Head unit that suits an E30

In Car Entertainment - NO SELLING OF I.C.E. PLEASE

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swllt
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Wed Apr 08, 2009 3:41 pm

I fitted a Rover CD80 Head Unit to my 320i and it really suits the period dash.
Flip front single CD player with lighting the same colour as the dash.
When it is shut up it looks just like a period radio.
And the best bit is that it was only £25.00 on fleabay "new old stock" when Rover was "Over".
This may help the old ones like me who don't want a blue graphic equaliser every time they drive.
The down side is it will only play Jim Reaves / Don Williams.
Least that's what I tell my son when he tries to put on "music to saw your wrists by" - Def Panda or something!?

Any other new head units which suit the period look?
fingerman
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Wed Apr 08, 2009 11:44 pm

There are loads, alpine look and sound good - do a search pal and all will be revealed :cool:
Previously owned loads of old E30s, E34s, a few E36s, E32s, E39s and an E38.

Currently in a diesel Audi - miss me old E30's....
MJJ_ZX6RR
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Mon Apr 13, 2009 2:53 pm

I've just fitted an OEM E36 business head unit and cd changer. I think it looks in keeping with the rest of the car, and the sound quality is pretty decent.

Wiring it was a PITA though :roll:

Martin.
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Lots of bikes, the odd modern BMW, and now an 88 e30 335i Cab project with E32 running gear
Alex
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Wed Apr 15, 2009 3:27 pm

mine is a very good match for the e30

the illumination is almost perfect too

and for £50 you cannot go wrong, plays mp3's, aux in for ipod etc

Image

yes i know it need pushing in properly :P

its the same as this

http://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/product ... -23253.htm

although no one seems to sell the orange illumination one anymore :?
pac1982
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Wed Apr 15, 2009 4:30 pm

This is the daddy of retro alpines, this unit is still highly thought of today and has better sound quality than most of the modern stuff out there, only problem is if you do manage to find one its gonna cost a lot of money as there rare as hens teeth these days

Image
Last edited by pac1982 on Wed Apr 15, 2009 4:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Image

1991 BMW E30 318i Neon Design Convertible (Sold)
1990 BMW E30 325i Touring (Sold)
1990 BMW E30 318IS (Sold)
1990 BMW E30 316i (RIP)
Alex
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Wed Apr 15, 2009 4:30 pm

that looks cool and very retro

shame it does not light up orange
pac1982
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Wed Apr 15, 2009 4:33 pm

I've been told that some of the internals of this head unit are made of gold 8O dont know how true that is though
Image

1991 BMW E30 318i Neon Design Convertible (Sold)
1990 BMW E30 325i Touring (Sold)
1990 BMW E30 318IS (Sold)
1990 BMW E30 316i (RIP)
redsmasher
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Thu Apr 16, 2009 12:10 am

Try Nakamichi, don't know too much about them but they look good (not garish) light up amber (amongst other colours) but aren't cheap.
Loving the Alpine but good call on the Rover. Check this for retro!Image
Alex
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Thu Apr 16, 2009 12:17 am

get your wallet out :wink:
BadDave
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Thu Apr 16, 2009 12:23 am

Nak decks are the dog's danglies TBH.
Any of the old skool denon's or alpine decks look good, and more importantly, they sound good as well
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mikeyp
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Thu May 14, 2009 2:27 am

if you want to keep the original headunit, but wire up an AUX input, is that posssible? (1985 pioneer tape deck)
pac1982
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Thu May 14, 2009 10:14 am

you can always get one of those tape things that allow you to plug an MP3 player in
Image

1991 BMW E30 318i Neon Design Convertible (Sold)
1990 BMW E30 325i Touring (Sold)
1990 BMW E30 318IS (Sold)
1990 BMW E30 316i (RIP)
Alex
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Thu May 14, 2009 12:08 pm

i now have a rover VDO 413x

Image

Image

illumination is perfect as it comes out of the same model of rover that the bmw headunit was put in winkeye
d6dph
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Thu May 14, 2009 12:21 pm

I picked up a Nackeredmidget from Jules this week, Jut got to find my release keys so I can get the pioneer one out :x
Image
Alex
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Thu May 14, 2009 2:44 pm

i wanted that nacker midget but i'am skint :(
ImysE30
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Thu May 14, 2009 3:07 pm

I was interested in it but couldn't justify the price :?
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Alex
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Thu May 14, 2009 3:10 pm

ImysE30 wrote:I was interested in it but couldn't justify the price :?
seemed a good buy imo for a nak winkeye
ImysE30
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Thu May 14, 2009 3:11 pm

Alex wrote:
ImysE30 wrote:I was interested in it but couldn't justify the price :?
seemed a good buy imo for a nak winkeye
Doesn't play MP3 CD's though :(
Current Fleet:

