Flip screen stereo head units or Flex/Swivel screen?

[zixel]

Hi,

Looking into getting a new head unit. I'm thinking of a flip screen, something like this;

Pumpkin 7" Android 10 Single Din Flip Out Touch Screen Head Unit (2GB+32GB)

Pumpkin 7" Android 10 Single Din Flip Out Touch Screen Car Stereo with RDS radio, compatible Android Auto/ Apple CarPlay USB Dongle

www.autopumpkin.co.uk

But my concern is about the space for the screen when it flips out, because the vents protrude a little.

Has anyone any experience of the how well the screen fits with the vents?

Pics/Vids always welcome!

Thanks

 

[Rudyrov]

Yes, they block the vents. A non-starter for me.

 

[AntStark]

What about a fixed screen single din , mechless, like my pioneer. Doesn’t block the vents, only slightly obscures the heater controls from the driving position

 

[gookah]

I have this one:


does Sat nav:


Rear camera:


Spotify, bluetooth phone and music streaming.
Will tilt, and move up or down, room behind to reach up to the heater controls:


Will even connect to the OBD socket and give various live readouts.


I did have one like the one you are suggesting,
It had various tilt angles and I was able to have it store its setting of tilted forwards slightly to clear the vents, but they were still blocked.
I did choose the one that would carry on playing with the screen folded back in (after selecting the playlist), however it didnt have any skip track buttons on the front, so I had to open the screen to skip a track, which was a pain.

 

[zixel]

Looks good! That option is on my radar too. Especially, if then the screen opens it's hits then vents and such.

 

[zixel]

I have this one:
View attachment 193857

does Sat nav:
View attachment 193861

Rear camera:
View attachment 193863

Spotify, bluetooth phone and music streaming.
Will tilt, and move up or down, room behind to reach up to the heater controls:
View attachment 193877

Will even connect to the OBD socket and give various live readouts.


I did have one like the one you are suggesting,
It had various tilt angles and I was able to have it store its setting of tilted forwards slightly to clear the vents, but they were still blocked.
I did choose the one that would carry on playing with the screen folded back in (after selecting the playlist), however it didnt have any skip track buttons on the front, so I had to open the screen to skip a track, which was a pain.

I little question on those. Most head units seem to have a cage that fits in the hole, which a secured by fold tabs. Which the head unit then slides into.

All the images of the kind you have, don't see to have a cage. I can't get in my head how they fit in the 1-din hole. Can you explain the fitting of these kind in the z3?

Thanks

 

[AntStark]

Single din cage with screen attached to the front

 

[Iamjonw]

What about a fixed screen single din , mechless, like my pioneer. Doesn’t block the vents, only slightly obscures the heater controls from the driving positionView attachment 193843
View attachment 193845
View attachment 193847

Love this, did you fabricate it or source it?

 

[AntStark]

I made it... cut a hole in the blanking panel with a dremel to fit one of these.

Baolongking USB Panel Flush Mount Cable USB 3.0 Extension USB Mount, Dash Mount, Flush Mount, Panel Mount Cable, For Car, Boat, Motorcycle (Square Single USB 3.0 1M): Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

Shop Baolongking USB Panel Flush Mount Cable USB 3.0 Extension USB Mount, Dash Mount, Flush Mount, Panel Mount Cable, For Car, Boat, Motorcycle (Square Single USB 3.0 1M). Free delivery and returns on eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

That cable plugs into the back of the stereo unit. Means I have car play/sat nav etc but can leave the phone charging in the passenger foot well cage thing

You can also get the pattern to have the blanking plate with USB hole 3D printed

Centre Console Switch Blank Trim Cap for BMW vehicles by superlazy

Center console trim cap for BMW Z3 E36/7. This matches the original part (8400712) and can be customized to fit other connections. I also included the one I made to install a USB plug for a new stereo in this otherwise unoccupied space.

www.thingiverse.com

 

[Iamjonw]

I made it... cut a hole in the blanking panel with a dremel to fit one of these.

Baolongking USB Panel Flush Mount Cable USB 3.0 Extension USB Mount, Dash Mount, Flush Mount, Panel Mount Cable, For Car, Boat, Motorcycle (Square Single USB 3.0 1M): Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

Shop Baolongking USB Panel Flush Mount Cable USB 3.0 Extension USB Mount, Dash Mount, Flush Mount, Panel Mount Cable, For Car, Boat, Motorcycle (Square Single USB 3.0 1M). Free delivery and returns on eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

That cable plugs into the back of the unit. Means I have car play/sat nav etc but can leave the phone charging in the passenger foot well cage thing

Nice, but required a USB socket on the head unit. I decided on a slightly different approach and converted the cigarette lighter to a switchable dual USB port.

