This is a guide to swapping the faceplates on the standard BMW Business Radio, thus avoiding having to fork out £60+ on new airvents to match your newer headunit :roll:
Those of us with Z4s built before approx end-2004 will find their headunit won’t play MP3 discs. The standard solution – apart from buying an aux-in lead to connect up an MP3-player/iPod – is to buy a replacement headunit from a later build date BMW. BMWs from approx start-2005 came with headunits capable of playing MP3 discs – I’m unsure on the exact dates involved.
The easy way to distinguish what headunit you have is by the facia plate colour:
- grey-fronted: doesn’t play MP3 discs
- black-fronted: plays MP3 discs
However, buying a black-fronted headunit means your headunit will no longer match the grey colour of the centre airvents (older Z4s) directly above the headunit: these vents are grey in older Z4s. New vents will set you back around £60, but I was too tight to pay this!
I won a black-coloured headunit from a 2007-year BMW X3 on ebay, and set about fitting it. This involves removing the airvents above the headunit to access the screws holding the headunit into the dash: see HERE for a guide. Once the vents are out, simply loosen the screws holding the headunit in and disconnect the plugs. Et voila, one removed headunit.
The next stage is to swap over the faceplates – this really is a 5min job.
There are four torx screws (T9 size) holding the faceplate to the main body of the headunit, 2 either side. I’ve circled them in the photos below but BMW had thoughtfully coloured the torx heads green to identify them
.
Pic 1: Torx screws side 1
Pic 2: Torx screws side 2
Once undone, carefully prise the faceplate away from the body – be careful as the only thing now holding the 2 parts together is the electrical connecting strip thingy.
Pic 3: electrical/data connecting strip thingy
Carefully prise the edge of the connector up to loosen it at either side – there’s a little tab either side to help. The faceplate can now be separated from the main body of the headunit.
Pic 4: separating the 2 parts
Pic 5: faceplate detached
Reassembly is an exact reversal of the above. Be careful to ensure you insert the data/electrical connector thingy full and securely.
Congratulations – you’ve just saved yourself £60 on the cost of new matching air vents
Any queries, post up or PM me and I’ll answer what I can
Ally
Those of us with Z4s built before approx end-2004 will find their headunit won’t play MP3 discs. The standard solution – apart from buying an aux-in lead to connect up an MP3-player/iPod – is to buy a replacement headunit from a later build date BMW. BMWs from approx start-2005 came with headunits capable of playing MP3 discs – I’m unsure on the exact dates involved.
The easy way to distinguish what headunit you have is by the facia plate colour:
- grey-fronted: doesn’t play MP3 discs
- black-fronted: plays MP3 discs
However, buying a black-fronted headunit means your headunit will no longer match the grey colour of the centre airvents (older Z4s) directly above the headunit: these vents are grey in older Z4s. New vents will set you back around £60, but I was too tight to pay this!
I won a black-coloured headunit from a 2007-year BMW X3 on ebay, and set about fitting it. This involves removing the airvents above the headunit to access the screws holding the headunit into the dash: see HERE for a guide. Once the vents are out, simply loosen the screws holding the headunit in and disconnect the plugs. Et voila, one removed headunit.
The next stage is to swap over the faceplates – this really is a 5min job.
There are four torx screws (T9 size) holding the faceplate to the main body of the headunit, 2 either side. I’ve circled them in the photos below but BMW had thoughtfully coloured the torx heads green to identify them
. Pic 1: Torx screws side 1
Pic 2: Torx screws side 2
Once undone, carefully prise the faceplate away from the body – be careful as the only thing now holding the 2 parts together is the electrical connecting strip thingy.
Pic 3: electrical/data connecting strip thingy
Carefully prise the edge of the connector up to loosen it at either side – there’s a little tab either side to help. The faceplate can now be separated from the main body of the headunit.
Pic 4: separating the 2 parts
Pic 5: faceplate detached
Reassembly is an exact reversal of the above. Be careful to ensure you insert the data/electrical connector thingy full and securely.
Congratulations – you’ve just saved yourself £60 on the cost of new matching air vents
Any queries, post up or PM me and I’ll answer what I can
Ally
