C5 Touch Screen
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,240
Likes: 1,879
From: USA
Quick question to those who have had the AVIC-Z1 installed in their C5. I put this exact same unit in my Lexus GS and it fit perfectly because the car had a Double DIN unit stock making installation a breeze. I'd like to put the new Pioneer AVIC-D3 in my C5 when it becomes available in March/April, but since the car only has a 1.5 DIN opening I'm just wondering how much work would be required to make it fit. I know the guys that put the Z1 in my Lexus can do the job, but I'm just trying to figure out if it's going to be a nightmare installation. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,420
Likes: 4
From: "This is not a psychotic episode, but a cleansing moment of clarity."
Any double din unit can be made to fit in the 1.5 opening for the C5, with some cutting to the plastic radio bezel. C5KIDD, among others, will also modify the factory bezel to fit 2 DIN units providing a really nice custom look. Bottom line, your installer shouldn't have too much trouble. BTW, that D3 is looking very nice... I'm going to give some thought to moving in that direction myself. I want to see one first though and make sure that it has a transreflective screen. That's important, especially for vert guys like me. 
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,240
Likes: 1,879
From: USA
Thanks for the quick reply, JMc. Yes, the D3 seems like a very nice alternative for an MSRP of only $1000. I'd love to put another Z1 or the new Z2 in my C5, but I really don't want to drop that kind of cash again(especially when the D3 will do most of the things the Z units do at a much better price).
As for the bezel, approximately how much cutting is required to make a double DIN unit fit? Also, could you please provide me a link to the C5KIDD bezel you mentioned?
Again, I appreciate your help and the quick response. Thanks!!!
As for the bezel, approximately how much cutting is required to make a double DIN unit fit? Also, could you please provide me a link to the C5KIDD bezel you mentioned?
Again, I appreciate your help and the quick response. Thanks!!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,420
Likes: 4
From: "This is not a psychotic episode, but a cleansing moment of clarity."
Just do a forum search for C5KIDD. He's in the audio section a lot and a CF sponsor, so he shouldn't be hard to find. I've got an Eclipse 5495 in the wife's Jag that I paid a fortune for and I'd much rather have something like the D3 with IPod control built-into it than another unit with an internal hard drive. I like the round **** which I assume is the volume control on the Avic D3 and I also like that I can color match the display to the rest of the interior. For a grand, it looks like a total winner. If the screen is transreflective and it has an auto level adjust on the volume control to compensate for increasing ambient noise, then I'll be all over that thing when it comes out. 
Here's a picture I copied from someone here who put a 2 DIN unit into their stock bezel. Not as clean as a custom bezel, but still very nice, I think, and a helluva lot cheaper than going the custom route. Spending $400 or whatever on a custom bezel that also loses the ash tray sort of defeats the savings of the $1000 Avic, maybe.
Here's a picture I copied from someone here who put a 2 DIN unit into their stock bezel. Not as clean as a custom bezel, but still very nice, I think, and a helluva lot cheaper than going the custom route. Spending $400 or whatever on a custom bezel that also loses the ash tray sort of defeats the savings of the $1000 Avic, maybe.
Last edited by JMc; Jan 28, 2007 at 10:13 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,240
Likes: 1,879
From: USA
Good info. Thanks a ton!
If possible, I would prefer not to spend $400+ on a custom bezel if mine can be made to look acceptable. The guys that put the Z1 in my Lexus do fantastic work so I'm pretty sure they could do the job without too much trouble. I'm going to take the C5 out to them when the weather clears up, give them the dimensions of the D3(which are the same as the Z1 even though the screen is actually 6.1" instead of the Z1's 7" screen) and see what they say.
If possible, I would prefer not to spend $400+ on a custom bezel if mine can be made to look acceptable. The guys that put the Z1 in my Lexus do fantastic work so I'm pretty sure they could do the job without too much trouble. I'm going to take the C5 out to them when the weather clears up, give them the dimensions of the D3(which are the same as the Z1 even though the screen is actually 6.1" instead of the Z1's 7" screen) and see what they say.
Last edited by BMadden; Jan 28, 2007 at 10:33 PM.
