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Thread: Can’t remove factory radio

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
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    1990 535i 428k miles

    Can’t remove factory radio

    I got the two screws on the sides loose and it pulls out about an inch and then stops. Something seems to be blocking it.

    It’s a 1990 535i and it has the following head unit.



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  2. #2
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    Never had one, but maybe it's in a cage and you need a key to retract the side tabs.
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  3. #3
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    Brandon
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    Should just slide out. Likely the harness plug stuck on something g

  4. #4
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    Oct 2011
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    1990 535/5
    Likely just hung up on something, but also make sure you have the two screws loosened all of the way.

    I've loosened them enough to slide the HU out a little bit just to find they needed a little more to completely remove the HU

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
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    93BMW 525i/95 BMW 540i/6
    You can remove the fog light switch and trim piece to get your finger(s) behind the radio. Might help.
    USC Ralph - Long Beach, CA USA
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  6. #6
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    That does seem odd, they’re supposed to pull right out. There are little guns that help hold it in but it looks like you’ve already got them out. Does the stock radio still work?


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  7. #7
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  8. #8
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    be sure the screws are ALL the way backed out, it takes quite a few turns. Nothing else holds it in.

    If you can leave two black stripes from the exit of one corner to the braking zone of the next, you have enough horsepower. - Mark Donohue

  9. #9
    Join Date
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    1990 535i 428k miles
    Too everyone who says the screws need to be all the way out. The radio has play and doesn’t seem to have the screws stuck. The radio works. Ill probably end up removing some trim to see what’s up.


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  10. #10
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    Sounds like the harness is getting hung up. You could try removing the air vent on top of the dash and see if you can leverage the radio a bit. You can also try removing the carpeted transmission tunnel cover on the drivers side to gain some access.

    The clamping mechanism on either side of the radio can be temperamental in that they may not fully release even if you have completely backed off the set screw. The mechanism is a metal flap that lays flush with radio chassis when the set screw is all the way counterclockwise. When it's tightened, it pops out and slightly forward to secure the radio. You might try putting some pressure on the radio as tou turn counterclockwise to help the flap release to full contracted position or tapping on your tool to jar it loose. Once you get the radio out, you will see how it works and how it's possible for it to get hung up.

    Definitely an odd situation; I've removed E34 radios many times and never had a problem with removing them. Getting them back in can be fiddly as the harness sometimes gets hung up.

  11. #11
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    You can also just remove the HVAC control unit to get your hand behind the radio. Most probably the harness is catching on something.

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  12. #12
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
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    95 525t, 94 525, 87 325
    Is there a special tool to remove the two radio screws?

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by skunka View Post
    Is there a special tool to remove the two radio screws?
    Yes but if you shove an allen wrench in there it comes out


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  14. #14
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    The tool (about $8) fits the five sided screw head. Some use a 2mm hex wrench, but you'll risk stripping the screw head so future removal and installation may be compromised.

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by Spaceturtle917 View Post
    Yes but if you shove an allen wrench in there it comes out


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    Yes, like Greg says it is a five sided so called anti theft screw. Easily defeated with a variety of other tools. There is a small flat blade screwdriver in my tool box that "fits" into those screws and has remove all I've ever had, albeit a few tight ones got tore up a bit.
    I still contend that the OP's screws aren't fully backed off. The catches are set about an inch back, right where the OP says he is stuck.

    If you can leave two black stripes from the exit of one corner to the braking zone of the next, you have enough horsepower. - Mark Donohue

  16. #16
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    @Ross: Agree completely with your observation that the screws are likely not fully backed out.

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by ross1 View Post
    Yes, like Greg says it is a five sided so called anti theft screw. Easily defeated with a variety of other tools. There is a small flat blade screwdriver in my tool box that "fits" into those screws and has remove all I've ever had, albeit a few tight ones got tore up a bit.
    I still contend that the OP's screws aren't fully backed off. The catches are set about an inch back, right where the OP says he is stuck.
    Yeah the screws were all the way out. It was just caught on something. I just gave it a big tug and it came out. Caught on something i just don’t know what.


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  18. #18
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    I ended up using a small flat head screw driver to get at the screws. Whole thing came out easier than expected.

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