th the AVIC Z1 on my 3. Added the Bluetooth Option, a device to enable my steering wheel controls and bring back my Trip Computer (coming soon), and an upgraded HDD to give me more space for my music library and update the maps to the latest edition (2007), as well as enable all features of the Z2. Z1 is apparently made in Japan, Z2 in China. There have been some concerns that Z2 is not quite as stable as the Z2, but it could be a bunch of mumbo jumbo. The unit is also bypassed so the NAV controls work when moving. Z1 is a very easy bypass - simply grounding 2 wires.
Here is the install. The Bluetooth module and GPS antenna are underneath the dash behind the vents. Microphone is on the left windshield pillar. Sorry for the pic quality - camera phone
Interesting note - I bought the Metra wiring Harness and mounting kit from eBay (currently black - working on finding a silver one that matches the climate controls). Once I set up the harness and installed it in the kit -the acutal install of the deckl took less than 15 minutes. At that point it was up and running and I could use the audio and Nav. The rest of the bits took some time.
The AVIC Series use Tele-Atlas for Navagation. Not the greatest for US and Canada. The best part of the Z1 or Z2 is the HDD based Navagation. The D3 series uses a DVD-ROM that must be in the drive when you are programming or changing the route. I don't use the iPOD connector as I hate forgetting my iPod and having only Radio, or worse forgetting it in the car. Z1 can store up to 400 albums (with an upgraded 40Gb HDD.), but they must be ripped off of audio CD's (a pain if you only have MP3. It also plays Mp3 off of CD
If NAV is you primary concern - look at the Kenwood DNX-210EX (really hard to find) or the DNX5120. Both these units use the Garmin GPS System, using Navteq data. The 5120 adds DVD playback and a larger screen. Both can have bluetooth enabled. Both also use Text to Speech for road names. They play MP3's off CD, and the 5120 plays Divx and Mp3 off of DVD.
DNX-210EX
http://cgi.ebay.ca/Kenwood-DNX-210E...ryZ79834QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
DNX5120
http://cgi.ebay.ca/KENWOOD-DNX5120-...ryZ79834QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
All systems will get you where you are going - some just take you on a different route. Pioneer tends to nickel and dime you for every little bit (no remote even included), but they do include all of the wiring you will need to install.
There are also no name double din units on eBay with Bluetooth, DVD playback and tonnes of goodies (no text to speech though), but I have no idea of the quality of navagation, nor do I have an idea as to the quality and amount of updates. Alot of these devices have USB in as well - so you can store media on portable USB drives. I think the Kenwood 5120 may have that as well.
If you are going to install all of the pieces, be aware you will have to remove alot of the dash. The 3's use alot of clips, so you have to tug the panels to pull them off. A commplete install will require the lower dash on the drivers side to be removed, the instrument cluster (for the VSS wire), The centre top of the dash, the centre console (for the parking brake connection), and the old stereo. There is a reverse wire that is apparently needed if you have a reverse cam, and to tell the GPS the car is in reverse - but I didn't bother. If you start to add more modules (XM, Sirrius, CD Changers, IPOD) you will need to remove more to mount the devices. Also keep in mind the GPS antenna will work under the dash panel - but apparently not the SAT radio antennas.
All in, it was not too much work - and the cost was not huge. The unit had a lot of trouble tracking when first installed - but as it learns, it has been much better. Given the features it gives me, and what it would cost to add all of this to the stock unit, it was a great deal. I had a loaner Mazda6 with the stock GPS installe, and it seemed rather rudimentary in comparison to this unit.
Hope this helps - my first post here, and a long winded one at that.
Cheers
