Hello Board Members,
Many members on this board have probably considered upgrading their audio systems at some point during their ownership experience but were maybe hesitant in altering the original aesthetics and functionality of their vehicle's audio system. I recently decided I wanted to upgrade the stereo head unit in my E39 to something that had more modern conveniences. I was using a small FM transmitter to play music through Bluetooth and to charge my phone via USB but lots of static and intermittent pauses led me to want to pursue a better setup. I wanted Bluetooth, a direct USB connection for charging, and the OEM look. I created this post so that others can learn of the option I went with, in case they are looking for options.
I initially wanted to install an XTRONS head unit (a cheap Chinese android head unit) because it ticked all the boxes. It's also compatible with the stock DSP amplifier and has a Bluetooth OBD2 connector you can purchase separately to read codes on the display. The problem was, every single local car audio shop refused to install it out of fear of liability, due to the cheap quality of these units. Sure many have had good experiences, I'm sure, but these shops warned me that if and when the unit fails, they are not responsible. After more research, I discovered that many people have had defective units and that the company offers poor customer support. I reached out to XTRONS and was not impressed with their responses, so I was stuck figuring out what the next best thing was. I posted on this forum to hear feedback, get some input, and hopefully discover something new.
A member of this board, Dennis Cooper, introduced me to a new product he engineered called the Innovadrive NXG-39. I learned that it would be compatible with high-quality head units and would address many of the functionalities I sought. He had created a genuinely high-quality fascia/fitting kit. It looked identical to the OEM 16:9 Navigation head unit offered with the higher-spec E39s. The overall aesthetics looked Genuine BMW like it came from the BMW Factory in Germany. Dennis shared with me that this fitting kit is compatible with several new and high-quality head units available on the market and provided me with an abundance of information and examples of successful installations. I went ahead and got the NXG-39, an Alpine iLX-W650, and an Alpine 4-channel Amp. I also got the steering wheel adapters and additional parts needed to integrate the head unit.
![934750]( "934750")
A quick overview is that the installer must first affix the head unit to the NXG-39. The steps are below:
1) Mount the chosen head unit into the NXG-39 by drilling mounting holes to match the head unit's mounting screw holes.
2) You'd then drop the lower dashboard.
3) Remove the OEM audio and cage. Once the OEM cage is removed, there's nothing to cut. If/when you need to sell the car, you can reverse the install procedure, refit the OEM stuff, and bring it back to stock. Please note I had a non-nav unit from the factory (CD not cassette) and that some non-nav units (the cassette units) have mounting holes inside the dash. I am a little unsure of which units do and do not - if anybody has more info on this, please share.
4) Drill 4 mounting holes in the NXG-39's outer side panels to match the OEM screw holes and secure them in place.
5) Connect the wiring and then refit the lower dash piece.
6) The buttons are pressable, backlit & dimmable, and the PCB has a connector in order to be able to attach wiring. They are purely for aesthetics (the volume knobs too). Dimmable backlighting when connected to the car's loom is integrated along with a close resemblance to the car's original dash backlight color.
The installation of the Kit with the head unit is straight forward. You drill 4 holes on each side, 2 holes on the inner part and 2 on the outer part - of both sides - and then affix the head unit inside with bolts, nuts, and washers. The material is not flimsy or weak, it's sturdy and very durable so no need to worry about cracking this fitting kit. I didn't drill holes yet here but this gives you a visual understanding.
![934753]( "934753")
I didn't get a photo of the fitting kit with the drilled holes but this photo from Dennis illustrates what it looks like before fitting the head unit:
![934757]( "934757")
Once the Head unit is in place and fits inside the kit, you can plug the appropriate wiring and slide the unit in snugly. The fit is so exact that it just slides in firmly and sits very tightly in place. Here is the head unit is placed inside the dash:
![934755]( "934755")
Overall, this route offers higher quality audio and parts, the OEM look, and all the functionalities one would need for their new setup. I am more than happy with the final results and hope this post was helpful.
If you're interested in having a fascia/fitting kit like the NXG-39, feel free to find Dennis Cooper on this board and he is happy to help you out.
