What are the choices for aftermarket stereos ?

[Hamfisted]

I'm upgrading the stereo in my '97 328i and have been disappointed with what I find out there to match the BMW dash. I couldn't find a Blaupunkt Toronto, which hasn't been produced in a few years, and it's circuitry isn't high end anyway. I narrowed it down to the Blaupunkt Seattle or the JVC AR960. The JVC kinda wins out on features and keeping with the BMW dash lighting theme, but the Blaupunkt Seattle is a great performer as well, just lacks a few things like MosFet, Serius Radio, storing MP3's on a SD card. It also has a little too much brightwork on the face-plate for me. What have other folks been using?





Mike



Simple Blaupunkt Toronto..... no longer produced.




Blaupunkt Seattle MP74 ....... available today.






JVC KD-AR960 Arsenal series ....... Serius Ready, MosFet, Display, No Dials

[spotteddog]

My 328i factory radio seems to turn itself off randomly...then I have to reset the code, which again allows the radio to play, sometimes for only a few second and sometimes longer. Is this a problem that can be fixed? Is this radio hopelessly shot and, if so, what is a suitable replacement? Should i go with aftermarket like Hamfisted or with a factory replacement or a salvage yard replacement? Thanks!

[94BMW325i]

the nakimachi or however you spell it looks a lot like OEM, but it is kinda pricey.

[e36surge]

Clarion sells a radio that has a red display, matches the e36. Comes with a remote etc. etc. Not too pricey either. http://www.clarion.com forget the series number.. sirius ready as well.

[WarNox]

Instead of making another thread i decided to reply in here! I tried the audio/electrics forum but it didnt work!

im getting a stereo next week so does anyone maybe have a diy on it or the wiering schematics for an e36 (1993)?

i do not know exactly what one ill get but nothing too fancy, just makes you more prone to getting a smashed window! sorry for stealing if this is stealing!!!


thnx guys.

[Henri]

Yes Clarion have a few models that you can choose the color of the display.

Nakamichi is high-end sound system... cost a lot but, as far as I know, it's the best thing to buy Also, the look of Nakamichi head units is similar to BMW h-u.

http://www.nakamichi.com

[drz]

Nakamichi MB-X. Good stuff, but very pricey. That JVC unit looks fin, though.

[da_bull]

Originally Posted by WarNox

Instead of making another thread i decided to reply in here! I tried the audio/electrics forum but it didnt work!

im getting a stereo next week so does anyone maybe have a diy on it or the wiering schematics for an e36 (1993)?

i do not know exactly what one ill get but nothing too fancy, just makes you more prone to getting a smashed window! sorry for stealing if this is stealing!!!


thnx guys.

There is an installation harness available for your car. It makes the install an easy DIY, and you can always return the factory radio in the event you sell your car. I should cost you 15-20 and its well worth its weight in gold. Ask the salesman wherever you get your radio from (if hes any sort of salesman, he'll offer one anyways).

good luck...

[Jordan94530i]

Alpine makes decks with 512 different colors selectable... can match the dash lights pretty good.

Eclipse made some more simple decks like the Blaupunkt Seattle above.. but now their new decks are hideous...

[Hamfisted]

I decided to install the JVC AR960. I needed a Metra 70-8590 harness adapter Metra Stereo Harness Adapters and a European antenna adapter cable to finish the job. The JVC adapted through the Metra 8590 with no problem and even wired up the amp as well. The unit sounds very good and of course much better than the stock C33 head unit. I also replaced the stock kick panel woofers with a set of Infinity coaxial speakers as well. The JVC is totally black when it's off, to match the rest of the dash. The screen lighting is adjustable to almost any color. The backlighting for the buttons is red.

Here's a couple of pics of the finished install.....




















Mike

[bimmer3214]

looks nice

[da_bull]

yuppers, looks good, I'd ALWAYS advise peoples to use the harness, as you found out it really makes it an easy DIY'er.

[bobdisk]

The JVC looks good, and almost stock. I have a stock BMW Buisness with a BMW 6 cd changer (I think its a Blaupunkt) in the back. I want to upgrade to a better head unit, with satnav if poss, perhaps from the Blaupunkt Travel Pilot series. Does anyone know if it or any others will control the cd changer?

[da_bull]

most aftermarket radios will not control the factory changer, they speak a different language.

[denbonium]

I would just goto Crutchfield.com. Most radios have a DIN casing that will come withit to make it fit in the slot.