Next Hair-Brained Idea - Need Input

[bmwman91]

Here's the quick-n-dirty:
One requirement of this car is that things look stock. As such I have a CD43 installed, since that is the only factory CD player choice for an E30. However, I hate the CD43 because it skips, radio reception is bad & it doesn't tell you the play time of CD tracks or other CD information. It would seem that I am at an impasse. Here's the solution: CD43 faceplate mated to a newer head unit.

What I need:
Suggestions on known reputable head units that don't skip & get good radio reception. It should also have the following:
- Built-in HD/digital radio tuner (compatibility with external modules is OK, but I prefer the former)
- RDS information display
- CD loads through faceplate (not the kind where you flip the display down to get at the slot)
- Alphanumeric display with 10-12 characters + the other usual AM/FM/CD/etc indicators (not one of the big fancy LCD screens with animations & stuff...makes interfacing more of a pain)
- Volume control knob, not +/- buttons
- MP3/WAV playback would be fun, but it's not really an issue since almost all newer units do this anyway
- I don't particularly care about: iPod interface, USB (I would want this if any HUs played FLAC), XM radio, output power or RCA outputs (the amp ICs are getting yanked & replaced with audio-grade opamps to drive my external amp)

I'll spare you all the gory technical details. This will be a fair amount of work, but I have been working with mixed signal electronics & microcontrollers for long enough that I am not really too worried. I also have the board schematics for the CD43 & I can get them for most aftermarket HUs. For the most part, display information is sent on a single line to the faceplate where it is decoded by a dedicated display controller, and button information is serialized by the same controller & sent back to the HU. The short answer is that I'll stuff a microcontroller between the faceplate & HU to do some translating.

How will I make it fit? I have access to a pretty good machine shop, & there is at least an inch of space behind a DIN HU in the E30. I contemplated machining a better vibration isloation method for the CD43 & installing the antenna amp setup from an E36, but that seems like less fun. And besides, I want CD info displayed.

[blalor]

I'm working on shoe-horning the CD53 from an '06 MINI Cooper into my E30. The brains do all of the things you just listed above, except for HD radio. I believe the brains (and definitely the model number) are the same between the E46 and my R53, but the bezel, LCD and front part of the chassis (that the bezel and display board attach to) are different. They're also quite inexpensive on eBay.

The CD53 that I'm working with is about 7mm too tall for the opening in the HVAC panel. At this point I think I'm going to just hack that panel. I've spent a couple of months building an iPod adapter that emulates a Sirius receiver (via IBus, a la the DICE and others); I think this'll work with the CD43 if it emulates a CD changer. I don't really want to spend the money on another HU right now, tho.

I'm also contemplating hacking up the bezel somehow, but I have neither the skills nor know-how (which honestly hasn't stopped me before). If you could come up with a solution for making this smarter HU look good in the E30, I'd be stoked.

[StereoInstaller1]

Pics of CD53, please

[Kershaw]

[blalor]

This is the one on my workbench. I may have just killed it by getting Super Glue in the ribbon connector.


CD53 by blalor, on Flickr

CD53 by blalor, on Flickr

CD53 by blalor, on Flickr

[dirtysix]

Maybe an E46 single disc with a CD43 face? The rear is approx single din?

[StereoInstaller1]

To me, neither of those are worth the work.

Add a USB port and you have a winner...but damn, you can get such a nice deck for $200 these days.

[blalor]

I'm about 99% certain they're the same.

Luke, if you can show me a $200 deck that doesn't look like it belongs in a Civic with a fart cannon and purple neon, I'm in. Looking at Crutchfield, I don't see anything that looks even remotely appropriate for the dashboard of an E30 for less than $300. The Kenwood KVT-516 and Clarion VZ709 appear to be properly inconspicuous, but those are multiples of that $200 price point.

[bmwman91]

I like the direction the thread hijack has gone. My project will be using the guts from a JVC KD-HDR60, but if one of you can get a later model CD43 or CD53 into an E30 I will be impressed. Personally, I think that both will look very out-of-place in an E30. The DIN CD43 borders on looking non-stock. The angle of the CD53's faceplate will also not be conducive to a stock look.

It is a terrible shame that the stuff that sells is super ugly rice rocket poop. I wish there was something stock looking that had reasonable capabilities.

[StereoInstaller1]

I'm about 99% certain they're the same.

Luke, if you can show me a $200 deck that doesn't look like it belongs in a Civic with a fart cannon and purple neon, I'm in. Looking at Crutchfield, I don't see anything that looks even remotely appropriate for the dashboard of an E30 for less than $300. The Kenwood KVT-516 and Clarion VZ709 appear to be properly inconspicuous, but those are multiples of that $200 price point.

Check the JVC KD-R900, it really is beautiful.

/threadjack

[blalor]

Check the JVC KD-R900, it really is beautiful.

If you say so. :) Elegant and understated wins the day in my book, and I just don't think this fits the bill.

/threadjack

[StereoInstaller1]

If you have only seen pics, do not judge.

I think I just might know a thing or two about what looks good in a dashboard. If you have not seen it in person, it ain't bad. The color match is nice, almost exact (WAY better than CD43) and has actual FEATURES and actually SOUNDS GOOD (again, WAY better than CD43) and is still under $200 shipped pretty often...If performance is the goal, it is a done deal, especially considering price.

Don't forget: it has Bluetooth with an external mic too. A2DP licks donkey balls but safe phone calls kick ass.

Personally, I say the only deck I have ever seen that would look flawless in an E30 dash is the Denon DCT-Z1 or A-1...but the ever so rare BLACK sumbish that seems only Japan got.

Of course, bezel depth would need to be modded to make it absolutely flush and a couple pieces of matching trim would have to be fabbed to really nail that "high end OEM plus" groove that I prefer.

Maybe some black anodized trim rings on the gauges...hell, that might be hot anyway, even without the $2200 deck that skips like hell, ONLY plays REAL CDs, has shitty FM, no remote, no USB, only an Aux input...

Guys, I am gonna say the OPs idea of hacking up a $120 deck to try and fit it functionally inside the CD43 is completely kick ass.

Tell ya what: go get to work. We will sit and talk shit while you go kick some ass, OK?

I swear, just as soon as I FINALLY get my career changed with a new job and such I am GOING to send you those 3 Harman/Kardon amps...I want them in my damn E34.

L8R,
Luke

[einstein57]

I'm about 99% certain they're the same.

Luke, if you can show me a $200 deck that doesn't look like it belongs in a Civic with a fart cannon and purple neon, I'm in. Looking at Crutchfield, I don't see anything that looks even remotely appropriate for the dashboard of an E30 for less than $300. The Kenwood KVT-516 and Clarion VZ709 appear to be properly inconspicuous, but those are multiples of that $200 price point.

Pioneer mvh 8200bt. On sale at frys for $150!!!!

[bmwman91]

Haha well, work is underway. I got the JVC faceplate's communication protocol worked out & just need to match data bits to LCD segments. The CD43 faceplate looks like it will be substantially more complicated, but I'll get there once I am 100% done with the JVC side. This project will take a couple months though.

[StereoInstaller1]

Months or not, I wanna see this.

If you kick its ass, I will have you do one for me. I aint gonna do that shit!