Ordered upstream O2 sensors, downstream O2 sensors, Ohana rear door grab handle, and it's only 8:30am... Might be an expensive day
What Did You Do With Your 120 Today? (8 Viewers)
- Thread starter kbahus
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Received the crucial component of the non-nav conversion! So stoked to get this underway after 2 years of analysis paralysis looking at this or the Tesla screen.
Nice! What head unit/media player are you going with?
Speaking of non-nav, really trying to nail down if I should go with a double-din type touch screen unit from Crutchfield or going with one of those bigger screened China/android units. I don't know much about those.
Is there a good up to date thread on this?
Want
-nice quick capacitive touch screen.
-ability to do apple-car play (preferably without connecting with cable if possible?)
- good quality
- add rear camera maybe front camera could be cool.
Is there a good up to date thread on this?
Want
-nice quick capacitive touch screen.
-ability to do apple-car play (preferably without connecting with cable if possible?)
- good quality
- add rear camera maybe front camera could be cool.
I have a Chinese Phoenix PX6 unit. It's a completely acceptable solution and has a lot of advantages, including:
1. Touchscreen works fine, no issues there.
2. You can install any Android app. I have Torque Pro and Backcountry GPS Maps installed (awesome for navigation, as I have lots of USGS topos downloaded to the unit and can navigate real-time with no cell service)
3. Backup camera resolution is pretty good, definitely better than stock
4. Sound quality is very good through the factory ML speakers
5. I use Android Auto with the cable, not sure about using Car Play without the cable. Android Auto on the PX6 is much less buggy than the OEM Android Auto system in my Mazda.
6. All HVAC controls work fine.
However, there are a few downsides:
1. Boot time can be slow. For example, I start the car, put it in "R" and start backing down the driveway, but the boot time means I don't get the backup camera working for around 10 seconds after I'm moving. It's much quicker in my Mazda.
2. You loose the OEM hard buttons for climate controls. The touchscreen is acceptable and works OK, but I always prefer hard buttons.
3. No volume knob, although Phoenix has an even larger screen now that seems to offer this.
4. Phone charging through the Android Auto hookup is sllooooooowww. It basically provides enough power to keep the battery from discharging, but does not actually charge the phone. It's frustrating because you can't utilize Android Auto AND charge your phone if the battery is low.
For me, the PX6 is worth it for the plethora of Android apps and the large screen that allows Backcountry GPS apps to run. It's a major benefit for navigating out in the middle of nowhere.
Not sure on the non-nav, you'll probably want to contact Phoenix directly to confirm. My GX was a nav model originally. My steering wheel controls work, although the track skip/repeat button works inconsistently. Everything else works great.
The Phoenix is a vertical Tesla style screen if I'm not mistaken, so you would lose your HVAC buttons.
When I converted to non-nav I went with a traditional double din Alpine unit. After having the Tesla px6 prior to the non-nav, I didn’t see any reason whatsoever to buy more wholesale android double din garbage, but that’s just my opinion.
Especially since I use CarPlay. I don’t see much if any strength of going with an emulated CarPlay system that the android based units provide. It’s not nearly as snappy as the mainstream units (Sony/alpine/pioneer/kicker etc).
The only other brand I’d possibly consider is joying.
Especially since I use CarPlay. I don’t see much if any strength of going with an emulated CarPlay system that the android based units provide. It’s not nearly as snappy as the mainstream units (Sony/alpine/pioneer/kicker etc).
The only other brand I’d possibly consider is joying.
I'm probably going to go with a joying or atoto unit, I want to be able to play movies and such for passengers on longer drives. You can't do that on a mainstream car play unit to my understanding. Or am I mistaken?
sure you can, that’s what most DVD double dins allow. It will just cost probably 2x as much as the android tier units for something decent. And most people add a bypass in to avoid any parking brake safety walls with playing the DVD.
The spot where the headunit is at though is terrible for glare. And some of the android units have a somewhat upward angle to match the dash contour which doesn’t help.
If you already have non-nav I would avoid dropping the $600+ on a Phoenix Tesla style unit. The main value of those (IMO) is they’re basically a plug and play upgrade for folks with a dated oem nav unit. It saves you the trouble of going through a non-nav conversion, and gets you a much better (IMO) experience than oem nav.
that being said, if you already have non-nav, I’d go with a different head unit. You can pay out the nose for a name brand like alpine or kenwood, and the performance will be top notch. The catch is (I think) they’re mostly proprietary firmware so you can’t just fire up the google play App Store and install apps. Alternatively, you’ve got the android head units (excluding the Phoenix Tesla style units) that seem to be pretty reliable and run Android OS, but keep all your factory buttons and knobs for volume and hvac.
the latter is why I opted for the non-nav conversion. If a cheap head unit craps out on me on a trip in the middle of nowhere, that’s fine, but if it also means I lose all ability control HVAC that’s unacceptable. That’s the concern I have with the Phoenix style units. They don’t have a history of just failing, but I’d imagine the failure rate is higher than the failure rate of the oem HVAC controls.
Just a little thing but it fixed something that has bugged me for a while and this was a nice solution.
Added a magnetic mic to my HAM Radio mic this week to replace the standard fork design that never held tight where I had it installed. The magnet system is far superior and a strong magnet too!
Added a magnetic mic to my HAM Radio mic this week to replace the standard fork design that never held tight where I had it installed. The magnet system is far superior and a strong magnet too!
2 months after ordering it...the loncky steering wheel cover got it and it’s pretty terrible quality.
it’s not cut properly because it can’t even cover the wheel...
That’s pulled as tightly as it will go...other seams are ready to burst trying to get it that tight.
it also has this crap that is supposed to tuck into the wheel according to their install video, but there isn’t anywhere to tuck it on the GX wheel. Even the trim tool they provided can’t fit into the “gap” on the wheel where it’s supposed to fit.
not terribly surprised at the lack of quality from a cheap, Chinese-produced knock off. Wouldn’t recommend this, and will now continue my search for one of the leather wheels with black wood.
it’s not cut properly because it can’t even cover the wheel...
That’s pulled as tightly as it will go...other seams are ready to burst trying to get it that tight.
it also has this crap that is supposed to tuck into the wheel according to their install video, but there isn’t anywhere to tuck it on the GX wheel. Even the trim tool they provided can’t fit into the “gap” on the wheel where it’s supposed to fit.
not terribly surprised at the lack of quality from a cheap, Chinese-produced knock off. Wouldn’t recommend this, and will now continue my search for one of the leather wheels with black wood.
phishtaco
Cincinnati
4th gen 4runner wheel. They look great.
Bought a Gobi ladder for $65 off the local classifieds. Sanded down some rusty dents and painted them with some rust-oleum flat black I had and then installed it today. Not a bad deal if you ask me. This is for an 06-09 4runner with the hump, but it doesn't bother me for as cheap as it was.
damn nice score!!!
I was tempted to try the new leather wrap too, but for $50 + my time it didn't seem worth the frustration. I picked up a piano black and leather GX470 weather from Taiwan on ebay for $199 and am very happy with the result. Pulling the old steering wheel (with a puller) and installing the new one only took 15 minutes.
I think that’s exactly the route I’m going to take. Those wheels look great, and, while I don’t have a steering wheel puller, hoping it’s something I can borrow from a friend or parts store.
you made the right call and factored in time...I just looked at the price tag.
