Hey Everyone,

This is my first post here and I am looking for some opinions...

This is going to be the first headunit I have ever replaced in car and I was looking at the AVIC-D3. To me it seems like a pretty good one for the price. I have a couple questions though...

1. From what I have read you can only use the navigation or listen to CDs one at a time, correct? While using navigation you would still be able to use the Aux?

2. Can you load mp3s into the memory base on the D3 for playback while using the nav?

3. The buttons on my steering wheel (2008 VW GTI MKV) I am assuming will be rendered useless without some sort of plug and play device... Any idea where to order one?

Any other recommendations that you guys would say? As I said this is the first one I am ever changing out and I am looking to keep it fairly inexpensive. Basic features are for the DVD playback, Minor nav usage, bluetooth (with the adapter) and style.

Oh also one quick thing. I have read here that the D3 is done by June? I am in Canada so to pick one up here is around $1000, then $250 for the bluetooth. I can pick up the set on eBay for about $800. I was thinking of going that route. With them being discontinued is it worth the wait for them to go on clearance?

Thanks in advance everyone!

I would wait for clearance.You can buy them for $500.00 now in the U.S.

Hey Everyone,

 

This is my first post here and I am looking for some opinions...

 

This is going to be the first headunit I have ever replaced in car and I was looking at the AVIC-D3. To me it seems like a pretty good one for the price. I have a couple questions though...

 

1. From what I have read you can only use the navigation or listen to CDs one at a time, correct? While using navigation you would still be able to use the Aux?

 

Correct... most people resolve that issue by using a iPod. The iPod interface for the D3 is awesome, you can access all your songs at once and also all your videos (you can convert dvds and put them on your iPod also). As for the AUX question... I'm pretty sure Nav continues to work no matter what AV source you have selected. I know for a fact that Nav still works on the iPod, Radio, and Bluetooth Phone sources.

 

2. Can you load mp3s into the memory base on the D3 for playback while using the nav?

 

Negative, the D3 doesn't have a harddrive... and you can't load songs to the limited flash memory it has (used for storing your address book, etc.)

 

3. The buttons on my steering wheel (2008 VW GTI MKV) I am assuming will be rendered useless without some sort of plug and play device... Any idea where to order one?

 

No clue on that one, other people have gotten their OEM controls working with the D3 so they'll know

 

Any other recommendations that you guys would say? As I said this is the first one I am ever changing out and I am looking to keep it fairly inexpensive. Basic features are for the DVD playback, Minor nav usage, bluetooth (with the adapter) and style.

 

Oh also one quick thing. I have read here that the D3 is done by June? I am in Canada so to pick one up here is around $1000, then $250 for the bluetooth. I can pick up the set on eBay for about $800. I was thinking of going that route. With them being discontinued is it worth the wait for them to go on clearance?

 

Thanks in advance everyone!

6ave.com is where I got mine like 5 months ago... it was $650, pretty nice compared to Best Buys $1000 price tag. Check them out, the price might still be that low.

Hey thanks for the replies guys. Yeah I live in Rural Saskatchewan, basically a Best Buy is my only option. eBay has a couple of the D3s with Bluetooth, iPod cable and remote for $750 with $65 shipping. That 6ave.com I have never heard of but they are $775 for the same pack. Gonna check and see how much shipping is cause in all honestly, right now Future Shop here has the D3 for $850 on sale.

I also don't do any traveling yet so the nav is low need right now, once I start going places, I will buy an iPod to solve the whole nav + music issue.

As it appears 6ave.com doesn't have a ship to Canada option. I will try and contact them and see. It sucks cause our dollar is pretty much par with the American dollar at this time and yet things are still $400 more.

Oh also, anyone know if you were to put a bunch of mp3s onto a DVD, does this player support and play those? I hate buying CDs. Haha.

Yes the D3 supports MP3 CDs

Also since you are not getting a iPod right away you can set a route and then it will auto-save to the D3s memory. You can then take the Nav DVD out and put in a music CD. You have to put the nav dvd back in if you want to make major changes to the route.

Yes the D3 supports MP3 CDs

But what about MP3 DVDs?

Also since you are not getting a iPod right away you can set a route and then it will auto-save to the D3s memory. You can then take the Nav DVD out and put in a music CD. You have to put the nav dvd back in if you want to make major changes to the route.

That's good to know as well. Yeah I will probably wait a bit for those 32GB or 16GB iPod touches to come down in price. Haha.

