CD Changer Saga...finally sorted! (long)

[JonE]

Sometime in Dec. I finally decided to outfit my 1990 535i with a cd changer. I've never installed one and had only seen them in a couple of other trunks previously. From my research through this forum, it seemed the CDX-M30 changer would be the one to try. My car has the factory wiring for a cd changer in place. Or so I thought, but, then, maybe...
I went on Ebay and actually found another changer, a CDX-M61 that according to the description and pictures had the 13 pin plug that I was looking for. I bid and didn't win it.
Next I went for a used CDX-m30 and won that one, hooray! when it arrived, there was no round 13 pin connector, it was rectangular. :( The changer didn't come with the cable, so I started to look for a cable. Again, there was one on Ebay, but I didn't win it.
Interestingly, in the meantime, the winner of the CDX-M61 contacts me offering that changer, since it didn't fit his 1992 5'er. Now all that research was starting to come clear to me! ;)
The BMW factory CD changers for the '89-90 cars were ONLY going to fit those cars (with their factory wiring), its the round 13 pin connector.
Since the cable for the CDX-M30 was likely going to cost me about $90 and the CDX-M61 now available was $60, I decided to roll the dice again and buy it.
The CDX-M61 arrived and powered up nicely, but I had to put new spade connectors on the power cable, even though the mfg. date on the changer was 1990, same as my car. After blowing a couple of 3amp fuses, I tried reversing the power wires and tada!, it worked! :) I now have CD tunes.
Part of the reason for this thread was to help inform those of us who have the factory wiring in the 89-90 cars (round 13 pin connector) and would like to use the wiring. I contacted the local BMW dealer parts dept. (Sears BMW here in Minneapolis area) and this helpful guy found some documentation about the BMW CD changers that supposedly worked in our cars (89-90) with the KE83zbm radio. Here they are:
CDX-M83 zbm (1st generation)
CDX-M90 zbm (2nd generation)
CDX-M61 zbm (3rd generation)

Of course, the CDX-M30 will work as well, but, you have to have the cable with the rectangular 13 pin plug that had came with the aftermarket CDX-M30 changer.
Jon

[Dan in NZ]

TO fit the cdx-m30 there is an adaptor to make the round plug rectangular. They cost about USD$30. It's called a bmwpio/m if anyone else is interested. I had the adaptor sent over from the USA, but of course it's lost in the mail.

[Paul in NZ]

doh......

[632 Regal]

I read that the adapters dont map the wiring correctly and wont work, good thing it got lost.

[Dan in NZ]

I read that the adapters dont map the wiring correctly and wont work, good thing it got lost.

A few people here have reported that the adaptors do work... Maybe they're not all the same.

The cdx-m30 cable doesn't work with the bmw radios, apparently two wires are swapped over, so it's good you didn't buy the $90 cable!

I don't know why the cars are fitted with 14 pin cables, since there are only 10 pins coming out of the radio...

[JonE]

Please read my thread closer! From what I understand, the factory wired 89 and 90 5'ers that have the ke83zbm radio (mode button in bottom right) will work with the factory wiring (13 pin round connector) and the listed changers above. The CDX-M30 cd changer will also work with its own interface cable (13 pins, but rectangular) with these radios.
It is the factory wired '91 on cars that have the 14 pin round connector and need the BMW PIO adaptor to make the CDX-M30 changer work. The CDX-M30 rectangular interface cable is not used in that application.
Dan, in your case, it will probably come down to what head unit you're trying to couple with that CDX-M30.
This link was helpful, but did take me awhile to more fully understand...http://www.unofficialbmw.com/all/stereo/all_cd_changer_info.html

[Dan in NZ]

Please read my thread closer! From what I understand, the factory wired 89 and 90 5'ers that have the ke83zbm radio (mode button in bottom right) will work with the factory wiring (13 pin round connector) and the listed changers above. The CDX-M30 cd changer will also work with its own interface cable (13 pins, but rectangular) with these radios.
It is the factory wired '91 on cars that have the 14 pin round connector and need the BMW PIO adaptor to make the CDX-M30 changer work. The CDX-M30 rectangular interface cable is not used in that application.
Dan, in your case, it will probably come down to what head unit you're trying to couple with that CDX-M30.
This link was helpful, but did take me awhile to more fully understand...http://www.unofficialbmw.com/all/stereo/all_cd_changer_info.html

Ah right, missed the bit about the 89-90 radio... I'm using a radio from a newer E34, that's why I'm have bmw-pio/m on the my mind...

I'm pleased it all worked out for you, I'm still waiting for my adaptor to arrive, then crossing my fingers that it's going to work!

[JonE]

Dan,
Do you think your adaptor is a lost cause? How long has it been? I always thought the "posties" were pretty efficient down there? I only say that cuz I have a brother-in-law that works for the New Zealand postal service, he used to deliver mail with his bicycle!
Anyway, let me know how it turns out for you, or if you need help somehow getting an adaptor to you. It certainly can be frustrating when you get an idea and the major parts were cheap and then you need some expensive and/or rare cable or plug or adapter!
Jon