Well my new AVIC-Z2 is finally installed last weekend.





http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pn...tailsComponent


First and foremost, this is one well equipped head unit. I have been playing around with it for a week, and I am still learning new things about it everyday.

I have included pictures of the parts that I used and accessories I will be installing as soon as they arrive. I ordered them a few weeks ago, but haven’t received them yet.

Well after trying all the different Dash Kits that are available for our trucks I came across this one. It looks the nicest when it is installed. The Kit is made by BEST and their website is www.bestkits.com and the actual part number is BKFMK542. *Important info when installing this kit on a 2007 F150, the instructions tell you to remove 1 of the 2 front spacer tabs don’t remove either of them, unless you want your head unit to not be flush with the surrounding dash.

Most of the install details are well documented elsewhere, but i did mount my GPS antenna underneath the dash on an existing metal bracket and my signal is 6 or 7 bars out of 8 so for now, i dont have any visable wires or antennas on my truck.


I also had to buy the antenna adapter.



Continued....

 

I purchased the Metra wiring harness to make the install allot easier.



I have ordered the following items, and will be installing them as soon as I get them.

To be able to continue using the steering wheel controls, I bought the PAC SWI-PS.



As well I ordered the Pioneer Ipod adapter so that I can hook it up to my head unit directly.



I also ordered the Pioneer Bluetooth kit.



Continued…..

 

I also ordered the Sirius kit.


I also installed the BOYO License plate backup camera, which works great with this head unit. When it was installed on my stupid Panasonic head unit, there was a delay before it would show up due to the way the Panasonic operated. The AVIC enables it as soon as you put the truck in reverse, no waiting.



If you need anymore info, www.AVIC411.com is a great site with all the info you will need and then some for these head units.

I will also update this thread when I get the rest of the stuff installed.

To be continued…..

 

Future Pics of amps and speaker install.

 

Very nice And I thought I had alot of crap hooked to my head unit. I have 2 amps, rear camera, Ipod, XM, and an expansion module for future toys. I might need to switch to that dash kit since it looks much nicer than my Metra.

 

Holy cow thats a lot of stuff. Looks great! Wish I could swing one!

 

I heard the z2 is having some trouble, is that true??

 

Please tell us what the Bluetooth module does.

 

I just installed the AVIC-z2 a couple weeks ago and it's pretty slick!
The Bluetooth connects to a Bluetooth enabled cell phone and allows you to send and recieve calls through the unit.
The voice commands take a bit to learn the shortcuts, but it's pretty cool how you can adjust everything from source and track to making phone calls.

The 30GB HDD lets you rip up to 10GB of MP3s from any audio disk you play.
3 Zone entertainment means you can be watching the nav up front, back left can be watching a DVD, and back left can play XBox 360 thanks to a power inverter and the A/V ins on the AVIC.

YUP it kicks ***!

And you can load your own jpegs from CD for backgrounds and contacts.

IR lets you beam contacts from your phone to the HDD and it remembers up to 5 different phones... so i the woman takes the truck her phone syncs, and same for me...

 

The bluetooth module works with your bluetooth cellphone so that you can make and recieve calls handsfree.

Other than not being able to bypass it, i dont know of any problems!

Yeah i had all three kits available, and found that this kit fits the best, and looks the nicest.

 

ok, ok, ok..i can't take it anymore..after seeing all these installs for this z2...i think i'll finally have to break down and buy one....it looks sick, and i love the features you can get with it...my only concern was the camera for backing up....

nxtlvl....where did you pick up the boyo license plate camera....i really like that idea...how does the picture look from that...is it clear? is it a good shot???

 

I've been drooling over that head unit for awhile now since I saw it on sale in the Crutchfield catalog. I just can't afford to do it right now with all the stuff I'm doing around the new house, and with my luck...it would get ripped at my work's parking lot within the first month I had it.

 

It looks amazing, Brian (who blew his engine, is now building a new forged 5.4) had one in his truck and I was impressed with everything. Is the fx4 carbon fiber the same as in the Harley?

What did all this cost you if you dont mind me asking?

 

The carbon fiber you are asking about in the Harley is actually little Harley emblems, so it is definately different than the FX4.

As far as price, im still waiting for a few things, so im not sure what the final price will be, but i will let you know.

 

The camera is pretty sick especially if you ever tow anything... you can mount it stealth underneath, cut a hole in the plate, or mount it above the plate looking down on the hitch... I have mine mounted through the plate.

Quality is closer to a cell phone camera than a DV cam, but it dos the job.

There seems to be a bit of headway in the bypass hacks for the Z2, but nothing solid yet. check out avic411.com for the most info on the unit and its issues.
I love my Z2! I just wish the OS would let you do more customizing like interface color changes not just images, as well as animated backgrounds like swf or even animated gifs.

Oh well... someday we'll be driven by our cars and then they'll have no restrictions on how you can entertain or distract yourself while comanding a 4500 lb object moving near 100mph.

Until then we ground out the park brake wire and use the other features when we're at a stop... lol