Newbie with some newbie questions re: wheels, CD changer

[hauler_525iT]

Hi,
New to the forum, and new to BMW ownership. Fantastic resource and great community you've created here.

I recently acquired a wagon in excellent condition (1992 150k miles, not a scratch on her or in her) and was hoping someone might be able to point me in the right direction to find a set of basketweave wheels to replace the rather mundane grocery-getter stock wheels. I believe they're 15" wheels. If I were to replace with 16", would that require re-calibrating the speedo and tach? Also, I've got a set of steel wheels mounted with snows. Are these wheels generally the same size as the stck alloys, or would they have a different profile?

Also, any suggestions on adding a CD changer to this model?

Forgive the dummy questions if they've already been answered. I didn't have much luck using the search function. Thanks in advance!

[ArtemLepilov]

Get the 740I Basketweaves - look up at junkyards, etc.. Will cost you about $200 for the rims with whatever tires you get off the junkyard haha... Plus ud need to get some nice tires on those... Get the 225/60/15s with the wheels. Wheel size is 15x7. Handling is great and the looks... beautiful!

Dont hesitate to get parts from a junkyard especially such as rims - if they look straight.. they ARE straight... I got a set for $150 at this one junkyard and one of the wheels was bent so i had to get a replacement for $60, totaling $210, just slap them on my car and its all set. Perfect, i will get some nice pics.

Here is a link to my site (which i literally made like yesterday and didnt have any chance to do anything there... yet) but at least u can see my pic. http://www.geocities.com/e34_bmw_525i/index.html

[uscharalph]

"Also, any suggestions on adding a CD changer to this model?"

Depends on which head unit is in your BMW.

[Kalevera]

There are two different stock CD changers; if the car is prewired for the changer (stated in various places throughout the car), the process is one of acquiring the correct changer and then connecting it. Otherwise, the wiring has to be run, which can be done. You'll probably want the later changer -- I forget the model number, but we talk about this stuff all the time, so it's probably searchable.

You can run 16s as long as the aspect ratio between tire and wheel are kept the same. A stock 15" wheel on an E34 takes a 215/65 tire or a 225/25. A 16" would need something like a 225/50 or 55. There are calculators online to do the arithmetic for you.

Without knowning what the steel wheels are, it's hard to answer the query.

Welcome!

Best, whit

[ArtemLepilov]

Hi,
New to the forum, and new to BMW ownership. Fantastic resource and great community you've created here.

I recently acquired a wagon in excellent condition (1992 150k miles, not a scratch on her or in her) and was hoping someone might be able to point me in the right direction to find a set of basketweave wheels to replace the rather mundane grocery-getter stock wheels. I believe they're 15" wheels. If I were to replace with 16", would that require re-calibrating the speedo and tach? Also, I've got a set of steel wheels mounted with snows. Are these wheels generally the same size as the stck alloys, or would they have a different profile?

Also, any suggestions on adding a CD changer to this model?

Forgive the dummy questions if they've already been answered. I didn't have much luck using the search function. Thanks in advance!

Umm about the CD-Changer. I have an MP3 player in my car. I had a 6-CD Changer before but i got rid of it given that i do not like replacing CDs in the trunk every time and all. If its what you want sure - the car should have a special 6(or 9) prong connector in the back on the driver's side of the car. Even I had one and I didnt have a factory CD-Changer and didnt expect to have one. Sooo, if you just want to play a lot pf music in your car and if you do have a bunch of mp3s on your computer (and maybe own an iPod)
;) Then you are better off thinking about getting an MP3 player in your car. Mine actually has a plug I can use to plug an iPod or a cdplayer in (an auxilary plug) so.. they do make those, you just have to look around. Just my 2 cents on the whole situation...

But if you want to go with the CD Changer then check for the connector in the trunk. (or you can prewire it yourself if you buy an aftermarkert one... (they usually come with harnesses, etc.)

[hauler_525iT]

Wow.

So little I know! The car is wired for a CD changer (and a phone-- now THERE's an idea) so I thought it might be just a simple plug'n play kinda thing. But the more I think about it, the better an iPod is sounding. (<--pun sorta intended)

Guess I gotta fetch the digicam and dig out the snows from the garage and take a look, eh? I like the idea of pulling rims off a 7 series, but junk yard parts??? On my gorgeous Touring? Sacrilege!

So, next dumb question... any sources off the top of your collective head for 7 series wheels in Denver?

[ArtemLepilov]

Wow.

So little I know! The car is wired for a CD changer (and a phone-- now THERE's an idea) so I thought it might be just a simple plug'n play kinda thing. But the more I think about it, the better an iPod is sounding. (<--pun sorta intended)

Guess I gotta fetch the digicam and dig out the snows from the garage and take a look, eh? I like the idea of pulling rims off a 7 series, but junk yard parts??? On my gorgeous Touring? Sacrilege!

So, next dumb question... any sources off the top of your collective head for 7 series wheels in Denver?

Check out the link: it might give you an idea... http://www.car-part.com/dealersaz.shtml

(Oops.. Sorry... the other link was to my website, so i edited it)

Just ask around those guys, I saw like 5 places in denver... They will probably have a set of wheels you want, just depends on what kind you want.

-Artem

[Patrick]

Read these links and determine which head unit you have, then you'll know what changer was originally designed to go in your car -being a 1992 probably a Pioneer CDXM30. You can pick up a good working changer here or on eBay and install it yourself, it's pretty easy to do. All you need is a BMW-PIO Interface Cable and make yourself a power cable and you're good to go.
I'm in Denver as well. There are only a few of us from CO on here. Email me if you have any questions or just want to talk BMW's. Oh, and 'Tillery's' on Broadway is an excellent and honest independent shop if you're looking for one -do NOT take your car to the dealer unless you have a lot of $ to blow.

http://www.pie.net/bmwpiom.htm
http://www.unofficialbmw.com/e34/st...cd_changer.html
http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forum...=4435006&page=1
http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forum...=4435533&page=1
http://vaxxine.com/gblawson/535/cd/changer.eht
http://www.audio-warehouse.com/detail.asp?mdl=BMW-PIO/M
http://www.sbhcorp.com/strpnr.htm#cdchanger
http://parts.pioneerelectronics.com...modelNum=CDXM30