Replacing head unit

[Rudd]

Hi, iv just bought my first z4 (53) and the only thing that is annoying me is that the head unit will not eject the CD that is in, of all CD's it’s a Maroon 5 one! Nightmare!

I want to replace the head unit anyway, does anyone know of any problems in doing so? And how do you remove the centre air vents?
I have fitted quite a few head units in the past but I just want to make sure I don’t damage the car.

Any help would be great,
Cheers guys

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=105298

It's really easy.

 

[Rudd]

cheers for that, il give it a go this weekend.

anyone know of wiring problems at all?

 

[pvr]

I have an almost brand new replacement headunit if you need it.

 

[Rudd]

i think i will use an aftermarket head unit if it will work, iv bought the facia and the guy in the car shop said i dont need a harness adaptor.

cheers for the offer though

 

[RichardG]

i think i will use an aftermarket head unit if it will work, iv bought the facia and the guy in the car shop said i dont need a harness adaptor.

cheers for the offer though

The guy in the shop is a fool and an idiot go slap him and call him a cretin, you will need a harness adaptor to convert the ISO connections your aftermarket HU will have to the BMW system.

You don't say in you OP which sound system you have in the car, if you have the higher spec systems with the amp in the boot an aftermarket HU will not work as it is a digital system.

giid luck with how it turns out.

 

[Rudd]

i havnt seen an amp, iv counted the speakers and i can find 8. 1 in the footwell, door speaker and tweater and one speaker behind the seat. will this be ok?

i had a look in the docs to see if there was any info but cant find any really.

 

[Ian_Mac]

If you've not got the subs in the lower holes behind each seat you've probably got the 6 speaker system. Even though there are grills on the doors you'll find there's nothing behind them.

 

[srhutch]

As RichardG has said you will need a harness.

The amp if it exists sits between the battery and the rear bumper under the boot floor.

 

[Rudd]

anyone know the part number? iv had a look in the autoleads catalogue and there isnt one, either that or im a blind bumbass

 

[Robb]

what headunit are you thinking of putting in?

 

[Rudd]

An aftermarket one, pioneer, alpine or something along those lines. I’ve bought a harness adapter for £5 off eBay so that should probably do. If not ill just pay to get it sorted.
Anyone got any suggestions for a good HU? Preferably one with Bluetooth and USB etc.

 

[Robb]

I have been looking to change mine and seem to be after the same sort of functions, the ones iv been looking at are:-

http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/10627.html
http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/11105.html

would be interested to hear some other suggestions though? ideally i want something where i can change the illumination colour to match the oem orange colour.

 

[Rudd]

That Alpine HU looks nice, i think i will have a closer look at it the shops. i know kenwood do one that change colour, i dont know the model but iv seen them about. il keep my eye out though.

 

[Rudd]

That Alpine HU looks nice, i think i will have a closer look at it the shops. i know kenwood do one that change colour, i dont know the model but iv seen them about. il keep my eye out though.

 

[Robb]

Yea, the cheaper kenwood one to the one above has the colour change function but doesn't have the bluetooth function, if that one did then i would have that one. I like the alpine one but i cant decide if it looks a bit 'fussy' and may not sit nicely on the z4 dash, pioneer do a aluminium facia one but its a bit expensive and low on functions, also the pioneer units i have had a play with seem to avoid logic in the way they function.

 

[RichardG]

Taadah!! The very Alpine iDA X-305 you have been discussing as fitted to my Zed.

Personally I think it fits the Z quite well because of the large central control wheel, but then I am slightly biased, and my good lady has just told me the leads I ordered to connect the MFSW to the unit have just turned up, pity it will be 3 month's before I can fit, Fuggin Work!

 

[Rudd]

That does look quite nice! and i agree about the round control, its a bit of a pity it wasnt more central so that it was right above the heater control, minor detail.

did that go in as a straight swap without any problems?

 

[RichardG]

The fit is pretty straight forward, there is a surprising amount of room behind the HU to lose all the wiring and the harness plugs, also you will require aerial adaptor, if you have the same fascia you have to seperate the 2 parts to fix the mounting part securely to the car and take care refitting the front so as not to damage the clips, have to agree about the wheel not quite lining up, can't have everything though. the whole job shouldn't take more than an hour or so to do.