Pioneer AVIC-D1 questions...
 

All,
Up till now I'd been interested in the Avic-N2, but I saw that Pioneer has released the Avic-D1 that can do what the N2 can do minus the video.

Since I don't care about video, I'm considering this unit. Anyone out there got one installed? If so, what did you pay for the head unit?

I like the double din setup and price, too. I know I could pay more for an N2, but I simply won't use the video. Comments would help.

The MSRP for the D1 is $1800, and I'd bet I could get a better price if I shop around.

Thanks!

I'm very interested as well. Keep us posted if you get one and the prices you find.

I sure will. This unit is so new that I haven't seen any listed on ebay. I don't believe that Crutchfield is listing them yet, either.

THey are popping up on e-bay, but all pre-orders.. .http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...770771459&rd=1

Still a huge bummer they cannot play DVDs & require a second DVD player... but it can control an external player. Still looks like a solid product.

Just found out that the AVIC-D1 won't fit the F150 without some modification to the face plate and mounting area inside the dash. My installer (a pro here in town) said that it wasn't a major problem and he's put several double din units into the F150...it just adds an hour or two to the install time.

The AVIC-D1 hasn't started shipping from Pioneer yet. This is so typical of manufacturers. They start releasing details of new products, including advertising, dealer brochures, etc long before the product is ready to ship. this allows them to gauge the response so they don't over-produce the product. Plus, some of them are just plain disorganized! Boss Audio is a prime example. Just about all of thier 2005 releases have not started shipping yet, but you will find them listed everywhere.

Oh, and the D1 is a double DIN unit, and the opening of a F150 is a 1 and a half DIN. So yes, cutting will be required.

Yikes! The 2005 F150 is only a 1.5 din? I thought it was a double din. I was just about to order the Pioneer AVIC-D1 and install it myself, but perhaps I am SOL!

My local Ultimate Electronics dealer will sell me the unit for $1,599.95 and install it for $150. However, I can buy it online (in stock as of today) from JJ Electronics (http://www.jjielectronics.com/index....l=&strCompare=) for $1,249.99 and then I thought I could install it myself and save $500.

I don't want to risk screwing up my dash at all. What do you folks recommend? Is it just physically impossible to install this unit and have it look "factory installed?"

Thanks to all of you for your input - this is a great site!

Chris

cwilley,
Take your price to your dealer and push him to come down some. My local guy has said that he'll meet or beat any internet authorized factory dealer.

But, yeah, you probably are a little SOL. My guy assured me that the F150 is a 1.5 DIN and he'd have to cut. That said, the installer I'm dealing with is supposedly one of the best in my state (Stereo West in Nebraska). They do some sick one-off custom installs, so I trust their ability. That said, I wouldn't go cutting it myself. I think it would be worth spending $$ to have a pro do it, but that's me.

One thing to consider is to buy a backup faceplate to have on hand if you sell it. Take it back to your installer and have them put in your old system if you want to keep it should you decide to sell / trade your truck. Some places will return your vehicle to factory specs at no charge, but they are hard to find. Maybe you could work that into the deal. I'm not sure if this is doable, but it is what I'm considering.

Paul

Well, I did it. I went ahead and ordered the Pioneer AVIC-D1 from JJ Electronics ($1,249 and no tax!). Now I guess I will find out if it really is in stock.

Although I am a Sirius fan (have it in other vehicle, and really like having the NFL games), I went ahead and ordered the XM unit with NavTraffic. With the "real-time" traffic avoidance feature combined with the enhanced graphical XM interface, I just couldn't pass it up. I hope it does not let me down.

I'm not a pro at installations, but I will give it a try. I will stop before I screw anything up too bad and will take it to a local installer if necessary. But I read enough online descriptions of double-din installs in the 05 Screw that I felt compelled to give it a shot (plus I am super impatient and wanted to get it right away!!).

I believe I need a wiring harness, and I will see if my local Circuit City has the one I need (Metra PR-0180 I think).

I will keep you apprised of my progress.

Just FYI: future projects, if this goes well:

- backup camera
- power fold mirrors
- auto locking tailgate
- head rest DVD
- Leer shell (as soon as I can sell my recently installed Truck Covers USA American Roll Cover)

If any one has any advice about the AVIC-D1 install, or undertakes a similar project, please let me know.

Thanks!
Chris

Are you aware that NavTraffic is only available in 20 select markets across the country. For Arizona, it is only available in the Phoenix area.

Yes, I was aware of that; but thanks for the heads-up. Fortunately, I live and drive in the greater-Phoenix area, so there shouldn't be any problem with coverage.

would it fit if you removed the passanger airbag light??

Pioneer Avic D1
 

The Pioneer Avic D1 will fit in your Ford. The radio that came in your truck IS a Double Din and you do not have to remove the Passanger Air bag Light. Just slide the factory radio out and put in the new one.

MM,
Are you sure? The folks I talked to were pretty sure it wouldn't fit. Also, Crutchfield's web site says it won't fit...this was why I bothered to call my installer.

Yes, I am sure . I spoke with a guy named Amos at crutchfield today and he assured me that it would fit. At the time crutchfield listed the Avic D1 they were not sure of the dimensions of the new F-150's so to be on the safe side they said it would not fit. If you call them they will tell you it will fit with no problems. I just ordered mine today.

MM,
You rock. My installer must be on crack. So much for the best guy in the state...wait...I'm in Nebraska. What should I expect?

hey mickey tell me how the instalation goes. im also thinkin about gettin one but i wanta see some pics or if there are any problems. thanx

Mickey; Ditto on that. Let us know how the install goes.

