aftermarket head unit

[ppavuk]

I've got rid of my business CD as id not supporting MP3< has no Bluetooth handsfree and moreover CD player itself not working. I've replaced it with blanking plate and some chea kenwood stereo, witd DAB and BT. It works fine but the look and feel of this flashy unit just won't pair with BMW dashboard... And most of headunits makers make them flashy and "modern", perhaps attractive to boy racers, but certainly not for father of 3

So I made some research and found that 99.9% of car radio makers do not offer anything OEM looking at all. Yeah, there is Porsche headunits for classic cars, but price over 1000 EUR just put me off!

Luckily I found two makers Continental and VDO who make radios for buses, coaches and trucks. Despite most trucks are 24V, they still sell 12V versions. Unfortunately, VDO does not make orange backlight anymore, only blue, so I've ordered this continental unit. Matt plastic, clean design, big buttons and knobs, and orange backlight. not exactly BMW orange, but close, I hope. It has BT, DAB, all modern features. The model name is Cdd7418ub and it come at £180 delivered. Once I get and fit it i'll post setup here.

They also do simpler model without BT and DAB, at about £80.

The full model list here http://www.continental-automotive.c...ch_interior_en/audio_products/radio_products/ , they do have 12V version for most products. Hard to order though, it is B2B product, rarely can be found at amazon or ebay.

I am just thinking this can fit exceptionally well in Z3 and other older BMW models with standard 1Din radio.
Not bad for z4 too I think, but requires facia plate. I'll update here when fit my new unit.

 

[Synclare]

Well that's a new one on me, let us know how it performs.

 

[5harp3y]

Becker and nakimichi are amazing and very oem too

 

[DavidM]

The unit looks neat and should sit well in the car!

 

[ppavuk]

Becker and nakimichi are amazing and very oem too

Yeah, but far more pricey they are!

 

[Gundun]

Hi,
I just recently replaced a very ugly looking aftermarket Blaupunkt I found on my Z with a very OEM Looking Clarion FZ102E. It's mechless meaning it only reads USB sticks and has an aux in, so it mounts very shallow...and it's light.

I am very happy with it and the most amazing thing is that it has a OEM look (big volume knob, chunky buttons) and the illumination is a 10/10 perfect match with the BMW amber color. I think Clarion made it purposely for BMW youngtimers.

I have attached a picture of it on my Z3 dash and another one on the E36 where you can better see the illumination.

Retail price is around 100euros, I found it mint by a guy for less than half.

 

[5harp3y]

Hi,
I just recently replaced a very ugly looking aftermarket Blaupunkt I found on my Z with a very OEM Looking Clarion FZ102E. It's mechless meaning it only reads USB sticks and has an aux in, so it mounts very shallow...and it's light.

I am very happy with it and the most amazing thing is that it has a OEM look (big volume knob, chunky buttons) and the illumination is a 10/10 perfect match with the BMW amber color. I think Clarion made it purposely for BMW yountimers.

I have attached a picture of it on my Z3 dash and another one on the E36 where you can better see the illumination.

Retail price is around 100euros, I found it mint by a guy for less than half.

that looks great!

 

[Davyhoogy]

I've got the Sony mex5100bt and it has fully customisable colour, matched exactly with the bmw orange.
And I certainly don't consider it too modern. £90 and sounds fantastic.
Also has bluetooth if you look you can see the microphone hiding in the vent on the right side.

 

[ppavuk]

Hi,
I just recently replaced a very ugly looking aftermarket Blaupunkt I found on my Z with a very OEM Looking Clarion FZ102E. It's mechless meaning it only reads USB sticks and has an aux in, so it mounts very shallow...and it's light.

I am very happy with it and the most amazing thing is that it has a OEM look (big volume knob, chunky buttons) and the illumination is a 10/10 perfect match with the BMW amber color. I think Clarion made it purposely for BMW youngtimers.

I have attached a picture of it on my Z3 dash and another one on the E36 where you can better see the illumination.

Retail price is around 100euros, I found it mint by a guy for less than half.

Awesome unit, i had a look at it too, shame they don't do dab+bt on it. I need bt utterly as i travel a lot due of my work, so handsfree is must. Dab is nice addition too...

 

[ppavuk]

I've got the Sony mex5100bt and it has fully customisable colour, matched exactly with the bmw orange.
And I certainly don't consider it too modern. £90 and sounds fantastic.
Also has bluetooth if you look you can see the microphone hiding in the vent on the right side.

