I'm planning on getting an F90BT soon and I was going to do the install myself. I have a 2000 with the Alpine system, I was wondering which wiring harness you guys used to use all 8 speakers. I see all kinds of harness out there on the web but I would hate to order the wrong ones.
To those of you with the F90BT
- Thread starter Dacket
- Start date
LeaSr77
Dedicated LVC Member
Don't forget you dash kit. Check www.sonicelectronix.com for that. They have it for a good price. Here's the link to my F90 install I did myself.
http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/showthread.php?t=47821&highlight=Avic+F90+install
http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/showthread.php?t=47821&highlight=Avic+F90+install
So I don't need to use the preamp outs for the door and console speakers? I thought all the speakers were run through a factory amp with the alpine system... Unless its built into the radio? On sonicelectronix.com I seen a harness that has 2 RCA instead of just 1 with wires, but I don't know if its the right harness or not. I can't really see a good picture of that harness anywhere on the internet.
LeaSr77
Dedicated LVC Member
Are you planning on running an amp on your door speakers? I don't have the eight speaker system in my car, but I was told a few years ago when I firs had a system installed that if I had the eight speaker system, they wouldn't touch it. Don't know if it was something hard about wiring things up or what. But since you have the amp on the subs in the rear deck, i'm assuming that you are going to need an special harness to power it.
I'm not planning on adding anything to the current system, just the head unit. But I want to be able to use all 8 of my speakers. The Metra - 70-5519 looks like it will do the trick, for my subs because I know that is run through an amp. But if the other 6 speakers are not run through the amp then its not a big deal. Also I see all kinds of harness on sonicelectronix.com that say they're for the cars but they might be for the ones without the premium system. And I don't see the Metra - 70-5519 on sonic...
LeaSr77
Dedicated LVC Member
Did you check for the dash kit?
to utilize the Iphones handsfree bluetooth features, you will need to turn the bluetooth feature. The handsfree phone aspect doesnt work through the USB.
I've had the F90 since it first came out. Only partially pleased with it. The unit only reconizes the Ipod about 60% of the time, causing you to have to reconnect the Ipod. There are other small issues as well, like inability to adjust phone call volume via the volume knob, the interface always switching to Map mode anytime you use the phone, the unit not ending your route when you arrive at your destination, , and more. Its a buggy unit, to be honest. the Avic d3 (predecessor) was MUCH less buggy.
www.avic411.com can answer a LOT of your questions regarding Iphone compatibility. The Avic D3 thread on this forum can also give you some installation tips for the LS install.
1LoudLS
Dedicated LVC Member
first off the 4 door speakers are driven off of the amp in the radio and the subs (rear deck) and the effects speakers (center console) have there own amps and get there signal thru the rca inputs,
you cant even come close to the same price with any model, the D3 is a lot less buggy but doesnt have bluetooth built in, you need a BT module, and the ipod interface is not as good as the F-series, not to mention no voice rec.
the F-series seem to be hit or miss, some people have quite a few problems and a lot (myself included) do not have any problems, other than about once a month i need to disconnect and rreconnect my ipod, pluss since it runs windows there are so many mods that can be done to customize it to your likes
if i where to reccomend somthing other than the pioneer i would look at either a kenwood(execelon), alpine, or eclipse being at least twice the price
you cant even come close to the same price with any model, the D3 is a lot less buggy but doesnt have bluetooth built in, you need a BT module, and the ipod interface is not as good as the F-series, not to mention no voice rec.
the F-series seem to be hit or miss, some people have quite a few problems and a lot (myself included) do not have any problems, other than about once a month i need to disconnect and rreconnect my ipod, pluss since it runs windows there are so many mods that can be done to customize it to your likes
if i where to reccomend somthing other than the pioneer i would look at either a kenwood(execelon), alpine, or eclipse being at least twice the price
True, true... Or would it be worth it to spend an extra $200 for a z1, 2 or 3 series? If I can get an older one its no big deal at all for me to mod and install a HDD myself. From what I've read, the bluetooth and ipod interface is way better on the F90, though everything else is better on a Z. Plus I think I would like the look of a Z more, but its not that big of a deal. Thanks for all your replies.
1LoudLS
Dedicated LVC Member
sure the z is sweet, but i will never buy a unit with a moterized face, its not if it brakes, its when it breaks, they all seem to wear out whether it be 1 year or 4 years, not to mention, on top of the moter wearing out or a gear breaking, pioneers w/ motorized faces seem to have a lot of problem with their ribbon cables (the part that connects the face to the body) i have had cowokers that have had an N1, an N4, and one with a Z2 and they have all had to be fixed
I can see an N series breaking more often than a Z. I don't think I would be opening and closing the face on a Z everyday considering most of my music input wil be through my iPhone. Which makes me wonder if the iPod interface is horrible enough to stop me from buying a Z.
