Head unit upgrade E46 330i Touring

[tys0n84]

Hi looking for help picking a dab antenna or non invasive method to pick up dab and also which is the most straight forward and future proof android auto equipped head unit that will fit my new car.

Sony XAV-AX3005DB seems to be a decent choice but I'm looking for easiest and cheapest way (aren't we all!)

Will be the first time I've done this type of install so assume I know nothing 😂

[Dog Star]

tys0n84 said:

Hi looking for help picking a dab antenna or non invasive method to pick up dab and also which is the most straight forward and future proof android auto equipped head unit that will fit my new car.

Sony XAV-AX3005DB seems to be a decent choice but I'm looking for easiest and cheapest way (aren't we all!)

Will be the first time I've done this type of install so assume I know nothing ??

I can absolutely recommend that head unit - we have one in the OHs SLK and one in my daily Alfa 159. I did try and fit one in my SL as well but it just wasn't going to happen and I gave up.

As to the DAB antenna what I did in both cases was use an amplified antenna splitter powered from the antenna out lead on the Sony headunit - you put the normal car antenna into the (tiny) amp and that has two outputs, normal RF and DAB that you plug into the headunit. They're on Amazon for about a tenner.

Excellent headunits though - very fast response. Very very pleased with ours. I know you can get cheapo Chinese things but as they say - you get what you pay for.

This is the DAB splitter

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B071D5NFTH/ref...

They don't do that one anymore but there will be others. The only thing you need to check is the type of input plug (ie what goes into the back of you original head unit - for example the one in the SLK is one of those long aerial plugs, the Alfa one is a stubby little one). The single red power line attaches to the antenna power line coming out of the Sony or the +ve ignition feed. Easy.

[tys0n84]

Cheers thanks for that i'll do some googling