Hmm not sure about that one... I have tons of extra blank DVDs, lemme test it out. BTW 6ave.com is showing a price of $589.00 for the D3 for me.

http://www.6ave.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=PIOAVICD3

Hmm not sure about that one... I have tons of extra blank DVDs, lemme test it out. BTW 6ave.com is showing a price of $589.00 for the D3 for me.

 

http://www.6ave.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=PIOAVICD3

Ah yeah I was looking at the bundle with the D3, bluetooth, ipod cable and remote. Might as well get them all shipped to me. Way cheaper that way.

And yeah if you wouldn't mind finding out about the DVD for me that would be great.

Ya, anyways just burned a mp3 dvd. First time I've seen the disc interface, it was pretty slick. Here are some low res cell phone pics I took.

So ya DVD mp3 discs work. You can view the details of the MP3 (albumn, etc) and theres also a folder button so you can easily navigate a DVD that is organized with folders.

Ah sweet sweet. That has pretty much sold me on the whole 1 cd limitation. 1 mp3 dvd = 7 mp3 cds so its all good beats my 6 cd mp3 head unit.

Thanks man

No problem, any more questions feel free to ask.

I just got done installing a D3 in my MKV GTI. There is a wiring harness pioneer makes that is plug and play with NO splicing to the factory harness. Only problem it is not sold in the US for some reason. I bought mine here: http://www.incarexpress.co.uk/view_prod ... o=CARPI221

You can't order form the website though. I contacted their customer service via e-mail and they were very fast to respond and made the process smooth. You'll want a google checkout account if you don't have one though.

And you WILL have to cut on that adapter. You will need to cut both of the plastic adapters and connect to the D3 harness wires with whatever connector type you choose. I got a little nervous when I started cutting on a $100 adapter, but it has worked flawless for me. With the steering wheel controls, you only get volume and mute though. You cannot change the track.

I might be able to answer other questions if you have them since I just recently did the install. If you come up with a custom illumination color that matches the VW blue, please let me know. I can't seem to get a good match.

I just got done installing a D3 in my MKV GTI. There is a wiring harness pioneer makes that is plug and play with NO splicing to the factory harness. Only problem it is not sold in the US for some reason. I bought mine here: http://www.incarexpress.co.uk/view_prod ... o=CARPI221

 

You can't order form the website though. I contacted their customer service via e-mail and they were very fast to respond and made the process smooth. You'll want a google checkout account if you don't have one though.

 

And you WILL have to cut on that adapter. You will need to cut both of the plastic adapters and connect to the D3 harness wires with whatever connector type you choose. I got a little nervous when I started cutting on a $100 adapter, but it has worked flawless for me. With the steering wheel controls, you only get volume and mute though. You cannot change the track.

 

I might be able to answer other questions if you have them since I just recently did the install. If you come up with a custom illumination color that matches the VW blue, please let me know. I can't seem to get a good match.

Hey thanks for the heads up...

Wondering if you or anyone else can help me out here...

With the D3 + Bluetooth module. Looking to keep as much of the steering wheel buttons in tact as possible... What all do I need to purchase?

The AVIC-D3, BTB200...

Would I need both of these?

http://enfigcarstereo.com/shopsite_sc/s ... 2R_VW.html

http://enfigcarstereo.com/shopsite_sc/s ... WI_PS.html

Or just the one you referenced in your post.

Thanks again guys!

Alright I think I am ready to jump the gun and order this sucker. Just a quick question for the community. Again I am a newbie to this so my question my be dumb but will I need a wiring harness for this to work in my 2008 VW GTI. If so, where is the best place to order them. Also same goes for a dash kit, are there any preferred sites?

Thanks everyone

Alright I think I am ready to jump the gun and order this sucker. Just a quick question for the community. Again I am a newbie to this so my question my be dumb but will I need a wiring harness for this to work in my 2008 VW GTI. If so, where is the best place to order them. Also same goes for a dash kit, are there any preferred sites?

 

Thanks everyone

Where are you going to end up buying from? I am from Canada as well and right now i'm looking at ebay.

Ah sweet sweet. That has pretty much sold me on the whole 1 cd limitation. 1 mp3 dvd = 7 mp3 cds so its all good beats my 6 cd mp3 head unit.

 

Thanks man

Hey Mike, fellow Gapper here; I had mine installed about 6 months ago and I love it. The navi issue isn't a big deal as once you plot your route you can save it to "memory" in the unit and then pop out the Nav DVD and pop in whatever you want to listen/watch. This works great in the cities and I have used it many times in S'toon, PA, Eddy, Wpg and Calgary. Just get the address, punch it in to the unit, watch it plot the course and then pop the NAV DVD out. It leads you right to your destination with voice prompts and fantastic on-screen route display (even automatically switches to close up for tricky intersections and by-passes).

