350z navigation install?
 

I have an 03 350 without navigation. I was going to buy the factory nav system, what all is there to buy? Is there any wires or are they already routed? and is it better to go with factory nav or go with another system and do a custom install?

Go with another system. Installing a factory nav into a non nav equipped Z is too expensive and much too involved. It requires taking half the interior out including the dash to even get to the wires needed.

+1.... do something like this:

https://my350z.com/forum/audio-and-v...y-install.html

Is this one of those things that a common person can do in home or does a proffesional need to do it?

^^ You can do this yourself. The 2003 is a simple installation for a fixed LCD screen in the upper/forward cubby, and it’s easy hook a blackbox navigation device to this screen.

You can also simply install an all-in-one device in the double din slot.

--Spike

+1 Thats an easy way.

Thanks, i found a factory unit with the dvd console for 400 but idk if its worth it? Or what all else i would need to install, It has the screen, controls, and dvd console.... And why did it cost so much for them to by the aftermarket, I found the same stuff for alot less

^^ I'm not sure what your point is.

$400 for a factory unit by itself is a fair price since it will cost 3 or 4 times that amount to get the unit in your car (if in fact you can accomplish this). If you plan to install a factory unit in a 2003 350Z that lacks the approriate wiring, you are going to be frustrated with the project.

--Spike
___________________________________
EDIT: To add an additional point about installation cost... If you hire a shop to install the factory unit, you will spend 6 or more times the $400 you paid for the unit.

Installation cost for an aftermarket unit is minimal, especially if it's a double din device.

Let him try it and we can see the outcome.

^^ Good point. I doubt he will get much past where he is now on this project.

I just hate seeing someone waste a lot of $$ to get an inferior result. The OP could inexpensively and easily drop an all-in-one device into the Z’s double din slot. With just a little more effort and probably no or little additional cost, he could mount and a touch-screen capable LCD in the upper/forward cubby with a GPS blackbox, and get a better viewing angle.

Either solution is available from Kenwood, and using Kenwood devices gets you Garmin’s great GPS interface.

--Spike

I thought we already explained that its near impossible to do. Without all of the wiring which is a lot, plus having to rip your entire car apart including your entire dash and part of the back area just to access where the wires have to go, then having to figure out how they all plug into the main wiring, then by all means go ahead. We warned you.

ok stupid question. what is double din slot? and gps blackbox?

Double Din slot is just the cd player slot that is the size of 4" x 7"..

GPS Blackbox is a seperate gps unit that attaches to a device to get gps signal/naviagtion.

https://my350z.com/forum/audio-and-v...ion-setup.html

This is an even cheaper and easier route if you wanted to do this.

ok, would all of this still work with the factory bose?

Here are a couple of threads that answer your question about double din and black-box navigation devices.

This link is Paul350Z's great instructions for installing an LCD screen in the upper/forward cubby of a 2003 350Z. Paul's instructions are easily extrapolated to any year Z (350 or 370).
https://my350z.com/forum/audio-build...tallation.html

This thread describes installing the Kenwood KOS system into any car. Notice that you can run your entire CES from a screen in the upper/forward cubby, or just go with a simple double-din installation.
https://my350z.com/forum/audio-build...pics-here.html

--Spike

It will... but you may need to do some modifications.

If you go with the Kenwood KOS system, you can integrate this with your existing Bose hardware. In fact the Kenwood KOS System is designed to integrate with just about any existing car CES.

If you install an aftermarket double din H/U, you will need to install an adapter. Search here for all the information you need to accomplish this.

--Spike

I plan on using the factory bose, does the Kenwood system have the Nav built in?

Kenwood makes double-din devices that have built-in navigation, double-din devices that do not have navigation built-in navigation but allow adding navigation by installing a separate “black box” navigation device, or a modular system (the KOS System) that can use a remote touch-screen monitor to drive a variety of components.


You can purchase a Kenwood double-din “all-in-one” device that includes navigation. An example is the Kenwood DNX9140 (Excelon 2-DIN Multimedia DVD Receiver with Navigation).
http://www.kenwoodusa.com/Car_Entert...gation/DNX9140


Kenwood also makes double-din devices that allow you to add a separate “black box” navigation unit. The DDX814 (Excelon 2-DIN Navigation Ready Multimedia DVD Receiver) is an example.
http://www.kenwoodusa.com/Car_Entert...igation/DDX814

You add the KNA-G510 (Hideaway Navigation System) to the DDX814 to make the unit navigation capable.
http://www.kenwoodusa.com/Car_Entert...ation/KNA-G510


If you prefer using a remote monitor that you install in the upper/forward cubby (the 350/370 Z accommodates this nicely), the Kenwood KOS System is a good choice.
http://www.kenwoodusa.com/Car_Entert...on/CarPortal™/

The advantage of the KOS System is you can add this to your existing CES, and then add whatever component (GPS navigation, DVD player, amps, etc.) you want while keeping your existing stuff in place and operational.


