[greentree]

Hi Folks!

I'm going to buy an XLE without any nav or dvd etc. I'm considering two nav systems at this point:

1. Pioneer AVIC-X920BT 6.1-Inch http://tinyurl.com/22srm3l
2. Pioneer AVIC-Z120BT 7" In-Dash http://tinyurl.com/2d3um7s

However on the page for x920BT There is a little utility that you can use to see if it fits your car and when I enter sienna 2011 it says it won't fit it. That leaves me with #2, Z120BT model. But web page for Z120BT does not have the same utility to figure out if it will fit sienna 2011.

My question is, has any one tried any of the in-dash aftermaret navigation systems in sienna 2011? Specifically Z120BT???

I'm also going to get aftermarket backup camera for this unit and would appreciate any comments/advice/recommendation regarding that as well.

Thanks!

 

[POPP]

I have the z120bt in my passat and it is the cats ass. But you can't put any aftermarket navs in the 2011 siennas yet cause no one makes a dash kit. Metra is working on one but it will be at least 6-8 months before it is released if not longer.

 

[greentree]

hahaha! I had to lookup urban dictionary to figure out what you meant by cats ass.

So I guess my options are really to either have a portable small nav like navi fore few months or get xle with factory installed nav system. Anyone else in similar situation? or anyone went for the built-in toyota nav and feels could have waited for the aftermarket one???

 

[POPP]

pioneer and toyota uses the same interface (same maps, voice, poi's, etc)
the big difference between the two is the pioneer can play dvd's while the oem cannot.......

 

[greentree]

I'm not hung up on dvd thing. as a matter of fact I don't want it. when my kids will be old enough I'll get them ipads each..cheaper than dvd option....by that time market probably will be flooded with other tablets anyway.

 

[randomone]

I have the Z120BT in my '11 Sienna, and I have the 920BT in a VW.
I had an installer put them in, though they can be DIY, it's not that difficult. My installer just crafted a plastic trim piece that looks ok, he says he'll have a trim kit my the end of November.
DVD options are not that expensive, you can get flip-downs for 100-200 easy. I have a NESA flip-down, it's 11.2in, looks pretty good. I think the dual-screen thing is ridiculous, and the nav/dvd are crazy expensive from Toyota anyway.

First the differences between the two. The 920 does not have dual-zone(movie in back, music in front, etc.). 920 screen is obviously smaller. Otherwise, they are really, really similar. I find the 920 a bit easier to use - the screen sensitivity seems better, and the larger fixed side buttons are convenient. The units even have the same user manual, you can download it from Pioneer's website.

So the good and bad of the Pioneers (it's not all good). They have the best iPod/iPhone integration, really easy to use, etc., more or less everyone agrees that the integration is better than on Kenwood, Alpine, etc.(with the additional iPod cable). And there is excellent Pandora integration - you control your iPhone's Pandora from the Pioneer unit. You can also play music from SD cards, and over bluetooth. Pioneer has always had good FM tuners. I find the tuner a little annoying though. The icons for preset stations display whatever the most recent RDS data was, instead of station name/frequency. Really odd choice. And reviews for the HD tuner add-on were so bad that I didn't get it. I don't have the XM/Sirius add-ons, as I think Pandora is way better(and free!) There's also an "AVIC feeds" app, that lets you input destinations on the Pioneer from your iPhone. Pretty cool.

Criticisms: Pioneer has integrated MSN direct, but they are shutting down service in Jan 2012, and I'm not sure you can even get the MSN antenna any more. It also has a built-in link to Goog-411, which is also being halted. Not big deals in either case, if you have a smartphone of any sort. There are some complaints on the forums about Pioneer's bluetooth microphone, but mine have been fine. Also, Pioneer navigation isn't perfect. Occasionally, it'll have me one street over from where I am, and it always has my road position a bit behind where I actually am (I think that's by design though). Kenwood uses Garmin nav, which is the bee's knees. Anyway, I liked the Z120 enough to buy the X920 a month or two later. Once the trim kit arrives, it'll be perfect.

Hope that helps. (How's that for a concise first post on the board?)

 

[randomone]

I'm also going to get aftermarket backup camera for this unit and would appreciate any comments/advice/recommendation regarding that as well.

Thanks!

