AM/FM/CD player to replace BMW radio?

[funcrew]

Wow, I'm lost. I haven't installed a car radio since 1985, and that was just a straight AM/FM/cassette replacement into the dashboard of a 1968 Ford - no new amps, speakers, etc. I try to read this forum, it sounds like secret code, and I realize that car audio has come a long way since then. Is there a "Car Audio for Dummies" article somewhere?

Anyway, I would like to be able to listen to CD's in my E30. Even though I understand those are now obsolete, I have a lot of them, and accumulate more all the time via Amazon used marketplace.

Is there an AM/FM/CD unit that is a straight replacement for the OEM radio, or are we talking advanced scientific tinkering to do this? A trunk full of radio junk is not appealing to me. What kind of a budget am I looking at?

BTW I would MUCH prefer a round rotating knob for volume and tuning if possible.

[StereoInstaller1]

CD43 is fairly easy to integrate.

[funcrew]

CD43 is fairly easy to integrate.

I'm assuming that this is a case of one old guy yanking another old guy's chain just for fun, which I can respect. I followed you just fine, except for "CD43" and "integrate."

[TexasTerp]

The CD43 is a bmw factory radio, lots of guys replace the oem with this one in order to retain an oem look. Search, there are plenty of threads on it.

[funcrew]

Thanks for the replies. The CD43 looks great, but is about 2.5X what was wanting to spend. There were several likely candidates at

http://r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=152932

But I still don't know what's involved in wiring one up. I googled "car audio installation" and only found a bunch of theoretical stuff - no "how to" on figuring out the wiring issues. Should I just take this to someone - I'm thinking they would charge an hour's labor for something that actually takes 5 minutes.

[bryant.cw]

I just got a good deck from this guy.

Good eclipse head units.

Pretty good prices. CD3xxx is the low end, CD5xxx is mid range, CD8xxx is the high end. I've always had good luck with the CD5's. Good sound, easy to use, good price now that they are a few years old but at least they aren't used.

Installing a deck in your car will be easy/annoying as hell depending on whether or not you have the factory amplifier installed.

I would call around town to some different places and find out what they want to throw in a deck. Do -not- pay more than $40 or so. Do not let them sell you any extra accessories or whatever, everything you need is in the box.

GL!

[StereoInstaller1]

Thanks for the replies. The CD43 looks great, but is about 2.5X what was wanting to spend. There were several likely candidates at

http://r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=152932

But I still don't know what's involved in wiring one up. I googled "car audio installation" and only found a bunch of theoretical stuff - no "how to" on figuring out the wiring issues. Should I just take this to someone - I'm thinking they would charge an hour's labor for something that actually takes 5 minutes.

Yeah, the CD43 is not cheap. Funny how so many guys say they want a nice deck that looks all factory and stuff, then find the CD43, then say "thats too much" and stuff.

Which is why I don't have one.

My audio cables alone are about $400, but it ain't like I paid that, y'know?

As far as installing a deck in an E30, it isn't tough. There are some variables, like dash fader or not, amplified or not and pre-hacked or not.

I have posted wiring info several times. one of these days I am gonna do an actual pictorial sticky, but finding time and shit...ain't gonna happane soon, let me tell you!

Most installers out there have no fucking clue how to install a deck in an E30. The easiest way is also the shittiest way, and that is about all you are gonna get for $40.

[bryant.cw]

...which is why I'm just gonna throw in a set of components and run wires direct. I don't know why BMW had to do that common ground, factory amp, external fader stupid stuff.

I was just suggesting the installed option because it didn't sound like he wanted to screw with any of it. I guess there is a chance of a retard screwing it up and breaking something in there, or just not getting it working at all.

[StereoInstaller1]

The E30 isn't common grounded anywhere, except between the deck and the amp, and that is only on premium sound cars.

The non-amplified cars with a dash fader are "split ground", as the deck is a 2 channel output and the fader distributes that to the 4 speakers, but as ground is kept seperate from left to right, it still isn't a true "common ground".

If you go back in time, Caddys from the 60's didn't even have a negative wire to the speaker, positive only...THAT is common ground!

[3bvert]

following along, and waffleswaffleswaffleswafflesfused, one of these days I would really like a nier sounding am/fm/'cd/mp3.but diont want to cobble anything in
crutchfield has units that they listed as direct fit. kenwood, pioneer, etc

I think my 91 318 has/had premium sound. that is what the vin search said, plus it has the little pod speakers in the upper door
however, it has the amfm casette with the little wonderbar and no amp anyplace else

did some one yank the true premium sound out of this car at one time in its life ???

and when places like crutchfield say that a unit fits, do they really ?


grandpa since 2001
congrats on smoke free, ive quit a bunch of times :)

[StereoInstaller1]

The hole in our dashboards is "single DIN" (Deutsches Institut für Normung) and yes, everything fits.

Your 318is is a premium sound car, and if the amp is still in place, it is just in front of the antenna, under the trunk liner. Has a single square plug, looks like a cheesy little amp.

[3bvert]

thanks, its an ic if that makes a difference, and there is nothing in there in front of or behind the antenna

[E30 Cabrio]

You're going to have to bypass the factory amp and/or rewire the speakers.

No getting around it.

[funcrew]

You're going to have to bypass the factory amp and/or rewire the speakers.

No getting around it.

I have wired speakers before, was hoping to not do that. Still, at least I understand how, as opposed to monkeying around with the BMW amp in the trunk.

[StereoInstaller1]

thanks, its an ic if that makes a difference, and there is nothing in there in front of or behind the antenna

Fuck..WHY do people wait to describe their goddamn car when asking help?

No, you are right, your iC doesn't have the amp there...it is under the top, on the left side of the trunk, on a bracket.

I don't know if all 'verts have an amp, but I have never seen one that didn't.

Now, further instructions (since you did not say you had a goddamn 'vert): do NOT fuck around with deck power. You are wasting your time. Buy a damn amp, just an inexpensive 4 channel amp and a deck with 3 pair of pre-outs.

Run 3 pair of RCAs to the trunk, and use the stock speaker wire that is already in the trunk. You will be adding a sub later, more than likely, so that 3rd set will come in handy then.

GL!
Luke