BMW Factory CD Business Radio

mrkrl · 10-11-2010, 08:32 PM

I purchased this used BMW Business Radio for my 96 318ti however it wouldn't power up. It's supposed to work on all e36 models does anyone know if ir's really not compatible?

**1996 328ti** · 10-11-2010, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrkrl

I purchased this used BMW Business Radio for my 96 318ti however it wouldn't power up. It's supposed to work on all e36 models does anyone know if ir's really not compatible?

Radios are different. I thought the only difference was the CD hookup, but there may be more. A change was made 09/1996.

96cali · 10-11-2010, 11:08 PM

I know my old CD 43 unit worked in my 1996, but I do not remember the production date of the car. Seems weird it will not power up at all assuming the connectors mated fine. Do you have proof it worked before?

mrkrl · 10-12-2010, 01:43 AM

No, but I did get my money back. The connections & size look the same as the BMW factory cassette radio. The mechanic that tried to install it said it was bad but before I try to buy another I thought I'd check here. The ones on Ebay seem prices $250-$350, I just hate after marker radios, fit & finish is always so cheesy.

mrkrl · 10-13-2010, 07:58 AM

I forgot to mention the radio came out of a 99 ZR3. So it should work?

John_in_VA · 10-13-2010, 03:36 PM

I can only guess that "ZR3" means Z3 roadster. Don't know if the electrical connections were changed by 1999.
E36 head unit should look something like this one from a '96 E36 325i:

Wiring connector:

mrkrl · 10-14-2010, 08:08 AM

Yes, Z3. Here is a pic of the radio, the connections & size are the same but not the face.

John_in_VA · 10-14-2010, 04:08 PM

My pic is of a cassette head unit - yours has CD instead.

**wolferj-RIP** · 10-14-2010, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrkrl

Yes, Z3. Here is a pic of the radio, the connections & size are the same but not the face.

I have that exact unit in my 95 ti. No issues, works perfectly. It should have been a plug and play install.

mrkrl · 10-14-2010, 05:45 PM

Thanks that's what I needed to know the unit I got then must have been DOA.

**wolferj-RIP** · 10-14-2010, 05:51 PM

Agreed, it was DOA. Glad you got your money back.

Do you have the factory 6 disc changer in your car? If so, it should work too if the car has the later square plug design for the changer cable.

mrkrl · 10-16-2010, 06:33 AM

Nope, the previous owner put a Alpine Cassette radio with CD changer in the back but left the original BMW cassette radio in the trunk. I wanted to just put the old BMW radio back in it but the Alpine Cd changer cable won't fit the radio. The speakers are shot as well, what a pain this is I might just go with a Best Buy after market radio. Yuck

John_in_VA · 10-17-2010, 01:21 AM

I have the factory cassette head shown in my previous post, as well as the factory CD changer, fuzzy cover and data cable to connect head unit & changer (if your car isn't pre-wired) - $150.
They were removed from an early '96 sedan in early '97. You would need to get the ti-specific CD changer bracket - 65-12-8-369-926, $27.51 at Tischer BMW.

vsonix · 11-05-2010, 03:19 AM

I'd stick with the Alpine, I've just replaced my standard BMW Business Radio/Cassette with an Alpine CD112i head unit and the difference in sound quality is huge. The stock unit was horrible!

mrkrl · 12-20-2010, 08:02 PM

So why are people paying $300-$400 for used factory radios?

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