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Radio upgrade?

Eddy Matthews
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Radio upgrade?

Post by Eddy Matthews » Sat Sep 02, 2017 12:29 pm

I've just changed my car to a BMW Z4 2.0i convertible 2007 - I believe it's an E85?

Can anyone give advice on upgrading my cars head unit? I'd like to get Bluetooth and more importantly a USB port - All my music is on USB sticks. Would prefer a unit with a USB port on the front for ease of use!

Don't want a boy racers "Boom Box" (apologies to any boy racers!), just something that gives me the features I'd like and reasonable sound quality - Tend to listen to all sorts of stuff from The Beatles, Sparks, Alice Cooper, The Proclaimers, etc etc.

So I'd prefer not to get into amps and sub-woofers etc!

Price isn't really an issue within reason....

What else will I require to fit? I assume a fascia panel, adaptor leads? Anything else? I'd like to keep the steering wheel controls if possible?

Recommendations on make/Model and any online places to buy from would be greatly appreciated!

Regards
Eddy

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NickDE
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Radio upgrade?

Post by NickDE » Sat Sep 02, 2017 12:53 pm

Have a look at a GROM Audio adapter.
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Eddy Matthews
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Radio upgrade?

Post by Eddy Matthews » Tue Sep 05, 2017 1:53 pm

I've looked at a GROM unit, but to be honest I think I'd prefer to change the head unit to something with USB and possibly Bluetooth capability, so I'm open to recommendations.

Regards
Eddy

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Radio upgrade?

Post by rally-chris » Tue Sep 05, 2017 3:06 pm

I've just fitted a Pioneer DEH-X8700DAB into my Z4C - I liked this model as it does everything and has a dual rotary controller to do most functions rather than lots of fiddly buttons. The illumination colour can also be changed to match the BMW orange/amber. With an adaptor lead it is also linked to the MFSW buttons.

No USB on the front, so currently I have the supplied USB lead poking out of the panel under the climate controls, but have bought (but not yet fitted) a USB socket and jack socket to replace the original BMW aux in socket in the same location.

https://www.pioneer-car.eu/uk/products/deh-x8700dab

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Radio upgrade?

Post by adam1985 » Tue Sep 05, 2017 3:37 pm

Similar to chris i recently fitted the Pioneer DEH-X7800DAB. This has usb on front but after fitting i would have preferred one on the rear so that I could run the lead to the glovebox. The front mounted usb is quite close to the indicator stalk so I decided to buy a very low profile memory stick so that I dont knock it.
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Radio upgrade?

Post by Z4 Gaz » Tue Sep 05, 2017 4:02 pm

I too have just fitted a Pioneer Dab headunit.
Mine was the Pioneer MVH-290DAB which cost £74 delivered from Amazon. Just seen it for £69 from Halfords.

Controls and charges ipods as well as reading memory sticks. Don't think it has bluetooth, not something I needed.

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Radio upgrade?

Post by goldbcfc » Tue Sep 05, 2017 5:00 pm

Z4 Gaz wrote: Tue Sep 05, 2017 4:02 pm I too have just fitted a Pioneer Dab headunit.
Mine was the Pioneer MVH-290DAB which cost £74 delivered from Amazon. Just seen it for £69 from Halfords.

Controls and charges ipods as well as reading memory sticks. Don't think it has bluetooth, not something I needed.

Image
ive got this one too works well. Ive got the matching grey fascia.

Eddy Matthews
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Radio upgrade?

Post by Eddy Matthews » Wed Sep 06, 2017 5:31 am

Thanks for all the replies guys, very helpful...

Can anyone tell me where I can buy a fascia panel that matches the colour of the BMW panel, or is at least close rather than the black that most suppliers seem to offer?

Regards
Eddy

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hopz121
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Radio upgrade?

Post by hopz121 » Wed Sep 06, 2017 8:23 am

Can't go wrong with Pioneer or Alpine really OP

you may wish to upgrade your speakers at some point but it depends what level of sound quality you are looking for.

A new head unit will make your current setup sound better anyway. :thumbsup:
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Radio upgrade?

Post by Monkeydonkeyratmagic » Mon Oct 16, 2017 2:50 pm

Has anyone got any suggestions for doing this on a sat nav model? I struggled to survive the 300 miles drive home (just bought one) without all my beloved music and Bluetooth, also DAB radio. It's been a good 5 years since I have had to suffer listening to FM, ended up with Classic FM on for 150 miles as it was all the wouldn't crackle or lose transmission. I'd love to change the head unit but retain the sat nav.
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Radio upgrade?

Post by Djcla » Mon May 21, 2018 9:57 pm

Is this possible then when you have sat Nov option?

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Radio upgrade?

Post by Wangta » Thu Aug 30, 2018 6:48 am

Z4 Gaz wrote: Tue Sep 05, 2017 4:02 pm I too have just fitted a Pioneer Dab headunit.
Mine was the Pioneer MVH-290DAB which cost £74 delivered from Amazon. Just seen it for £69 from Halfords.

Controls and charges ipods as well as reading memory sticks. Don't think it has bluetooth, not something I needed.
Does anyone know what part number the fascia is? Guessing this is European? The fascia looks flush with the dash - others I've seen on here look to be covers. Looking to add a single din radio to my 2006 3.0si! Thank you!
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Radio upgrade?

Post by dhobbs » Fri Aug 31, 2018 10:48 pm

What adapter cables are needed?

Do you need one for the MFSW controls and what about the parking sensors?

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Radio upgrade?

Post by rally-chris » Sat Sep 01, 2018 6:24 am

Wangta wrote: Thu Aug 30, 2018 6:48 am
Does anyone know what part number the fascia is? Guessing this is European? The fascia looks flush with the dash - others I've seen on here look to be covers. Looking to add a single din radio to my 2006 3.0si! Thank you!
There are two types of fascia adaptor you can buy for the E85/6, those that square up the front of the head unit by making it protrude from the original line of the oem head unit, or those that allow the head unit to be recessed, as the fascia of the oem head unit is not perpendicular to the mounting direction. There are also two colours to consider and sellers do not always make it clear in their adverts which one the part is.

I tried a protruding one first (XTRONS branded), but did not like it (it was also the wrong colour anyway, pre facelift grey vs facelift black):
F5B02F80-AB88-4A73-AA75-47D9ED480522.jpeg
F5B02F80-AB88-4A73-AA75-47D9ED480522.jpeg (355.67 KiB) Viewed 22863 times
I then replaced this with a recessed type (Connects2 CT24BM06) in the right black colour, although the texturing does not perfectly match the adjacent air vent facia:
D95D1087-84ED-4DE5-8004-882958D15DC0.jpeg
D95D1087-84ED-4DE5-8004-882958D15DC0.jpeg (357.18 KiB) Viewed 22863 times
The recessed type allows a much neater installation and you can adjust the in/out position of the head unit, BUT you need to use a Dremel or similar to remove some plastic from behind the head unit in the dashboard to allow a typical aftermarket head unit to be pushed in as far as I have it shown above.

Chris
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Radio upgrade?

Post by Topperz » Thu May 16, 2019 4:31 pm

Hi
I’ve fitted the same stereo today but struggling to get anything on the dab and fm radio

What am I missing lol

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