Continental head unit

[duckhunt]

Well I'm about to get started!

Took the opportunity to wire in the powered DAB Antenna too. 31 Stations found as supposed to 0 from my driveway, which is in a bit of low ground. Tapped in to the 12v from the back of the unit. Also much neater than the passive one which took up the entire height of the windscreen.

Cheers for the guidance ppavuk, I'll let you know how I get on.

 

[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.

How did you get the buttons off?

Edit, nevermind...

 

[duckhunt]

Did 1 layer, and a big improvement but not perfect. I'll get to another layer over the weekend and post some pictures. See what you mean about those bigger leds

 

[ppavuk]

Did 1 layer, and a big improvement but not perfect. I'll get to another layer over the weekend and post some pictures. See what you mean about those bigger leds

Honestly, on first attempt i've painted led with some red nail varnish, which i steal from daughter, it was pretty much no improvement, but varnish + tape made me happy. Sorry, forgot to mention this before!

 

[paulgjohnston]

Can either of the guys who posted pictures of your units give me any links to them?

 

[duckhunt]

https://www.amazon.de/dp/B00PLZ3WX6/ref=pe_386171_38075861_TE_item

I used Amazon de. As linked.

You may find a UK supplier if you search the item model code

 

[paulgjohnston]

Many thanks for that!

 

[paulgjohnston]

https://www.amazon.de/Volt-Bluetoot...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=95CN8YRY9BQ8MZTBCQEH

Is this the same one?

 

[duckhunt]

https://www.amazon.de/Volt-Bluetoot...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=95CN8YRY9BQ8MZTBCQEH

Is this the same one?

Doesn't look like that one has cd or dab

 

[paulgjohnston]

Ues, there seem to be a few available. I have no technical skills at all. How long do you think it would take someone to fit it?

 

[duckhunt]

Ues, there seem to be a few available. I have no technical skills at all. How long do you think it would take someone to fit it?

About 2 minutes to fit. Where about are you? I or I'm sure someone from here could help you.

 

[paulgjohnston]

Really? Im up in Scotland.

 

[duckhunt]

ah, well I'm in cornwall so no use there. but I would help if I was closer. maybe someone local to you here could?

It really is quite simple, halfords may help you, or any garage should help. It really is a 5 minute job, unless you have an external mic or dab antenna then its a bit more of unclipping trim around the dash etc.

 

[paulgjohnston]

Previous set up is a sony unit with a connection for an old ipod. Also seems to have been some sort of phone set up as well as there are mics on the end of both front pillars....

 

[Paul Rice]

Previous set up is a sony unit with a connection for an old ipod. Also seems to have been some sort of phone set up as well as there are mics on the end of both front pillars....

Sure the Mics not the BMW fit alarm mine has them?

 

[paulgjohnston]

Perhaps. In my ignorance I assumed that they were part of a hands free kit.

 

[duckhunt]

Well mics are normally a generic connection, like an aux same as headphones. so you should be able to leave them in place and connect them to the back of the new head unit. Have you decided which one to go for yet?

 

[paulgjohnston]

Not as yet, want it to look like yours though. I have a cable running into the glove box that has old ipod connector, could a usb cable be fed there instead?

 

[duckhunt]

I can't remember if it has a USB port at the back, it has one on the front though.

I mostly use Bluetooth streaming from my phone and DAB.
although to be honest it's top down and exhaust soundtrack recently!

 

[paulgjohnston]

That's great, USB stick would do the job then.