my car is still in teh shop :(

[misfortune]

Its been over a month, I've given my body man some cash so I can't go and tow it elsewhere. This sucks. I miss my e34.

In other news, the '03 F150 I've been driving has been pretty wonderful. Its fast and smooth, but its not my car. It uses about 50% more gas than my car..but it has a cd player. Whats the easiest way to get an indash cd player for my car? I'm sick of the tape player.

[neil_004]

Aftermarket head unit and adapters for the wiring and antena (best buy and the like have them). That way it can still be returned to stock. You can even get one that plays MP3. Sony's cdx 5700 is a good one and the red color matches the interior lighting well.
Hope you get your car back soon.

[chris_e34]

in my opinion alpine head units are the only way to go for car audio...there engineering is geared twoards professional audio, not consumer audio...

put it this way

german cars are better than the rest because they are designed to go 150 mph, while american and other cars are designed to go 60-80mph...better parts, better function....alpine uses top grade components, and incorporates professional tuning into the interface...ie. individual speaker bass/treble cutoff, and gain. now if your not lookign for top quality sound and you only want function...go with whats on sale at best buy...you can always go back to stock. just make sure to tell the guys installing it to wire it directly to the bmw amp in the trunk for better sound and less problems...

[misfortune]

in my opinion alpine head units are the only way to go for car audio...there engineering is geared twoards professional audio, not consumer audio...

put it this way

german cars are better than the rest because they are designed to go 150 mph, while american and other cars are designed to go 60-80mph...better parts, better function....alpine uses top grade components, and incorporates professional tuning into the interface...ie. individual speaker bass/treble cutoff, and gain. now if your not lookign for top quality sound and you only want function...go with whats on sale at best buy...you can always go back to stock. just make sure to tell the guys installing it to wire it directly to the bmw amp in the trunk for better sound and less problems...


Glad you said that there at the bottom. I am a complete audio newb. I am about as far from an audiophile as you can get.

[misfortune]

Glad you said that there at the bottom. I am a complete audio newb. I am about as far from an audiophile as you can get.
up for more suggestions

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

a 6 disc CD changer.

Match the right head unit to the right CD changer and it's all pre wired...just plug it in and mount it.

[saj3n]

I agree with you chris. I like Alpine, but also Pioneer. They are pretty much in the same league as far as the audio adjustments go. The deck I'm running now has individual equalizers for each speaker, as well as an overall equalizer for all 4 speakers. Time-Delay audio synchronizing (pretty cool), set up by using the included microphone to record when sound is heard to each rider in the car. By strapping onto the headrest, or placing near headrest on rear seats, the deck sychronizes/times the speaker outputs when listening to music. Basically, this allows for the specified listener, selectable between driver, front passengers, or all passengers, to enjoy a sound customized to their seating. Basically like sitting smack-dab in the middle of a movie theater, in every seat in the car by timing the sound from each speaker. :) Cool stuff! And it sounds magnificent.

However, depending on what deck is purchased, I would suggest bypassing the amp altogether. In my experience the amp died, and with one of the newer JVC decks I had, would only output audio from the radio, but at low levels. Thought the deck was bad, exchanged for Pioneer, worked for a few hours then same thing. But depending on the wattage output of the deck, which most now have a powerful internal amp, you can run the speaker wires straight to the deck itself, bypassing the amplifer. In my opinion, it provides 1 less opportunity of failure, bypassing the amp.

[Mendozart]

Do you own an ipod? Cassette adapter + ipod is pretty sweet and easy.:)

[Qube]

Yesterday I took out my fiancees Clarion DXZ955MC to try in my car. GAWD what a difference! That was BEFORE I switched on the 5.1 surround.

http://www.clarion.com/ca/en/products/2006/audio/source_units/cd/DXZ955MC/ca-en-product-pf_1140753830959.html

Of course I didn't buy it for that much. It was only $298 on eBay. Touch screen too. It's elegant and blends nicely with the interior. The ONLY reason I won't steal it from her is that the face doesn't tilt :(

Reluctantly, I popped back in the JVC.

[misfortune]

a 6 disc CD changer.

Match the right head unit to the right CD changer and it's all pre wired...just plug it in and mount it.

Could I get more info re this? I want a 6 disc cd changer...will just about any work with our cars?

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

you have to find out which model and manufacturer of radio head unit you have and start from there.

Do you know if it's Pioneer or Alpine?

[Qube]

If your details are correct, your build date 8/88 means that your headunit is hardwired, so 'reverting back to stock' won't be a very simple task. The only way can this using inline wire taps :|

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

http://www.unofficialbmw.com/e34/stereo/e34_cd_changer.html

[BMWDriver]

I personnaly went for a Clarion DXZ665MP (http://www.clarion.com/us/en/products/2006/audio/source_units/cd/DXZ665MP/us-en-product-pf_1134643389110.html) (brand new), which I thought was quite an upgrade from my stolen Alpine 9847. I really get great bass output after turning on the "Magna Bass Extend" (bass boost if you will). Then I adjust the bass level to fit the music, and fade a bit to back to get the best out of the rear speakers which beat the heck out of the front ones especially for bass.

Before I thought I might have needed subwoofers with the Alpine, plus change the amp. But with the Clarion, I really get the best out of the stock speakers I have in.

I am simply amazed at the sound and power this baby gives out. Plus I can choose the color of the buttons! (728 colors, blah blah...) Amber is perfect!

Though I did not go for or find a better Alpine, I think I got a real bang out of my bucks this time around. The theft proved a good thing in the end.

Never again shall I leave the faceplate on without me in the car.

[Alexlind123]

I personnaly went for a Clarion DXZ665MP (http://www.clarion.com/us/en/products/2006/audio/source_units/cd/DXZ665MP/us-en-product-pf_1134643389110.html) (brand new), which I thought was quite an upgrade from my stolen Alpine 9847. I really get great bass output after turning on the "Magna Bass Extend" (bass boost if you will). Then I adjust the bass level to fit the music, and fade a bit to back to get the best out of the rear speakers which beat the heck out of the front ones especially for bass.

Before I thought I might have needed subwoofers with the Alpine, plus change the amp. But with the Clarion, I really get the best out of the stock speakers I have in.

I am simply amazed at the sound and power this baby gives out. Plus I can choose the color of the buttons! (728 colors, blah blah...) Amber is perfect!

Though I did not go for or find a better Alpine, I think I got a real bang out of my bucks this time around. The theft proved a good thing in the end.

Never again shall I leave the faceplate on without me in the car.

That post really makes it sound lik eyou stole an Alpine HU.

[misfortune]

I have never been more confused in my life. 6 disc cd changer, mp3 as well. Feasible?

Will the 8/88 535i install be tough? I guess I'd like to be able to throw the stock unit back in as necessary. Why woudl it matter?

[neil_004]

i'm not a huge audiophile but I know that the sony I mentioned has a 6 disk MP3 capable changer that can be controled from the headunit. I would assume that other companies have the same. Cant answer on the wiring. I was unaware that the 88s were hardwired.