Hi all! this is my first post!

I just bought my first 350 z, and I’m super excited! First and foremost, I’m thankful to this forum for all the valuable information. There's sthing about 350 z owners.

Ok so It’s a ’03 GT model with Bose 6CD but sadly no Navi. As a first project, I’d like to add a Navi to the cubby hole, possibly keeping the factory Bose in place for now, as I cannot see what I could use a 2nd screen for..

Preferences:
- Touch screen 7in in the cubby hole, connected 2way to iPhone 5 in a docking station
- Using iPhone’s apps via the 7in LCD (iTunes for music, Spotify for streaming, Safari for browsing, GPS navigation, email etc) effectively controlling the iPhone from the main screen, with audio signal sent to the Bose?
- Hands-free Bluetooth iPhone for a 350 z (currently I have a Bluetooth earpiece set, but prefer to have sthng permanent in the car)
- It’s not an imperative to have the steering wheel buttons connected if it adds significant cost, but if it can be done at a say 10-20% premium I’ll consider.

Prefer to get value for money and clean looks, without the unnecessary artwork overlays and equalizers of massive systems like Pioneer's AVH8400 or JVC's AV70. I just wish to control my iPhone via the big LCD, and send the audio to the Bose. But I’m not exactly sure what I need exactly and how to put a working system together.

Questions in my mind:
1. Can I just buy a compatible 7in LCD, wire up my iPhone 5 to the screen and the Bose amp, mirror the iPhone to the LCD and be done with it? ie. my iPhone would act as a music/movie player, internet browser, navi system, etc taking commands from the 7in screen, and audio somehow routed to the Bose ..
2. Which 7in touch screens can you recommend as iPhone 5 (2way ) & Bose (audio) compatible?
3. Is there a need for a separate device to control the audio (crossover, phone priority when ringing, etc) to the Bose OR can I just wire up to the factory Bose to cope with this? For crossover, I don’t need sophisticated equalizers, a standard pre-set split amongst the 6 speakers via Bose will do
4. Mac apps can authorize the secondary device (7in LCD) to control the iPhone. But how do I send the audio to the Bose exactly? Is it sufficient to send an audio signal to the Bose amp and that's it?

First ideas:
(a) I read about Pioneer AVH-8400 BH for $650, and its Advanced App Mode (direct access to iPhone) is really all I need. But it’s overlay and artwork is way too massive for my needs, and it's causing latency issues which I despise, not mentioning the parking break issues (grrrrr)
(b) JVC’s AV70 for $500 may solve some of the latency issues, but it’s not too sexy for my cat.. and probably still too massive for my needs.
(c) I'm a purist.. all I really need is a lean touch screen LCD showing my iPhone screen, communicating 2way, with the audio somehow sorted and sent to the Bose. Isn’t there sthing out there for guys like me? I love Pioneer's Advanced Apps, it's the right direction, but without the rest of the 80's stuff Pioneer cannot let go of.. and it adds lot of excess weight
(d) I’m also thinking about getting an iPhone docking station like this https://my350z.com/forum/audio-and-v...-knee-pad.html but am still debating..

Sorry for the long post, tried to summarize everything, but I’m not an audio guru, and I'm also entirely new to the Z, so it’s probable I may have missed sthng…

Any ideas or pointers will be much appreciated.
Thank you x 1,000,000

 

I'm not too familiar with iphones but do are there any home theater docking stations that will display an iphone display through its cord? I have the droid razr and it can be connected to a screen via mini hdmi. if the iphone has that capability then all you would need is a screen with the proper video input but i don't think any exists that will have a 2 way communication with the iphone or any phone for that matter.

Guys that build carputers use the xenarac 7 inch touch screens. that could be a starting point.

It sounds like a great project and I wish you work on your endeavor.

 

Yes it's easy to mirror an iPhone to an external screen, which we can call a HU but it should really be just a big iPhone screen. The real challenge is sending a controlled audio to the Bose. ANy ideas?

 

mirroring the screen is one thing but what about inputing things if you use the knee pad thing.

for the audio i would recommend a radio modulator.
http://www.amazon.com/iSimple-IS31-U.../dp/B002U5XPBE

 

Mirroring screens 2ways should be possible, albeit it needs some programming work. iPhone is capable of this, and I'm making good progress in coding to pull everything together.

For an audio gateway I found GROM-USB2P (USB support, lets you use the steering wheel controls) iSimple 32 (any noise interference issues?) and the PA15-Nis (can switch to source by pushing the 6CD button). Any comparisons between these, or quality issues to be aware of?

Prefer to have USB support, steering wheel controls, and no interference, so I'm leaning a bit.. but still undecided. What do yu think?

 

What interface are you going to use to translate/send the button presses on the 7 inch touchscreen to your ipod? Read up on the MimicsX2 from customgadz module for cars, it might be a good AIO solution for you.

EDIT: Also, why are you bent on keeping the bLose system?

 

I'm developing an 2way interface on my own, writing code from scretch. Don't think it had been done before, so it should be the first of its kind when I'm finished.

Not exactly bent to keep the stock Bose, but I just haven't figured out what to do with the lower compartment. I mean if I can already use the upper screen for the iPhone (which can do everything: navi, films, music, browsing, etc) what would I use a bottom screen for?