I just bought a CDX M30...

[Dan in NZ]

Got it from an online auction, only NZD$50 (=usd$30). I have the old Alpine infra-red slot, which is only compatible with impossible to find archaic changers, hence the cdx m30. I now just need to get either a Alpine CM5901, or Pioneer KE91zbm, and wire in the radio herness connecter, fit the data cable (I'm not pre-wired).... Then it should work! A wrecker should be able to supply the head unit, data cable, and harness.

Does anyone have an opinion on which is better? Alpine CM5901 or Pioneer KE91zbm? It seems there are a lot of CM5901's around.

The bmw-pio adapter could be the only hitch, I know they are available in the USA, but not sure about here.

Can I wire power for the cd changer by splicing the power for the antenna adapter???

[winfred]

i like the pioneer's sound quality better, if the ke91 is the one i think it is the cdx-m30 data cable plugs right into the radio with no adaptor, i can't find a pic on the web so ill take one tomorrow of mine to see if it's the one you're thinking about

[Jr ///M5]

The KE-83 is a plug and play with the CDX-M30. You will need to run the 13 pin cable back to the trunk, unless of course it's prewired...=)

Jr

[Dan in NZ]

What's a KE-83??? If that's the one that was in 89-91ish E30's, I don't want it. I'm assuming it's plug'n'play with a cdx-m30 cable, since the bmw cable doesn't fit the changer. Hopefully Winfred is right abut the cdx-m30 cable plugging straight into the ke91, because that would be great. Of course I don't have any cd changer cable at all, but it seems the only way I could get a bmw-pio adapter is to have one sent over from the usa.

[winfred]

the cdx-m30 and cdx-m6 plug right into this bmw radio with the supplyed cable (like my 90 325ism and mom's 90 325isa)

this radio needs the bmw data cable and the changer end of the data cable needs a adaptor (i am running a cdx-091 which is a factory bmw/pioneer changer that is plug and play)

[Jr ///M5]

The KE-83 is the one in the first picture that Winfred posted. You will not need an adapter to make the CDX-M30 work.

Look behind the left wheel cover in your trunk and see if you have a factory amplifier connected to your system. It will be mounted near the top on the inside of the left fender. My old 535 had one and the CDX-M30 sounded great through the stock 10 speaker system. Good luck with your installation, there used to be a website that Gordon had that showed a route for the 13 pin cable. While you are installing the cable, you can pick up a hot wire from your battery area or relay area under the rear seat. I just tapped into the hot wire for the trunk lights when I installed the changer in the 535.

Good luck with it, it's going to sound great!

Jr

[winfred]

but the stock bmw cable won't plug into the cdx-m30 without a adaptor, however the cdx-m30 cable will plug into the early radio

The KE-83 is the one in the first picture that Winfred posted. You will not need an adapter to make the CDX-M30 work.

Look behind the left wheel cover in your trunk and see if you have a factory amplifier connected to your system. It will be mounted near the top on the inside of the left fender. My old 535 had one and the CDX-M30 sounded great through the stock 10 speaker system. Good luck with your installation, there used to be a website that Gordon had that showed a route for the 13 pin cable. While you are installing the cable, you can pick up a hot wire from your battery area or relay area under the rear seat. I just tapped into the hot wire for the trunk lights when I installed the changer in the 535.

Good luck with it, it's going to sound great!

Jr

[Dan in NZ]

Hmmmm. I don't want the early radio, I like the later Pioneer one much more. Looks like I need a radio and bmw cable from a wrecker (shouldn't be hard), and a bmwpio adapter..... Finding the adapter will be very hard. I see the usa based manufactures do overseas shipping, for a price, getting the adapter would end up costing a lot more than the cd changer. I wonder if the pioneer plugs are available, and if I could just cut (!) the bmw cable off, then solder on the pioneer one.

I don't have an amp in my trunk, I have the other system... Dash mid-range, kick panel bass-driver, and parcel shelf speakers, no door tweeters. From the Electrical Troubleshooting Manual, I see that in this system the speakers are wired directly to the head unit.

I'm going to be an expert solderer by the time I've soldered in the radio harness, and possibly a plug onto the bmw data cable...

Time to call a wrecker and have a radio and cable sent down...

[Dan in NZ]

I just got an e-mail back from a wrecker..... NZD$175 + tax for a CM5901, $30 for a changer cable, and $20 for the radio connector..... He can't be serious! The cd changer only cost $50

[uscharalph]

I have the KE-83. The first owner had a Kenwood KCA-603 hooked up thru an FM modulator, with the little controller placed in the ash tray. Currently the cd changer is experiencing problems with disc recognition. I'm pretty sure it needs to be cleaned and aligned at probably a cost of about $100-150. So according to this thread, I can hook up a CDX-M30 or CDX-M6 changer to it, gaining back my ash tray. Also, does anyone have the manual for this headunit? I've been trying to locate one.