I have had an 08 w/Nav for a few months now. I really would like to get ipod/bluetooth/reverse camera for the car. I'm currently contemplating several options and would like to hear some advice. I rarely use nav, but would like to still have the feature (but I think as bad as the GM one is, it is good enough for how often I use it). Someday, I want to get rid of the stock speakers and put in a 5 channel amp.

Option #1 "Stick with OEM":
1) Add GM iPod PAL (version 2.x) for iPod support
2) Costar or Parrot for bluetooth
3) There is a box to add a reverse camera but I've heard bad things about it, so I doubt going this route would allow me to do that.

Pros:
- HUD/Nav/Radio integration
- Factory look
- Everything continues to function (including XM which I don't subscribe to) which is good for a future sale of the vehicle (probably a decade out, if not more).

Cons:
- Possibly lose voice control for nav if I use costar
- Not the best interface for ipod/nav
- If the headunit breaks, I'll either have to buy an expensive replacement or swap out the system for aftermarket anyway
- PAL won't work with other mp3 players (except through AUX in)


Option #2 "Aftermarket"
1) Pioneer AVIC (which one?) or Kenwood Nav (which one?)
2) Needed adapters for chimes, bose amp, steering wheel controls
3) Camera

Pros:
- Better interface than GM, better integration with all components I want
- Easily upgradeable in the future
- Cheap (can fund a large portion by selling GM Nav + XM)
- Easier to hook up to future amp
- Possibly better sounding than stock (bose might be limiting factor though)

Cons:
- No more integration w/HUD
- Boot time possibly?
- Possibly worse sounding than stock
- Requires large upfront investment as opposed to adding components piece-meal

What do you guys think?

Also, if I want to add an amp in the future, is there anyway to hook up OnStar besides hard wiring it through the bose amp to the center speaker?

Thanks,
Greg

 

Go with a kenwood dnx 6160. Hands down great bluetooth and ipod, quick boot times, and nav that makes oem like early 90s technology.

All you will lose is hud integration for nav. Deff will sound better then stock plus if you figure in what you can get for the oem unit used selling it plus what an ipod and bt adapter would cost you will be ahead plus its more user friendly

as far as adding an amp you are pretty much stuck with using center speaker for onstar, you can go around the bose amp when you do this

 

Looked at the install instructions for this unit. The Bluetooth mic & GPS antennas are separate units apart of the head unit. The mic looks to be fairly large and has to be mounted on the steering column. The GPS antenna has to be mounted on the dash. Both of these will leave visible cables runs, one across the front of the dash.

How does the OEM NAV unit handle these same issues? (I have an 05 non-NAV, non-OnStar).

 

what makes u think u will have visiable cable runs accross the dash?

the mic isnt that big and you dont have to mount it on the steering column

 

Because they're not wireless.

 

and that means u will have visiable wires? im not following the logic here... I have installed tons of different nav units in c5s and c6s and dont have visiable wires

 

How are the wires run for the GPS antenna and the mic?

 

Like Greg ha smentioned the wires can be hid

We run them under the dash and you will never see them.

HEre is two pics from a c5 install
one of the gps antenna
one of the bt mic

I can get you the 6160 and all required pieces to install this as well in a package

I do not have this price on website as I am not allowed to by KEnwood

 

Greg did my old setup in my C5 and will do my C6 as well. There were no visible wires anywhere. Lots of people thought it was stock install because with c5bearsfan's double d bezel it was very integrated. Loved it. Can't want to go back to something similar in the C6Z.

 

Thanks for posting the pics, but they are close up's such that I can't tell what I'm looking at or the orientation. I see the mic in the bottom pic but not sure the angle or where it's mounted. Thanks.

 

The mic is mounted on the driver side A pillar and the antenna puck appears to be on dash on the driver side.

 

correct sorry