Pioneer and Alpine also make very good products that incorporate navigation.

I happen to like Kenwood for these reasons:

• Durability (the products withstand the harsh environment inside a car’s interior, including extreme temperature swings and varying humidity)
  
• Garmin OEM GPS navigation
  
• Modular components (you can add and mix various devices)

Hope this helps,

--Spike

Thanks to Spike, I went with the Kenwood KOS system and could not be happier!!! :) The Bose is a horrible system, but if you insist on keeping it, the KOS will let you do that.

how much did your full setup cost?
and a break down of each peice?

I can't remember exactly, but it was in the neighborhood of $1,200. It wasn't cheap to go the route I went, but it is still cheaper than trying to put an OEM nav into a car that didn't come with it.

Here is the link for my write up. It lists all the pieces that I used. You can check out a site like Crutchfield.com to get an idea of how much each piece would cost.

I would strongly recommend you go with a set up that puts the navigation in the upper console as opposed to replacing the Bose with a double din unit that has navigation built in. You will be much happier, and safer, by having the navigation screen higher up. This way you don't have to take your eyes off the road as much.

BTW, you already have met at least 3 of the heavy hitters of the Audio forum in this thread (Kal_El, Spike and THEDUKE). Listen to them and you can't go wrong! Keep searching the Audio forum and you will get a ton of great ideas. :thumbup:

i will probably go with your route, thanks

You didn’t mention your budget, but you did say you want to keep your Bose system in place.

As Jekl1000 says, the Z’s OEM Bose system isn’t very good, but replacing this is not cheap.

Here is another solution using Kenwood that provides great navigation. It isn’t nearly as elegant as Jekl1000’s installation, but it costs less (you can do it for <$600 if you shop carefully).

Note: This solution adds navigation that is independent of your car’s BOSE CES so you won’t have voice guidance coming through your car’s speakers, but instead the voice is delivered through a speaker on the Kenwood LCD (that can sound “muffled” and you don’t have muting on the car’s speakers while the navigation speaker issues it’s voice guidance).

This solution uses two Kenwood pieces:

1. Kenwood LZ-702W Touchscreen Monitor

Attachment 426029

The LCD screen installs easily in the upper/forward cubby of the 2003 Z. You won’t need to do any custom fabrication since it’s literally a drop-in installation. All you do is unscrew the rear pocket and use the same screws to fix the screen in place.

The LZ-702W Touchscreen Monitor has a hideaway box where you make you connections. It fits well in either the large compartment behind the driver’s seat or in the large glove box behind the passenger seat. Since you have the OEM Bose (and it’s Subw is behind the driver’s seat), you would put the -702W Touchscreen Monitor’s hideaway box inside the large glove box behind the passenger seat.

2. Kenwood KNA-G510 Navigation Box

Attachment 426030

Install this in one of the small upper cubby slots behind the driver or passenger seat.

Done! I mention this solution since it’s not expensive, and easy to install. The caveat is that it isn’t integrated into your car’s CES.

Jekl1000’s wonderful KOS installation is much better since it’s integrated and scalable (you can add any number of various components). If this fits your budget, I'd go with the KOS system (what Jekl1000 did).

--Spike

will both of these options work with the 03 cubby? with the retractable door?

Yes, all these options will work for any year cubby. Some just take more work that others to make them fit. If memory serves me correctly, the 03-05 cubby is easier to work. I THINK all you have to do is detach the cubby itself from the bezel and the screen can mount bezel where the cubby once was.

The 06+ was more involved because the nav bezels did not have a door so you had to buy an entire new bezel figure out a way to fill where the nav controls would normally go.

Yes. In fact the '03 cubby is the most adaptable to this. You simply unscrew the rear pocket piece, and use the same screws to fix the monitor in place. It doen't require any custom fabrication.

Here is Paul350Z's great thread that describes installing an LCD screen in the 2003's cubby (lots of instruction and pictures).

https://my350z.com/forum/audio-build...tallation.html

--Spike

i was looking and i couldnt find anything about it.... is the farenheit gps capable? and i looked on the site and could not find it

Farenheit makes several LCD remote (headrest) screens, including a touch-screen. The remote Farenheit touch-screen operates its own monitor functions, but it won’t operate a GPS.

However, the Farenheit LCD remote screen (regular LCD or touch-screen) will display GPS images if the GPS device supports sending its video to a composite NTSC or PAL screen.

That means you can connect a Farenheit LCD remote screen to a device such as the Garmin GVN53 using a composite video connector. You won’t have touch-screen function with this arrangement (the Garmin GVN53 uses and RF handheld controller), but using the Garmin’s handheld controller, you can operate your GPS while viewing the video image on your Farenheit screen. It works just great as a GPS device, but doesn’t support touch-screen function.

