Fitting head unit in rear cubby?

[Magicarcher]

I am not happy with the performance of the standard head unit and would like a decent DAB radio with bluetooth hands free phone.

But I do like the appearance of the standard head unit and prefer it over any aftermarket radio I have seen.

So I am considering fitting an aftermarket head unit in the rear cubby between the two seats (where CD changer is currently) then operating it via a bluetooth remote app on my phone.

Has anyone done anything like this? How well does it work? Can anyone forsee any problems?

 

[Chris_D]

Researched this as i wanted to fit a tapedeck there. Call me Mr. Retro. Lol.
Anyhow, theres nothing available 1 din that will fit without major modifications.

 

[markplant]

If you don't mind the original deck having no function other than filling the hole in the dash, you would just need a loom adaptor making much longer, getting the head unit in the cubby would probably require partial strip down if the rear bulk head

 

[markplant]

As a side note do you have the stock 6 speaker or 10 speaker or caver 10 speaker, an where are you located as could but you in touch with a very good audio shop

 

[Magicarcher]

As a side note do you have the stock 6 speaker or 10 speaker or caver 10 speaker, an where are you located as could but you in touch with a very good audio shop

I did have stock 6 way, but I am just finishing off an upgrade to 3 way Focal 165SA3, I have got the crossover in + 6.5" footwell bass in + 4" mids in, sound deadened the doors, but when assembling the drivers door panel the M5 clip nut fixing for the top of the door handle snapped off and fell in the door :x , so couldn't finish off rest of door, awaiting the part from BMW. At some point I will design a pair of ported long throw 6.5" woofers to fit in the rear stowage area behind the drivers seats, but this will take me some time because looking at pictures i have seen the volume available looks visually to be only around 5 litres which will make the design challenging. Assuming I can design the rear speaker enclosures I will feed these through a low pass filter. I will completely ditch the rear mid range speakers, I have no interest in sound coming from behind my head.

I may ultimately have to just replace the standard head unit and put up with the poor appearance, if I cant get anything into the rear cubby.

 

[Steve84N]

If you want DAB, BT and standard HU then why not fit a unit from Grom Audio? That gets controlled via the standard controls and would easily fit in the centre console or more discreetly in the boot where you'll find the CD changer cables it works off.

 

[Marius]

get sound processor (audison bit 10 for example) ,that way you could keep oem radio and enjoy good sound quality

 

[Behr]

If you want DAB, BT and standard HU then why not fit a unit from Grom Audio? That gets controlled via the standard controls and would easily fit in the centre console or more discreetly in the boot where you'll find the CD changer cables it works off.

Thanks for mentioning this. I just looked up the Grom unit and ended up ordering one. Great bit of kit for the money (or so it seems so far) and looks very easy to fit and configure whetehr you have the CD chager in the back or not. There's some great Youtube vids for Z4 install by Grom themselves available on Youtube.

Best,

Behr.

 

[Steve84N]

I've got the USB3 as I didn't want to be relying on a device that has a battery. My car has BT and I can add the DAB module later if desired. I fitted it on the bulkhead behind the carpet in the boot where the factory amp goes.

 

[goon]

The standard audio is a well designed head unit that fits beautifully into the curved hole in the dash, that's the only good thing about it, performance is rubbish and it doesn't display the music information of cd.

 

[k31ron]

I have an aftermarket HU fitted to mine at the moment (and upgraded speakers)But I would preferred to have kept it standard and used a GROM. But a GROM doesnt overcome the fact the standard Business HU sounds rubbish and is under powered, I'm not after audiophile quality or masses of Bass, just my £120 aftermarket HU is more then enough improvement in quality and output (with better speakers), but is there an simple way of improving the sound output and quality from the standard HU with a GROM?

 

[Magicarcher]

If you want DAB, BT and standard HU then why not fit a unit from Grom Audio? That gets controlled via the standard controls and would easily fit in the centre console or more discreetly in the boot where you'll find the CD changer cables it works off.

I love the concept of the Grom but unfortunately it still relies on the standard head unit to amplify the sound. I find the standard head unit to lack definition in the bass which sounds deep enough but dull. At the end of the day the standard head unit has been designed to a budget to maximise profitability on the car. On top of that BMW chose to source the supply of the head unit to electronic suppliers rather than specialists in audio reproduction. Had it been made by Alpine who have a long track record of producing some of the best OE audio equipment it would probably have faired better.

 

[Steve84N]

I agree with you but I have satnav and didn't want to lose that so stuck with the standard HU.