Mini Van DVD

[buzz1fan]

We are getting a new mini van. We are deciding to have them install a DVD system which is kind of expensive, or should we try a store like best buy to do it. What would you do, or have you had one insalled in the past.

Thanks

 

[LJSquishy]

Don't let Best Buy install one. They are not real professionals and wired speakers wrong in one of our cars in the past.

I would either let the dealership do it, or take it to a more local type of shop.

 

[disneymomoftwins]

If your children are younger and you will use it daily it will be better to have one professionally installed. If you will only use it for longer trips I would get a portable one.

 

[sam_gordon]

I probably wouldn't have the dealer do it. I'd do some research and look at more "local type" shops and price out installation.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

I've done both & both worked fine.

 

[poohfriend77]

If your children are younger and you will use it daily it will be better to have one professionally installed. If you will only use it for longer trips I would get a portable one.

We have one (factory-installed), but we only use it on long trips, or occasionally if have a longer wait to pick up someone, etc. It's nice, but I would never had paid to have it installed. However, if I did, I would only let the dealership do it.

Personally, I would get a portable one for each child. Even if you purchase a couple players, cases, holders to attach them to the seat back, etc., it would still be cheaper than getting one installed. Plus, you wouldn't have to listen to kids arguing over whose turn it is to pick the movie. Of course the down-side is that you have to charge those, so I can see why you'd want the installed one if you'll be using more often.

 

[Colleen27]

I second the idea of going with a portable. Not only is it generally cheaper and more versatile (can take it out and with you on a flight, for example), if you keep your van for a long time it is also easier to replace should problems arise. I drive a 10 year old Venture with the entertainment package and there's just nothing we can do about the fact that the original player no longer works; replacing it would cost more than it makes sense to spend. Fortunately the problem is just the player, not the screen, and it has composite inputs so we can hook up DD's iPod Touch as a video source now, but in hindsight I'd rather have had a portable system that could be replaced fairly cheaply rather than a built-in that is not cost-effective to repair.

Of course, none of that matters if you replace your vehicle more often. We drive ours till the wheels fall off so I take a longer-term view on modifications and upgrades.

 

[MSLRAC]

I probably wouldn't have the dealer do it. I'd do some research and look at more "local type" shops and price out installation.

We had a local shop install ours at half of the price that the dealership wanted and we got a better set up than the dealership could offer. We had a player installed in each headrest (4 total) because I could not see anything in the rear view mirror of our previous vehicle because of the DVD players folding down from the upper console into my line of sight. So I would by pass the dealer and Best Buy and find a local car audio/video shop to do it.

 

[monorailsilver]

We bought a van November 2010.

My kids were ticked because it didn't have the DVD system. They were 9,7 & 4.

With the DVD system, navigation was required & for $5000 ish more I didn't think either were needed. DH has navigation on his cell if we really need it. I wouldn't use navigation just to go to the store. And my kids were on the older side & they all have a ds & now 2 of them have ipods. So because of that I knew the DVD built in was not needed. We don't go on long car trips either. But if we do, we have a portable dvd plus laptops that can be easily connected to the car.

So basically I am saying I wouldn't waste the money unless you do go on long car trips alot & you have small kids who don't do well in the car.

I could just see it with my kids, we would be going to the store 1/2 hour away & they would put on the movie & we get to the store & they keep telling me "hold on". Yep..no DVD.

 

[ccgirl]

We are getting a new mini van. We are deciding to have them install a DVD system which is kind of expensive, or should we try a store like best buy to do it. What would you do, or have you had one insalled in the past.

Thanks

Personally, I prefer my portable one. That way we can move it between the two vehicles, bring it on planes, or in the house. Plus, they are VERY inexpensive. They just velcro to the back of the headrests. The one I have now is a dual one. Either my children can watch the same movie or two different ones. They are 5 years apart so don't always want to watch the same thing.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Of course the down-side is that you have to charge those, so I can see why you'd want the installed one if you'll be using more often.

We just use the ones with 12-volt plug-ins. Most new minivans & crossovers have multiple outlets for those.

