Android head unit recommendation

[scoey1001]

Hi does anyone have any recommendations for a good android car stereo? Have looked at a few by Xtrons but some of the reviews on Amazon are hit and miss. It's for a mk5 gti. Thanks

Edit: Would like Dab (is this relevant on an android unit or do you just get a radio app and use your 4g?) Also steering wheel control function, and reverse camera facility.

Edited by scoey1001 on Sunday 28th February 17:40

[Dog Star]

I've put a Sony XAV thingie in Mrs DS's SLK and helped my mate put one in his van this weekend.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-XAV-AX3005-Premium-R...

They're Apple carplay and Android auto. Proper quality, really slick and really are nice - I like it more than the full monty giant screen Comand system in my E class. I've seen some of these Chinese Android things and they're awful, buggy, poor response times. You get what you pay for.

[Teddy Lop]

Had xtrons in the E46, never worked right, company ignored emails and tech queries. Would go for something better branded next time.

[scoey1001]

Dog Star said:

I've put a Sony XAV thingie in Mrs DS's SLK and helped my mate put one in his van this weekend.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-XAV-AX3005-Premium-R...

They're Apple carplay and Android auto. Proper quality, really slick and really are nice - I like it more than the full monty giant screen Comand system in my E class. I've seen some of these Chinese Android things and they're awful, buggy, poor response times. You get what you pay for.

Thanks, this is what I was worried about (laggy/buggy etc) but thought the latest ones might have sorted this, as you say you get what you pay for but the Xtrons unit I was looking at is the same price as the Sony you linked. I actually have all the wiring in for a pioneer unit (the unit itself was faulty when I bought the car) so may just look to replace like for like if these Android units are still unreliable.

Reason i was looking at these Android units is the ability to download any app, also most of them have a split screen function which is quite useful.

Edited by scoey1001 on Monday 1st March 10:45

[Dog Star]

scoey1001 said:

Thanks, this is what I was worried about (laggy/buggy etc) but thought the latest ones might have sorted this, as you say you get what you pay for but the Xtrons unit I was looking at is the same price as the Sony you linked. I actually have all the wiring in for a pioneer unit (the unit itself was faulty when I bought the car) so may just look to replace like for like if these Android units are still unreliable.

Reason i was looking at these Android units is the ability to download any app, also most of them have a split screen function which is quite useful.

The Sony will do the android stuff.
The plugs etc for installation should be the same for whatever you get - ISO. You might need to swap the yellow and red live/switched feeds (usually bullet connectors).

[scoey1001]

Dog Star said:

scoey1001 said:

Thanks, this is what I was worried about (laggy/buggy etc) but thought the latest ones might have sorted this, as you say you get what you pay for but the Xtrons unit I was looking at is the same price as the Sony you linked. I actually have all the wiring in for a pioneer unit (the unit itself was faulty when I bought the car) so may just look to replace like for like if these Android units are still unreliable.

Reason i was looking at these Android units is the ability to download any app, also most of them have a split screen function which is quite useful.

The Sony will do the android stuff.
The plugs etc for installation should be the same for whatever you get - ISO. You might need to swap the yellow and red live/switched feeds (usually bullet connectors).

Had a look and I do like it. I know currently the dab aerial is wired on the windscreen and there is a usb port wired into the glovebox, should I just be able to plug these into the back of the Sony? Also do you know where I can find the fascia plate that would make it fit my car? (2008 mk5 Golf gti). Cheers

[Dog Star]

I used a DAB antenna splitter (powered) so that I could use the existing car aerial. I attached the red power cable of that to the power antenna output of the head unit. Works great.

Look for “dab antenna splitter” on Amazon. Powered (will have a red wire)

I cannot find who I got our fascia from - it wasn’t cheap but it looks OE

[Dog Star]

No idea why it’s upside down. Sigh

[scoey1001]

Thanks for the advice I ended up going with a Kenwood DMX5020DABS as i got it for a good price, got it fitted by a local 'car audio specialist' yesterday and this is the result, believe it or not it was worse than this at first, stereo was left loose and sat way back in the opening and bottom trim wasn't even attached. So now I'm left with a trim that has gaps and won't go back together properly and two deep scratches which he did with a screwdriver trying to force it in. He had to Dremel some of the the plastic around the opening as the stereo wouldn't fit in?

No way I can live with it like this so I'm going to have to start taking it apart again. Oh and the bit of scratched trim is nearly £50 to replace. He even had the cheek to ask me to leave him a review on Facebook. Oh the reason for the trim not going back together is apparently 'the car isn't designed to take aftermarket stereos so you'll never get it perfect' which is obviously bks. In the end I got tired of arguing.



First world problems etc. but from a so called professional I think it's bad.

[Dog Star]

I'd leave him a st review for that - that's just hamfisted bodgery.
There is almost no back to these units, they aren't deep, so his excuses are pathetic.
Leave a review. Leave link here. Will go on and comment.

I really don't know why you didn't do it yourself - that cables are just ISO standard, you might need to swap the non and powered positive and you can do some stuff if you want to use the existing antenna as DAB. It's not hard and it means a job that you can only blame yourself for if it's crap and it also prevents retards like that "fitter" from stealing a living.

[scoey1001]

Dog Star said:

I'd leave him a st review for that - that's just hamfisted bodgery.
There is almost no back to these units, they aren't deep, so his excuses are pathetic.
Leave a review. Leave link here. Will go on and comment.

I really don't know why you didn't do it yourself - that cables are just ISO standard, you might need to swap the non and powered positive and you can do some stuff if you want to use the existing antenna as DAB. It's not hard and it means a job that you can only blame yourself for if it's crap and it also prevents retards like that "fitter" from stealing a living.

I know I really should have but I'm the clumsiest person ever and just wanted to be sure everything worked right and looked right. Big mistake obviously. The plastic bits he dremelled were at the top and bottom of the opening so more height issue than depth? But still not sure why it wouldn't fit as surely they are standard size. Where he's bodged the cage/opening etc. It's had a knock on effect on the trim which won't go back (hoping it's not out of shape now but wouldn't be surprised).

I've sent him a message telling him it's a bodge basically and that I need new trim etc. where he's been at it with the screwdriver but not had a reply.

[ShampooEfficient]

Where are you based OP?

[scoey1001]

ShampooEfficient said:

Where are you based OP?

I'm in South East Kent

[ShampooEfficient]

Bit too far for me to take a look then...!

[scoey1001]

ShampooEfficient said:

Bit too far for me to take a look then...!

Ahh yes thanks anyway though mate

[scoey1001]

He's replied to my message now saying he will take a look this evening....

Don't suppose he can do much more damage but wouldn't put it past him, what do we reckon?

[Dog Star]

Not sure - that’s a bit of a mess, if he knew what he was doing in the first place it wouldn’t have come to this.

It’s fitting a car radio. It really isn’t hard.

[scoey1001]

Dog Star said:

Not sure - that’s a bit of a mess, if he knew what he was doing in the first place it wouldn’t have come to this.

It’s fitting a car radio. It really isn’t hard.

Exactly. Just so he can't say i didn't give him a chance to put it right though i might have to let him and watch closely. The second he starts being an idiot i will just say look you're going to cause more damage, lets call it a day. Thing is i think i am due a refund plus the cost of the trim he damaged, this might be the tricky bit if he refuses to accept its that bad.

[scoey1001]

He has offered a refund, I accepted and he has transferred an extra £20 which in total is the price of the trim. I didn't ask him to so even though he bodged it fair play to him he has not left me out of pocket.

[Dog Star]

What are you going to do with the existing install, Scoey?