I want a head unit that looks right.

[StereoInstaller1]

No VDO here in the US and A.

Looks kinda coool.

Luke

[mtechnik]

http://www.vdodayton.com/default_and_fz_menu=home.aspx

I personally don't really like their current offerings at all. Some designs look weird. I guess they want to different.

[mtechnik]

no????? Well VDO-Dayton they're called these days.

Hold on gunna get you a link.

[StereoInstaller1]

VDO deck, huh? Never heard of it.

Got a link?

[mtechnik]

Doesnt seem anyone mentions a VDO deck huh?...
I opted for VDO at the time because it was the only one I could find with full amber lighting.

[Mtriple]

That amazes me. When I worked at an Alpine dealer, we had about a 25% failure rate on 9855's. I have not been impresed with Alps since the big shake-up in 1998 and all manufacturing went chinese/taiwanese/korean.


Luke

I worked for an Alpine dealer for almost 8 years and I find that a bit hard to believe. It was our most reliable product and we carried some good ones(Premier, Clarion, Sony, Pioneer).

[fretburnr]

I've long considered going for a cd43 business deck.. but as for on the cheap, i'm actually quite happy with my Clarion dxz745mp - couple years old now; i picked it up at the end of its model cycle for $250ish.

It sounds great - comparable to previous older Alpines that i've owned - and the style of the deck fits great. No shiny gaudy crap - satin black with (selectable) mandarin red orange illumination. It's also been totally reliable for 2 years now; the only "reliability" issue was that the faceplate catch-frame on the unit had little screws that started backing out and getting loose; a quick turn with a micro screwdriver solved that.

Other than that, my only gripes are that
-it sticks out - I'd REALLY prefer a flush-fit deck, but i've learned to deal with it and it's certainly not a priority to fix
- and that the BMW-matching color choice makes it harder to read in direct sun; switching to a white color for daytime use when necessary is all I have to do.

i'll get a pic up when I can

[StereoInstaller1]

ehh I was hopeful, but yeah that e46 deck wont work. I was just hopeful there was some kind of trick to making it work.

I could fabricate an entire new center panel. If I charge you $15/hr, I would guess it at about $1000, plus parts.

You know I do not work for $15/hr

The alpine you mention is widely regarded but wow it's rather pricey for a used unit.

That amazes me. When I worked at an Alpine dealer, we had about a 25% failure rate on 9855's. I have not been impresed with Alps since the big shake-up in 1998 and all manufacturing went chinese/taiwanese/korean.

I do love the "Bass Engine Pro" that gives true 3 way crossovers with level controls from the deck!

Taking a reccomendation from Luke in an e30tech topic, I'm lookin at the panasonic CQ-C7413U. I think it qualifies.

There should be one in my shop on thursday, 12/21. I am gonna power it up and stick it in my dash to take pics.

Panasonic absolutely ROCKS in both SQ and reliability. The least shitty out there today, IMHO.

I really miss my old Denon.

Luke

[browntown]

ehh I was hopeful, but yeah that e46 deck wont work. I was just hopeful there was some kind of trick to making it work.

The alpine you mention is widely regarded but wow it's rather pricey for a used unit.

Taking a reccomendation from Luke in an e30tech topic, I'm lookin at the panasonic CQ-C7413U. I think it qualifies.

[Mtriple]

Ok-how do you think you will be able to install that in an E30 dash? As you already mentioned-and can see-the E46 head unit is MUCH wider than the stock DIN cutout in the E30 dash. I mean, I guess you could hack up your dash, remove the OBC, and fabricate something that will hold the unit in the dash. But, the E46 radios have a slight 'slant' to the front panel-in the end, it will look like utter crap IMHO. I put an aftermarket system in the first E46 I owned, but retained the factory head unit. It was the one component holding the system back-I was not that impressed.

Personally, I went with the discontinued Alpine CDA-9835 head unit that was one of their top models one or two years ago. They are HIGHLY sought after, since they were some of the last Alpine head units that still incorporated all of their internal 2 way/3 way active crossovers, time alignment, 4 volt pre-outs, switchable amber illumination, non-gaudy but VERY readable Biolite display, etc. I installed one in my '88 M3 a couple of months ago and have been absolutely thrilled with its looks and performance. They are satellite radio ready, so you should have no problem controlling a Sirius tuner. They will also control an iPod thru the optional Alpine interface.

Expect to pay from a low of $235 up to $300 for one on ebay. You can ask fellow members RCWells and Alecs Mcdonald about the one in my car-they were very impressed by it and thought it looked great in the E30 dash.

Yup, my thought exactly. Find yourself an Alpine 9835 of 9855 on Ebay and call it a day. It will do everything you ever want and then some, not to mention it matches perfectly.

I have the 9855 in my car. I'll try to get some pics.

[Eric Giles]

Ok-how do you think you will be able to install that in an E30 dash? As you already mentioned-and can see-the E46 head unit is MUCH wider than the stock DIN cutout in the E30 dash. I mean, I guess you could hack up your dash, remove the OBC, and fabricate something that will hold the unit in the dash. But, the E46 radios have a slight 'slant' to the front panel-in the end, it will look like utter crap IMHO. I put an aftermarket system in the first E46 I owned, but retained the factory head unit. It was the one component holding the system back-I was not that impressed.

Personally, I went with the discontinued Alpine CDA-9835 head unit that was one of their top models one or two years ago. They are HIGHLY sought after, since they were some of the last Alpine head units that still incorporated all of their internal 2 way/3 way active crossovers, time alignment, 4 volt pre-outs, switchable amber illumination, non-gaudy but VERY readable Biolite display, etc. I installed one in my '88 M3 a couple of months ago and have been absolutely thrilled with its looks and performance. They are satellite radio ready, so you should have no problem controlling a Sirius tuner. They will also control an iPod thru the optional Alpine interface.

Expect to pay from a low of $235 up to $300 for one on ebay. You can ask fellow members RCWells and Alecs Mcdonald about the one in my car-they were very impressed by it and thought it looked great in the E30 dash.

[browntown]

going to dig this up because I want amber lights and sirius radio. Nakamichi has aux input, but I'd have to get the stupid blue PNP sirius display and mount it to my dash. Fine in the company car, but not in the bmw. Clarion has lots of color changes, but I'm not too thrilled about their reliability reports I've read online. Lots of talk about the business cd units being the shiznit. Here's my question, will e46 business cd's mount easily in the dash of the e30? I know the e36 units will, but the e46 faceplate extends beyond the unit on each side a lot. Here's a pic:


So here's another question, e46 units after 2002 (I think, second hand info) support the bmw sirius module you can hide somewhere in the trunk. Two manufacturers made these radios for the e46 -- blaupunkt, and alpine. Any discernable difference between the two?

[StereoInstaller1]

You would need the E36 harness...plus the newer ones use a different antenna plug. Not any different than installing an aftermarket deck.

Luke

[325iCabrio]

If you've already got an aftermarket head unit (I've got an old Alpine), is it easy to install the BMW Business radio, or has the wiring been changed because of the amp?

[europeanplates]

Jl makes a peice that will allow MP3/Ipod input. I have one know for the VW. I am however going to go Business or no cd in the BMW. The audio control is a sweet unit also.

Ty