 

[jrw118]

In may last year I bought a preowned odyssey. I had the DVD in the headrest 8" installed at a local place for about $600 (dealer wanted $1600)they can each watch the same or individual movies. They each came with great headphones and sound goes through the radio speakers too i can listen to the radio when they are using the headphones It was IMHO the best $600 I ever spent. My kids are almost 4 and almost 7 and we use it all the time.

 

[KristinU]

I installed headrest players in our Tundra last year myself. I bought the units from www.onfair.com and followed their handy Youtube videos for installation. Admittedly, I'm pretty handy and do a lot of home improvement type stuff so it didn't scare me off to try the install myself, but really it wasn't tough - their videos do a nice job walking you through it. Extremely handy to have a smartphone in the car with you to play it while you do it

We've been really pleased with them, and they're still going strong a year later. A bit more expensive than the loose systems, but I wanted to keep cords and junk to a minimum for our long road trips. We have a tan interior and the tan headrests look great and coordinate well. I love that they can be zipped up so they look like normal headrests.

 

[djm99]

I paid $140 for one on Ebay. It included the FM radio feature, 2 wireless headphones, and a game remote (one game DVD too). It did come from China and had a Sony DVD Player in it (They are still being sold now on Ebay). It's the drop down one from the car ceiling - 9inches. I then paid $110 to have someone from American Furniture & Electronics put it in ($80 without the FM feature). That was in June 2010. It still works PERFECTLY. Amazon has them too (plenty under $150). Walmart even has one for $99. My co-worker just purchased one from Walmart. She loves it. She just had to purchase wireless headphones which are $10 from Walmart too. Make sure you get one with wireless earphones (capabilities - ie: IR/FM Transmitters).

When I purchased the car the dealer quoted me $1100 for a 7" one.

Walmart 7" overhead one
http://www.walmart.com/ip/DP-Video-7-Widescreen-Overhead-Monitor-with-DVD-Player-and-IR-FM-Transmitters-DZ733D/16775720

 

[pixiewings71]

Don't have the dealer do it, they are so insanely overpriced its ridiculous!! We have a minivan and had an outside company install a DVD player after we bought the van. We paid less than half, got a system with a screen that was 3 times as big as the one from the dealer (ok maybe not but it's at least 2x the size ) and paid less than half the price the dealer wanted. So, we got a better system for a lot less money. Ours is the kind that has the drop down screen, it also has inputs so we can take video games and hook them up if we wanted to, we got wireless headphones or we can put the sound through the car speakers. Definitely don't go to through the dealer and I probably wouldn't go through Best Buy either, find a car stereo store in your area and use them, they are better equipped and will have better gear.

 

[disneymayz]

We went with portables. If you really want one installed make sure the place installing it will not void your warranty since they are going to be touching a part of the electronics and wiring.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I paid $140 for one on Ebay. It included the FM radio feature, 2 wireless headphones, and a game remote (one game DVD too). It did come from China and had a Sony DVD Player in it (They are still being sold now on Ebay). It's the drop down one from the car ceiling - 9inches. I then paid $110 to have someone from American Furniture & Electronics put it in ($80 without the FM feature). That was in June 2010. It still works PERFECTLY. Amazon has them too (plenty under $150). Walmart even has one for $99. My co-worker just purchased one from Walmart. She loves it. She just had to purchase wireless headphones which are $10 from Walmart too. Make sure you get one with wireless earphones (capabilities - ie: IR/FM Transmitters).

When I purchased the car the dealer quoted me $1100 for a 7" one.

Walmart 7" overhead one
http://www.walmart.com/ip/DP-Video-7-Widescreen-Overhead-Monitor-with-DVD-Player-and-IR-FM-Transmitters-DZ733D/16775720

You did really well!

Pays to do your homework.

 

[sherry7]

I have an iPad, and I bought a case for it that attaches to the headrest on the seat. It gets around 8-9 hours of battery life while playing video, but I have a car charger if needed.

 

[jtopp]

Portables!! Easily replaceable, reasonably priced, and you can buy 4(or more) of them for the price of a factory installed unit. Everyone gets to watch their own unit, at their own volume (with headphones), and everyone, including the parents, who would referee the ensuing fights, has a nicer time.

 

[goofyredraider]

We also have portables - I believe ours are Philips brand - we've had them for two years and we LOVE them. We also have a small portable that my husband used when he was deployed to Iraq that my daughter uses in the 3rd row.