First Timer: keep stock headunit while adding a new one in the glovebox ?

[jkm500]

Hi all - long time site guest, only know joining!

First: I'm utterly impressed with the volume of info posted, shared, discussed. Glad to find it!!

Question: I've come across info on this topic in the past (admittedly it may have been on a different site), but I'm looking for a "how-to" on re-wiring my stereo to:

• keep the stock head unit in the dash (preferably with lights working when turned on) but with no sound
• have everything else (minus stock amp) go to a new bluetooth unit kept in the glove box

Really I'm trying to keep the classic 80s look, but add the functionality of today while keeping it out of sight.

I'm thinking its split the power feed to power both, and rewire everything else to the new unit.

Is it that simple ?

I've read (and re-read) a few threads, but can't seem to get a definitive answer!
http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=138412

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=260179

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=231107

Any help appreciated ... and if its in the links posted, let me know and I'll reread!

THanks.

[bmwman91]

Honestly, that sounds like it will be over-complicating things. You will also be building a new wire harness that goes into a frequently-moving place, and generally speaking you want to avoid having wires traverse moving joints. It isn't good for them and you need to know what you are doing to make a reliable setup. Anyway, it would be a lot of additional wires in your glovebox and would probably be a headache.

I would suggest eliminating the cassette player guts from the unit and installing a makeshift AUX input. An external Bluetooth receiver could be connected there, and I think that there are even BT+AUX input modules that can be patched in.

A few people have done something like this. Here's one I found on here.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=288698

Different radio and all, but I think that it is the same general idea.

[jkm500]

Hmmm ... thanks for the feedback.

I was thinking that could be an option too, however I have a wicked loud buzz (so suspect the HU or amp isn't working right ... either that or loose wires somehwere which I don't think I'll ever figure out!).

So trying to get away from the stock set up (other than using the wires to the speakers, which by in large still work perfectly fine).

Appreciate the thought tho ... and it may be my solution if nothing else pops up ...

[bmwman91]

Unplug the factory radio's speaker outputs (not the other stuff) and see if the buzz is still there. If it is, then either the wiring or stock amp has an issue. If your car is older, it may have the fader box in the signal path, which is also not ideal.

If figuring out the buzz and doing basic trouble shooting on the factory wiring seems too daunting, then I really don't think that building a new source unit setup is the best idea. Car electrical stuff really is not all that hard, but it does require a great deal of patience, which IS hard.

[nrubenstein]

http://www.amazon.com/JL-Audio-CL-RLC/dp/B001UDQ1VI

All you actually need is a volume control, right? Plug your phone into that. Skip the ridiculous and silly head unit in the glovebox entirely.

That said, it's just a head unit. Put one in that matches the colors and doesn't have a lot of chrome and run with it. An aftermarket head unit is pretty much period correct, anyway. :p

[bmwman91]

OP, what is your budget? A CD43 radio and GROM Aux input box wold get you a working factory radio and a good AUX input option, which a BT receiver could connect to. It would give you a nice OEM look, as well as the BT input you want.

I was in your shoes for a while, wanting modern features with OEM look. I ended up with a more..."involved" solution. Anyway, the best solution still involved having a radio receiver in the dash.

[BrokeFastGarage]

The simplest thing would be to fix the factory stereo and put in a bluetooth FM modulator for signal input. But that gives you a kind of messy signal path. The best sound quality would probably come from one of the bunch of bluetooth integrated car amps. (like this http://www.amazon.com/BOSS-Audio-MC9...0_SR160%2C160_) then you wouldn't need a second head unit at all You could probably even run your factory headunit into the Aux in on the amp so you could still use it if you wanted. Just do away with the factory amp entirely and hide the new one somewhere, you'd never need to access it once it was set up.

[jkm500]

Guys - thanks for all the feedback. Gotta a lot of work to get done in the next little bit, and looking forward to tacklin' this project too!