Best head unit on E36?

[earthwormjim]

It's not an E36, but here's my modified Continental head unit in my E30 touring. I swapped the amber LEDs for the display and buttons to 605 nm (dominant) LEDs, and adjusted the ballast resistors to compensate for the decrease in brightness of orange LEDs.

Also inverted the LCD display. Purchased a 90 degree polarizer on ebay, pealed off the original top polarizer, and put the new one on rotated, 90 degrees.

Sorry for the washed out pic, just finished this morning, so no chance for a night shot yet either. Next step is to plasti-dip the volume knob to get rid of the chrome. Also maybe lower the brightness on my OBC display, it's really too bright with the LEDs and resistors I used in it.




Here is a before pic from someone else, but it shows how amber it looked, and the non inverted display.

[MParallel]

Nice work.

[jvit27]

It's not an E36, but here's my modified Continental head unit in my E30 touring. I swapped the amber LEDs for the display and buttons to 605 nm (dominant) LEDs, and adjusted the ballast resistors to compensate for the decrease in brightness of orange LEDs.

Also inverted the LCD display. Purchased a 90 degree polarizer on ebay, pealed off the original top polarizer, and put the new one on rotated, 90 degrees.

Sorry for the washed out pic, just finished this morning, so no chance for a night shot yet either. Next step is to plasti-dip the volume knob to get rid of the chrome. Also maybe lower the brightness on my OBC display, it's really too bright with the LEDs and resistors I used in it.

Looks fantastic! I had this unit for a minute. Bluetooth actually worked great in it too, one of the more reliable connections i've ever had actually.

You should try using a magic eraser or a perhaps a solution (diluted acetone?) to remove the unnecessary Conti logo and part number in the top corners to make it even more factory looking.

I did the same thing with an Alpine headunit years ago. E38 LED's and Plastidip/paint the chrome. It held up ok but started to show wear after 2-3 years. Will dig up pics.

[earthwormjim]

Looks fantastic! I had this unit for a minute. Bluetooth actually worked great in it too, one of the more reliable connections i've ever had actually.

You should try using a magic eraser or a perhaps a solution (diluted acetone?) to remove the unnecessary Conti logo and part number in the top corners to make it even more factory looking.

I did the same thing with an Alpine headunit years ago. E38 LED's and Plastidip/paint the chrome. It held up ok but started to show wear after 2-3 years. Will dig up pics.

Ended up not using plastidip on the knob. Instead used 400 grit sand paper to rough up the chrome, then used VHT vinyl spray paint/dye. Feels pretty durable, I've used that stuff on an arm rest before, and it held up for a decade.

The bluetooth on this is great, connects almost instantly. My JVC from earlier in this thread can sometimes take 3-5 minutes to find my phone. I think I'll buy another one of these, and put it in my M3.
Only two downsides to this Continental radio, no USB charging, and no display info for bluetooth, just always says A2DP instead of song titles etc...

[Moron95M3]

WOW! Nice!

[fbmbirds]

So the best drop in headunit for the E36 is the CD43?

I was thinking about picking up a C43 since the car I have has the 6 disk in the trunk.

[testify]

My Nakamichi head unit, circa 1996, sounds better than any single din I've ever heard.

I only have one complaint 20 years later, I want some Bluetooth music streaming capability with it.

[TH3 Shifty]

was just looking at these head units on ECS's website.. might have to pick on up.. i like the bluetooth features now, my old head unit wont do that, and it doesnt have a USB either, so you can tell how old mine is.. (15yrs +)

[MParallel]

So the best drop in headunit for the E36 is the CD43?

I was thinking about picking up a C43 since the car I have has the 6 disk in the trunk.

Or the as mentioned BE2450/2455.

- - - Updated - - -

My Nakamichi head unit, circa 1996, sounds better than any single din I've ever heard.

I only have one complaint 20 years later, I want some Bluetooth music streaming capability with it.

Also depends highly on the rest of the setup. The CD43 in my 328i with basic 6-speakers/no amp sounds like crap.
Put the same unit in my H/K equipped M3 and it sounds a million times better.

