Keeping it Original as poss? |
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Jankers
Newbie Joined: 16-March-2006 Location: Leeds Status: Offline Points: 9 |
Topic: Keeping it Original as poss? Posted: 16-March-2006 at 10:19 |
Hello! I am the proud owner (just aquired) of a 3 series Convertible, 1993 318i Lux Its absolutely MINT! VERY VERY VERY low mileage, and I want to keep it as original as possible, but the stereo is particularly pathetic. its a radio/cassette. BMW BAVARIA what would you suggest to improve without wrecking the car's uniqueness? |
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AndyS
Really Senior Member II The Last of the Few Joined: 21-August-2003 Location: 55 � North Status: Offline Points: 1365 |
Posted: 16-March-2006 at 11:10 |
I got a Pioneer DEH-P77MP for my '89 635 as it has a very retro look. No dancing dolphins or dazzling light shows! The front panel is a solid slab of brushed aluminium with a white led display.
It has a hidden cd slot behind a removeable front & can play MP3 tracks from cd's you've burnt. It has enough power to make itself heard with good sound quality. I paid around £199 for it although you may well find it cheaper now. It's also available with a remote which clamps to the steering wheel for around £25 which is actually quite handy. |
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Jankers
Newbie Joined: 16-March-2006 Location: Leeds Status: Offline Points: 9 |
Posted: 16-March-2006 at 11:19 |
so you wouldnt recommend getting a BMW one from a dealer?
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bmwcrazy
Really Senior Member II 1995 M5,1995 318ISE,1997 325 Joined: 24-October-2005 Location: (glasgow the wee apple) big dazz Status: Offline Points: 661 |
Posted: 16-March-2006 at 12:49 |
noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
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AndyS
Really Senior Member II The Last of the Few Joined: 21-August-2003 Location: 55 � North Status: Offline Points: 1365 |
Posted: 16-March-2006 at 13:30 |
you're such a wag!!! |
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whitey
Really Senior Member I Joined: 15-May-2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 450 |
Posted: 16-March-2006 at 13:38 |
Period stuff from BMW direct was discontinued years ago so I doubt if you'd have much luck anyway. I've got a Pioneer KEH M9500 early flip front (complete with early remote) in my '89 325 convertible, coupled to a CDX-M30 CD changer (similar to http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/pioneer-CDX-M50-6disc-multi-changer-no -reserve_W0QQitemZ5880201488QQcategoryZ75302QQrdZ1QQcmdZView Item). The changer dates from about '92 and the head unit dates from about '94. In my opinion the black units look more period and you need a unit that has the Amber illumination option. This set up looks VERY period (important to me) and with the custom fit Sony 2 way's, sounds okay. In my opinion the classic Alpines never looked right even when the cars were new. They had big square green buttons. I did get offered my mates original 1989 pull out Alpine for mine that he kept from his then brand new 1989 325iSE. With a convertible it is VERY difficult to get equivilent sound quality to whats acheivable in a saloon especially with the hood down without throwing huge money at it. I think you've got the exact right idea by not wanting huge speaker builds and modern gimmicky hi fi's Personally I'd look at improving the speakers using the available space in the existing positions. Then I'd look at the iPod option of an FM modulator which tunes the MP3 into a radio frequency. I'm currently using this in the firms car with excellent results and will be using it in the summer in the e30. You may not even need to change the head unit leaving the dash looking EXACLTY as it came from the factory. It all depends on what sound quality your looking for. If your after Max Power sound off quality you've got to forget about keeping it standard. If you want originality, you have to compromise. Cheers Trevor Edited by whitey |
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2000 e39 523i with full factory sport kit.
1989 e30 325i Convertible 1999 Golf GTI 1.8T |
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billgates e30
Really Senior Member II Joined: 31-January-2005 Location: Tyne & Wear Status: Offline Points: 924 |
Posted: 16-March-2006 at 13:43 |
for brilliant sound (with a suitable matching system obviously) then you could go for a nakamichi
only problem is that that particular head unit costs about 400 notes, and trying to find them can be difficult look good though |
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whitey
Really Senior Member I Joined: 15-May-2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 450 |
Posted: 16-March-2006 at 13:48 |
Now that would look okay. It would match the switchgear well and not look out of place. |
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2000 e39 523i with full factory sport kit.
