159 - Integrated GPS/Radio/Bluetooth

[gjs159]

Hi All,

I am the recent owner of a 159 wagon and I must say I love it. Unfortunately it doesnt have bluetooth and me so I am looking at another integrated option. Feel free to call me anal but the reason I am looking at an integrated unit is because I dont like gps units and phones hanging off window mounts.

I am interested if anyone has done this with a replacement head unit and how the unit looked after using the fascia panel kit.

Any information and photos appreciated. If it is easier I am happy for photos to be emailed to me.

Cheers Greg

[Evan Bottcher]

Here's a post about the Dension system I use in our 159, without changing the head unit.

http://www.alfaclubvic.org.au/forum/index.php?topic=10181.0

[Cool Jesus]

Our 159 had Blue&Me capability, however it confounded me as to why they did make it capable of streamimg media from your phone? It wouldn't even play via the USB connection. Obviously a competing interest between Microsoft and Apple... If I had of known about the Denison unit, I would have installed it. GJS, prior to selling off my beloved 159, I too was contemplating a GPS unit however I was more interested in keeping the head unit as original as possible. At the time Alfa headunit copies with GPS capability were scarce, but they're starting to hit the market place at the moment. A quick search for '159 GPS' produced the links below. I'm sure if you do some google research you'll come across a unit for a reasonable price. By reasonable, I'd expect < $500, and it will come with all the bells and whistles you could ever want in a head unit.

http://www.autoradiodvdgps.com/alfa-romeo/296-autoradio-alfa-romeo-159-spider-brera-dvd-divx-tnt-gps-bluetooth.html
http://www.myautoplayer.com/alfa-romeo/159-2005-2012.html
http://www.car-vision.co.uk/alfa-romeo-navi-dvd/10424-alfa-romeo-159-2005-2011-gps-oem-replacement-media-system.html

[gjs159]

Our 159 had Blue&Me capability, however it confounded me as to why they did make it capable of streamimg media from your phone? It wouldn't even play via the USB connection. Obviously a competing interest between Microsoft and Apple........ plus other stuff

Thanks for the heads up CJ. I will do some research

Thanks also Evan for your info, but I will go for an all in option.

[shiny_car]

Pioneer AVIC units are popular in the UK, and can be a dealer-fitted option over there.

Generally, any aftermarket 2-DIN headunit will fit. You will need a suitable dashkit that fills the gap around the edges between the new headunit and dash hole (ie: factory headunit is slightly bigger than 2-DIN). So you can check not only Pioneer, but Alpine, Clarion, Kenwood, etc.

If you want a cheaper, good value unit, have a look at Philips.

[Cool Jesus]

Noticed a small typo above. The Blue&Me didn't stream media from my iPhone.

[Cool Jesus]

Greg, how's this for timing.

http://www.ausalfa.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=8531