My Vehicle is a 2011 JDM Nissan Skyline Crossover or USDM Infiniti EX37/QX50.
I have had my vehicle for a year and I spent a lot of time researching (as a hobby) on various upgrades.
I felt I needed to share this post to give some foresight to those of you who are on that same path. I am a thorough person and with that, I share with utmost confidence.
Moving forward..
I have seen recently and over the past many posts relating to system upgrades as it seems Nissan/Inifiniti really dropped the ball when it came to support and back up for the Navigation System Upgrades.
NB: Whilst they share a different screen size, this guide also applies to the Nissan/Infiniti FM platforms (meaning a front midship location of the engine, with its centre of mass located behind the front axle centerline, shifting weight to the middle of the car, leaving the front suspension less encumbered).
This includes:
- M Platform: Y50/Y51 NISSAN FUGA/INFINITI M45/M35H/M35 02-13
S50/S51 INFINITI FX35/FX37/FX50/FX30D/QX70 03-17
E51 NISSAN ELGRAND 10-2013
R35 NISSAN GTR 09-16
If I have missed a vehicle, I do apologise. I think it's fair to say you get the general gist of the era (early 2000's for premium cars and ending at around 2016) for both the USDM and JDM vehicles.
I will break up this post into 8 separate parts so it can be easily read.
- Models Applicable
OEM Features
Recent Tech Advances
XANAVI upgrade
GROM VLine/Vline2/Nifty City/AuCar Mark V
Comparisons of Current Tech
What I went with
Final thoughts and why I would do it again
Models Applicable:
If your car is one of these models, keep reading. Some come with inbuilt Navigation, some didn't. Some with 360' Degree camera view, some didn't. Some came with a built-in HDD music box, some didn't. Some with Bose sound package, some didn't.
What they did all share (even though the model number might be slightly different or have a thread on the sides), was that all the screens came with the relatively same looking OEM software and a 7" touch screen.
I will split the list into USDM and JDM. Here is the list!
USDM:
MURANO 09-10 display screen, dash, w/o navigation system; multi-color display (premium package)
INFINITI G25 11-12 (Sdn), display screen, w/o navigation system
INFINITI QX50 14-16 display screen, (dash), w/o navigation system
MURANO 11 display screen, (dash), w/o navigation system; multi-color display (premium package)
INFINITI G37 08 display screen, w/o navigation system
INFINITI G37 09-13 Cpe, display screen, w/o navigation system
INFINITI QX50 17 display screen, (dash), w/o navigation
INFINITI G35 07 display screen, w/o navigation system; (4 Dr, Sdn)
INFINITI G37 09-13 Sdn, display screen, w/o navigation system
INFINITI Q60 14-15 Cpe, display screen, w/o navigation system
ARMADA 08-15 display screen, dash, w/o navigation system
MURANO 12-14 display screen, (dash), w/o navigation system; multi-color display (premium package),
4 Dr PATHFINDER 08-12 display screen, dash, w/o navigation
INFINITI G35 08 display screen, w/o navigation system
INFINITI EX37 13 display screen, (dash), w/o navigation system
INFINITI Q40 15 (Sdn), display screen, w/o navigation system
MAXIMA 09-14 display screen (dash), w/o navigation system; multi-color display
JDM Equivalent:
Z51 NISSAN MURANO 09-11 display screen, dash, w/o navigation system; multi-color display (premium package)
DBA-V36/NV36 NISSAN SKYLINE 250GT 11-12 (Sdn), display screen, w/o navigation system
DBA-J50/NJ50 NISSAN SKYLINE CROSSOVER 370GT 09-16 display screen, (dash), w/o navigation system
DBA-CKV36/V36/DBA-KV36, NISSAN SKYLINE 370GT 07-14 (Sdn and Coupe), display screen, w/o navigation system
CPV35/PV35/HV35/V35 NISSAN SKYLINE 350GT (Sdn and Coupe), 01-07 display screen, w/o navigation system;
V37 NISSAN SKYLINE 14-15 Cpe, display screen, w/o navigation system
Y62 NISSAN PATROL 08-15 display screen, dash, w/o navigation system
Z52 NISSAN MURANO 12-14 display screen, (dash), w/o navigation system; multi-color display (premium package),
R51 NISSAN PATHFINDER 4dr 08-12 display screen, dash, w/o navigation
A35 NISSAN MAXIMA 09-14 display screen (dash), w/o navigation system; multi-color display
Let me know in the comments below if you're over it yet
OEM Features:
Whether optional or standard, Nissan was the world first to develop alot of these features that are seen in Mercedes, Porsche, BMW etc. Years before zee Germans (everyone always thinks my car is a Porsche Macan - I say to them "Yes the Germans stole it and decided to charge more for less product" - I love love love the VQ37VHR-VVEL/VQ35VHR motor)
- 360 Camera View
Intelligent Cruise Control
Voice Activation
3D Navigation
Birdeye view Navigation
Lane Departure System
Forward Collision Warning
Automatic Understeer and Oversteer controls
Bluetooth connection
Voice Activation
Steering Wheel Control
Music Box with inbuild HDD
Recent Tech Advances:
This refers to the current world and what we have available now (and quite frankly, far better than what we got)
- 2.5D IPS or QLED Screens that quite frankly s*** all over TFT screens
Apple Car Play (and now wireless)
Android Auto (and now wireless)
Android Automotive, a new OS with its own entire open-source platform separate to Android OS is coming out https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/05/an ... es-car-os/
Bluetooth 5.0
5G WiFi
Tyre pressure monitors
Better Soundchip software
Faster CPU
More RAM Memory
More Storage Capacity
Affordable OBD components
Digital (DAB+) Radio
XANAVI upgrade:
I will give credit when credit is due. These two lads from Estonia have made a pretty penny having worked out over the cold North European winter months... sitting at home with nothing to do, probably purchased an Infiniti or Nissan and thought "this is crap"
So what they did was tweak things a little. Smart.