 

[zixel]

That's nice, where did you source the part?

 

[AntStark]

So is that socket connected to the stereo head unit ?

 

[zixel]

Single din cage with screen attached to the front
View attachment 194881

Yours seems different than most I've seen online. Your one is what I would expect and how my current unit is, and pretty much all I've ever seem is like.

But 90% of all this kind I see online, look more like this?

10.1in 1DIN Car Stereo Radio MP5 Player GPS SAT NAV Head Unit WiFi Android 9.1 974867427792 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 10.1in 1DIN Car Stereo Radio MP5 Player GPS SAT NAV Head Unit WiFi Android 9.1 at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

Which doesn't inspire me to think it's a normal cage setup?

I was wondering what @gookah had, since his looks very like the ones online.

 

[Iamjonw]

So is that socket connected to the stereo head unit ?

If that question is to me, then the answer no, it uses the cigarette lighter power supply.

 

[Iamjonw]

That's nice, where did you source the part?

If that was a question to me, then the answer is Amazon:

Thlevel Dual USB Charger Socket, Dual 5V/4.2A USB Car Charger Power Outlet with switch for 12V/24V Car, Boats and Marine, Motorcycle, Truck, SUV, UTV (1x USB Socket Red) : Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

Free delivery and returns on eligible orders. Buy Thlevel Dual USB Charger Socket, Dual 5V/4.2A USB Car Charger Power Outlet with switch for 12V/24V Car, Boats and Marine, Motorcycle, Truck, SUV, UTV (1x USB Socket Red) at Amazon UK.

www.amazon.co.uk

 

[AntStark]

Ok so it’s just a charger ..very smart. Good having it turnoffable as there is constant power to the cigarette lighter even with the key out.

 

[gookah]

I was wondering what @gookah had, since his looks very like the ones online.

Not sure, to be honest I have forgotten, It will be weekend before I can get to car to check, as working away from home.
I know the screen is detachable (as well as adjusting up and down), which would allow for keys to remove it from a cage,
I would think it is a cage, just to stop it just being pulled out and nicked
I will advise over the weekend.

 

[mrscalex]

I have this one:
View attachment 193857

does Sat nav:
View attachment 193861

Rear camera:
View attachment 193863

Spotify, bluetooth phone and music streaming.
Will tilt, and move up or down, room behind to reach up to the heater controls:
View attachment 193877

Will even connect to the OBD socket and give various live readouts.


I did have one like the one you are suggesting,
It had various tilt angles and I was able to have it store its setting of tilted forwards slightly to clear the vents, but they were still blocked.
I did choose the one that would carry on playing with the screen folded back in (after selecting the playlist), however it didnt have any skip track buttons on the front, so I had to open the screen to skip a track, which was a pain.

I like that. Will be keen to find out what model that is. I'd be happy with a flex-head single DIN mount for an old iPad Mini.

 

[zixel]

I'm settling on something like this...

165.0US $ 34% OFF|Quad Core Android10 1din Universal Car Multimedia Radio Stereo Player Wifi Gps Mirror Link Autoradio 4g Lte Camera Rotatable Dsp - Car Multimedia Player - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

However, although all 1-din fitting, they don't seem to come with a cage/frame. Just some brackets.

The sides look like this;

I just can see how that would fit without a normal cage/frame

I've even seen in the reviews a pic of one installed in a Z3?!!

(it was just a pic in the review, so I can't even ask the owner!)

Anyone got a clue? I'm just very apprehensive to order and then find I can't get it to fit?

 

[mrscalex]

I'm settling on something like this...

165.0US $ 34% OFF|Quad Core Android10 1din Universal Car Multimedia Radio Stereo Player Wifi Gps Mirror Link Autoradio 4g Lte Camera Rotatable Dsp - Car Multimedia Player - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

However, although all 1-din fitting, they don't seem to come with a cage/frame. Just some brackets.

The sides look like this;
View attachment 195075
I just can see how that would fit without a normal cage/frame

I've even seen in the reviews a pic of one installed in a Z3?!!
View attachment 195073
(it was just a pic in the review, so I can't even ask the owner!)

Anyone got a clue? I'm just very apprehensive to order and then find I can't get it to fit?

Might be missing the point. Don't you just buy the cage separately? Aren't they just a few quid? Just bought a double DIN for my lads C2, then found the unit came with a cage...