a regular ipod, needs to be controlled via the iphone though

 

[CHICO2003]

Here are pics from my install

guess you dont need the garmin anymore

 

[JasonKilpa]

LOL nope I sure don't need the Garmin anymore.

 

[Rally Ninja]

Pretty much. But, i suggest that you make sure you have the post that screws into the back of the Pioneer. Without it, it sits at an angle.

FYI
I got the post but....no way to connect it to the deck.
Looks like I need some kind of screw to hook it to the back of the deck and then mod it to the post........ Home depot here I come.....

 

[MikeBlueP5]

The pics from that install above make it look like the metra kit pushes out the top. i dont like how that plastic ring sticks out like that. is there any type of adjustment to it?

 

[JasonKilpa]

Yeah it does stick out just a little bit. I hope over the weekend to try and adjust it some so its a little more even. There is not a lot of room for it in there and with all the wiring behind it even less room to move. We will see what happens though.

 

[CHICO2003]

I'm not sure where my guy got the piece from but mine doesn't stick out like that at all... I'll try to take a picture later.

 

[cougar10agREDUX]

awesome. looks great, i'm excited! i bought the D3, ipod cable and bluetooth kit for $858.19 shipped from sonicelectronix.com in december. it's sitting at home waiting for me to get home and install.. heres what i'm deciding between. the metra kit or the pioneer install kit http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Products/Navigation/Accessories/ADT-VA133

what i'm looking to do is have the unit secure in the back using a saftey torx or some similarly crazy bolt that i can get to from behind to help furthur deter theft of the unit. looks like with the pioneer cage i would be able to build a bracket to bolt to the rear or otherwise weld to the rear. gonna have to wait till i get home so i can plan all this out. wondering if anyone has this cage, does it bolt to the unit itself or does it stay in the vehicle and the unit slides into it? thanks

 

[kevotc]

I bought my D3 last month for about $600 shipped from www.cartronixplus.com
They are legit and had my d3 to my door in less than 4 days. I got it installed and love it. If you guys need any questions answered, www.avic411.com is a great place to learn.

 

[MikeBlueP5]

hey jason or chico, jason were you able to get the metra pushed in at the top? what holds the metra kit in? nobody can seem to answer that one for me. does it clip in, or just chill there. and chico did you snap any pictures of yours? they are running a damn good deal on this unit now and taxes are burning a hole so i think im going to take the plunge, i just have to decide between the metra kit or the pioneer kit with the cage. i think the pioneer cage would hold it a little more securely since it has the metal bend tabs like the unit i have in the car now, except its a single din with a ford mustang pocket under it

 

[CHICO2003]

sorry... totally forgot. I'll snap a picture and put it up tomorrow... in the meantime though, I did call the dude that installed it and he said he simply used a generic double din casing. since the msp's center stack (with the pocket removed) is essentially tailor made for a double-din model like this... that's the way to go. no offense to the one with the metra but... it definitely looks better imo

 

[CHICO2003]

I bought my D3 last month for about $600 shipped from www.cartronixplus.com
They are legit and had my d3 to my door in less than 4 days. I got it installed and love it. If you guys need any questions answered, www.avic411.com is a great place to learn.

That looks GREAT!! perfect compliment to the TC...

it's nice when manufacturers put a double-din model (or at least make it easy to put one in). I'm talking to you mazda!! lol feel sorry for the poor bastards with ms3s and what not. sure... you can put in a double-din unit like the avic pretty easy. metra has a really nice kit for that purpose.... but you then render that information mostly useless. but at least it's doable... not like the god damn civic. unless you're one of the .5% with the nav option... replacing that system with an aftermarket just aint in the cards

 

[kevotc]

Thanks Chico.

One thing that bothers me about the d3 navigation is that its about a car and a half or two behind where you are actually at, so it makes it very easy to miss turns. This may be because the unit hasn't had enough time to calibrate yet, but its been almost 500 miles. Anyone else having this problem?

 

[CHICO2003]

you may want to recalibrate. I don't think I have that problem. In fact, I'm quite impressed with just how precise it seems to be. (I'm in the middle of an intersection.. it's in the middle of an intersection.) Occasionally it'll be off but it's so rare I barely notice.

anyway... if you don't want to reset the unit (like I've been doing when it freezes up on me) I've found a better solution to that... and seemingly your problem. (since resetting means you'd have to reprogram certain things.) basically... just hit 'modify current location' and select a place somewhat close to you. in a minute or so it'll correct itself and should recalibrate... if not, you may need to call pioneer and figure out what the problem is. ... or just get used to the lag.

 

[JasonKilpa]

I haven't had a chance to work on it this week since work has been so busy. The Metra though does clip in on the sides. Hopefully this weekend I can take a better look at it and get it figured out.

 

[Thug541]

Thanks Chico.

One thing that bothers me about the d3 navigation is that its about a car and a half or two behind where you are actually at, so it makes it very easy to miss turns. This may be because the unit hasn't had enough time to calibrate yet, but its been almost 500 miles. Anyone else having this problem?

you may want to recalibrate. I don't think I have that problem. In fact, I'm quite impressed with just how precise it seems to be. (I'm in the middle of an intersection.. it's in the middle of an intersection.) Occasionally it'll be off but it's so rare I barely notice.

anyway... if you don't want to reset the unit (like I've been doing when it freezes up on me) I've found a better solution to that... and seemingly your problem. (since resetting means you'd have to reprogram certain things.) basically... just hit 'modify current location' and select a place somewhat close to you. in a minute or so it'll correct itself and should recalibrate... if not, you may need to call pioneer and figure out what the problem is. ... or just get used to the lag.

No problems here. If its cloudy out it may be a bit off right when I start driving, but it eventually corrects itself. Also, they have that line with the direction where your destination is...so I usually use use that to guide me until it pulls correctly onto my location.

I haven't had a chance to work on it this week since work has been so busy. The Metra though does clip in on the sides. Hopefully this weekend I can take a better look at it and get it figured out.

My kit actaully got all messed up (on metra defense, i never installed it properly...zip ties ftw).

I tried explaining this issue before but let me try again, basically, if you were to take the silver trim off of the Protege, you see the double din opening....looks like a rectangle correct? Well, whoever owned the car before me (or if my installers were idiots on my first radio) it looks like they cut the bottom plastic part of the opening....basically its three sides; left, top and right....and the bottom piece is not there. So getting the kit to hold properly has been an issue.

I am going to pick up the pioneer kit as it looks like it clips on all sides so it should hold better. I'll keep you guys updated.