1LoudLS
Dedicated LVC Member
thats exactly what my part-timer said, imagine how pissed he was when the screen just stopped working (ribbon cable) after about a year and a half (just outside of warranty)
LOL I understand that anything can happen. I guess I'm on the fence between the 2 units. I also like the clearer resolution on the f90bt, just wish it had a bigger screen. Also, how cool is the MSN Direct, is it worth it?
Either way I know I'll be happy. I'm used to stock now, the last aftermarket head unit I had was a Kenwood KDC-MP425 in my Continental (both of them lol). So I'm just trying to get the best that I can for around $700 - $800.
1LoudLS
Dedicated LVC Member
the best buy near me has a couple of kenny's DNX-5120 on clearence for $450, thats a better deal than the F900 i got for 500 shipped online. the garmin that kenwood uses is way better than the nav pioneer uses
the MSN works OK but only if you are in a covered area, i rather use my blackberry for the weather, trafic is nice, it has rerouted me a couple of times and saved tons of time
the MSN works OK but only if you are in a covered area, i rather use my blackberry for the weather, trafic is nice, it has rerouted me a couple of times and saved tons of time
I had the MSN direct for the trial period. Hated it. I'll explain. It seemed to sometimes take up to ten minutes before the "check nearest gas prices" and "check nearest movie prices" data was fully available. And even then, it would not list EVERY gas station that was close by, which made the data suspect at best. Ditto for the movie theatrest.
As far as the traffic portion, it was often late meaning, I'd get to a known traffic point (ie top of the DC beltway by College Park) and be BOGGED DOWN in traffic..only to have the MSN direct tell me ten minutes later, that there was a traffic issue. Also...with the Xm Navtraffic on the Avic D3, you could actually touch the icons that would appear on the map (ie the construction or accident icons) and then get the info about that icon. With the MSN Direct you had to manually go into the MSN direct screen, then list out all of the traffic incidents to get more data. To me, it was a step back/down from the XM Navtraffic.
As far as the traffic portion, it was often late meaning, I'd get to a known traffic point (ie top of the DC beltway by College Park) and be BOGGED DOWN in traffic..only to have the MSN direct tell me ten minutes later, that there was a traffic issue. Also...with the Xm Navtraffic on the Avic D3, you could actually touch the icons that would appear on the map (ie the construction or accident icons) and then get the info about that icon. With the MSN Direct you had to manually go into the MSN direct screen, then list out all of the traffic incidents to get more data. To me, it was a step back/down from the XM Navtraffic.
Oh yeah..ther currently is a software update available for the F90. The list price to get this update..which mainly addresses bugs..is $120. Thats right..you get to pay $120...to get a download of fixes that should have been included for free.
joegr
Dedicated LVC Member
The price jumps down to $60 once you select the update for purchase. Still, I think that the F90 should never have been sold. I understand the need to charge for new maps, but they should be paying me for putting up with the bugs, not charging me to fix some (not nearly all) of them.
AND the F90 has a smaller screen than the D3. (forgot about that).
Now dont get us wrong..the ability to fully control (even the video) the Ipod from the unit is a BIG plus over the D3, the built in blue tooth module is another BIG plus, the flash based map (vs disc based) over the D3 is another BIG plus...
There are many positives..but overall, there are many drawbacks and bugs as well. The thing is...to get all those same features in another unit..you are looking at several hundred more dollars. Give and take I guess.
Now dont get us wrong..the ability to fully control (even the video) the Ipod from the unit is a BIG plus over the D3, the built in blue tooth module is another BIG plus, the flash based map (vs disc based) over the D3 is another BIG plus...
There are many positives..but overall, there are many drawbacks and bugs as well. The thing is...to get all those same features in another unit..you are looking at several hundred more dollars. Give and take I guess.
1LoudLS
Dedicated LVC Member
the dnx's are pretty sweet, they have a 20 sec start up time compared to the F-series 45 seconds, there is never a delay from when you push the button and it does its job, and the biggest thing is the the nav is made by garmin and is flashed based (no disc), which is way easier to use and work so much better, the only down side(IMHO) is that it kinda looks cartoony, its looks just like the 2008 nuvi do just enlarged. i have never used the bluetooth module for kenwood, so i dont know how well it sounds or works if your looking for that add on
overview:
very reliable (non moving face(dnx5120))
easy to use nav
sounds great (excelon's sound even better $$$)
fast turn on
does not run on windows (which is probably why the AVIC's have so many bugs)
BTW i love my problem free(knocks on wood) F900bt and would not trade it
overview:
very reliable (non moving face(dnx5120))
easy to use nav
sounds great (excelon's sound even better $$$)
fast turn on
does not run on windows (which is probably why the AVIC's have so many bugs)
BTW i love my problem free(knocks on wood) F900bt and would not trade it