Ultimate E30 Head Units...

[Royalratch]

[Jozi]

It's to modern and rounded looking

[DanThe]

It's to modern and rounded looking

+1

Would look more at home in an E46 IMO

[Blitz]

This is period.

[DanThe]

This is period.

Yeah but it looks gash

[George]

A difficult decision - I'd say Becker for the features. Nak looks spot on though.

In terms of security - are any of the options 'faceoff'? E30s aren't hard to break into, and with £250 worth of decent stereo on display, that's a fair incentive.

[kieran325]

The Becker is face off, button top right and it flips down to insert the cd, pull it away from the HU.

[toby]

As you know RR, I've got 2 Beckers 7992 in the sport and the M3 -





I really do rate the Becker gear, they look timeless in the E30 cabin.

Did you get my last pm

Very nice. Is the 7992 a better match for the dash than the 7990 in terms of lighting colour then?

[Royalratch]

I would have thought a 7990 in Amber is better but then sometimes E30 dashes do look reddish.

[toby]

It looks like that in pictures I agree. But if 7990s are better suited then why did Kieran buy 2 7992s for his E30s?

Also Kieran, how does the iPod control compare with the Alpine?

[Rodderz]

As you know RR, I've got 2 Beckers 7992 in the sport and the M3 -





I really do rate the Becker gear, they look timeless in the E30 cabin.

Did you get my last pm

Sorry but that looks awful lit up like that IMO

[Dezzy]

Is there a BMW headunit that can run iPod properly?

Think think that looks the best for the E30 dash

[Royalratch]

E46 Units can run iPod natively but not sure about E36 BMW Business CDs - if it has a CD changer port then you can get iPod adapters with a proper signal for good SQ but to control the iPod from the head unit you need CAN-BUS which only came in on E46 I think. So you can but you have to control the iPod manually which sucks.

Having said that, some E36 steering wheels have phone/stereo control on them so perhaps they did come with some CAN-BUS functions.

@toby - the Becker iPod control is awesome with full iPod features and menus replicated on screen and full text. Also shows the previous and next rack in line.

[Rodderz]

Really don't like the BMW unit you showed, too bland!

[kieran325]

I've not got any good pics but I'll take some tomorrow....

How about these when I first had it fitted -





I had a look at the 7990 and I thought it wouldn't suit the red dash but I could be wrong

[Blitz]

This is probally the best. Made by Becker.
Bavaria C Professional


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[Felix79]

When is FM radio being stopped ?( if it still is ) Would it be time to go over to DAB car radio?

[Royalratch]

That IS cool.

[Royalratch]

These weren't bad. The Blaupunkt TravelPilot/Freestyler range. Looked correct and decent features. But the iPod and Bluetooth features are external add-ons and in my experience were total crap.

[Blitz]

Apparently it has a separate tuner thing.

[robbo86]

Ratch, I like the look of that Becker unit but I dont like having cables trailing for Ipod capability etc. I like my car to be totally uncluttered if possible. Is music streaming via Bluetooth from an iPhone possible for that Becker unit do you know?

[Morat]

Dude.

That isn't old school or retro it's just old! No offense but that is hideous and the exact opposite of what I'm talking about.

The units I threw up are minimal and chunky just like the E30 dash with the correct amber lighting. You throw up a black and silver neon-green fest of Japanese noise - how on earth did you come to the conclusion that is an acceptable set up for an E0!?

Felix - Blaupunkt are alright. had a couple of their systems but their Bluetooth/iPod add-ons are rubbish and don't work Plus they only come with white or blue faces.

I'm feeling the BMW CD but I need the tech.

Totally agree apart from the bit about Blaupunkt, I've got two and the BT works great - if you're talking about the plug in unit then fair enough as I haven't tried one but the integrated BT works well and supports A2DP streaming from my phones. They have red button illumination and on the newer one the screen is adjustable for colour so you can match the dash.

[Royalratch]

Ratch, I like the look of that Becker unit but I dont like having cables trailing for Ipod capability etc. I like my car to be totally uncluttered if possible. Is music streaming via Bluetooth from an iPhone possible for that Becker unit do you know?

It may be. Not sure about the SQ via Bluetooth though. My install is invisible until cable is needed and even then it's discreet - I actually use an iPhone so need it to charge as GPS canes the battery hard.

I sold my Cascade so I think I'm going Grand Prix as I have the iPod adapter for it and the Amp Pre-Outs which will just plug right in.

The guy who bought it also wants me to fit - to a 550 Maranello.

