I'm looking to get a new deck (single DIN) for my '97 M3. Looking to spend less than $500 for the stereo itself, and I think the XM Radio and iPod connectors will be another $200 or so.

I looked at the Alpine HUs which looked nice, but I haven't read the greatest things about them. Can anyone recommend something else? I just want a deck with an easy to read screen that can display at least two lines of info... so on XM, the song and artist.

Thanks.

Pioneer is my favorite. I have been unhappy with Sony and Alpine (although Alpine makes a great deck, had a couple break). I have the best Pioneer on the market, short of the hard drive, the DEH-P960MP. Thing kicks a$$. Best sound controls I've found, 6.5v pre-outs, and if you hook up the XM or iPods it displays lots of info. This retails for ~ $700, but I found it through price grabber for ~ $400.

Pioneer is my favorite. I have been unhappy with Sony and Alpine (although Alpine makes a great deck, had a couple break). I have the best Pioneer on the market, short of the hard drive, the DEH-P960MP. Thing kicks a$$. Best sound controls I've found, 6.5v pre-outs, and if you hook up the XM or iPods it displays lots of info. This retails for ~ $700, but I found it through price grabber for ~ $400.

That one looks nice. Have you used it with XM and/or an iPod? I'm wondering how many lines of text it has; I couldn't find it on the Pioneer website.

That one looks nice. Have you used it with XM and/or an iPod? I'm wondering how many lines of text it has; I couldn't find it on the Pioneer website.

Says 16 characters on screen, and then it scrolls.
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/product/detail/0,,2076_4041_64496605,00.html?compName=PNA_Product DetailComponent

Bah just read the manual. Only one line. :(

The Alpine 9855 and 9853 apparently have three lines of text. But I've read bad things about the glide bar.

There has to be a receiver out there that isn't too expensive with support for two lines of info.

:help

F it. The Alpine 9855 (and 9853, but the display isn't as cool) is the only HU I found that has support for at least two lines of info and iPod and XM connectivity. Hopefully the glide bar isn't too bad.

I kinda want another flip-up screen (Alpine IVA-D310) but I don't like how it blocks the big vent and it is quite expensive.

It'll be nice to have everything consolidated.