Best BMW E46 Android head unit car stereo with GPS 2022 (1997-2006 3 Series BMW)

Best BMW E46 Android head unit

What is the Best BMW e46 Android head unit? BMW e46 3 Series are awesome cars. It has a loved sleek sporty design and offers a great build quality alongside with a superb chassis and high levels of comfort.

Despite the age, it’s still a very usable vehicle that is being driven by many during the daily commute and kept by others as a weekend toy.

Unfortunately, it’s not on par with the most recent models in terms of infotainment technology. Most offer nothing but a basic AM/FM radio and cassette player with not-so-good sound quality.

Others go a little further offering a CD controller or an old-fashioned non-capacitive screen with GPS navigation, with maps out of date for more than 15 years and a useless analog TV module. Your e46 factory fitted stereo font is naturally outdated, being it a sedan, estate, cabriolet or coupe.

Table of Contents

  1. Best BMW e46 Android unit (Android head unit for e46 BMW)
    1. NVGOTEV 9″ Android unit for e46 BMW
    2. Dash Navigation Android stereo for e46 BMW
    3. Eonon 7″ Android stereo for e46 BMW
    4. Eonon 9″ Android stereo for e46 BMW
    5. Izpo Android unit for e46 BMW
  2. Is MirrorLink better than Android for the BMW e46?
  3. Is a DVD player featured in these BMW e46 multimedia head unit products? What’s their screen’s inch size?
  4. Wrap up on the best Android e46 BMW head unit

Hopefully, there are many manufacturers that focused on the e46 3 Series to develop awesome aftermarket infotainment systems, offering the latest technologies to upgrade your old but beloved e46 BMW. Even if you’re not a car enthusiast, an updated car stereo will completely change your driving experience, no question about it.

Some fit flush to your car’s dashboard, like the factory BMW 3 Series navigation system. Others go a bit further and even offer bigger, hi-resolution screens. The choice is entirely in your hands.

In a hurry? Here’s our best tip:

Eonon 7″ offers the best sound quality, Android Auto / Apple CarPlay compatibility, and a flush-fit integration into your e46 BMW’s center console.

If you’re on a tighter budget, NVGOTEVoffers you the best value on sale here with a 9-inch display and good overall specs, for a value that won’t break the bank.

Best BMW e46 Android unit (Android head unit for e46 BMW)

We’ve gathered a pack of 5 great car stereo products for your e46. In the following table, you can compare these products’ main features.

For more information, please click the images to see the products on Amazon, and be sure to read this article until the very end.

Product NameScreen SizeStorageAndroid VersionSmartphone Mirroring
NVGOTEV 9″9-inch32 GBAndroid 9None

Dash Nav. BMW E46
7-inch16 GBAndroid 9Mirror Link

Eonon 7″
7-inch32 GBAndroid 10Android Auto and CarPlay

Eonon 9″
9-inch16 GBAndroid 9Android Auto and CarPlay

Hizpo
9-inch16 GBAndroid 9Mirror Link

NVGOTEV 9″ Android unit for e46 BMW

Click the image to check the price on Amazon now!

Key features:

  • Android 9.0;
  • 9-inch 1024×600 display;
  • 2 GB of RAM;
  • 32 GB of storage space;
  • MTK 8227L, Quad-core CPU;
  • Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and USB connection;
  • Built-in microphone;
  • 4 x 45W (Peak) amplifier output.

This BMW e46 3 Series Android unit offers incredible features for its price. A huge 9-inch display with a great screen resolution and vivid colors is a big plus.

It is also quick in operation, thanks to the quad-core Mediatek processor and the 2 GB of RAM available. Also, with 32 GB of storage, it has plenty of memory for your most-used apps. You can store a lot of music and many offline maps too.

NVGOTEV features a great split-screen function. With the split-screen mode, you can run two apps side-by-side on the screen which is very useful. For instance, you can use half of the screen for the navigation map and the other half to display the audio information.

Bear in mind this product doesn’t fit flush to your BMW 3 Series center console because of the large display, but otherwise, the integration is good and the result is elegant.

The AM/FM radio tuner lacks in some areas, and no settings can be changed within the tuner other than the equalizer settings. Apart from that is a great E46 Android stereo for its price, offering a great value for money.

Pros:

  • Great screen size and image quality
  • 32 GB of storage space
  • Works with factory steering wheel controls
  • Great price for the overall specs

Cons:

  • It isn’t a flush fit to the E46 console
  • Lacks some tuner settings

Dash Navigation Android stereo for e46 BMW

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Key features:

  • Flush-fit into your car’s console;
  • Android 9.0;
  • Mirror Link: Easy-Connect for Android phones and AirPin(PRO) for iPhones;
  • 7-inch 1024×600 display;
  • 2 GB of RAM;
  • 16 GB of storage space;
  • Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and USB connection;
  • Backup camera included.

This affordable BMW e46 3 Series Android 9 stereo offers some great features for the price. Mirror Link is a big plus for many buyers, as it lets you mirror your phone screen into your head-unit screen. And more, it features an elegant design and fits flush with your console like the factory unit.

It also has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, so connectivity won’t be an issue. Your BMW 3 Series factory steering wheel controls will still be working to command this unit.

The sound amplification is ok, not on par with the best but won’t get you disappointed either. With 16GB of storage space, you shouldn’t have issues storing your favorite music and apps, as long as you keep the essentials.

And more, a rearview camera is offered with this head unit, another great addition to your upgraded infotainment system.

