Pretty sure that this is a good deal: CD43

[m_dudey]

BTW...I have yet to see an actual German made CD43. If you have one, would you be willing to send me a pic of the serial number sticker? If there is such a thing, I want one. That would be cool!

Luke

since it was just sitting on my desk

[StereoInstaller1]

Me too, but I couldn't. I tried not to rail on the dumbness, but thought I did OK being gentle.

[george graves]

^true.

[structured]

Hz= hertz= CPS or "Cycles Per Second", AKA "Frequency".

I was gonna let it slide...we all make mistakes.

[george graves]

In the UK they run on Hertz which is a different frequency.

[StereoInstaller1]

In the UK they run on Hertz which is a different frequency.

Hz= hertz= CPS or "Cycles Per Second", AKA "Frequency".

You will have to tinker with the radio in order to set it to US frequencies.

And now here's the kicker. If you do that, the anti-theft code changes.

No, it doesn't. If you unlock in either "mode", you can witch back and forth, no worries. I have done several, it always works.

BTW...I have yet to see an actual German made CD43. If you have one, would you be willing to send me a pic of the serial number sticker? If there is such a thing, I want one. That would be cool!

Luke

[structured]

Sorry but I think I am not making myself clear.

The europe radio works with a 4 digit code. The radio usually comes with the physical anti-theft white code card(s).

The problem happens when you convert the radio to accept the U.S. frequency. As in "AM" stations for example. 640 as an example, does not work in California. You can NOT physically get am 640 without changing the radio to receive US stations.

After converting the radio, at that point, the radio code changes to a 5 digit code. Radio will work great but should it be disconnected (battery dies), it will prompt you for the 5 digit code (not the 4).

Good luck finding the 5 digit code at that point. Both the anti-theft cards have ONLY 4 digit codes (US or EURO). At least, the ones I received for the radio. Taking the Rover unit to BMW will not work.

I did find a link to address this issue:

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?p=12188761#post12188761&highlight=cd43+code

I'm not sure if it will work. I had a fellow CD43 owner, who never got the above instructions to work and ditched the CD43 radio entirely. He was out $300. Radio worked perfectly, right until the battery died AFTER he installed the stereo. At that point, he was prompted to enter a 5 digit code and he only had code cards with 4 digit code for both US and EURO. In my case (I had the same experience) I was able to get the radio to work by simply typing in a "9" before the 4 original digits. That approach will not work on all CD43 radios.

Just heads up on buying these units. Don't be surprise if the code changes should you convert to US stations is all I am saying. If I were to do it again, I would try to buy the US radio. Frankly they are very close in pricing anyway. The advantage is that it will always stay with the 5 digit code. No messing around with converting the radio to EURO or US or any of that b.s. Done.

As far as the seller being honest, he had to be. Selling a radio as a BMW unit and having a buyer rip out the chessy m badge would have exposed him as liar. The fact of the matter is that these Rover and MG radio are selling at a rediculous low price in the Uk and they are being promoted as BMW units because of the sticker.

I just got mine in the mail today. While I agree that the logo is cheasy, it is the exact same unit.

Also, the guy sent four pages of instructions on how to get around the four-number/five-number code problem. It appears that you just have to switch back to Euro-mode (via "maintenance mode") prior to entering the four-number code.

If anybody has problems with their unit after they disconnect the battery, I can scan the instructions and we can see if they work...

[Javier h]

Sorry but I think I am not making myself clear.

The europe radio works with a 4 digit code. The radio usually comes with the physical anti-theft white code card(s).

The problem happens when you convert the radio to accept the U.S. frequency. As in "AM" stations for example. 640 as an example, does not work in California. You can NOT physically get am 640 without changing the radio to receive US stations.

After converting the radio, at that point, the radio code changes to a 5 digit code. Radio will work great but should it be disconnected (battery dies), it will prompt you for the 5 digit code (not the 4).

Good luck finding the 5 digit code at that point. Both the anti-theft cards have ONLY 4 digit codes (US or EURO). At least, the ones I received for the radio. Taking the Rover unit to BMW will not work.

I did find a link to address this issue:

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?p=12188761#post12188761&highlight=cd43+code

I'm not sure if it will work. I had a fellow CD43 owner, who never got the above instructions to work and ditched the CD43 radio entirely. He was out $300. Radio worked perfectly, right until the battery died AFTER he installed the stereo. At that point, he was prompted to enter a 5 digit code and he only had code cards with 4 digit code for both US and EURO. In my case (I had the same experience) I was able to get the radio to work by simply typing in a "9" before the 4 original digits. That approach will not work on all CD43 radios.

Just heads up on buying these units. Don't be surprise if the code changes should you convert to US stations is all I am saying. If I were to do it again, I would try to buy the US radio. Frankly they are very close in pricing anyway. The advantage is that it will always stay with the 5 digit code. No messing around with converting the radio to EURO or US or any of that b.s. Done.

As far as the seller being honest, he had to be. Selling a radio as a BMW unit and having a buyer rip out the chessy m badge would have exposed him as liar. The fact of the matter is that these Rover and MG radio are selling at a rediculous low price in the Uk and they are being promoted as BMW units because of the sticker.

[Jean]

I imagine anybody buyng one of these (Rover or BMW ), is smart enough to buy one with a CODE so it's a non issue.

m dudey states the freq. cycle can be changed and he has both units.

Can someone with experience address what AUX input options these have?

[Javier h]

UK Radio? Stay away

First, it's not from BMW.

MG, Rover, and some other models had this radio.

Second, those radios while versitile, can be a pain.

In the UK they run on Hertz which is a different frequency.

You will have to tinker with the radio in order to set it to US frequencies.

And now here's the kicker. If you do that, the anti-theft code changes.

Good luck trying to get any cooperation from BMW on securing the code when your battery dies. There are plenty of threads on this subject and yes guys owning CD43 without codes.

The M sticker is cheesy and hides the fact that its a stock radio from another manufacturer.

Get one made for BMW for the US. Pay a little more and dont bother with the hassles in the future.

Also, the CD43 for BMW are not all made in germany. I have one.

[P. Kennedy]

No tuning issues on mine. Though, to be honest, I only use my iPhone as the main source of music.

[m_dudey]

I've got just picked up one of these Rover units. There are instructions to switch between US, Europe, Japan mode, among others. Exactly like the BMW CD43 unit except for the ///M sticker. I have both units.

Oh, I should edit and say that the BMW one is made in Germany while the Rover one is made in Portugal.

[Dirtboy]

Good price. Not that it's a major issue, but since it's a UK unit Radio tuning might be a little off?

I don't think it should matter. US FM spacing goes 99.1, 99.3, 99.5, etc. In Europe they just go 99.1, 99.2, 99.3, etc. Not sure about the AM spacing though (never listen to it).

[accident]

Good price. Not that it's a major issue, but since it's a UK unit Radio tuning might be a little off?

Almost guaranteed to be, unless it has a setting to change the locale or it automatically adjusts.

[Jean]

Good price. Not that it's a major issue, but since it's a UK unit Radio tuning might be a little off?