Removing original ISO connector from BMW radio

[juleswalker196]

I have a 1996 318 tds, fitted with the original BMW Business Radio/Cassette. I have unlocked this from its DIN housing. I want to install a Becker Radio/SatNav in its place. I have tried to disconnect the ISO wiring loom from the back of this unit. The black plastic outer cover moves diagonally, but the connecting pins stay firmly rooted into the radio. Any ideas how to get this out safely and not breaking anything? Many thanks

[thekid]

It's kinda hard to explain. There is a lock on the connector. The top middle part comes up and it has to come all the way up. Then you can pull the connector off. It can be difficult to get the lock engaged and disengaged.

[juleswalker196]

I asked some work colleagues to have a go, but it would not budge out of the back of the radio. So on the way home I called into an in car entertainment store, and a nice man (built like a brick outside lavatory) grabbed hold of the entire connector and pulled it out. The top edge of the sliding outside retainer broke, but it slides back and locks onto the new BMW to Becker ISO wiring loom, so all is well. When a softly softly approach does not work, use brute force!

[juleswalker196]

Just an update, I could not be bothered to hook up a speed pulse off the gearbox to the Becker, so I have got a Blaupunkt TravelPilot E1 Freestyler. This clever unit has a built in gyro so works without the speed pulse. However whilst I was pushing everything back into the ISO unit in the dash I managed to snag/foul a power lead, and the car took a dim view (literally) and I lost all the power. I had to pay a nice man £100 ($160) to sort it out, but he did and everything is running well. Moral of the story, be very careful pushing a radio unit back into the ISO slot. Why car manufacturers make these areas so small when they have half an acre of space under the front dash I do not know.