e34 CD changes issues

[atomicDog]

I added a BMW (Pioneer) CD changer to my 1995 525iT about 3 years ago. The unit is mounted vertically in the rear driver's side storage well with factory BMW metal mounts that I purchased directly from the dealer. I'm having an annoying problem with skipping. As I drive along and hit an patch of rough road (which is all over the place these days), the CD that's playing skips with almost every bump. When I'm sitting still or driving on smooth roads, I don't experience any skipping issues.

Does anyone know of any type of easy fix for this issue? If not, does anyone know of a good repair facility that fixes BMW (Pioneer) CD changers?

Lastly, I picked up this unit used, so i don't have documentation for it. Does anyone have the factory documentation for this CD changer that they can share?

[1995 525i]

I added a BMW (Pioneer) CD changer to my 1995 525iT about 3 years ago. The unit is mounted vertically in the rear driver's side storage well with factory BMW metal mounts that I purchased directly from the dealer. I'm having an annoying problem with skipping. As I drive along and hit an patch of rough road (which is all over the place these days), the CD that's playing skips with almost every bump. When I'm sitting still or driving on smooth roads, I don't experience any skipping issues.

Does anyone know of any type of easy fix for this issue? If not, does anyone know of a good repair facility that fixes BMW (Pioneer) CD changers?

Lastly, I picked up this unit used, so i don't have documentation for it. Does anyone have the factory documentation for this CD changer that they can share?

I began having major issues with my cd changer abotu a year after I bought the car. CDs would get stuck, wouldn't play, wouldn't eject and finally the whole thing croaked. I got rid of it and the head unit. Bought an IPOD, an Alpine deck ($177) and the Alpine adapter ($99). Now I have more tunes in my car than was ever possible before.

Michael

[atomicDog]

I began having major issues with my cd changer abotu a year after I bought the car. CDs would get stuck, wouldn't play, wouldn't eject and finally the whole thing croaked. I got rid of it and the head unit. Bought an IPOD, an Alpine deck ($177) and the Alpine adapter ($99). Now I have more tunes in my car than was ever possible before.

Michael
Michael, that's a nice thought, however, I still have a large inventory of CDs that I'd like to use in my existing changer. If I can get the changer working just a bit better, I'd be really happy. I'm only having an issue with the CD skipping on rough roads - all other CD functions are OK. Besides, the business for IPOD repair is really booming with the frequency of IPOD hard drive failures :D Seems IPODs are only lasting 2 - 3 years before they have issues.

[gmannino]

ON pioneer cd changers, if you look on each side of the cd changer you will notice a large flat knob on each side. These need to be set from horizontal (default) to vertical mounting.
Just look on the side, it will be very clear on how to adjust the angle. This will get rid of your skipping.

[atomicDog]

ON pioneer cd changers, if you look on each side of the cd changer you will notice a large flat knob on each side. These need to be set from horizontal (default) to vertical mounting.
Just look on the side, it will be very clear on how to adjust the angle. This will get rid of your skipping.

Thanks for the tip. I don't remember seeing the knobs, but it's been quite some time since I've really looked at the changer, since it's tucked away in the rear driver's side storage compartment of the wagon. I'll try to take a look at it tonite and report back, as to what I find.

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

That switches the spring position, you'll see arrows and a place to put a blade type driver and flip the spring plate from H

[atomicDog]

Thanks to all for the horizontal/vertical switch setting info. I know my head unit is an Alphine, so my CD changer must also be an Alphine. Anyway, I removed the CD changer from its mounts and sure enough, on each side, it has an "H" and "V" designation. Since my CD changer is mounted vertically, I had to take 6 screws out of the CD changer case to remove the cover to access the Horizontal/Vertical adjusters on each side. I moved the adjusters all the way to the Vertical positions, replaced the CD changer cover, re-installed the 6 screws and re-installed the CD changer back onto its mounts.

To test the CD changer out, I took the car out onto the bumpiest roads I could find that would have normally caused the CD playing to skip. Well, no more skipping!!! What a relief.. Thanks again to all who posted.