Thanks for reading!
- Alan
Many members on this board have probably considered upgrading their audio systems at some point during their ownership experience but were maybe hesitant in altering the original aesthetics and functionality of their vehicle's audio system. I recently decided I wanted to upgrade the stereo head unit in my E39 to something that had more modern conveniences. I was using a small FM transmitter to play music through Bluetooth and to charge my phone via USB but lots of static and intermittent pauses led me to want to pursue a better setup. I wanted Bluetooth, a direct USB connection for charging, and the OEM look. I created this post so that others can learn of the option I went with, in case they are looking for options.
I initially wanted to install an XTRONS head unit (a cheap Chinese android head unit) because it ticked all the boxes. It's also compatible with the stock DSP amplifier and has a Bluetooth OBD2 connector you can purchase separately to read codes on the display. The problem was, every single local car audio shop refused to install it out of fear of liability, due to the cheap quality of these units. Sure many have had good experiences, I'm sure, but these shops warned me that if and when the unit fails, they are not responsible. After more research, I discovered that many people have had defective units and that the company offers poor customer support. I reached out to XTRONS and was not impressed with their responses, so I was stuck figuring out what the next best thing was. I posted on this forum to hear feedback, get some input, and hopefully discover something new.
A member of this board, Dennis Cooper, introduced me to a new product he engineered called the Innovadrive NXG-39. I learned that it would be compatible with high-quality head units and would address many of the functionalities I sought. He had created a genuinely high-quality fascia/fitting kit. It looked identical to the OEM 16:9 Navigation head unit offered with the higher-spec E39s. The overall aesthetics looked Genuine BMW like it came from the BMW Factory in Germany. Dennis shared with me that this fitting kit is compatible with several new and high-quality head units available on the market and provided me with an abundance of information and examples of successful installations. I went ahead and got the NXG-39, an Alpine iLX-W650, and an Alpine 4-channel Amp. I also got the steering wheel adapters and additional parts needed to integrate the head unit.
A quick overview is that the installer must first affix the head unit to the NXG-39. The steps are below:
1) Mount the chosen head unit into the NXG-39 by drilling mounting holes to match the head unit's mounting screw holes.
2) You'd then drop the lower dashboard.
3) Remove the OEM audio and cage. Once the OEM cage is removed, there's nothing to cut. If/when you need to sell the car, you can reverse the install procedure, refit the OEM stuff, and bring it back to stock. Please note I had a non-nav unit from the factory (CD not cassette) and that some non-nav units (the cassette units) have mounting holes inside the dash. I am a little unsure of which units do and do not - if anybody has more info on this, please share.
4) Drill 4 mounting holes in the NXG-39's outer side panels to match the OEM screw holes and secure them in place.
5) Connect the wiring and then refit the lower dash piece.
6) The buttons are pressable, backlit & dimmable, and the PCB has a connector in order to be able to attach wiring. They are purely for aesthetics (the volume knobs too). Dimmable backlighting when connected to the car's loom is integrated along with a close resemblance to the car's original dash backlight color.
The installation of the Kit with the head unit is straight forward. You drill 4 holes on each side, 2 holes on the inner part and 2 on the outer part - of both sides - and then affix the head unit inside with bolts, nuts, and washers. The material is not flimsy or weak, it's sturdy and very durable so no need to worry about cracking this fitting kit. I didn't drill holes yet here but this gives you a visual understanding.
I didn't get a photo of the fitting kit with the drilled holes but this photo from Dennis illustrates what it looks like before fitting the head unit:
Once the Head unit is in place and fits inside the kit, you can plug the appropriate wiring and slide the unit in snugly. The fit is so exact that it just slides in firmly and sits very tightly in place. Here is the head unit is placed inside the dash:
Overall, this route offers higher quality audio and parts, the OEM look, and all the functionalities one would need for their new setup. I am more than happy with the final results and hope this post was helpful.
If you're interested in having a fascia/fitting kit like the NXG-39, feel free to find Dennis Cooper on this board and he is happy to help you out.
Thanks for reading!
- Alan