View attachment 41306

Colours yes, they are adjustable on many units. I have kenwood in my second car and it matches dash light colour perfectly. But the shape is out. Does not looks any oem.

 

[Gundun]

Awesome unit, i had a look at it too, shame they don't do dab+bt on it. I need bt utterly as i travel a lot due of my work, so handsfree is must. Dab is nice addition too...

Yes, it's indeed a very simple unit, but it's just what I needed, the Z3 is my 3rd car and the last think I need when I enjoy some top-down time is to be harassed by phone calls
On the plus side, being so cheap and not having a removable front, I am relatively safe with thieves.

 

[ppavuk]

Yes, it's indeed a very simple unit, but it's just what I needed, the Z3 is my 3rd car and the last think I need when I enjoy some top-down time is to be harassed by phone calls
On the plus side, being so cheap and not having a removable front, I am relatively safe with thieves.

Well, in theory zed is my second, but it eventually become first and little meriva just sitting on driveway as i can't get myself to drive it so my weekend car is boring microvan, well, 5 seats at least, can take kids out

 

[Sully]

I think I might need to look into a radio as my OEM combo is playing up, more so with my cd's
Am looking for Bluetooth ,dab and good sound also

 

[Dino D]

I think I might need to look into a radio as my OEM combo is playing up, more so with my cd's
Am looking for Bluetooth ,dab and good sound also

What are these 'cd's' you speak of?

 

[Sully]

What are these 'cd's' you speak of?

Haha I even have ........... Wait for it a cassette player ..........

 

[spurs fan in a coupe]

Hi,
I just recently replaced a very ugly looking aftermarket Blaupunkt I found on my Z with a very OEM Looking Clarion FZ102E. It's mechless meaning it only reads USB sticks and has an aux in, so it mounts very shallow...and it's light.

I am very happy with it and the most amazing thing is that it has a OEM look (big volume knob, chunky buttons) and the illumination is a 10/10 perfect match with the BMW amber color. I think Clarion made it purposely for BMW youngtimers.

I have attached a picture of it on my Z3 dash and another one on the E36 where you can better see the illumination.

Retail price is around 100euros, I found it mint by a guy for less than half.

View attachment 41303

I like that, but you are fussy!

37 degrees, air conditioning on for the upper body and heated seats on for the bum!

 

[Gundun]

I like that, but you are fussy!

37 degrees, air conditioning on for the upper body and heated seats on for the bum!

Ahah! I hope it's just an effect of the different lights, I can guarantee that we were sealed in the car with a/c hoping the cooling system could hold up. My lower parts were still warm but not because of the heated seats...I hope

 

[ppavuk]

That how it is looks like. The facia plate does not fit, so I modified it and now paint drying. Next weekend
will finish install.

 

[Redline]

I keep contemplating a change but don't much fancy the cost of an install to make sure everything works.
How easy was the install (apart from the face plate )? Any additional cables needed?
Does it use the microphone on the steering column?
How did you route the dab antenna cable? I presume you've got an amplified screen mount cable on the windscreen.

 

[ppavuk]

I keep contemplating a change but don't much fancy the cost of an install to make sure everything works.
How easy was the install (apart from the face plate )? Any additional cables needed?
Does it use the microphone on the steering column?
How did you route the dab antenna cable? I presume you've got an amplified screen mount cable on the windscreen.

Install was easy, all needed is bmw to iso (or it is called DIN?) radio adapter cable (which I had before). Dab antenna glued on windscreen, cable routed under A pillar, i dont think i have mic in steering column (is it standard?) so i installed a mic on sun visor, cable routed under rubber on A pillar to dash internals. All bits apart of bmw to iso adapter are included with unit.

The only issue was facia plate. The opening in it 5mm smaller that this headunit face, but kenwood do fit into facia. Apparently this unit is made for tractors and lorries the backside of the unit is perfectly DIN and would fit any car.

Then I've cut facia plate, glued some bits back (cheap amazon stuff, so ever if not successful - cheap to replace) and painted it same colour as all other plastic parts in the cabin. it is not dry yet and need some more watersanding and perhaps another layer of matt lacquer. The quality of facia plate is awful, i spent good hour applying putty and sanding, and not perfect yet! Unfortunately bmw does not do OEM facia anymore, and what i got is just cheap Chinese replica of original BMW product. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CT24BM06-...971385?hash=item2a1af63c79:g:QiYAAOSw~oFXFfI6 and harness like this http://www.halfords.com/technology/...sories/autoleads-bmw-harness-adpator-pc2-75-4