[marin8703]

Originally Posted by wannabeH3

so you have had your dvd nav for a year now...

how do you like it? I like it very much, i live in chicago, and the maps are very accurate, havent found a single mistake actually. the new release z2 is supposed to have even more updated maps.supposedly i get a bonus here soon, and i really want to pic up that Z2 with bluetooth, xm, rear camera and i think thats it. from your threads that you wrote it looks like i need to buy additionally a faceplate, and a thing to make my onstar and stuff still work?yeah you need to buy a mounting kit, which includes a faceplate. i still havent installed the faceplate on mine (one year later) looks great even without it. note that the faceplate requires some modding to fit prfectly. heres teh part number Scosche GM1595B.

in order to have onstar still working you need to use an interface between the Nav and the truck wiring. I used a peripheral GMAH24b if you have the monsoon (GMAH24 if you dont), and in addition to that if you want to keep the chimes (open door and stuff like that) you need peripheral GMAHCM chime module. some other manufaturesrs make these also.
can you use the factory xm unit rather than purchasing a new one?No, you have to purchase the pioneer xm tuner. the tuner and the nav are conected via ipbus and theres no way to connect the factory tuner like that. can you use the factory microphone in the car rather than installing the one that comes with the bluetooth unit? i was hoping for the same thing, but it turns out you cant. what i did was just use the onstar mic and run wires to teh nav unit. well it couldnt understand anything i said. the reason is the two systems (onstar, nav) use different voltages, so it doesnt work. have to install a separate one.

i have a couple other questions as well,

have you tried upgrading the firmware on your unit to allow for dvd playback/ nav use while driving? or do you still have to put it in park? there are also wire bypasses such as grounding out the brake wire and whatnot i hear you can do. have you tried that?
dependign on which unit you get you might have to do a lil bit different of a bypass. but it looks like rite now all z1 and z2 are bypassable via the 2 wire grouding. Personally the nav felt a little useless to me without the bypass, cauze if your crawling in trafic, you cant exactly pull over and step on the brake. that rediculous. the bypass was a nesesity for me. easy to do, unlocks everything dvd nav everything. but you take responsibility if you get in an accident while driving if cauzed by distraction.

lastly, what dont you like about the unit?
the unit is great over all. there were some issues with the bluetooth, but i think they are resolved now. at least mine is. very easy to use. everyone that gets in the truck is very impressed by it. the built in hard drive is especially nice, no need to stick in a map disc. you can store music on there also, but not mp3s, only audio cds.

your write up was excellent so i think i will try the install myself! i really appreciate your input and hope you are available for further questioning if i actually can purchase the unit early september
Yeah that write up he did was awsome. thats how i installed mine, following his direction, and asking him some questions. Thanks f5!

thanks again!
-Miguel
wannabeh3

im sertainly no f5, but i have the same unit as him and can answer most of your questions.

answers are in red on top.

anyone know where f5 is. i havent seen a post from him in a long time. hope hes alrite.