[suchy]

The BMW one just looks perfect, can you not find addapters/add-on stuff that can be hidden away to run the bluetooth and iPod?
BMW just looks right

[Royalratch]

Having a bit of a nightmare now as you literally cannot get hold of Becker Grand Prix anymore!

Turns out they are either leaving aftermarket manufacture, leaving the UK market or just up in the air as they have been bought out.

So if I can't find one I'll have to go Nakamichi or BMW.

The BMW will accept a Parrot which is fine as Parrot kits are the best. Connects2 make an integrated iPod interfaces for E39 5 Series 1996-2001 - which MUST be the same kit as for an E36 - it just uses the CD-Chnager port anyway...

Nakamichi can take a Parrot but no iPod other than mini-jack Aux in which means no intelligent control and an analogue signal.

[Royalratch]

As you know RR, I've got 2 Beckers 7992 in the sport and the M3 -

Kieran, these look Amber - in the flesh are they quite red or dark Amber?

[kieran325]

More dark amber.

I'll go and take a pic now in the garage with the dash lights on.

Have you tried MNC -

http://www.mynewcheap.co.uk/products/ca ... nt/becker/

[Royalratch]

Tried every Becker dealer in the bloody country.

Looks like I may just hold onto my Cascade - unless you want to still discuss a P/X?

[kieran325]

Not the best pictures in the dark , what do you reckon -







And with flash -

[Dezzy]

Having a bit of a nightmare now as you literally cannot get hold of Becker Grand Prix anymore!

Turns out they are either leaving aftermarket manufacture, leaving the UK market or just up in the air as they have been bought out.

So if I can't find one I'll have to go Nakamichi or BMW.

The BMW will accept a Parrot which is fine as Parrot kits are the best. Connects2 make an integrated iPod interfaces for E39 5 Series 1996-2001 - which MUST be the same kit as for an E36 - it just uses the CD-Chnager port anyway...

Nakamichi can take a Parrot but no iPod other than mini-jack Aux in which means no intelligent control and an analogue signal.

Ratch if I bought the BMW unit and a parot hands free do dar, could I then control my mp3 player thoughbthe parot?

[chris432626]

Dude.

That isn't old school or retro it's just old! No offense but that is hideous and the exact opposite of what I'm talking about.

The units I threw up are minimal and chunky just like the E30 dash with the correct amber lighting. You throw up a black and silver neon-green fest of Japanese noise - how on earth did you come to the conclusion that is an acceptable set up for an E0!?

Felix - Blaupunkt are alright. had a couple of their systems but their Bluetooth/iPod add-ons are rubbish and don't work Plus they only come with white or blue faces.

I'm feeling the BMW CD but I need the tech.

Totally agree apart from the bit about Blaupunkt, I've got two and the BT works great - if you're talking about the plug in unit then fair enough as I haven't tried one but the integrated BT works well and supports A2DP streaming from my phones. They have red button illumination and on the newer one the screen is adjustable for colour so you can match the dash.

Agreed, I just bought a Blaupunkt Toronto 400 BT for around £130, BT works fine plus multiple colour display.

[Dezzy]

Sorry for highjack Ratch

Just pulled a mini in for a puncture at work. Would these would look ok in E30 dash?


Are they standard din and do they have one in the range that can run the Ipod/phone properly?

Cheers guys

[Royalratch]

Ratch if I bought the BMW unit and a parot hands free do dar, could I then control my mp3 player thoughbthe parot?

Only if you get the Parrot with MP3 streaming from your phone - your MP3 player won't have streaming unless it's a smartphone (iPhone/Google/Blackberry etc).

You can get Parrot headunits which are quite advanced but will have you kicked out CR24V in no time.


My advice to you would be get a BMW stereo with a Parrot CK300 stealthily installed (has excellent voice dialling so you can hide it totally) and then get an AUX-IN cable from your MP3 player to the head unit. These are about £20 (£115 at BMW!).

Or pending some research, if you can get an iPod interface for the BMW unit you can control your iPod form the head unit and have a totally invisible install. Assuming your MP3 player is an iPod - otherwise go the AUX-IN route.

[Royalratch]

Sorry for highjack Ratch

Just pulled a mini in for a puncture at work. Would these would look ok in E30 dash?


Are they standard din and do they have one in the range that can run the Ipod/phone properly?

Cheers guys

No it would lame - too round and blobby. Good match on display colour tho.

If that;s from an actual Mini it will more than likely use BMW's newer 40-Pin bladed connector and be able to accept a wide array of Bluetooth/iPod interfaces.

[Andyboy]

Sorry OEM Homos.

Either a '91 BMW Bavaria single CD or a Blaupunkt Motreal CD compatible head unit FTW.