Car electronics specialist near Chessington?

[welshtony]

Tim mentioned to me that sometime had recommended a car electronics specialist in Chessington, but we couldn't find the contact details

Does anyone have them? I'm looking for someone who could help me get the Navii unit checked out, as everyone I try to access PlayStore to download Google Maps I just get the message 'Do not operate while driving', which suggests that there's a faulty sensor somewhere.

[David]

Do you know the make? Never heard of a 'Navii'. Not being an original MGR unit, did it come with the car when you bought it?
You may be able to find a blog/user-group on the 'net to help you, once you identify it.

David

[SCP440]

I suspect he means Navall?

If that is the case it is probably time to bin it, mine has been playing up for a while with it not reading the cards. I will take the plunge soon and order a new unit direct from China if I can decide what to go for.

Steve

[David]

I suspect he means Navall?

If that is the case it is probably time to bin it, mine has been playing up for a while with it not reading the cards. I will take the plunge soon and order a new unit direct from China if I can decide what to go for.

Steve... or go back to an almost-MGR, but with a BMW 16 : 9 boardmonitor+ Mk4 DVD + BM54, maybe ? :~
(I almost have that, but only now just about to switch to a BM54 instead of the MGR/BM24 tuner).

Wife's V6 Tourer has an Xtrons which plays the radio OK, but can't get much else to function. Biggest problem is to find out how it's all supposed to! Even my 10 year old granddaughter can't fathom it out, amazingly.

David

[Nich]

Whilst I have got the headlining out I intend to re-instate my original (?) widescreeen boardmonitor. I cannot get on with the Xtrons, I find it too distracting and although the using the screen mirroring for SatNav using Waze or Google Maps is very good I still prefer my old system. Too complicated and too many functions, totally agree David, you need a degree in IT to sort it out.

Nich.

[David]

...Too complicated and too many functions, totally agree David, you need a degree in IT to sort it out.

Nich.
Got one of them. Doesn't help. Chinese mindset needed (NLA).
Xtrons or not, the quality and reliability of all the Chinese ones on the 'Bay, lies somewhere between appalling and diabolical anyway, from what I hear.

David

[SCP440]

Mine was OK for the first 3 years, I found it was OK to use but I mainly just used the Sat Nav, Radio and card reader for recorded music.

I have had a look at quality units made by Manufacturers like Alpine but these are 5 times the price and I suspect if a thief noticed it I would come back to a smashed window a hole in the dash.

I found the original unit in mine very clunky and on a couple of occasions locked up at a critical time so I had no idea of what direction to take.

Steve

[Tim]

Googling Tony found these people. Don't know them but may be worth a ring. Based in Byfleet.

https://www.cartronics.co.uk/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5OCix4Su8wIVHertCh2yOQJ0EAAYASA AEgIZEPD_BwE

[welshtony]

Googling Tony found these people. Don't know them but may be worth a ring. Based in Byfleet.

https://www.cartronics.co.uk/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5OCix4Su8wIVHertCh2yOQJ0EAAYASA AEgIZEPD_BwE

Thanks, Tim. I'll give them a call.

Interested in anyone else's ideas as to the best unit to fit as a replacement to the current one. Ideally I'd still like to be able to use the steering wheel buttons, and I do have a large collection of CDs still...

[David]

Thanks, Tim. I'll give them a call.

Interested in anyone else's ideas as to the best unit to fit as a replacement to the current one. Ideally I'd still like to be able to use the steering wheel buttons, and I do have a large collection of CDs still...
You could have your CD's put onto an SD card if an SD slot is an option on the replacement unit, or bluetooth play from your 'phone's music collection to the unit, maybe.

If you are after good quality, perhaps the best way to go is used BMW Mk IV DVD based SatNav / ICE system as used in some BMW's and MINI's. Plug and play replacement, allows for substituting a 16:9 head unit and better quality BM54 tuner/amp. Some head-units have a CD slot, although mine is older and has a cassette drive behind the flip-screen. The MGR boot mounted CD cartridge changer is also supported. The Becker BM54 particularly offers much better quality the the MGR unit, and the SatNav has updated DVD's available, at least up to 2020. Mk IV stuff, SatNav-DVD reader, BM24 and BM54 tuner/amps etc. are regularly listed on eBay. The SatNav-DVD reader unit is firmware-fixed with 3 predefined language, so don't buy one from Italy like I did initially! Most regions do have English as one option though.

David

[welshtony]

I just got a quote for £980 to supply and fit a Pioneer unit.

I don't think my usage warrants more than half that price. I think I'll live with the radio and CD as it is.��