 » Site Navigation | | | | » Recent Threads | | | | | |  |  |  |  03-15-2008, 06:05 PM | #1 | | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 737 |  Aftermarket headunit
Okay, so before I traded my old car in, I yanked my JVC headunit out of it with the intention of having it put into my Ti. I bought it at Best Buy a few years ago and they installed it in my last two car.
My '97 Ti has the 10 speaker sound system and I've read of the issues with it and an aftermarket headunit. I've read back through this forum (think I stopped around page 20) and now my head is spinning. I was planning on taking the car in to Best Buy again and have them do it, but then I read someone say that apparently Best Buy isn't supposed to work on BMWs. Would I be better of spending a little extra money and taking it into a professional car audio place and have them do it?
Don't have the money to upgrade the speakers & amp right now, so I'm stuck with what's in the car. Right now I just really want to get a CD player (that plays MP3/WMA files) into the car, as I'm getting bored of the radio.
Also, what's the little red blinky light on the stock headunit (C33 model) next to the power/volume know? I don't think my car has the factory alarm system and I read it's light is near the cigarette lighter anyway.
Justin |  |  | | 03-15-2008, 06:22 PM | #2 | | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Eugene Oregon Posts: 6,182 |
yeah i would take it to a nicer place and pay the extra few dollars.
and that light it just to make people think there is an alarm. __________________
-Josh
Sold-1995 318ti, Club Sport, Hellrot
Sold-1996 318ti, Active Model, Boston Green
Current- 1995 318ti, sport model, schwartz
| | | | | 03-15-2008, 07:03 PM | #3 | | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 |
that's to indicate that the head unit is coded. if someone steals it, when it's next powered on, they have to enter the correct code or it won't work. you *should* have gotten a code card from the previous owner.
whomever you have do the work, i would make sure they use an adapter kit instead of splicing in the wires for the new headunit. makes it plug'n'play and maintains all the original connections. __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles
current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray
acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts
2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles
Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | | | 03-16-2008, 01:23 AM | #4 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: asdfasdf Posts: 10,002 |
try taking it to Best Buy anyways, they aren't supposed to work on BMWs, but they did anyways on mine, the guy activated the anti-theft system on the car and it wouldn't start, so he had to make a bunch of phone calls and eventually he got it to work right, but he didn't plug my iPod connector in right so I had to go back and the same guy fixed it for free | | | | | 03-16-2008, 02:18 AM | #5 | | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 737 |
Didn't get a card with the factory radio code on it with the car, but there was paperwork in the glovebox from when the tint was put in. There was a printout with the radio code on it with that. It sounds like I need the little cage piece that came with the headunit, right? I needed that for my first car when I got the headunit, but not my last one. Guess I should find that before taking the car in.
BTW, I've always liked purple cars. What's the name of that color? And did you perhaps get the car off eBay, or is that plate just a coincidence?
Justin | | | | | 03-16-2008, 02:45 AM | #6 | | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 737 |
Quote: Originally Posted by itsalifestyle800  i would give a +1 to cali-ti on ordering the adapter kit for the head unit. i think you can purchase them off crutchfield.com and it makes things a lot easier to plug and play, and a lot more easy if you ever want to go back to the factory head unit. | So does Best Buy not stock the correct adapter kit? I've always had them use one as it makes it so much easier to pull the radio out of the car if need be at a later time. I've seen a lot of posts mention crutchfield.com for the adapter kit. Does the kit come with the harness and antenna adapter, or is just the harness adapter? I'll guess I'll have to go take a look. Justin | | | | | 03-16-2008, 02:50 AM | #7 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: asdfasdf Posts: 10,002 |
Quote: Originally Posted by Borg561 BTW, I've always liked purple cars. What's the name of that color? And did you perhaps get the car off eBay, or is that plate just a coincidence? | yeah, it's Cordoba Red Metallic (or Cordobarot in German) and yes, the plate is a coincidence | | | | | 03-16-2008, 02:55 AM | #8 | | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 737 |
Just double checking so I get the right items. Input my car model into Crutchfield. Came up with this wiring harness and this antenna adapter, right? Thanks again for all your help guys. Justin | | | | | 03-16-2008, 03:01 AM | #9 | | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 |
hmmmm ... not positive on that antenna adapter, but then yours is a 97 and i have a 96. here's what my antenna connector looks like (that plugs into the stock radio):  __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles
current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray
acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts
2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles
Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | | | 03-19-2008, 03:43 AM | #10 | | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: N. Texas Posts: 187 |
Best Buy does have the wiring adapter and antenna adapter. They are a little steep at $20 each but you can pay it. I don't see why anyone would chop the harness to save a few bucks. If you can't afford it, don't swap out the radio. I'm not saying you can't, just do things the right way. I have the 10 speaker system and it works just fine with my alpine 9813 so it should work with any other regular radio. | | | | |
| Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | |
 Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
| | |
|
Linear Mode
