Help Needed - E89 Headunit

[Bg7278]

Hello Z4 friends

Little help needed. I am looking at taking the plunge on installing an aftermarket head unit. I do not have Idrive and as such no screen. Asthetically, this seems like the best option to offer me Carplay etc. There is an option from Germany see pic. My goal is screen/audio improvement. I am open to aftermarket options to acheive this (Pioneer etc) but would rather an OEM look.

I have 2 questions.

Anyone familiar with these units, could you advise if the input for audio is simply the AUX? I would like to enhance the sound further by installing an amplifier tweeters (I have the professional head unit, and i think we all know the sound qualoty). Does this unit reduce the ability to improve the sound quality?

Second question

As i am looking to enhance the audio further, any recomendations on anyone who can tackle this? I know there are videos online that show the install, and whilst it isnt too scary a prospect to do it myself, as i want to look at further audio options, i would like to tackle everythign with one job. I dont have the tools, so am open to someone assisting. Preferebly i nthe Midlands but happy to travel

Any help appreciated

 

[B21]

Welcome..

The audiophiles here will poo poo the 3.5mm sound quality, the philistines will say its a ok... :fuelfire: :rofl:

You can do a lot with even the basic system, do a bit of searching here and you will see many options depending on your budget and abilities.

Maybe good to state your budget?

Tweeters will help, replacing the mid range units in the doors also.

Annubiszed here does professional fit of various stuff, I think he's near Gainsborough.

Its a frequent trip so plenty of advice available..

 

[Deepseaskateboard]

Search youtube for “simple car guy Z4”

I believe he has a couple of posts here in the how to section.

His videos cover installation of exactly this, the android screen and audio upgrades. He is technical and shows how this is all wired in etc.

Another solid channel is “Z4 Mods” by Anubis Zed.
He details the android screen installation.

I am also on the fence about the screen install.

 

[AnubisZed]

:rofl:
Afternoon, nice unit the Android screens are if you don't already have iDrive, adds an entirely new element to your driving experience

Firstly, if your sound is poor then you need to address that first. When I first got my Z4 the audio quality was pitiful, it was the most basic of basic you could get (ie: no Bluetooth, no USB and only 6 speakers). I found out I could retrofit a replacement OE headunit that had Bluetooth (calls) and USB (memory sticks, ipod control) built in. So I did this retrofit and upon testing it it turns out that it has a much more powerful onboard amplifier give far superior audio quality. To this I also added a pair of plug-play OE tweeters, that improve the sound even more.

Only later did I install the android screen. As above yes the audio is outputted via the AUX. Now if you only have the basic system then the AUX is directly from the centre console socket to the rear of the headunit. The more elaborate systems have the AUX ho to the MULF/Combox first, so with these elaborate systems you need to plug the AUX cable into the socket, but on the basic version you don't need this cable plugging in as you fit a quadlock T loom into the rear of the headunit and thus AUX output is in this loom anyway.

Link to my installation video.....
https://youtu.be/VC9VFJBDFQM

I do offer an installation service for this as well as the replacement headunit as well if you're interested.

 

[Bg7278]

Thnak you all for your contributions. Super Helpful.

Dave - i will message you directly if thats ok. You sound like exactly what i need, and the drive from Leicester to Lincoin is an added bonus! Lovely roads!

Thanks

 

[mr.tourette]

Dave re changing the standard head unit..does this the give the hifi option without coding? I'd be interested in that if that was the case just to rid myself of the basic spec equalization ? Any coding reqired at all to replace the headunit?

 

[B21]

Dave re changing the standard head unit..does this the give the hifi option without coding? I'd be interested in that if that was the case just to rid myself of the basic spec equalization ? Any coding reqired at all to replace the headunit?

If you get Bimmergeeks Protool its ' a piece of piss' to code your existing unit..

All headunits can be coded (AFAIK) to have the two differnet equalistion options..flat and horrible..

 

[mr.tourette]

Dave re changing the standard head unit..does this the give the hifi option without coding? I'd be interested in that if that was the case just to rid myself of the basic spec equalization ? Any coding reqired at all to replace the headunit?

If you get Bimmergeeks Protool its ' a piece of piss' to code your existing unit..

All headunits can be coded (AFAIK) to have the two differnet equalistion options..flat and horrible..

Peter when you say piece of piss does that refer to someone who is pretty au fait with coding and has done a bit or could it still be a piece of piss to a coding noob? There's a bit of outlay involved and I would be rather miffed if i couldn't get the fcuker to work :lol:

 

[Silverstar]

Asking a silly question here but how do you know if you have the better head unit? Is it the case if the car has bluetooth for calls and USB under the armrest it has the better head unit and if it doesn't have any bluetooth and no USB under the armrest (I didn't think that actually existed in a Z4!) then you have the basic head unit? :?

