Should I buy OEM Nav or aftermarket? Details inside

[OMG its Jason]

Okay, some of you may know i recently totaled my Tahoe. I replaced it with an 07 VortecMAX LTZ. It has every option except a very important one "to me" which is the Nav.. Since it's an LTZ, I'd assume it has the bose system. The interior is 100% identical to the tahoe with the exception of the Nav. Anyway, should I buy an OEM unit? Or is there a nice (decent priced) unit that still looks factory out there?
If I buy a used OEM unit, can I just install it or do I need to have a dealer unlock it? How much am I looking at $$ wise?

Thanks guys!

 

[felixgun]

Okay, some of you may know i recently totaled my Tahoe. I replaced it with an 07 VortecMAX LTZ. It has every option except a very important one "to me" which is the Nav.. Since it's an LTZ, I'd assume it has the bose system. The interior is 100% identical to the tahoe with the exception of the Nav. Anyway, should I buy an OEM unit? Or is there a nice (decent priced) unit that still looks factory out there?
If I buy a used OEM unit, can I just install it or do I need to have a dealer unlock it? How much am I looking at $$ wise?

Thanks guys!

I have an 08 Tahoe LTZ and it came with every possible option EXCEPT for nav. I went with the flagship pioneer 7" nav screen and I couldn't be happier. It is the Pioneer AVIC-Z110BT and it has built in Bluetooth/SD/DVD and you can get a cable for ipod/usb/aux. A new model came out this year with the exact same hardware but it has an updated User Interface/maps called the AVIC-Z120BT. Same screen, different software. Both are great. Very "Stock" looking since there are no knobs/disc slot loading area. The OEM unit is nice, but it is lacking a lot of features. Also you can tell if you have Bose by the tweeters that are on driver/passenger side by the windshield. It will have the "Bose" logo on them.

You can get the z110bt for $900 on amazon and buy the the Z120 update via SD card for $170. It ends up being cheaper then buying a brand new Z120 (which is a~$1200, MSRP $1800). Without the update, installed you are looking at the 900 plus 200 install for the wiring harness/dash kit/labor. I have the steering wheel controls and bose/onstar so I had to get the PAC-SWI-PS and PAC-OS4 adapters to make both of those work with it (not included, get them both from amazon, IMO). I have heard that you will need the original VIN From an OEM unit to unlock but double check this because I am not 100% certain. Hope this helps. Good luck.

 

[ptwat]

I agree with Felixgun on the unit. You could get a $100 rebate until last Sunday (10/31). With that rebate I got a 120bt for $830. If you go to Al & Ed's (they are an authorized Pioneer dealer) they will price match almost anything on the web if you give them the url. I used crispdeals to find the $930 price they matched.
I have the OEM Nav and would not replace for $10, but a lot of people seem to like it. To each his own...