...cd player...

[robcarync]

hey everyone. i have a 1995 318ti and i was looking for a cd player to put in it. it has the prewiring for a 6cd changer to put in the hatch. on the bmw website...they want 600 for a 6cd changer...thats crazy.

the previous owner said that you cant take the in dash radio/cassette out because you have to have the specific number keys to insert the anti theft code(like when the battery dies, etc, and it asks for the code 3 times).

well my friends mom has a 1995 525 and they took their radio out (it had the same anti theft features)...and they put a normal in dash cd player in its place (not bmw brand) and it works fine.

so would it be safe to take the radio out and put a cd player in its place that is not bmw brand? does the previous owner just not know what he is talking about? is my friends mom gonna be in trouble when the radio asks for the anti theft code?


ahh i need some help here....anyone know?

thanks

[bimmerboi318]

you should be able to put any radio you want in its place. i put an aftermarket one in and it works fine. i think what the owner was talking about...the security feature for the old radio disables the radio when its unhooked. a "password" has to be entered into the radio for it to work again. but if you put a different radio in the car this wont be an issue since the security feature is built into the old radio and not the car.

there are a lot of options for stereos with the ti. i had a pretty big sub setup with 2 12" JL Audio subs. the only problem was that it took up the WHOLE trunk. there were about 4 inches between the back of the sub and back of the car. so i took those back and got a custom box made to fit in the right corner of the trunk that fits in the storage compartment. that was my solution. its only a single 10" but it works for me. so good luck to whatever you do.

[robcarync]

thanks...i went to circuit city and talked to them and thats what they said...that taking the radio out...disables the anti theft. i got an alpine in dash cd player and im getting 2 10s (probaly alpines, not sure).circuit city has this deal where you buy a sub amp for 160...get ANY 2 subs free...im pretty sure there are some restrictions on it though...cause otherwise im going for the 180 dollar alpine subs...my friend is giving me his old box...and his old 10s...so if i cant get the any 2 subs free deal at circuit city im just gonna use his old ones for a while.

i was just thinking about how funny it would be to have 2 15s in the hatch...it would about knock the back windshield out from all that shaking...hahaha

what kind of amp do you use? this is my first sub system im working on and im just looking for some suggestions...

[bimmerboi318]

the amp i used was a sony xplod believe it or not. only 200 watt but it had no problem pounding the 2 12" JLs. they were low impedance and easy to push. and yes...the back hatch rattles horribly with those 2 12"s. i suggest dynomat (or quivalent) and all you have to keep the liscense plate down.

[robcarync]

haha thanks...i saw a sony xplod at walmart today...and saw it was only 200 watt...im getting two 200 watt 10 inch subs and 2 200 watt tweeters.....so from what you say it seems like that amp should be enough power...

i may get a bigger amp...circuit city has a deal..but an amp 160 or more get 2 free subs...and at circuit city they only have the 1000 watt sony xplode...im probaly gonna get an alpine...or maybe the 1000 watt sony...they are the same price

so when you say hatch rattles horribly...do you mean like good like good loud sound rattling or like oh **** the wheels just fell off and im gonna shoot myself if i cant get out of this car soon?

i want it to rattle...but not like so much where is annnnoying...anyway 2 10s should be a little less rattle like than 2 12s

[bimmerboi318]

when i said it rattled, the rear hatch would vibrate and in my opinion it didnt sound good. but besides that, the 200 watt amp seemed to do fine. if i were you i would go with a bigger amp because mine did get rather hot at times. it was probably working too hard. but i had it lying around and it worked and still does.

[robcarync]

alright i got 2 10 inch infinity subs and an mtx 310 watt amp....i have yet to install it....im still searching for a hole in the firewall to run the power cable through. anyway hopefully 10s will be less horribly rattlesome

[bimmerboi318]

if you take out the battery and battery box, there are wires going through the firewall. its a rubber plug thing with several holes. i just put the power wire through one of the holes with another wire and it works fine. i tried a couple infinity subs at a local stereo shop. (Tweeter...i dont know how widespread they are). the infinitys had alminum cones and they were a great sounding sub. expensive, but they were nice. and in my opinion you cant go wrong with MTX.

[robcarync]

yeah i spent about 5 days in circuit city finding stuff and talkign with my man jason that i know got sick of seeing me there.

well circuit city had a deal buy an amp 160 or more get 60 dollars off on the purchase of two subs. so i got the 230 dollar mtx amp and two infinity subs. they were originally 90 dollars on sale for 60....so it was like buy one get on free....sales ROCK!

[robcarync]

alright thanks for all you help...i finally got everything all good. i got the alpine in dash cd player...mtx mono amp (310 watt) and two 10 inch infinity subs. they sound great. blah it was a lot of work because me and my dad installed them ourselves...but we finally got them working perfect.

amp:
http://www.circuitcity.com/detail.jsp?c=1&b=g&catoid=-8865&qp=0&bookmark=bookmark_1&oid=71057

subs:
http://www.circuitcity.com/detail.jsp?c=1&b=g&catoid=-8871&qp=0&bookmark=bookmark_0&oid=71444


alright thanks and i think this thread can die now