1989 e30 325i Convertible 1999 Golf GTI 1.8T |
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billgates e30
Really Senior Member II Joined: 31-January-2005 Location: Tyne & Wear Status: Offline Points: 924 |
Posted: 16-March-2006 at 15:28 |
yeah, but as i said, its 400 quid, and without a reasonable system to amtch then it would be a bit wasted
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whitey
Really Senior Member I Joined: 15-May-2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 450 |
Posted: 16-March-2006 at 15:47 |
What i like about it is that the front panel does not look too thick in depth. On the e30 the recess is not that deep and some units can look as though they are "hanging" out of the dash. To be honest, yes, you can go and pay £120 in Halfords and get a CD tuner but it will look like a dogs dinner and be full of gimmicks that you never need. Sitting in the cupboard here I have a Sony mini disc (a format I really like) that is a superb unit. But it would just look wrong in the e30. It also has the prancing horses scrolling function and all the rest of it that I never used! However if you want a descrete, period looking and undoubtably one of the finest quality units you can get, £400 is (in my mind) not out of the way. Espescially in what sounds to be an ultra low mileage mint car that needs no other money spending on it. I'd go for it, however I'm just about to do the thick end of £200 on a pair of chrome bumper centre sections from the dealers so my priorities lie elsewhere.........unfortunately! |
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2000 e39 523i with full factory sport kit.
1989 e30 325i Convertible 1999 Golf GTI 1.8T |
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whitey
Really Senior Member I Joined: 15-May-2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 450 |
Posted: 16-March-2006 at 15:57 |
Blimey, I might forget the bumpers!
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2000 e39 523i with full factory sport kit.
1989 e30 325i Convertible 1999 Golf GTI 1.8T |
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Jankers
Newbie Joined: 16-March-2006 Location: Leeds Status: Offline Points: 9 |
Posted: 17-March-2006 at 07:48 |
TOP advice thanks geezers... And yep it is a really mint original car so thats absolutely KEY to me, no mods at all in preference.... Thanks again! |
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fozzymandeus
Really Senior Member II Joined: 01-February-2006 Location: Sunny Rhyl Status: Offline Points: 607 |
Posted: 17-March-2006 at 07:57 |
Get a Becker Mexico:
Again pretty expensive (~400 quid) but not only is it discreet looking, it's of german manufacture! |
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Jankers
Newbie Joined: 16-March-2006 Location: Leeds Status: Offline Points: 9 |
Posted: 17-March-2006 at 09:09 |
400 for the head unit? what about changer, amps, speakers eeek!
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billgates e30
Really Senior Member II Joined: 31-January-2005 Location: Tyne & Wear Status: Offline Points: 924 |
Posted: 17-March-2006 at 10:18 |
if you go for this nakachimi one it has a six disc changer biult into the haed unit
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NAKAMICHI-MB-VI-6-DISC-CD-CHANGER-MUSI CBANK-EU-MODEL_W0QQitemZ5870301537QQcategoryZ3293QQrdZ1QQcmd ZViewItem not sure on the amp and speakers, i've got some rockford fosgate stuff but got them from a mate so they were a bit cheaper |
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Jimbob
Bavarian-Board Contributor Joined: 27-July-2005 Location: Live: West Sussex - Work: Islington Status: Offline Points: 190 |
Posted: 17-March-2006 at 11:18 |
I went for this one in my 6 series as my budget was pretty tight. I think its a pretty good period type look - and the orange back-light fits in with the display. Big advantage here is the Aux in port on the front panel, which allows you to plug your ipod or similar straight in. |
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And so says Jimbob.
1981 635csi 81k miles. Will be fixed, but not by me. |
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