It doesn't exist.
Wouldn't it be awesome if BMW licensed Alpine or some other company to make reproduction HU's that looked like the stock one, but had the options of an aftermarket HU
I would have loved to keep my stock deck, but I finally caved last year and bought a HU that plays MP3's from a CD, from a USB thumb drive, from an iPhone/iPod/Sansa player, etc.. and has much better sound, more options and expandability.
You would think with all the E30's and other similar era BMW's still out there that used the same HU that there would be a market for that instead of having owners buy an aftermarket HU and rewire their car, which is a hassle and if you have someone else do it can be a bit expensive.
Instead, make a plug and play harness to bypass the factory Premium sound amp and build a HU that looks factory but plays MP3's, is USB, AUX, iPod/iPhone/MP3 player compatible, Sat radio compatible, has RCA outputs, etc... and make it plug and play as well.
It wouldn't even have to play CD's as thumb drives are inexpensive and common and everyone has an iPod/iPhone or other type of media player that uses USB or could be used with an AUX in port.
Or omit the CD player from the HU and make an optional plug and play CD player that plays MP3's as an add-on to the aftermarket HU that installs in the glove box or other location as one CD holds about 150 songs, or even a CD changer that is MP3 compatible.
How awesome would that be?
I would easily pay $300.00 or more for a HU that looks stock but has the features of an aftermarket HU
Instead, that money from all those BMW owners is going to other HU manufacturers and to car audio shops to rewire their cars.
Is the market not big enough to R&D this?
Some of the aftermarket parts sellers for older Corvettes do this - they have OEM looking HU's, but they also play CD's and have updated features and they also make speakers that look stock on the outside but are updated on the inside.
They sell them for around $300-$500 last time I looked.
I haven't owned a Corvette for about 7 years or so and I'm a bit out of the loop, but there is a market for them or at least there is in the Corvette community and BMW made more E30s then GM did Corvettes.
Add in E28's and other similar era BMW's that use the same type of HU and you've got a large untapped market.
You would think maybe BavAuto or someone would see the potential, especially with our cars as they use a common ground and it takes some effort to replace the HU due to the rewiring issue and the factory amp.
Also, maybe offer an aftermarket plug and play wiring kit with better wires as ours are old and thin and might not be able to handle higher wattage.
Make some aftermarket speakers as well.
Why not offer an option to the 20 year old stock HU with the scratchy volume knob that eats tapes?
How much would you pay for a stock looking HU loaded with modern features that is plug and play?
Wouldn't it be awesome if BMW licensed Alpine or some other company to make reproduction HU's that looked like the stock one, but had the options of an aftermarket HU
I would have loved to keep my stock deck, but I finally caved last year and bought a HU that plays MP3's from a CD, from a USB thumb drive, from an iPhone/iPod/Sansa player, etc.. and has much better sound, more options and expandability.
You would think with all the E30's and other similar era BMW's still out there that used the same HU that there would be a market for that instead of having owners buy an aftermarket HU and rewire their car, which is a hassle and if you have someone else do it can be a bit expensive.
Instead, make a plug and play harness to bypass the factory Premium sound amp and build a HU that looks factory but plays MP3's, is USB, AUX, iPod/iPhone/MP3 player compatible, Sat radio compatible, has RCA outputs, etc... and make it plug and play as well.
It wouldn't even have to play CD's as thumb drives are inexpensive and common and everyone has an iPod/iPhone or other type of media player that uses USB or could be used with an AUX in port.
Or omit the CD player from the HU and make an optional plug and play CD player that plays MP3's as an add-on to the aftermarket HU that installs in the glove box or other location as one CD holds about 150 songs, or even a CD changer that is MP3 compatible.
How awesome would that be?
I would easily pay $300.00 or more for a HU that looks stock but has the features of an aftermarket HU
Instead, that money from all those BMW owners is going to other HU manufacturers and to car audio shops to rewire their cars.
Is the market not big enough to R&D this?
Some of the aftermarket parts sellers for older Corvettes do this - they have OEM looking HU's, but they also play CD's and have updated features and they also make speakers that look stock on the outside but are updated on the inside.
They sell them for around $300-$500 last time I looked.
I haven't owned a Corvette for about 7 years or so and I'm a bit out of the loop, but there is a market for them or at least there is in the Corvette community and BMW made more E30s then GM did Corvettes.
Add in E28's and other similar era BMW's that use the same type of HU and you've got a large untapped market.
You would think maybe BavAuto or someone would see the potential, especially with our cars as they use a common ground and it takes some effort to replace the HU due to the rewiring issue and the factory amp.
Also, maybe offer an aftermarket plug and play wiring kit with better wires as ours are old and thin and might not be able to handle higher wattage.
Make some aftermarket speakers as well.
Why not offer an option to the 20 year old stock HU with the scratchy volume knob that eats tapes?
How much would you pay for a stock looking HU loaded with modern features that is plug and play?
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