The XLE comes with a backup camera already, but either of the Pioneers, and really all the good aftermarket units, will accept backup cameras as well.

 

[greentree]

Thanks randomone! pretty good overview.

Did you also get backup camera integrated? Which one if so and how's that working out for you?

I didn't realize that Z120BT plays videos in the back and not on its own screen...I thought it played right on its own 7inch screen and felt that it was a ridiculous feature because it can distract the driver.

Did you get this installed from a company like best buy or you knew someone who did this for you?

 

[greentree]

oops, looks like we posted at the same time! I didn't realize the back up camera comes with xle if you don't get nav etc.

 

[randomone]

oops, looks like we posted at the same time! I didn't realize the back up camera comes with xle if you don't get nav etc.

Yeah, it's weird. There's a small backup cam display in the little info window that's above the radio. If you get the factory system, there's a second, larger, wide-angle display on the nav screen. I find the little screen is more than adequate, but you can add the camera later if you think you need it.

I'll try to post a picture of my setup if I get a chance.

 

[randomone]

Thanks randomone! pretty good overview.

Did you also get backup camera integrated? Which one if so and how's that working out for you?

I didn't realize that Z120BT plays videos in the back and not on its own screen...I thought it played right on its own 7inch screen and felt that it was a ridiculous feature because it can distract the driver.

Did you get this installed from a company like best buy or you knew someone who did this for you?

The Z120 can play on both front and back screens. You cannot play video on the front screen unless the parking brake is engaged on the vehicle. (There are ways to bypass this if you really want to.) The 920 can support a 2nd screen too, but you can't have seperate audio (no dual-zone).

I live in Westchester county, and I just went to a local installer who is an authorized dealer for kenwood/pioneer/alpine if not more. He was reasonably priced and I'm very happy with the result. I don't know if there's rules about posting plugs for companies, so PM me and I can give you details. I was pretty undecided between Kenwood/Pioneer, but the installer had the Z120 in his car, and he can have whatever he wants...

 

[randomone]

In the meantime, here is a photo from Pioneer's website. That dash is a bit diff't from mine, but you see the plastic trim around the unit, mine looks like that, which is okay as an interim solution, I can't wait for the actual fit kits to come out!

Still, I'd rather have it installed now, instead of having cords dangling all over the place from a portable unit.

 

[greentree]

randomone, thanks! that helps! How much did you pay for the interim plastic trim? or he did it for free as part of installation?

 

[randomone]

randomone, thanks! that helps! How much did you pay for the interim plastic trim? or he did it for free as part of installation?

It was included as part of the installation, I think any decent installer should be able to make a passable solution. Honestly anyone with a little time and effort should be able to do it. The upcoming kit was included in my installation price, he's going to switch it out as soon as it's available.

I'm not sure of the board rules, so I don't want to post all the price/details, but I'll gladly share them via PM if anybody wants.

Also, there's a Pioneer forum, avic411.com/forum, where you'll find lots of info. There's a couple of guys there that hate the Pioneer, take them with a grain of salt.

 

[greentree]

randomone, could you please pm me the price details etc.? Thanks!

 

[randomone]

Some pix of my install

I was going to post some pictures, but it says I cannot post attachments. Not sure why, but in any case, I created a public album with 3 photos. I'm a lousy photographer, using a mediocre camera, with flash because it was dark. So with those disclaimers, here goes:

Close up of the temporary dash trim piece

View from the back seat to give an idea of size

The X920 in my VW with a proper dash trim kit. It looks completely stock.

 

[ACS Rob]

^links don't work..


edit: here are your pics

looks great! :thumbsup:

 

[randomone]

Much better

Thanks Rob!

So just to make clear to anyone who just looks at those last pictures - the final one is obviously not a Sienna, it's an X920BT from my VW with a dash trim kit.

 

[greentree]

Thanks randomone and Rob!

That last one obviously looks better. You're gonna have to post pics once you get the actual trim installed in Sienna end of Nov

 

[randomone]

Thanks randomone and Rob!

That last one obviously looks better. You're gonna have to post pics once you get the actual trim installed in Sienna end of Nov

I'll post pix on Sunday, and try to do it with some better lighting. I had the trim kit installed yesterday, along with an inverter to give me a 120V AC outlet.

The trim color/finish matches the dash plastic perfectly, the overall look is actaully better than I expected.