New stereo install w/ BMW C43 head unit.

[StereoInstaller1]

what's the sound quality like compared to a high end aftermarket head unit?

If you want SQ equal or better than "High End" decks, feed the output of that C43 into an AudioControl 6XS, then off to your amps.

You also get sub level on your dash...plus output levels no deck can come even close to, plus lower noise.

Luke

what's the sound quality like compared to a high end aftermarket head unit?

[Jand3rson]

Dude, I was trying to quote your post, and accidentally hit "Edit" and changed your post all to shit. I'm sorry about that! I didn't realize I did it until I hit "Submit".

I tried to go back and fix it, but there was no way. Sorry.

Oops...

[87Blue325iC]

Wow..nice effort. Love those "Albina" pedals....so is the wavy bezel due to heat, or did that happen during cutting to allow flush?

Looks great, man. All done today?

Luke

The wavy bezel must be just due to age and heat...I was looking at the original un-cut bezel I removed, and it is wavy in the same place. I think it just looks more pronounced with the new head unit vs. the old one for some reason. It is really bugging me!

Stereo is complete, car is 100% back together - I actually finished it up last weekend.

[StereoInstaller1]

Wow..nice effort. Love those "Albina" pedals....so is the wavy bezel due to heat, or did that happen during cutting to allow flush?

Looks great, man. All done today?

Luke

[87Blue325iC]

C43 Stereo & 6 disc CD changer install into my E30

I have a C43 headunit that I bought off of eBay and a BMW OEM CD changer (Alpine) part #82 11 1 469 404 that I wanted to install in my 'vert to upgrade the stereo but still give a stock BMW look. Speakers are Polk dB's and the amp is an Alpine 40w x 4 channel. Not looking for huge sound - just something nicer than stock with CD.

The CD Changer needs cable #82 11 1 469 404 to connect audio from the headunit to the changer, and you need to wire up the little three pin plug that provides constant 12v, ground, and what I thought was remote turn on lead. The third wire ended up not being a remote turn on lead, but was the I-bus data wire. It needs to go to pin #7 on the rear of the headunit. If you are using an aftermarket wiring harness (mine was by "Best") it may not have a connection provided for pin #7. I took one of the female pin connectors from the original E30 stereo wiring harness and plugged it into the empty #7 spot on the C43 headunit harness (all the pins are labeled on the aftermarket harness) and it worked great!

Here are some install pictures:

The head unit...that wavy gap on the trim panel right above the stereo was there before...it is really starting to bug me!



The former location of the factory amp seemed like a good spot to stick the crossovers...



The rear speakers were hitting the car chassis and distorting (grounding out??) so I glued in these insulation strips. Problem solved!



The tweeters on the rear speakers stuck out too far...I ended up having to cut out all the plastic over the speaker holes on the trim panels - this allowed the leather to flex out around the speakers, but the trim panels would still fit flush in the car. This is the only place the car doesn't look 100% stock on the speakers.





Here is the original dash trim panel around the stereo - the inner plastic lip needs to be entirely removed to allow the C43 head unit to mount flush in the dash like the original:



Here is the spare trim panel I bought on eBay to modify - notice the lip from the picture above has been removed, and a new lip has been made further back along the sides the head unit set screws will "grab" a hold of. Sorry for the blurry picture.



The car ready for the wires to be run...



Here is the tweeter pods - the old tweeters and all the plastic ring in the back that they were glued to was cut out, then the new Polk tweeters were glued in with JB Weld and superglue. The Polk emblem was painted black and the original grills put back on for the stock look:







While the car was torn apart I ran the wiring harness for the heated seats I am going to retrofit!



...and I added these eBay "Alpina" pedals...a 20hp boost in performance at least!