Factory Looking Headunits

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kylefav390
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Factory Looking Headunits

Post by kylefav390 »

I've been considering the idea of replacing the factory headunit in my e24, but I hate the look of the flashy modern headunits. Has anyone found a replacement that looks period appropriate, but with modern functions? Or one that doesn't stick out like a sore thumb in our well-aged interiors? 8)
captpkelly
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Post by captpkelly »

I'll be eagerly watching this for replies.

I bought an RMT 200 head unit. It's original equipment on euro VW's. It looks as period correct as I could find, although the main info screen lighting is white. The biggest issue so far is that it isn't designed to operate a power antenna. That has made it a failed plan so far.
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I apologize for the size of the one pic. I thought I had fixed the issue Grrrrr!
I apologize for the size of the one pic. I thought I had fixed the issue Grrrrr!
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m6dave
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Post by m6dave »

Nakamichi have a suitable range that sound and look great, here is an example
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nakamichi-MB-X- ... 1091444217
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sharkfan
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Post by sharkfan »

I have fitted a Blaupunkt BT400 in both my E34 Touring and my E24;

E34....
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E24....
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I'm very pleased with them indeed.
Last edited by sharkfan on Tue Jan 30, 2024 7:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Finally6
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Post by Finally6 »

sharkfan wrote:I have fitted a Blaupunkt BT400 in both my E34 Touring and my E24;

I'm very pleased with them indeed.
I like the look in your e24, it looks like it was made for it.
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Brucey
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Post by Brucey »

I can understand the desire for a decent look in the car alright, but the depressing thing is that you can spend $$$£££ etc on the head unit and it is the loudspeakers that let the side down in terms of sound quality.

My 6er had the kick panel Pioneer speakers fitted from new (a dealer option in the UK, where Pioneer stereos outnumbered BMW OEM ones about 10:1 on new cars from the dealer, back in the day).

When the Pioneers clapped out I upgraded the kickpanel speakers to 6x8 ones (with proper cable) and fitted decent 4x6 ones in the front and (to the dismay of others who may have spent a load more time and cash on it than I have) the net result sounds bloody good even with a cheap modern head unit fitted.

So the head unit I have at present was only meant to be a temporary measure ('not good enough to be stolen'), but TBH I can't see the point of kicking it out now unless it blows up or something; it only looks 'wrong' when it is turned on anyway.

If you have nowt but 6x4 speakers in there the sound (mid/bass downwards especially) is always going to struggle, because the enclosures are so poor. You can fit a sub to help things along, but even then there is often a big 'hole' where you have nothing much going on in the upper bass register.

Even with premium rear pods the enclosures are not that great and again without a speaker upgrade in there it won't be very special at all. I think between the crossover/enclosure issues and the reflections off the rear window the treble is liable to turn to mush. Given that amps have moved on a lot in the meantime I'd question retaining the OEM amp too.

So if you are concerned with sound quality, (in terms of listening to rock/pop etc anyway) I think time spent on the speakers pays off much better than that on the head unit; in fact I'd argue that a toppermost Becker, Nakamichi, or Blaupunkt head unit is pretty much wasted on OEM speakers or 6x4s etc in an E24.

If it sounds terrible I couldn't give a monkey's what it looks like, I'm not going to turn it on anyway... :wink:

-just my two pence worth-

cheers
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jacko
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head unit

Post by jacko »

I don't use cds in cars anymore.

These are available for about US $100 and work fine.
http://mobile.alpine-usa.com/mobile/product/ute-42bt
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Post by wattsmonkey »

I think the reason the look of the headunit is of such importance in the six is because you can't hear much once you're going over 60mph anyway due to the wind noise!

You only need those speakers because of your Fritz noisebox anyway, Brucey!

The p.o. of my car (or temporary custodian as I owned it before him) has fitted a Pioneer unit which has a choice of LED display colours, including an orangey-red which isn't a million miles from the OBC colour, now I've fixed the light.
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cecotto479

Post by cecotto479 »

I like Beckers

Image

I had this in the 325i until last year and replaced it with the Mexico CD.

I also like the Blaupunkts from the E36.

I have this - in CD43 BMW Business CD format in the E24. These are also available much cheaper as Rover or MG versions.

Image

Both of these and other similar ones are for sale.
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Post by bpoliakoff »

Nakamichi CD400. Looks just right and lighting can be adjusted to match the dash lights. I foud mine by putting a WTB on craigs list. Took 6 weeks for a response and I ended up with a new one for $225. They also show o on Ebay as rebuilt for around $275
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Brucey
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Post by Brucey »

wattsmonkey wrote:I think the reason the look of the headunit is of such importance in the six is because you can't hear much once you're going over 60mph anyway due to the wind noise!


are you sure it is a good idea to be scrutinising your dashboard at speed...?
You only need those speakers because of your Fritz noisebox anyway, Brucey!
:shock: :lol: guilty as charged....:wink:
The p.o. of my car (or temporary custodian as I owned it before him) has fitted a Pioneer unit which has a choice of LED display colours, including an orangey-red which isn't a million miles from the OBC colour, now I've fixed the light.


Quite a few Pioneer units have the right colour (near enough) and some Kenwood units have it too. I got as far as converting the colour of a sony head unit, but haven't actually felt the urge to fit it yet..... It has been gathering dust for about five years so far.

cheers
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Post by Paul Humpage »

Brucey wrote:
When the Pioneers clapped out I upgraded the kickpanel speakers to 6x8 ones (with proper cable) and fitted decent 4x6 ones in the front and (to the dismay of others who may have spent a load more time and cash on it than I have) the net result sounds bloody good even with a cheap modern head unit fitted.

I'm confused Brucey, the kick panel ones are the front ones aren't they? You say you fitted decent 4x6 in the front and 6x8 in the kickpanels which has got me scratching my head.