[TH3 Shifty]

while we are on the subject... what about speakers? i dont have a HK system or Hi-fi system.. mines like standard as hell.. need new front speakers... what is decent.. and what size can i use?

[propcar]

I wonder of this VDO unit is essentially the same as the continental

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-vdo-part...d7416u-or~con/

[themadrussian]

any reviews on the sony mex-gs810bh or alpine hd-149bt?

I've had the HD-149BT since it came out and love it.

[earthwormjim]

I wonder of this VDO unit is essentially the same as the continental

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-vdo-part...d7416u-or~con/

VDO is a subsidy of Continental. Continental sells the same radios under both brand names.

I prefer the non CD player version of the VDO/Continental head units, they're very short, so you have a ton of room for wiring in the back. I remember my E36 radio install felt quite cramped.

My Nakamichi head unit, circa 1996, sounds better than any single din I've ever heard.

I only have one complaint 20 years later, I want some Bluetooth music streaming capability with it.

Honestly, the head unit is probably the least important aspect. Good sounding line-level op amps are extremely cheap now days. What really matters is the power amp you use to drive your speakers, and the speakers themselves.

[RickyN F355]

has anyone relocated the OBC to the glove box to make room for a double din? i may go that route on my 4 door. or i may just ditch the obc as i've never really used it anyway.

[LockDots]

has anyone relocated the OBC to the glove box to make room for a double din? i may go that route on my 4 door. or i may just ditch the obc as i've never really used it anyway.

People have relocated the HVAC controls to the bottom just under/above the OBC to have double din space up top. Better to keep a radio/double din up top so your eyes don't stray too far from the road when glancing at it.

[MParallel]

has anyone relocated the OBC to the glove box to make room for a double din? i may go that route on my 4 door. or i may just ditch the obc as i've never really used it anyway.

I've seen OBC's relocated to the center console.

Or as mentioned, like so:


IMG_4772.JPG

or in front of gearstick

1k0.jpg

[RickyN F355]

Decided to go with the pioneer 8201. Will post pics when its done


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ECSTuning]

I wonder of this VDO unit is essentially the same as the continental

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-vdo-parts/radio-orange-display-cd-usb-mp3-wma-12v-vdo/cd7416u-or~con/

Very very similar functionality with the added feature of a CD player.

I'm a big fan of the VDO/Continental radios in early BMWs with single din radios. When I redo my E30 here in a few months I'm planning on going with the non CD version.

-James

[lisaliyan]

Hi,
You can check here to find what you want.
https://www.seicane.com/android-car-...car-dvd-gps-23

[TH3 Shifty]

Very very similar functionality with the added feature of a CD player.

I'm a big fan of the VDO/Continental radios in early BMWs with single din radios. When I redo my E30 here in a few months I'm planning on going with the non CD version.

-James

james whats the deal on these VDO units.. a few weeks ago the shipping time was the first week in Nov. and i was getting ready to order one this week.. now i just checked it and its Dec 8th now,(my birthday lol)...

[MParallel]

See the Professional RDS unit hasn't been posted in here yet.

Unit


Station selected and stations in reach at bottom row (dual FM tuner mode)



Or normal FM mode



Sound settings all in 1 screen

[Mless5]

^ Sexy! Never seen one like this in the States - thanks for sharing!

[ECSTuning]

james whats the deal on these VDO units.. a few weeks ago the shipping time was the first week in Nov. and i was getting ready to order one this week.. now i just checked it and its Dec 8th now,(my birthday lol)...

Message me your order number I'll take a gander and make some phone calls if need be.

-James

[MParallel]

^ Sexy! Never seen one like this in the States - thanks for sharing!

It was the top-of-the-line headunit in its day and very expensive. About $1100 in 1998.

pics btw were found on Google, didn’t want to use mine and be a ‘show off’.

[M52 POWER!]

See the Professional RDS unit hasn't been posted in here yet.

Unit

Do you know if there's any aftermarket way to add bluetooth phone and music functionality to this? How about steering wheel controls via k-line like in some of the E39 control retrofits?