Dave535Phoenix
06-09-2006, 03:19 PM
Left my '93 535 unlocked while bowling a couple months ago and some kids rummaged through it. Two inexplicable items they stole were my garage-door opener, and my owners manual. Yeah, it's nicely bound in leather but come on...
Anyway, my radio code was in the manual. I tried to get it from a dealer, but the little serial number sticker had either never been on or had fallen off the back of the unit, so they couldn't look it up. So I have a stereo that will be permanently useless if it ever loses power.
I like the stereo for the most part. Could use a little more punch, but it has the factory CD changer and incorporates a hands-free cell phone cradle that works just great. The presets are nicely positioned and it sounds pretty good. I don't like that the bass fades away with higher volume, my biggest gripe but I know why they do it - to prevent distortion and blown speakers.
I spoke to Audo Express, I was quoted about $500 just to replace the head unit with a pretty basic Sony (at GT300 with custom mount kit, rewiring, etc), and my CD changer and hands-free would certainly not work. With a new CD changer and subwoofer I'm up to over $1k, with no hands-free. Yoinks.
So I'm thinking the factory stereo really isn't that bad. I wouldn't mind an upgrade, but not at the expense of losing the hands-free capability. I don't use it much but really like it when I do.
So...anyone out there have a stock BMW head unit with radio code that's just gathering dust in a closet somewhere? Possible to install a new unit without paying $300 just to mount and wire it?
Thanks
Dave
Anyway, my radio code was in the manual. I tried to get it from a dealer, but the little serial number sticker had either never been on or had fallen off the back of the unit, so they couldn't look it up. So I have a stereo that will be permanently useless if it ever loses power.
I like the stereo for the most part. Could use a little more punch, but it has the factory CD changer and incorporates a hands-free cell phone cradle that works just great. The presets are nicely positioned and it sounds pretty good. I don't like that the bass fades away with higher volume, my biggest gripe but I know why they do it - to prevent distortion and blown speakers.
I spoke to Audo Express, I was quoted about $500 just to replace the head unit with a pretty basic Sony (at GT300 with custom mount kit, rewiring, etc), and my CD changer and hands-free would certainly not work. With a new CD changer and subwoofer I'm up to over $1k, with no hands-free. Yoinks.
So I'm thinking the factory stereo really isn't that bad. I wouldn't mind an upgrade, but not at the expense of losing the hands-free capability. I don't use it much but really like it when I do.
So...anyone out there have a stock BMW head unit with radio code that's just gathering dust in a closet somewhere? Possible to install a new unit without paying $300 just to mount and wire it?
Thanks
Dave