Radio upgrade?

E

Eddy Matthews

Member
 Pickering, North Yorkshire
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
 
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
 
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

Chris
 
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.
 
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.

iq27Kx9.jpg
 
Z4 Gaz said:
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.

iq27Kx9.jpg
Click to expand...

ive got this one too works well. Ive got the matching grey fascia.
 
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
 
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:
 
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.
 
Z4 Gaz said:
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.
Click to expand...

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!
 
What adapter cables are needed?

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

Cheers
 
Wangta said:
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!
Click to expand...

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

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

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
 
Hi Topperz,

To make DAB work properly you need a ‘powered’ aerial installed in an upright/near vertical plane. Neat and tidy would be something like a Hama car antenna (£38) but cheaper windscreen aerial laminated to the inside of the glass also work. It’ll depend on the head unit that you’ve got as to which exact aerial will work best for you. Also, some head units provide the ‘power’ whilst others will require you to steal the power from something else (normally a simple jumper from the power input to the head unit), minuscule amps so nothing to worry about. Hope that helps.
 
Hi Guys,
New to the forum and reading the advice Re: DAB installation with interest. Getting this done in the coming week or so.
Can anyone help please....
So i will buy the radio and the fascia - happy with that from the previous entries.
But
Is there an extra bit i need to buy to ensure the controls on the steering wheel still work (and will they)??
Thanks
 
Not in a Z4, but I'm using a Pure Highway 400 DAB add on, which requires USB power and inputs via the phono audio in/aux connector.
Fitting was really simple with an unobtrusive clear stick on window aerial around 1.5cmx20cm . - It gives all the ususal DAB2 stations, as well as bluetooth to a phone and connects via the unit to Spotify using the phone's connection. You can either listen via aux in, or set it up on an unused fm frequency. Reception and sound quality is perfect. - That is, equal to national FM reception quality. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyR70WVNhGk
 
BigChief said:
Hi Guys,
New to the forum and reading the advice Re: DAB installation with interest. Getting this done in the coming week or so.
Can anyone help please....
So i will buy the radio and the fascia - happy with that from the previous entries.
But
Is there an extra bit i need to buy to ensure the controls on the steering wheel still work (and will they)??
Thanks
Click to expand...
Yes, you will.
Have a look at Dynamic Sounds - they do a multitude of connecting harnesses for all makes
 
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