If you’re on a budget, this one’s a great choice for a BMW e46 3 Series Bluetooth Android operating system device.

Pros:

  • Affordable wireless Android stereo
  • Offers MirrorLink
  • Reverse camera included
  • Works with factory steering wheel controls

Cons:

  • Not the best sound amplification on the test

Eonon 7″ Android stereo for e46 BMW

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Key features:

  • Flush-fit into your car’s console;
  • Android 10;
  • Android Auto / Apple CarPlay compatible;
  • 7-inch display;
  • 2 GB of RAM;
  • 32 GB of storage space;
  • Rockchip PX30 1.5GHz Cortex A35 Quad-Core CPU;
  • Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and, 4G.

Eonon is a reputable and well-established manufacturer of aftermarket infotainment systems. This brand works for a lot of car makers providing modern head units that fit flush to each model’s interior, just like the factory radios.

This one offers Android 10 which is a plus for a powerful and smooth experience offering split-screen multitasking and other advantages. With 32GB of available space, it is bit storage for your apps, music, and videos, which is a lot for a system of this kind. And you can even expand it via SDcard.

And more, unlike many, it also features Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility to improve safety and convenience when using your personal smartphone.

Just connect your Android or iPhone device to the Eonon and use the smart voice assistant or touch the display to get directions, make calls, send and receive text messages, listen to your Spotify music, etc.

This BMW e46 3 Series Android auto head unit offers great sound amplification, superior to the factory system which is another point in its favor.

And if you’re keen to maintain your center console aesthetics and 7″ is enough screen size for your needs, Eonon 7″ will suit you perfectly.

It’s not the most inexpensive Android Auto BMW e46 3 Series on the market, but it is for sure among the best.

Pros:

  • Compatible with Android Auto and CarPlay
  • Android 10
  • Great car audio improvement
  • Good overall specs

Cons:

  • Not the most affordable option

Eonon 9″ Android stereo for e46 BMW

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Key features:

  • Android 9.0;
  • Android Auto / Apple CarPlay compatible;
  • 9-inch 1024×600 display;
  • 2 GB of RAM;
  • 16 GB of storage space;
  • Rockchip PX30 1.5GHz Cortex A35 Quad-Core CPU;
  • Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and 4G;
  • 4 x 45W (Peak) amplifier output.

If you were interested in the Eonon stereo receiver, reviewed above but want a bigger screen, this is the one for you. It doesn’t integrate seamlessly with your console like the previous model as it is bigger than a 2 DIN slot, but it offers a wide 9-inch display like many modern vehicles and a great look.

Despite having a bigger and better display, some specs are a little lower, i.e. it has Android 9 and just 16GB of storage, but apart from that, everything’s the same as Eonon 7″.

It still offers Android Auto and Apple CarPlay for improved safety and convenience and offers great audio quality and strong amplification.

If having a BMW e46 3 Series Android Auto compatible system with a big 9″ display is what you need, go after this one!

Pros:

  • Compatible with Android Auto and CarPlay
  • Awesome 9-inch display
  • Great sound quality and amplification
  • Good value for money

Cons:

  • Doesn’t fit flush into your center console

Izpo Android unit for e46 BMW

Click the image to check the price on Amazon now!

Key features:

  • Android 9.0;
  • Mirror Link/EasyConnection function;
  • 9-inch 1024×600 display;
  • 2 GB of RAM;
  • 16 GB of storage space;
  • Rockchip 3188 Cortex A9 Quad-Core CPU;
  • Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and 3G support;
  • 4 x 45W (Peak) amplifier output.

Izpo offers an interesting BMW e46 3 Series Android head unit with Mirror Link. A great safety feature many manufacturers doesn’t yet include in their products.

But this system’s main attraction is its 9-inch display. You can have a lot of information being displayed on the screen which is a big convenience for the driver, especially when using navigation. It offers good image quality and has a built-in dimmer for night driving comfort.

The touch screen works fine, almost like an Android tablet and the sound amplification and quality are great too, on par with most units.

This BMW e46 3 Series Android Navi unit offers a good value for money, considering its excellent display and the offered Mirror Link capability. It’s a good choice for a BMW e46 3 Series 9-inch Android system.

Pros:

  • Compatible with MirrorLink
  • Awesome 9-inch display
  • Good overall specs

Cons:

  • It is not a flush fit to the center console

If you’re looking for an answer on if Android Auto is better than MirrorLink for your e46, it really depends. For more information on that please read our article on Android Auto vs MirrorLink.

Some of the products reviewed in this article feature a DVD player but not all of them. This way you can also reproduce the video in your car.

In terms of screen size, these products vary between 7″ and 9″.

Please click the link on each product to check their specifications.

Wrap up on the best Android e46 BMW head unit

Improving your e46 3 Series with an up-to-date head unit infotainment system is a great idea to modernize the car’s multimedia navigation capabilities and to have a safer and more convenient drive.

Throughout this article you got some crucial info to let you know what the best BMW e46 3 Series Android head unit to attend your preferences.

You’ll not only improve your center console looks giving it a contemporary design, but you’ll also get the latest tech in GPS navigation, DVD playback, and integration with Spotify and other music apps.

And in many cases, you’re also improving your BMW 3 Series sound quality compared to the factory system. Getting one of these head unit products will be a great update to your car’s usability.

And more, some units even offer full integration with your personal phone, offering Mirror Link and Android Auto / Apple CarPlay compatibility. An unquestionable plus for your safety, getting you focused on the road ahead while driving your BMW 3 Series.

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