I really like RF controllers since they do not require precise pointing at a receiver (as is the case with IR controllers).

Let me know if that doesn’t answer your question.

--Spike

thanks SPIKE, you answered what i asked.

^^ Don’t mention it. Here’s some more info.

The components you need for this installation:

Garmin GVN53 Black Box Navigation
Attachment 426031

Farenheit 7” LCD Monitor
Attachment 426032

And… What it looks like mounted in the upper/forward cubby (the GPS is in “night-time” mode which is an inverted background for better viewing at night).

Attachment 426033

Additional Notes:

1) These are the same model 7” LCD screen, just different brand names:

Farenheit T-7001MHR
Farenheit T-7000MHR
Power Acoustik PT-700MHR
NESA Vision NSM-7005 7" MONITOR

The size of the screen (including its enclosure) is (177.8mm W x 127mm H x22.8mm D). That dimension fits the upper/forward cubby in your 2003 Z perfectly. You mount it there by simply removing the rear pocket in the upper/forward cubby and replace this with the screen. You can even use the same screws that hold the rear pocket. I only used the screws (I didn’t add adhesive or anything else to hold the screen), and my screen has been perfectly secure for 5 years now.

Paul350Z posted an excellent thread that describes mounting this dimension screen in a 2003 Z:

https://my350z.com/forum/audio-build...tallation.html


2) The Garmin GVN53 is very simple to install. I placed mine in the small upper rear cubby behind the driver’s seat. It fits perfectly there.

3) The wiring is simple.
Connect the Yellow RCA composite video wire (a single wire) to the LCD.
Connect the Red power line to an ACC switched power source.
Connect the Black ground to the car’s chassis.
Connect the White RCA Audio left to your H/U’s AUX left sound input.
Connect the Red RCA Audio right to your H/U’s AUX right sound input.
Connect the Blue Audio Mute wire to your H/U (if your H/U supports muting).

There are 5 more wires that have optional connections (2 that are used to connect an optional remote speaker if you do not want to connect the GVN53 to your H/U’s AUX, and three others to connect to an optional harness that supports RGB monitors).

There is no silly parking brake wire. If you have a passenger onboard, let this person operate the GPS using the RF remote control. You don’t need to be stopped with the parking brake engaged to operste this GPS. Nice!


Caveats

1) The system outlined above does not support touch-screen function. If you want touch-screen function, you need the Kenwood KNA-G510 Navigation Box and the Kenwood LZ-702W Touch-screen Monitor (which also fit perfectly into you 2003 Z, and are easily installed).

2) If you wire the sound to your car’s H/U AUX, then you cannot listen to your car’s CES while listening to the GPS’s voice guidance. There is a way to do this, but that’s another story best left to a separate posting/explanation. You can connect the optional speaker to the Garmin GVN 53 GPS, but it might be over-powered for good/clear listening unless your H/U supports muting (there is a mute wire on the Garmin GVN 53 is your H/U supports this).


Summary

I believe the description above is the least costly GPS solution for the 350 Z if you want a fixed 7” LCD screen in the upper/forward cubby. It provides great GPS function and the best viewing angle you can get in the Z.

You can do nearly the same thing with Kenwood components (also OEM Garmin for GPS) and get touch-screen function if you are willing to pay a little more $$.

--Spike

I have a Jap 2003 z, with factory nissan nav, any ideas how i can get the menus on-screen in english? and where the DVD nav disks are supplied?

Will i be able to do this woth same unit and parts in a 2008 350z??

^^ I don’t have experience with a 2008, but I see no reason why this setup would not work. Hopefully someone who has done this will respond.

The LCD monitor is mounted behind the cubby. You need to do some custom fabrication (the 2003 cubby did not require custom fabrication). Any decent shop can do this, and the cost should be minimal. The most challenging part is the cutout and fabricating a hanger that holds the LCD screen.

--Spike

Wow talking about an old thread re-kindled...

DNX890HD New 2013 Kenwood in stock.
DNX690HD New 2013 Kenwood in stock.

Would the bose nav from an 07 Altima work in the double din slot where my 6 disc currently is? That’s what I want to do.

07 Altima oem nav in double din slot 350z
 

will this work and could I wire in an aux port since it is set up for auxiliary?

Are you looking for an OEM navigation solution? I've got mine laying around somewhere if youre looking for an OEM setup ... hell, I think I have the wiring too - I believe I have everything.

That would be sweet man. Mines an 04.5 so the center dash is black. I was mainly looking for an oem look and the possibility of wiring up the aux port. It’s a pain on a radio without the option.

I don't have experience with Nissan's Altima, but the Altima and 350z share many parts, and Double Din slots are 'universal."

What are you trying to accomplish ultimately? I've had the factory setup with and without nav factory system with aftermarket nav, then added Bluetooth....now I have changed out all the factory system and retained the aftermarket nav I had prior.