CD43 owners I have some questions

[IS300E30]

I have a 1987 BMW 325i Convertible with the 2 channel oem stereo with fader switch on console.


Will the BMW CD43 Business CD player work with my stock speakers and stock amplifier?


I am not looking to upgrade my speakers or my stock amp. Just want to make sure that the CD43 will work properly with my stock setup?


Also, I heard that AM/FM reception is not that great with the CD43 in our E30s. How true is that?


Lastly, I read that the CD43 does not have an electronic skip protection technology like new CD players and the CD player skips if going over bumps in the road. How true is that?

[bmwman91]

(this post should look familiar...)

I can't comment too much on how well it will work with the older BMW sound systems. I know that you CAN use it, with a few modifications to the grounding scheme IIRC. Search around in here.

The AM/FM reception blows. It was designed to be used with the E36 amplified antenna setup. Apparently Sammy7's reception didn't improve with the Z3 antenna setup (which I was planning to try to improve reception). So, reception sucks with the stock E30 antenna, and I don't know how well E36 amplified antennas will work.

The CD43 may or may not skip. I had one that was dropped during shipping and it skipped really badly. I replaced it, and the new one is pretty good. It will skip if I hit a large bump in the road, or drive on a really really uneven one. The anti-skip in it isn't as good as that of cheap new after market ones.

Sound quality is no different than any other head unit out there, either. It uses the same cheap 4-channel amplifier IC as every other head unit. They don't even put thermal paste between it & the heat sink, so it is probably even more prone to overheating at high volumes. Since you have a stock amp, it is probably less of an issue.

IMO, the CD43 is totally overrated and sort of a waste of money. I demand a clean OEM look, and CD playing ability, so it is my only choice.

[JinormusJ]

IMO, the CD43 is totally overrated and sort of a waste of money. I demand a clean OEM look, and CD playing ability, so it is my only choice.

I was reading off S14 that M3 models from 88-89 came with a the choice of a factory option 6-CD changer in the trunk that was connected to a CD player and was, obviously, exclusive to the m3 models. They were super rare cause most people listen to tapes back when anyway, so only the snobbier, richest of the bunch had em. They had pictures too, and it looked fugly, but OEM nonetheless

[IS300E30]

I think I am going to go aftermarket :o


I saw someone post a Jensen JHD3510 that looked really good. close to stock, except the "amber" color is more yellowish than amber :o but the rest looks like it belongs in the console


I REALLY wanted oem but it seems the CD43 is more trouble than its worth. With the CD player having a serious skipping issue and FM reception being so poor.

Darn, I really wanted to keep it stock but again it seems the CD43 is more trouble than its worth.