E30 335i Turbo M3 Convertible Replica
Alex
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Thu May 14, 2009 3:13 pm

just carry more cd's winkeye winkeye
d6dph
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Thu May 14, 2009 3:14 pm

Doesn't bother me, I don't use MP3 cds. :)
Image
ImysE30
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Thu May 14, 2009 3:16 pm

Most of my CD's are MP3 otherwise i'd have about 100 CD's to carry 8O
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E30 335i Turbo M3 Convertible Replica
pac1982
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Thu May 14, 2009 5:44 pm

It's all about getting an iPod or equivlent in your car these days 1000's of songs at ur finger tips on a device no bigger than your wallet.
Image

1991 BMW E30 318i Neon Design Convertible (Sold)
1990 BMW E30 325i Touring (Sold)
1990 BMW E30 318IS (Sold)
1990 BMW E30 316i (RIP)
e301988325i
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Thu May 14, 2009 7:25 pm

Here's mine an old JVC chameleon, the flat front matches the flat dash superbly, it lights up to match the dash illumination well too.


Image

Here's a video of how it works althought he model is slightly different to mine.

[youtube][/youtube]
I said:

Can anyone suggest how to test if the boot lights are staying on with the boot shut?

e30topless said:

lock the wife in there
bss325i
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Thu May 14, 2009 11:59 pm

pac1982 wrote:This is the daddy of retro alpines, this unit is still highly thought of today and has better sound quality than most of the modern stuff out there, only problem is if you do manage to find one its gonna cost a lot of money as there rare as hens teeth these days

Image
I have an Alpine tape deck similar to that, its not in the car now but was from new.

Image

Yes its true, that CD player did have gold components inside. The last one i saw on ebay went for over £400!

I have one of these waiting to go in! :D It was an option on E30's when new and most importantly, you can plug an ipod/mp3 player straight in! I also have the remote EQ on a stalk and seperate amp to go with it.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0418302590
http://www.bmrperformance.co.uk

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Fri May 15, 2009 12:02 am

d6dph wrote:I picked up a Nackeredmidget from Jules this week, Jut got to find my release keys so I can get the pioneer one out :x
Turning into an audiophile now are we??
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Fri May 15, 2009 12:03 am

pac1982 wrote: Image
these are the danglies awesome sound,

mine was stolen :cry:
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Fri May 15, 2009 12:45 am

bss325i wrote:
pac1982 wrote:This is the daddy of retro alpines, this unit is still highly thought of today and has better sound quality than most of the modern stuff out there, only problem is if you do manage to find one its gonna cost a lot of money as there rare as hens teeth these days

Image
I have an Alpine tape deck similar to that, its not in the car now but was from new.

Image

Yes its true, that CD player did have gold components inside. The last one i saw on ebay went for over £400!

I have one of these waiting to go in! :D It was an option on E30's when new and most importantly, you can plug an ipod/mp3 player straight in! I also have the remote EQ on a stalk and seperate amp to go with it.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0418302590
WOW :cool: I want one. How would you go about connecting this to a E30? Anything similar one ebay like that with aux in and built in amp?
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Sat May 16, 2009 11:13 pm

Nak are great units but the illumination does tilt more towards orange than amber. That alpine 7909J is a top quality unit and looks amazing.

My current Nak in the car is an RD-701 which looks pretty factory but the illuminatin is a bit orange compared to the BMW Amber lighting.

Image

Use a modern day Nak changer in the boot but that also does not play MP3 CD's. Does play CD-R fortunately.

I do have a Nak TP-1200 but haven't put it in as to avoid the hassle of housing the huge pre amp unit somewhere.

Image

Moz
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Sun May 17, 2009 9:08 am

pac1982 wrote:It's all about getting an iPod or equivlent in your car these days 1000's of songs at ur finger tips on a device no bigger than your wallet.
Agreed. I have a retro early Pioneer P series head unit in mine running the pioneer CD-IB100 such as this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CD-IB100-pioneer- ... 7C294%3A50

Ipods in the glovebox, change tracks from the headunit and it all looks fairly retro. HAPPY DAYS!!

Heres my dash:

Image
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d6dph
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Sun May 17, 2009 9:34 am

Whoa looks like KITs dash Trev :D
Image
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Sun May 17, 2009 12:06 pm

d6dph wrote:Whoa looks like KITs dash Trev :D
Thats my period Alpine sprectrum analyser dated 1991. I'd like to change it to orange buttons but don't want to f*ck it up!!!
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Sat May 23, 2009 3:44 pm

Original Pioneer head unit which was with the car from factory 1987.

Image
Image
Moz
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Sun May 24, 2009 1:27 am

That is crazy retro! Looks pretty nice though.

Moz
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Sun May 24, 2009 1:41 am

I have a problem with it. When you put a tape in it, it ejects it and wont play.
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Sun May 24, 2009 2:16 am

Blitz wrote:I have a problem with it. When you put a tape in it, it ejects it and wont play.
might be able to fix it for you mate
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