Whilst I may not be as Tech Savvy, I am a Real Estate Agent and one thing I do know is if I smell s***. If Stereo/Navigation/Infotainment system upgrades had a hierarchy, Xanavi is the undisputed King of s***.
You are paying these guys for software knowledge and know-how. Whenever I go to a new restaurant, I order the most basic and staples they offer, if they can't get it right (for example a Margherita Pizza at a Woodfire Pizza Shop), there is no way in hell their more complex offerings are going to be better. Master the basics, proceed with the rest. The most basic of any software company is how they present their... tech. Right?
https://xanavi.net/
"We have a lot of happy customers at all the world as we provide our services remotely regardless of your location
We always provide a warranty, support from A to Z and we perform our work as for our personal car
P.S. OUR SITE IS IN THE DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE OF IT SOMETIMES IT MAY NOT WORK OR WORK WEIRD"
Yeah, no thanks.
They ask you to send your core unit (postage you pay for) and send you out a screen someone else donated to them. The language upgrade and simplicity of the OEM suite for a computer programmer would be.. childsplay compared to complex UX and UI developers have to code with when for example, making an app for an iOS device.
They used to charge folks $700 USD
Some people in countries like Australia, NZ, USA.. they have a license agreement and also charge through the roof still to this day (albeit a bit cheaper).
Don't get me wrong, this is what I had put on when I received my car.. it works. But it's still a piece of crap. Now... it's just in English. And hey, you might be a purist and want to keep the eye-gouging centre turn knob (I admit at night the purplish/blue hue is nice), then go for it. I am just making you aware of what they are doing and why it cost nowhere near as much as it does (yes I know it takes expertise to crack software, but it's not like they were hacking the AFP or CIA).
To buy a refurbished screen will cost you: https://www.buyautoparts.com/buynow/201 ... 18-30071_r
So whilst it works, I won't deny this.. Their business model has absolutely no overheads. What a dream come true.
SCAM 2.0: Xanavi and Co's Latest Scam: https://www.facebook.com/commerce/produ ... e_card_cta
$1100 on an SD card
Here is where they are ripping the idea from: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003 ... mainSearch
You're welcome, I just saved you $1000.
Xanavi.... Amateurs
GROM VLine/Vline2/Nifty City/AuCar Mark V:
Ok, now we get onto the lesser knowns.
GROM VLine: https://gromaudio.com/store/vline/nissa ... grade.html
Price: $659.95 USD
Verdict: Just wow. They send you a that looks like it came out of the 80's (albeit you don't have to send your screen in like Xanavi) and basically, all they do is upload open-source software (remember guys, open-source means free.) Onto a cheaply made box, throw a grey sticker on it saying VLINE (that's so smart, it's sexy) and throw is a wiring harness. What they are doing is basically this https://www.ijert.org/research/dual-boo ... 90547.pdf with outdated hardware which is saturated on the market and can pick up for next to nothing (3GB Ram). Then.. the kicker... Android Oreo 8.1 (heavily outdated but with 3GB Ram, you can't run much else) is completely open-source!
!!!
Yeah, no thanks.
Nifty City: https://www.niftycity.shop/collections/infiniti
Price: $1,139.00 USD + extra for peripherals
Don't miss their January SALE!
