My car came with an original business rds radio, has a casette slot in the front and a CD player in the boot
I was wondering if it's possible to upgrade to the later Bavaria C professional radio and if it's a simple plug and play installation?
If so, where can I source this radio?
Thanks!!
Last edited by E31ftwww; 08-13-2017 at 12:24 PM.
Board Member of SoCalEights (Marketing, Web Development & Social Media), Vice President: BMWCCA/E31 Chapter, www.cartiologyfilms.com
Current E31s:
1997 BMW 840Ci Black on Beige. CSI 62, 107 and 16. Euro-CSi #892.
Client Represented E31s (Cartiology Films)
1994 BMW 850CSi #11 USA, 1994 BMW 850CSi #31 USA, 1994 BMW 850CSi #58 USA
93-850Ci - manual 6 speed. 97-850Ci - M73 Steptronic. 94-CSi 125, 95-CSi 162 Daytona Violet, CSi 198 White on Red
Past E31s:
1991 BMW 850i. Calypso Red on Beige Nappa and 1995 BMW 840Ci. Bright Red on Beige Nappa
1997 BMW 840Ci. Black On Black Nappa, but changed to Dakar Yellow on Black Nappa and 1994 BMW 850CSi #27. Red On light Silver.
1991 BMW 850i. Automatic. Red On Black and 1996 BMW 850Ci. Automatic. Midnight Blue on Gray.
1994 BMW 850CSi. Black On Blak #107, Black/Black 97-840. White/White CSi. Silver/Silver 97-840
are they just a direct plug and play upgrade?
Board Member of SoCalEights (Marketing, Web Development & Social Media), Vice President: BMWCCA/E31 Chapter, www.cartiologyfilms.com
Current E31s:
1997 BMW 840Ci Black on Beige. CSI 62, 107 and 16. Euro-CSi #892.
Client Represented E31s (Cartiology Films)
1994 BMW 850CSi #11 USA, 1994 BMW 850CSi #31 USA, 1994 BMW 850CSi #58 USA
93-850Ci - manual 6 speed. 97-850Ci - M73 Steptronic. 94-CSi 125, 95-CSi 162 Daytona Violet, CSi 198 White on Red
Past E31s:
1991 BMW 850i. Calypso Red on Beige Nappa and 1995 BMW 840Ci. Bright Red on Beige Nappa
1997 BMW 840Ci. Black On Black Nappa, but changed to Dakar Yellow on Black Nappa and 1994 BMW 850CSi #27. Red On light Silver.
1991 BMW 850i. Automatic. Red On Black and 1996 BMW 850Ci. Automatic. Midnight Blue on Gray.
1994 BMW 850CSi. Black On Blak #107, Black/Black 97-840. White/White CSi. Silver/Silver 97-840
Possible, yes, but it's not exactly plug-and-play. The BMW Bavaria C Professional (Becker BE0776) and the later BMW Bavaria C Professional RDS (Becker BE1801) are rather unique head units because they are 2-part devices. The unit in the center console is just a display, keyboard and cassette player. The tuner is in a separate unit mounted in the trunk. All other head units in the E31 were single-unit devices which makes installing the BE0776 or BE1801 quite different.
If you really want a period-correct high-end radio/cassette player look for the successor of the BE0776 and BE1801: The BMW Professional RDS (Becker BE2450/BE2455). It was available for the E31 from 12/1994 until end of production. Unlike the Bavaria C Professional (RDS) the BE2450/BE2455 is a single-unit device and thus a straightforward replacement for any regular head unit in the E31.
A highly recommended alternative is the BMW Business CD RDS (Blaupunkt CD43) which was available from 1/1994 until end of production. Of the OEM head units it's probably the best looking because it lacks the dated cassette player. There are also 3rd party accessories to make it support media players. The CD43 is very popular and second hand units often fetch relatively high prices. If you want a genuine unit, look for the print BMW BUSINESS CD right from the volume knob. BMW and Rover used exactly the same head unit so you'll find a lot of Rover head unit "rebadged" to BMW by putting a out-of-place ///M sticker over the Rover logo...
Last edited by revtor; 08-14-2017 at 07:39 AM. Reason: typo
This is really fantastic information...
Was the business cd rds (cd43) a factory installed unit on the e31?
E31ftwww: Optionally of course but, yes, the CD43 was available for the E31 (order option SA658 starting from 12/1994). In total 302 E31 left the BMW factory equipped with the CD43 (source: Reinhard from 8er.org / 8coupe.com).
Thank you -
Would the radio/cassette profressional RDS be a better choice or the Business CD RDS (cd43)?
E31ftwww: That depends entirely on your preference. The BMW Professional RDS has a better radio tuner but the CD43 has a built-in cd player and support for external media players (through 3rd party accessories). Quality-wise you can't go wrong with either of them.
Revtor: thank you this is super helpful. Will be aiming to locate a cd43!
Rector. What alternative do I have if I have the business red allready ?
Desecrator of all things Sacred
Thanks taking a look but no pix!
Do an ebay search for: BMW CD43 radio There are usually 2 or 3 listed any time I was looking. Alternatively, if you do not want/need the CD changer connection, a CD23 is much cheaper. I have one I'll sell for $125 plus shipping (USA only). I upgraded as my car has the rear changer and I wanted that option.
Gary
PS: Unfortunately, I'm leaving home for 4 weeks tomorrow, so wouldn't be able to ship until I return.
Gary Knox
'97 BMW 840 Ci
'03 MB SL55 AMG
'07 Mini Cooper S hatchback
'09 Aston Martin DB9 Volante
'13 Audi A8
'90 MB 560 SEC and '94 Porsche 928 GTS recently departed but long enjoyed
50 or so others over the past 70 years of driving
will the CD changer work fine after
Upgrading to a cd43? I've read somewhere about m bus and i-bus comparability issues?
Mike Barrett
94 850CSi, Hellrot over silbergrau dunkel/silbergrau hell
96 850Ci, Oxfordgrun over silbergrau hell
my car is a 1993 build..
Thanks Revtor for such detailed info.
My Alpina B12 5.7 E31 has the 850CSi Becker radio called BMW Professional RDS (BE1801). It is the 3 piece system with Head Unit in dash and Radio Tuner/Amp and CD in the boot (trunk).
My radio tech says the microprocessor is faulty as the radio switches off after a few seconds. He also thinks the code is not correct. I got the code 1234 from a site which charged $10 for it by using the Serial Number.
The way I see it is either the code is wrong or the microprocessor is gone. How can I find out which option is correct without buying another Head Unit and/or Radio Unit?
If I need to replace the Head Unit (and possibly the Radio Tuner), can anyone find one for me or suggest a supplier?
whammy
Here’s a step by step write up on how to swap in a CD43. It’s plug n play but if you want certain features to work like aux and stuff like that you need to run the updated BMW data cable.
It’s done on an E36 but the wiring and everything as far as what needs to be plugged in and what not is the same.
http://www.frankies-bmw.com/3series/....php#datacable
It's not faulty, the tuner unit in the boot has lost power, likely fuse has gone. Without power to this unit the head unit will turn off after a few seconds.
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I have 2 working sets of professional c head and tuner units should anyone be looking for one.
I know this is kinda old but you can find these radios all day out of late model Z3s. All these people on eBay are high af selling them for $300. I’ve bought 3 from junk yards for $75.
Yes I have 2 head/tuner units available
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