 

[B21]

Dave re changing the standard head unit..does this the give the hifi option without coding? I'd be interested in that if that was the case just to rid myself of the basic spec equalization ? Any coding reqired at all to replace the headunit?

If you get Bimmergeeks Protool its ' a piece of piss' to code your existing unit..

All headunits can be coded (AFAIK) to have the two differnet equalistion options..flat and horrible..

Peter when you say piece of piss does that refer to someone who is pretty au fait with coding and has done a bit or could it still be a piece of piss to a coding noob? There's a bit of outlay involved and I would be rather miffed if i couldn't get the fcuker to work :lol:

If you can start word , type a few words , save it and then re-open it, edit it and save and close than you are there..if not forget it..

There are two levels in Protool, broadly speaking canned mode very simple ..expert mode almost the same level as raw BMW tools ie difficult

I’ll,leave it with you..happy to support folks in canned mode..

 

[B21]

Asking a silly question here but how do you know if you have the better head unit? Is it the case if the car has bluetooth for calls and USB under the armrest it has the better head unit and if it doesn't have any bluetooth and no USB under the armrest (I didn't think that actually existed in a Z4!) then you have the basic head unit? :?

Looks like there are many versions depending on support for other systems as was suggested …

Audio performance wise I think all the units perform identically , at least to the ears of most folks..

It’s a s/w coding that changes the audio response ..afaik..

 

[mr.tourette]

If you get Bimmergeeks Protool its ' a piece of piss' to code your existing unit..

All headunits can be coded (AFAIK) to have the two differnet equalistion options..flat and horrible..

Peter when you say piece of piss does that refer to someone who is pretty au fait with coding and has done a bit or could it still be a piece of piss to a coding noob? There's a bit of outlay involved and I would be rather miffed if i couldn't get the fcuker to work :lol:

If you can start word , type a few words , save it and then re-open it, edit it and save and close than you are there..if not forget it..

There are two levels in Protool, broadly speaking canned mode very simple ..expert mode almost the same level as raw BMW tools ie difficult

I’ll,leave it with you..happy to support folks in canned mode..

:lol: yes i think i can manage that.. i guess I'll look into it

 

[mr.tourette]

Asking a silly question here but how do you know if you have the better head unit? Is it the case if the car has bluetooth for calls and USB under the armrest it has the better head unit and if it doesn't have any bluetooth and no USB under the armrest (I didn't think that actually existed in a Z4!) then you have the basic head unit? :?

when looking on ebay the head units are maked business and professional.. i think iirc the boggo 6 speaker units are business and the upgraded units professional

 

[AnubisZed]

Business units were never offered in the E89, all were Professional only. But there are different models although they all look the same once fitted in place and all have the phone button even you don't gave Bluetooth!
There is codability within the unit for the audio side, but you still need to know what to look for and then what to actually change.
There are quite a few variations with the different headunit models, some are basic, some standard, some have MOST(fibre optic), some have Bluetooth built in etc. Those that don't have Bluetooth built-in can be hooked up (via MOST) to either a MULF or Combox to enable Bluetooth and or Bluetooth music.
The whole audio options is very complicated to sort out by just looking at ut as there are hidden features.

 

[dom2587]

I have the exact one you pictured from a German seller, so it should be a genuine unit, there are fake ones kicking about.

The audio will use aux but it will be injected from the harness the 3.5mm input on the harness is another aux input.

there is some quirks with the unit, since you dont have i drive be aware the controller they send wont tilt but yet the ui is designed to be used so can be awkward you can get launchers for them, flow ux and id7 launcher have been designed with these units in mind and are pretty good with out tilt. Also the idrive controller is cheap and doesn't have the correct mounting holes for the e89. just get some screws with a wide head and they will catch the controller and hold it in place, but honestly dont expect it to feel the same as a bmw one its really bad.

The audio quality from the unit is just ok but you can hook up a usb dac and then use that additional aux input on the harness to put the sounds back in. ( the common dac used with these is the Filo E10k) this gives quite a nice uplift in the quality of the sound (if your upgrading your speakers i would highly recommend you do this). the next quirk i found is if you use the units Bluetooth for calls you need to use the line out on the dac or you wont be able to hear the calls.

if your planning an amp the only harness i found is a focal one at £50 i would assume you could break it open to use with other amps but im not competly sure.

All in all they are really good units that make the car feel a lot more modern.

https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1699764
this thread has all the info you need including changing the splash icon, updating the firmware and other bits and bobs. there will also be a link to a discord in there i would join it, the devs for the apps i mentioned plus more give support for there apps and the unit there.