I've got really ordinary speakers in mine which i want to replace but i don't want to have to fart around with any modifications.

Thanks
Paul
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Brucey
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Post by Brucey »

sorry Paul I meant the kick panel below the rear seats. I originally thought a PO had fitted them but in fact it turns out that back in 1987 mine left the dealers with some (then cutting edge...) ~160mm Pioneer round speakers in there. Fifteen years later they were (unsurprisingly....) toast.

You can see what I did here;

viewtopic.php?t=2154

cheers
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Post by captpkelly »

I neglected to point out in my first post that the VW head unit has Bluetooth, as well as the USB and AUX ports on the front panel seen in the pics. BT was kindergarten simple to set up!

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Paul Humpage
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Post by Paul Humpage »

Brucey wrote:sorry Paul I meant the kick panel below the rear seats. I originally thought a PO had fitted them but in fact it turns out that back in 1987 mine left the dealers with some (then cutting edge...) ~160mm Pioneer round speakers in there. Fifteen years later they were (unsurprisingly....) toast.

You can see what I did here;

viewtopic.php?t=2154

cheers
Thanks Bruce, that makes sense. I've thought now and then about putting a pair where you have but it strikes me as too much effort. The BMW system even though mine's an expensive Becker Mexico tape deck is rather pedestrian and really needs improving so maybe i might get around to doing something one day. One day.

Regards
Paul
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Brucey
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Post by Brucey »

I obviously had holes there already but if you don't it is quite a big change -although the carpet is a separate section at that point so the change is cosmetically reversible at least.

If you don't want to make a permanent change to the car then better rear speakers can go into the rear speaker pods or the rear side trim panels. In both cases spare trim pieces can be bought and the old ones retained in original condition.

However, the rear pods are acoustically compromised, especially if no port is cut through into the boot (trunk). Also dust will settle on the loudspeaker. Even with a fine grille cloth some will get through. This is a dirty little secret that the loudspeaker manufacturers keep schtum about. When you go shopping for new drive units the vast majority of single units (with several voice coils) will have a tweeter etc mounted on a post in the middle of the main speaker. The gap at the sides of the post will either be open, or it will have a foam seal. If you want a horizontally mounted speaker not to fill up with dust (and eventually fail) then a foam seal is a good idea. However the seal itself will rub slightly (if it doesn't the seal isn't perfect) and this usually makes the diaphragm compliance go way down, killing the bass response. So if you want the best bass response you need the sort of speakers that have no foam seal, and either mount them vertically or find another way of living with the dust issue.

I think that 6" round units can be mounted in the rear side trim panels and that (with extra anti-drumming compound on the panels behind) it might even sound OK too. But... I have a worry that unless you have black trim and black speakers, with flush grilles (tricky, the surface is curved) it is just going to look terrible; the speakers are otherwise going to be the first things you will see in the back of the car. I have a set of beige side trims for my car ready to have a go with, but I have not thought of a way of making it look half-way decent yet.

cheers
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Post by jumbee »

BMW CD43 is perfecto
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kylefav390
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Post by kylefav390 »

great examples, anyone know of one that has a USB hookup?
bkats

Post by bkats »

The Kenwood (and Alpine if you are willing to spend the money) look pretty good. (i.e. lots of black, changeable backlighting, minimal shiny parts, mostly rectangular buttons) Most of them have USB now.

check out crutchfield.com

Be aware that the factory unit barely fits in cars with AC and only really fits because the harnesses face upward. Modern units have harnesses that come out the back, so preferrably pick a unit that is 1/2 to 1" shorter in depth than factory, again if you have AC.

I was considering the Kenwood Excelon series, but ended up with an Alpine CDE-154BT

I even got my Alpine to backlight amber to match my OBC
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Nakamachi Cd400

Post by jps635 »

Hi bpoliakoff.

Noticed you have commented on a number of threads regarding the Nakamichi CD400. Realise they are old stock now.

Did this fit in the dash ok - depth?

Thanks
Chris
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Post by bpoliakoff »

I have not installed mine yet. However, from what I have read on various forums over the years, it will fit. I understand it will be a very tight fit and the problem, IIRC, is the wiring has to be very tight to the unit so the little bit of extra room needed can be obtained
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WelshBentleyBoy
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Post by WelshBentleyBoy »

I have fitted a Clarion NZ502E in my E24. It does the lot.
Retractable touch screen
Radio
Cd
DVD
Bluetooth
IPod
Satnav
Camera fitting.

With the Screen retracted it is relatively unobtrusive but as a 1din unit it fits perfectly
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Post by pummer »

CD43+GROM. Done deal. Looks legit and does it all.
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Post by jps635 »

Thanks Bert. By all accounts you've had that a while. Specs say is 3mm longer than the BP I have. From what I can gather any issue will be with the RCA jacks for aux input.

Cheers Chris
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Greenedoggie

Post by Greenedoggie »

I just finished a complete audio install, replacing all speakers, wires, amplifier and headunit. Wanted to keep things somewhat retro, so I ended up choosing the Nakamichi MBVI, which is a single-din 6 cd changer. For more music options, I have a Onyx XM player wired into Aux1, and I can tap my phone into Aux2. Only downside is it doesn't have Bluetooth. I like the ability to customize the backlighting (I chose amber & red) which is fairly close to factory. Got it NOS on ebay for $200. Went with Polk Audio speakers front and back with monster cables running to 700w Kenwood Amp. Total install was less than $600, and the sound quality is pretty good.

One note about the MBVI - it is a very tight fit. Took a lot of work to arrange the wires behind the unit - ended up pulling them down and to the side of the unit. Sits pretty flush, but it wasn't easy.
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