I have a stock C33 Radio/cassette in my '96 328i, which controls the CD changer in the trunk. Recently, when I selected "CD", the display suddenly read "no magazine". Although the trunk changer had the magazine inserted & loaded with CDs, for some reason the radio stopped "sensing" it, so I couldn't play or listen to CDs. About a week later, while listening to the radio, the sound started cutting out, it came on & and off intermittently. Now, there is no sound at all. Today I inserted a cassette tape in the radio unit, hoping at least that would work.. no sound.
As an experiment, I was able to borrow another C33 radio from someone who also has one, and plugged it into mine (of course entering the security code).. but still no sound, on any function. And like mine, it also displayed the "no magazine" message when "CD" was selected. This clearly showed the problem is NOT the radio units. I then looked at my wiring harness, and did notice the wire/cable at the bottom (the radio's manual shows it as for the CD changer) looked frayed & loose. Also, the harness has been removed & reinserted several times recently, (each time it's a bit of a struggle getting it off, as I'm sure everyone has experienced).. might the harness be bad, and causing all these problems?
My local car stereo installer (who wants to sell me & install a Blaupunkt Montreal unit) said he tended to doubt the wiring harness was bad, and said the wires all "looked" connected. But what else could it be, then? If it's NOT the harness, wouldn't a new unit installed (his Blaupunkt) with it's new harness, also not get any sound either?
This problem's been frustrating, and I'm tired of not having sounds. I guess what I'm getting at is, should I try finding a replacement harness for this unit & pay him the labor charge, betting that's the problem & the existing units will then work fine like they did a couple of weeks ago, without any of these problems? Or should I have him install the new Blaupunkt unit? (The new unit's display lights & their colors, like all new car stereo units, don't exactly match or complement my 96's existing amber lighting and the look of the buttons, like the stock C33 does, but maybe that shouldn't be an issue). Any advice/opinion/experience with this appreciated!
As an experiment, I was able to borrow another C33 radio from someone who also has one, and plugged it into mine (of course entering the security code).. but still no sound, on any function. And like mine, it also displayed the "no magazine" message when "CD" was selected. This clearly showed the problem is NOT the radio units. I then looked at my wiring harness, and did notice the wire/cable at the bottom (the radio's manual shows it as for the CD changer) looked frayed & loose. Also, the harness has been removed & reinserted several times recently, (each time it's a bit of a struggle getting it off, as I'm sure everyone has experienced).. might the harness be bad, and causing all these problems?
My local car stereo installer (who wants to sell me & install a Blaupunkt Montreal unit) said he tended to doubt the wiring harness was bad, and said the wires all "looked" connected. But what else could it be, then? If it's NOT the harness, wouldn't a new unit installed (his Blaupunkt) with it's new harness, also not get any sound either?
This problem's been frustrating, and I'm tired of not having sounds. I guess what I'm getting at is, should I try finding a replacement harness for this unit & pay him the labor charge, betting that's the problem & the existing units will then work fine like they did a couple of weeks ago, without any of these problems? Or should I have him install the new Blaupunkt unit? (The new unit's display lights & their colors, like all new car stereo units, don't exactly match or complement my 96's existing amber lighting and the look of the buttons, like the stock C33 does, but maybe that shouldn't be an issue). Any advice/opinion/experience with this appreciated!