:thumbsup:

Well I finally got the Avic D1 in yesterday and had it installed in less than 30 mins. There was no problems at all. The best thing was I ordered it from Crutchfield and it came with everything you need. I was able to seat at the table and connect all of my wires except for the speed control then it was just pulling out the stock player and sliding the new one in. When I get some time I will take some pictures and post them. Oh, the Avic D1 is out of this world.

Install of AVIC-D1 complete!
 

I agree, the AVIC-D1 is pretty awesome. My install was completed yesterday.

I ordered the D1 from JJI Electronics on the weekend; received it yesterday. Price was $1,250 with no taxes. I paid Circuit City $200 to install the D1, plus the XM NavTraffic unit, plus the Motorola Bluetooth kit. They had it all done within 3 hours and experienced no problems. The unit fits perfect and looks as factory as can be. Even with paying for the install, the total of $1,450 was well below the $1,599 (plus $130 in taxes) my local retailers wanted.

I'm still playing with everything and learning how to use it...but so far it really kicks but. I really like that the Bluetooth kit automatically mutes the stereo.

The rear-view camera is next...as soon as I can afford it!

Chris

Sweet!! man who's got pics of the finished install?! I'm soooo jealous!

Does the Bluetooth kit come with the head unit, or was that a seperate install / purchase?

cwilley;

Does that $1250 from JJI Electronics (ebay?) include the XM NAV Traffic box and antennas and bluetooth or is that extra? Did you get those at JJI Electronics also? Did you install a video player yet and where?
Thanks.

The $1,250 was only for the Pioneer AVIC-D1. You will find that most places are charging $1,599 (usually plus tax too). The XM NavTraffic unit was $250 and the Motorola Bluetooth was a separate unit that I picked up new on eBay for $125. No video player installed yet.

You can visit JJI Electronics at www.jjielectronics.com. I was really pleased with them. Fast, efficient, and great pricing. I think I found them through comparison shopping on froogle.com.

I was just checking out the DV unit. So if you install this, there are two slots in the head unit, one for cd's and one for the map dvd's. Now how do you play regular video dvd's? Is this where you would need to install a seperate dvd player? Or does the map dvd slot also double as the dvd player?

crud - you need a seperate DVD player as the slot in the HU is DVD-ROM only. No video! On the bright side, you can get a DVD changer and control it from the HU and never need to worry about flipping discs again!

no, the guy at the local shop I was just at, was telling me how the AVIC-D1 cannot play movies while driving. Because of the way the navigation ties into the headunit. No way to cheat it, yet right on the home page it show a picture of the rear view camera being viewed while in motion. Is there some way to make it play movies while driving?

I don't neccesarily need the headunit's screen to display the movie, but it would be nice to see it on the other screens.

I was thinking that it's probably possible to put a toggle switch on the speed sense wire for the Navi hookup. This way you disconnect the wire, unit doesn't know you are in motion and you could watch a movie, when you want the Navi to work, flick the switch back.

The D1 can't play ANY movies by itself, in motion or at a stop it's not capable of playing movies... Is he saying even with an external DVD player the unit will refuse to play/control it while in motion? I think he's on crack.

The unit itself has a built-in nav/rear camera mode to monitor the toys your towing.

exactly what he was saying, while in motion it wouldn't let you view a movie. Actually his exact words were "anything over 5 mile per hour....." And it was because of how tied into the vehicle it is with that monitoring stuff it has in it. And he did keep referring to the need for an external DVD player. Which I might add, has a perfect place to call home, right behing the ash tray door.

Interesting... the manual states:

Those bastards! It even says it for the aux input... there has got to be away around it...

exactly. What I'm thinking, is that there has to be a wire that can be disconnected to allow it to work and then reconnect to have whatever feature work. Follow me? I don't have one yet, so I don't really know what needs to be down, but I'm sure just throwing a toggle switch on maybe the speed pulse wire, will trick it so it doesn't think the vehicle is moving. Flip the switch to watch a movie, and clip the switch back to use the nav.

I'm not buying one until I can verify that;

1) I can view a rear-view camera while driving and
2) DVD's can be rigged to play (with a DVD player of course) while in motion.

I will post if I can find any of this out. Hopefully others will as well.

:thumbsup:

1. Is answered on their web site.

Yanked from http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pn...219118,00.html

I was under the impression that the D1 has the video just not the navigation capability?

Nope, the D1 can only do video via it's inputs from an external DVD player/changer. The DVD drive it has is DVD-ROM ONLY! Check out Pioneer's website for all the gory details. It's marketed as a navigation unit, not a full blown multimedia HU.

I have just had one put in my 05 Expedition and the installer has it rigged so that I can watch movies while i'm driving. If you select AV on the HU a screen will pop up that says stop the vihicle, press the emergency brake, release the emergency brake and then press the emergency brake then hit OK on the screen. After you hit OK you can release the parking brake and have the movie on the screen. You will still need an seperate DVD player because the D1 will not play movies.

Bottom line...what you all are saying is that the AVIC D1 can play movies on its screen with a separate DVD player hooked up to it? If this is the case--I must have one......

Yes, that is correct.

coming late to this thread, but I just installed the d1 in my 04 lariat screw. Indeed, the rear view camera will work while you are moving. You can hook the Dvd feed into that input, but you would have no audio. Also, the map shows up on the left and blanks out about 25% of the screen when you are moving forward. Unless you want to drive around in reverse (or short out that wire all thie time, which will confuse your positioning and then you will still not have audio). The only work around to watch dvds, via an external player, is the workaround that is mentioned earlier by dragonkeeper.

Pics of my AVIC-D1 and Motorola Bluetooth
 

For those that are interested, I just posted pics of my installed AVIC-D1 and the Motorola Bluetooth unit.

https://www.f150online.com/galleries....cfm?gnum=6044

Chris