AuCar Mark V: https://aucarauto.com/product/aucar-tes ... h-carplay/
Price: $849 USD + extra for peripherals
Nothing says this is a premium "Beats by Dr.Dre" image than a slick-talking, African-American with Rap in the background driving with the seatback. So cool. I am sold. (And please, I am by no means making any racial slur my friends, I am a migrant myself and quite frankly don't care what race, gender, sexual orientation anyone is as long as they aren't a s*** person! But you know, Hip Hop, Rap, Bling Bling.. it sells right?)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnAJlgdZ0So
Honourable Mention: The Mark V moniker makes it sound very British and very premium. Don't get me wrong, it works, but the internals are outdated. You want to buy something that's future-proofed. Not yesteryear tech. 4Gb Ram/64 GB Memory. Better but not good enough.
Comparisons of Current Tech:
So, as of writing Friday the 7th of January, 2022, there are a few options out there.
However, at the time of writing it seems most manufacturers will upgrade the units every 6 months with new CPU's and every few years or so with the new Android Update.
As it stands, the best specs money can buy right now are (Drum Roll):
- 2.5D Screens (meaning they are curved like your smartphone)
QLED Screens - Superior Colours, blacks, brightness and viewing angle. I haven't seen one yet that isn't 2.5D
Android 11
CPU - Octa Core 2.0ghz
Audio Amplifier - TDA7851
EQualiser - DSP 48EQ
8GB Ram
128Gb Storage
What I went with:
After hours, days, weeks, of research. This is what I went with. This was the best choice with the options I had and the look I wanted. I wanted to keep that gaudy old clock, call me sentimental, but it's a nice centrepiece at night and adds a bit of old-world nostalgia. So I didn't opt for the 13.1 or 12.3" vertical "Tesla Screen" and.. no one was selling a tesla screen upgrade with higher-end internal components. So that made my choice easier.
Head Unit: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003 ... 58cbhbfkdC
Price: $525.42 AUD
Not a QLED but an ISP which is 1 era of technology lower and 2 eras of technology higher than the current Nissan TFT screen.
2nd fastest processor: 1.8 GHZ octa-core
The nicest looking UI stock
They had the Screen Fascia Kit I wanted. Plain and simple.
8Gb Ram/128GB Memory
Accessories:
OBD2 Scanner: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000790 ... 4c4djHUv3j - $6.72 AUD
360 720HD Sony Lens Camera System: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001 ... c4djHUv3j - $78 AUD
8 Node Parking Sensor: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000829 ... c4djHUv3j - $56 AUD
Armrest USB extender: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003 ... 4c4djHUv3j - $13.70 AUD
Dab+ Radio and Antenna: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001 ... 4c4djHUv3j - $43.63 AUD
External fit (no need for Tyre repair shop) Tyre Monitoring system: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001 ... 4c4djHUv3j - $23.33 AUD
SD Card 128GB for DVR camera (Samsung EVO overstock): https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001 ... 4c4djHUv3j - $11.48 AUD
4k Front, Internal and Rear Dash Cam/DVR/ADS: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003 ... c4dsOzi4n - $198.26 AUD
Total Cost: $1102.15 AUD Including Import tax and delivery.
So that has basically turned my 7" inch, outdated and painfully odd to operate with no extra featured Nissan Skyline Crossover into a fully upgraded, highly rated (the Dashcam is voted one of the best in the world) highly positive reviewed and highly researched, 2022 powerhouse.
I will update you with my setup and how it looks as I am waiting for a few more items to arrive.
Final thoughts and why I would do it again:
Now there are better components out there for other cars eg: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002889014765.html with a QLED screen, however, they were not willing to source the fascia kit for me as I wanted the one that goes with the unit I purchased above.
There was this Fascia kit: https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/ ... 3e5fI8JHb2 but that glossy black plastic looked way too cheap with a 9.7" screen, however, no one was offering a high spec vertical 9.7" screen, only 9".
Then there was the Tesla Screen option.... however, sometimes too big is... too much. This is why I like the size of my SUV. It's big enough, but not a moving fortress.
They will ask you for photos of your current unit OEM software, and photos of the rear of the unit and its wiring harness:
7' Screen? Simple: https://www.ebay.com/itm/175075436610?h ... SwEFxhwgbY as an example of mine. "Just google Infiniti G36 Infotainment system ebay"
Anywho, the companies I have spoken to are quite helpful. If you really need support, make a friend from China and jump on WeChat. They will blast through it (not that I have had any issues).
What you pick and choose is up to you, just remember the formula. Android upgrades every couple of years, this means hardware will increase indefinitely and 2) CPU/RAM/Storage upgrades happen every 6-12 months.
This post will serve you now and into the future and I hope I made life a little easier.
Time to complete Post: 6 hours... I think I deserve a beer!
