Continental head unit

[duckhunt]

Hey, thought I'd show my new head unit and wondered if anyone had the same?
It's got dab & Bluetooth, but has quite a classic look which fits well with the car I think. It was to replace the cheap naff jvc unit I got with the car.
It has a subtle external mic I've fitted to the pillar and a passive dab antenna but I might replace it with a powered one as I did to my volvo and the reception is better.
Thanks for looking.

New Continental radio

• duckhunt
• Mar 19, 2017

With bt & dab

New Continental radio

• duckhunt
• Mar 19, 2017
• 3

 

[Paul Rice]

Good looking unit, Modern but subtle.

 

[Jack Ratt]

Good choice, looks great

 

[t-tony]

How much was it please, if you don't mind me asking?

Tony.

 

[Mint]

Looks as if it was there from the factory. Good choice

 

[Sean d]

I like that, all the mod cons but very subtle

 

[oldcarman]

Nice change, I'm changing mine as it's a Sony and I absolutely hate the message board constantly flashing away and it's just to modern for a 97 Zed! JIM

 

[duckhunt]

How much was it please, if you don't mind me asking?

Tony.

https://www.amazon.de/gp/aw/d/B00PLZ3WX6/ref=ya_aw_oh_bia_dp?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Yea.... That's the thing. I paid a bit of a premium. With shipping it was £193. It was really worth it for me as an out of place unit can really spoil the interior for me, and as I'm glad you all seem to agree it fits nicely. Not longer available for Amazon UK I had to get it from German Amazon. I think there are a few uk retailers online but seemed few and far between so wanted to snap one up before they became even harder to find. It really looks better than the photos, fits the look well and feels very good quality on the knobs etc. The only gripe some may have is the non adjustable illumination which is slightly more yellow than the bmw amber. I'm going to let that slide as I'm not really aware of a good OEM replacement with the same functionality.

 

[Sean d]

Nice change, I'm changing mine as it's a Sony and I absolutely hate the message board constantly flashing away and it's just to modern for a 97 Zed! JIM

You can change that in the settings Jim, just turn "Demo" off

 

[Ianmc]

Becker are a good option but NLA new and costly second hand. This looks fine though, good choice.

 

[Gundun]

I like it, it blends seamlessly with the overall styling of the Z interiors. That head unit was in my list too, but I read somewhere the light is a tad more pale than the BMW amber...what's the color match like if I can ask?
I later found a mint 2nd hand Clarion for a bargain and I couldn't turn that down.

 

[duckhunt]

I like it, it blends seamlessly with the overall styling of the Z interiors. That head unit was in my list too, but I read somewhere the light is a tad more pale than the BMW amber...what's the color match like if I can ask?
I later found a mint 2nd hand Clarion for a bargain and I couldn't turn that down.
View attachment 52161

Yea, as I said it's not a perfect match, slightly more yellow. That looks like a nice well matched unit. Does it have dab and Bluetooth also?

 

[Gundun]

Yea, as I said it's not a perfect match, slightly more yellow. That looks like a nice well matched unit. Does it have dab and Bluetooth also?

Nope, it's very bare specs (mechless unit no CD or SD cars, only USB in) but I had it for 40 euros and considering it's not my daily I really don't mind

 

[duckhunt]

Nope, it's very bare but I had it for 40 euros and considering it's not my daily I really don't mind

Fair enough! Matches the interior very well! I was never too fussed about function, as I had the little cassette - aux adapter in my e36 as everything else was broken. My volvo also was bought with a non working head unit, so I went all out with dab and Bluetooth calls/streaming. And I like it a lot more than I expected. So when the z needed one I wanted the modern functions too. Once you get used to it it's really handy. I had to pay quite a bit but I'm happy with it even though the colour isn't a perfect match.
For the money I would expect a powered dab antenna though. I will probably replace it, they're about £15 from halfords.

 

[oldcarman]

You can change that in the settings Jim, just turn "Demo" off

Thanks Sean, it's likely hitting the bin this summer as I go back to an original cassette or CDunit. It only gets used when Trin is in the car as she likes to hear something other than the hum of that throbbing 1.9 and the wind in her ears. I usually just turn it off!! JIM

 

[ppavuk]

How much was it please, if you don't mind me asking?

Tony.

they are about 100 to 250 depending on specs. Also it is easy to open it and put hallfords brake light repair tape over leds, so then light colour is 100% bmw z4 oem.

 

[duckhunt]

they are about 100 to 250 depending on specs. Also it is easy to open it and put hallfords brake light repair tape over leds, so then light colour is 100% bmw z4 oem.

Hi, I had thought about this, is it really that simple?

 

[ppavuk]

Hi, I had thought about this, is it really that simple?

fairly simple, but you obviously will breach unit warranty. There is two small screws al left and right side, undo them, remove front panel. it still attached to base with cable band. Undo the little connector, detach the cable. Then remove volume and function knob, undo all screws at the back of front panel. Open it - this will give you access to front side of PCB. Leds are there, very small, less that 1x1 mm each, but they are marked LED with small letters on pcb. you might need a magnifier glass to identify them. Then get some halfords brake lights repair tape (a red semi-transparent vinyl). cut it to pieces about 5x5 mm and using a tool like tweezers or so to attach pieces of tape over leds. Once done - assemble in reverse order.

 

[duckhunt]

fairly simple, but you obviously will breach unit warranty. There is two small screws al left and right side, undo them, remove front panel. it still attached to base with cable band. Undo the little connector, detach the cable. Then remove volume and function knob, undo all screws at the back of front panel. Open it - this will give you access to front side of PCB. Leds are there, very small, less that 1x1 mm each, but they are marked LED with small letters on pcb. you might need a magnifier glass to identify them. Then get some halfords brake lights repair tape (a red semi-transparent vinyl). cut it to pieces about 5x5 mm and using a tool like tweezers or so to attach pieces of tape over leds. Once done - assemble in reverse order.

Great details, thanks I'll get onto it and report back

 

[ppavuk]

Great details, thanks I'll get onto it and report back

you may want to use 2 layers of type - test it first on couple of leds. We all see colours slightly different. But i am happy with result with just one layer.

Another thingy - there is two big leds for dispaly light - these are pain in the ass. you need to remove textile sticker on display assembly, so then you will see two leds. It is painful to stick the tape in, but still doable.