So here's the plan --

I've got the stock AM/FM, single CD, cassette with satellite and Brandmotion iPod adapter. I'm using a TomTom Go720 dash mounted for Nav and just added a rear view camera w/separate 7" monitor. My dash/console is a mess.

I'd like to upgrade to a double-din in-dash DVD/Nav unit. I'd like to go with the Ford unit to keep the stock look. They can be found on ebay but most seem to come from other vehicles (Expys, Fusions, Mustangs, etc.) I've read where these may require reprogramming? By whom? At what price?

I know there are a lot of after market units but frankly they're outside my budget max of about $600.

Anyone know anything about one of these? Jensen VR187 AM/FM/CD/WB Sirius Stereo w/ 7 inch Hidden LCD Screen. Says they were used in many Ford models?

It has a hidden screen - pops out when you want it and I'm not sure I like that.

Finally, no I don't want the Brandmotion/magellan unit - I'm not crazy about its looks and I already have another radio (business) installed in the dash tray where that module fits.

Any/all advice appreciated...

 

If I recall there was a guy on here selling nav units b4. It can be done but it will talke you some time to research. I know that aftermarket is out of your budget but there some units that have that factory look.

 

I have a unit that would fit your vehicle which I can program. However, if $600 is your budget, there is not much I can do. The factory nav retails for about $2400 and usually sells on ebay for about $900. Let me know if you are interested. I do have a factory nav that would fit your truck but instead of the Ford black plastic look, the nav is the lincoln gray faceplate. Also, the Lincoln has white illuminated buttons at night as opposed to Ford green. I have installed this unit in a F150 and a F350 and the unit looks great.

 

Thanks but I'll hol dout for the Ford unit. I've seen the Lincoln unit on ebay and frankly it would look like C**p with the rest of my black OEM dash/instrumentation. I'm prepared to stretch the budget but from what I've seen on ebay I'm confident I can get it done for $800 or less.

 

Keep in mind that most places that you have to send the radio to for reprogramming will hit you at about $100.

Also the factory navigation screen can only be made to play a video on it from the camera by hacking the radio. This also requires you to send it to another company. This alteration to the unit can hit you at about $250 and up.

This pushes you quite a bit outside the budget I think.

If you are looking for a decent all-in-one unit then I would recommend the Kenwood DNX-5120. Not from me but you can find this unit sold from the "low low" guys on ebay for around the $600 price range. This unit will accomplish everything you need. You can clean up that dash and ditch the add-on monitor for your camera because you can feed the image into your radio screen plus you gain touch screen ipod control, DVD player and much more powerful audio than a factory unit. To top it all off you will have a memory driven Garmin navigation instead of a unit that you have to put a disk into. The navigation updating is much cheaper than buying a updated FORD disk.

Just something to think about. I know you want "factory" but there is a reason alot of people remove them for an upgrade.

 

Wow, that's certainly good info and something to think about. I'd planned to push the budget to about $800. Does it mate with satellite radio? Are all those features standard or add ons? The problem I've seen with most after market units is the base unit is affordable but by the time you add satellite radio, ipod adapter, etc you're well over $1K to $1200!

I'll give the unit a look though, probably Crutchfield or someone similar sells it?


PS is it plug and play installation or is additional wiring harness required?

 

The unit does not mate up with the OEM receiver. The Sirius package for most aftermarket units runs about $125.00. The good thing is that you can use the OEM sat antenna if you are using sirius.

The iPod adapter for most radios runs between $30 to $50.

Everyone thows that "plug-n-play" at me...lol With the use of the Metra 70-5520 or 70-5521 (if audiophile) you can simply plug the unit into your factory wiring. One really nice feature of adding an aftermarket unit is that you will gain subwoofer control if you have the audiophile subwoofer. As it sits now your subwoofer is a slave to the volume of the factory radio. With the new unit you can control the volume, turn it on/off and even adjust the frequency of the subwoofer a little bit more.

As stated before your aftermarket radio will have 3 times the power of the factory radio. It not only makes the factory speakers sound better but if you add aftermarket speakers you have the power to drive them.

If you have steering wheel controls then you will need the PAC SWI-JACK module that will interface with the new radio.

Hit me up offsite for more info.

 

OP,

I was in your situation once, and it can be a pain to get everything together, but the factory integrated look is the way to go. I don't know if "nothinbutaford" is still around, but he is the man. You may want to try to contact him. He programmed my unit, along with adding the sat, and IPOD adapter. I'm letting mine go if you're interested, and it's posted in the classifieds. I don't know about the camera issue though. It's been awhile, since I've spent money on my truck, so I haven't kept up with the latest and greatest, but the option mentioned above sounds promising.

 

I found a dealer who's packaged the Kenwood, iPod adapter, Sirius Radio tuner and steering wheel controls for me at just under $800. And it readily accepts my rear view camera. Seems that might be a pretty hard deal to beat?