Installation and Compatibility
Installation was a breeze like the D5102. The only difference is that you have to screw in the clips
that hold the bottom of the unit yourself but it was not a big deal. Also there are more wires at the
back of the unit due to the CAN-BUS box so arranging the wires might be tricky(honestly the
longest part of the install).
The unit is now totally compatible with the stock BOSE system, no more hacking up wires and
splicing them. Also, since there is now the CAN-BUS decoder, the upper LCD screen now works.
It will display whatever menu in the D5151 you are in(Home, Radio, GPS, etc). You will still
need to do the install trick for the stock info(MPG, Miles remaining, etc) to be retained but
otherwise it functions perfectly.
Sound
I don’t consider myself an audiophile but the overall sound is improved over from the stock. This
is a very subjective area so I will not really dive much into it, but it is an improvement over stock.
Features
I won’t cover everything the unit has(which is a lot), but just the main points that is attractive for
me.
BT and BT Music:
Bluetooth works flawless. The BT music option is now integrated into the BT menu so don’t panic
if you don’t see it at first. Connection to a device is much easier as the unit will now show you
what PIN to use. The layout of the screen is also well-thought out. BT Music works great, just like
the old unit. Only negative to report here is that I can’t figure out yet how to import my contacts
into the unit. I have a Galaxy S3 so iPhone users might not have the same trouble as me.
Radio interface:
Super improved radio interface over the D5102. The preset buttons are now at the top of the
screen, and the unit now has a digital slider with a graph so you can just drag your fingers thru the
screen to scroll through the channels. 3 FM modes, 2 AM modes. I haven’t played with the RDS
system yet so no comment on that for now.
GPS and its menu:
Not much to say about the GPS other than it does it’s job. I had Garmin installed on my D5102,
but unfortunately I lost the SD card with it. I am going to try and make it work with the D5151
again.
The D5102 received an update wherein if you’re using both the GPS and music, the music will
not cut out when the GPS "speaks." That swayed me from getting a new D5102 after I sold the
old one I had when I totaled my car. Not a problem with the D5151. There is a setting now that
will let you choose if you want the music to play with the GPS, or have the front speakers turn off
every time the GPS voice comes on. And if you do select the mixing option, you can change the
volume ratio between the two. Nifty!
The reverse camera mode will now work automatically when you shift into reverse, unless you
turn that feature off in the settings. Very handy because you now don’t need to search for the 12-
volt reverse wire and tap the signal wire to it. Turn the setting off when you don’t have a camera
installed.
You can now choose between 7 LED colors. Awesome for those with different LED’s in their
dash, but the amber is a perfect match with the stock cluster. You can also change the background
wallpaper of the screen.
One thing to mention is that this unit is significantly faster when loading. When you switch to the
reverse camera on the old D5102, it will take a couple seconds for the unit to switch. The D5151
will do so in an instant. Navigating the menus is also a lot faster and fluid. Also, the unit will now
auto-dim when it senses that you are using your headlights.
Conclusion
For the price, you can’t beat this HU. Looks like it came from the factory, and the features are
great. Worth every penny. If you are looking for an upgrade over your stock headunit, this would
be something that is worthy to look at.
PROS:
-Super affordable and packed with tons of features
-Easy installation and OEM-look
-Very nice graphic user interface
-Very fast response when switching modes except for GPS which needs to load from SD card
CONS:(not really, more like suggestions)
-Since you have the CAN-BUS access, should have put a button to toggle between the car info
(MPG, Miles, etc)
-315MHz TPMS system to accompany our cars.