I would recommend finding a place that will do the DVD and NAVI bypass though as this is awesome for those long boring highway trips here in SK. The directions can be downloaded here off this site. I would avoid SoundWerks in PA though... they did mine and I had to re-do the shit they screwed up on. I have heard good stuff about Audio Wareshouse though. Good luck with your purchase, I know you'll like it.

Also since you are not getting a iPod right away you can set a route and then it will auto-save to the D3s memory. You can then take the Nav DVD out and put in a music CD. You have to put the nav dvd back in if you want to make major changes to the route.

how about if you want to like zoom in and out of the route, if i have the trip saved? Also i have a PS2 hooked up for the rear tvs, would i be able to display that on the rear monitors while having the navi dvd in the system?

Ah sweet sweet. That has pretty much sold me on the whole 1 cd limitation. 1 mp3 dvd = 7 mp3 cds so its all good beats my 6 cd mp3 head unit.

 

Thanks man

 

Hey Mike, fellow Gapper here; I had mine installed about 6 months ago and I love it. The navi issue isn't a big deal as once you plot your route you can save it to "memory" in the unit and then pop out the Nav DVD and pop in whatever you want to listen/watch. This works great in the cities and I have used it many times in S'toon, PA, Eddy, Wpg and Calgary. Just get the address, punch it in to the unit, watch it plot the course and then pop the NAV DVD out. It leads you right to your destination with voice prompts and fantastic on-screen route display (even automatically switches to close up for tricky intersections and by-passes).

 

I would recommend finding a place that will do the DVD and NAVI bypass though as this is awesome for those long boring highway trips here in SK. The directions can be downloaded here off this site. I would avoid SoundWerks in PA though... they did mine and I had to re-do the shit they screwed up on. I have heard good stuff about Audio Wareshouse though. Good luck with your purchase, I know you'll like it.

Hey, you from SK? Audio Warehouse / Innovation Audio are probably the two better shops in SK. I am going to do the install myself, looks like the bypass is simple enough. Plus I have friends that are electronic engineers and electrical mechanics so that doesn't hurt. My device should be here by the end of the week (harness, dash kit, swi cables, etc)

can someone post a video of how long it takes for you to take out a cd/dvd and put in the nav dvd and be able to type in a route and save it? this will probably be the determining factor on whether or not i get the D3 installed in a couple weeks or not...

I just did the D3 install on my MKV Rabbit. You will need the following from Enfig:

Pioneer to Car:

http://enfigcarstereo.com/shopsite_sc/s ... 2R_VW.html

Steering Wheel Controls:

http://enfigcarstereo.com/shopsite_sc/s ... WI_PS.html

Bezel:

http://enfigcarstereo.com/shopsite_sc/s ... K1017.html

That is really all you need. The install took no more than an hour itself, plus some extra time routing the ipod wire through the center console to the stock ipod slot in the center armrest.

you also need SWI-CAN

I just got done installing a D3 in my MKV GTI. There is a wiring harness pioneer makes that is plug and play with NO splicing to the factory harness. Only problem it is not sold in the US for some reason. I bought mine here: http://www.incarexpress.co.uk/view_prod ... o=CARPI221

 

You can't order form the website though. I contacted their customer service via e-mail and they were very fast to respond and made the process smooth. You'll want a google checkout account if you don't have one though.

 

And you WILL have to cut on that adapter. You will need to cut both of the plastic adapters and connect to the D3 harness wires with whatever connector type you choose. I got a little nervous when I started cutting on a $100 adapter, but it has worked flawless for me. With the steering wheel controls, you only get volume and mute though. You cannot change the track.

 

I might be able to answer other questions if you have them since I just recently did the install. If you come up with a custom illumination color that matches the VW blue, please let me know. I can't seem to get a good match.

 

Hey thanks for the heads up...

 

Wondering if you or anyone else can help me out here...

 

With the D3 + Bluetooth module. Looking to keep as much of the steering wheel buttons in tact as possible... What all do I need to purchase?

 

The AVIC-D3, BTB200...

 

Would I need both of these?

http://enfigcarstereo.com/shopsite_sc/s ... 2R_VW.html

http://enfigcarstereo.com/shopsite_sc/s ... WI_PS.html

 

Or just the one you referenced in your post.

 

Thanks again guys!

You need both it looks like, the first link is a wiring harness to hook up to your factory connections (to retain the plugs so you can return it to stock if needed) and the second one is for the steering wheel controls.