Anybody run into this stereo issue?

[ride1099]

Well I'm in the process of upgrading my stereo in my '91 525i but today when I went to pull the factory stereo out I noticed that both the allen key bolts that hold it in are stripped pretty good on the inside. I have a ton of allen/hex keys and I can't find one that will fit in there snug enough to make me feel good about having a go at loosening them. The left screw seems to be turning freely in there but won't come out any further. The metal that those bolts are made out of seems to be soft enought that a torx bit could probably be forced in there enough to get them out and replace the bolts but I have no idea whats behind them. I would hate to tap in a torx bit only to find out that I broke off whatever is holding it in from behind. Anybody ever expereinced this or have any ideas?

[bman10]

no sir good luck.....

[atl530i]

You should try using a flat-head screwdriver that will fit tight in there and turn it. I had to when I first got my car because someone lost my hex key set.

[Felixdacat]

If you have a Dremel, you could cut a line in the middle of the allen head, and use a flathead screwdriver to remove.





Well I'm in the process of upgrading my stereo in my '91 525i but today when I went to pull the factory stereo out I noticed that both the allen key bolts that hold it in are stripped pretty good on the inside. I have a ton of allen/hex keys and I can't find one that will fit in there snug enough to make me feel good about having a go at loosening them. The left screw seems to be turning freely in there but won't come out any further. The metal that those bolts are made out of seems to be soft enought that a torx bit could probably be forced in there enough to get them out and replace the bolts but I have no idea whats behind them. I would hate to tap in a torx bit only to find out that I broke off whatever is holding it in from behind. Anybody ever expereinced this or have any ideas?

[atl530i]

If you have a Dremel, you could cut a line in the middle of the allen head, and use a flathead screwdriver to remove.

I think the wheel would be too big for that, but if the stereo is going in the trash then cut away :)

[WillDV]

I actually had to go to the dealership for them to remove my OEM headunit. On my deck it was a proprietary BMW tool that you had to use, not an allen key or torx. Also once I had my new deck in, I hit some more snags (just in case you hit them too). Remember that the OEM system has an amplifier, and that you have to turn the amplifier on from your deck. Otherwise, you won't get any sound from your speakers. I also highly recommend that you buy the wiring harness for the oem deck because theres ALOT of wires attached at the back. You might also need an adapter to be able to plug your radio antennae into the back of your deck, I just left it unplugged...

[Qsilver7]

The left screw seems to be turning freely in there but won't come out any further. The metal that those bolts are made out of seems to be soft enought that a torx bit could probably be forced in there

...if you already know this...then dismiss my comments...but I only mention it because of what you wrote....

1. The metal that the screws are made of IS soft...they're brass. :)

2. The screws don't actually come out...when you turn them counter clockwise...the expansion "wings/flaps" on the side of the head unit will fold inward into the radio which when folded in far enough...allow you to slide the head unit out of the dash...the screws themselves DO NOT actually come free from the unit (at least none of the head units that were in my e30/e32/e34 did).

3. The screws are 5 sided (penteganal shaped) and BMW or BavAuto sell the tool...but many owners use small jewelers sized screwdrivers or very small hex or torx screwdrivers to fold in the wings/flaps.

[moroza]

If you're trashing the stereo, you might as well break them. If you really don't want to break anything and nothing else seems to work, you can probably access the spring-loaded locking tab thingies by removing the front console, which isn't as hard as it may sound.

[ride1099]

...if you already know this...then dismiss my comments...but I only mention it because of what you wrote....

1. The metal that the screws are made of IS soft...they're brass. :)

2. The screws don't actually come out...when you turn them counter clockwise...the expansion "wings/flaps" on the side of the head unit will fold inward into the radio which when folded in far enough...allow you to slide the head unit out of the dash...the screws themselves DO NOT actually come free from the unit (at least none of the head units that were in my e30/e32/e34 did).

3. The screws are 5 sided (penteganal shaped) and BMW or BavAuto sell the tool...but many owners use small jewelers sized screwdrivers or very small hex or torx screwdrivers to fold in the wings/flaps.

Thanks for the info. I've been in contact with Ken at BSW and he filled me in on the screws being five-sided even though the Bentley manuals call for a "HEX" key, which would be six sided.

Now is the real dilemma: finding an aftermarket head unit that not only matches the interior lighting of the car, but also is iPod ready.

[Uriah]

Thanks for the info. I've been in contact with Ken at BSW and he filled me in on the screws being five-sided even though the Bentley manuals call for a "HEX" key, which would be six sided.

Now is the real dilemma: finding an aftermarket head unit that not only matches the interior lighting of the car, but also is iPod ready.

I like the Naks, but if you don't want to run an adapter... The lighting issue isn't that big a deal anymore, they have alot of stereos that either have the correct lighting, or that can be made to have the correct lighting with a little work.


On the newer stuff call Crutchfield up and ask what they offer. I don't use (or even own) a ipod, so I have no clue offhand on what's out there.

[atl530i]

Alpine makes some real good headunits with iPod interfaces. I forgot who made a CD headunit that basically went along with the same color scheme as the rest of the car. It began with an N, some Japanese company.

[ssalb]

Take a look at some of the Eclipse head units. They are a little more expensive than others but they are nice, have good sound quality and will fit and look great in the e34. You can change the illumination on most of the models. The pics on the web site show amber and blue but you can change that to all amber. They also offer and iPod integration unit.

eclipse-web.com/cd/cd5000.html

eclipse-web.com/ipc/index.html

Good Luck

[Uriah]

http://www.nakamichi.com/flash.html

Nakamichi has some nice factory looking audiophile quality head units. I had a Cd300 in mine for awhile, but put it in the Mercedes until I figure out what I want next. Maybe another Nak, or I like some of the new Beckers. Blaupunkt and Clarion have some decent factory styled stuff as well. Black with amber lighting. I can't think of any that will take a Ipod though (maybe the newer Blaupunkt/Clarion stuff). Eclipse is nice as well. Might be what I get next, who knows?