Retro aftermarket radio

[z3forlife]

The same one is on Etsy for $5

[BimmerBreaker]

Yeah what scenturion posted looks about right. The BMW harness adapter always looks a little weird, the female side is replicating the back of the radio, so it's not usually seen as a spare harness like that. The ISO connectors are pretty standard for many aftermarket radios. I've always made my own - you just buy the harnesses for both sides and wire it up

What you may be thinking is the adapter is actually the pile of other crap it comes with... microphone, auxiliary input relocation thing, whatever else

[z3forlife]

^+1. I always build my own. Then I know exactly what’s what

[CoconutPete]

If you're lucky like me, PO hacked the factory harness up so bad it's easier to just wire the unit directly into the car!

[s8ilver]

If you're lucky like me, PO hacked the factory harness up so bad it's easier to just wire the unit directly into the car!

Wow, that is lucky! I've uninstalled and reinstalled the same Pioneer Premier HU into (5?) cars now since the late 90s. The radio side harness shrinks a little each time I swap it over. The last install into the M was hilarious when I only had about an inch of wire in a couple spots. I should probably spring for a new one someday.

[Watch Carefully]

FWIW, I went with a Kienzle (fits stock opening), which I ordered from Germany (and an adapter) it has a frontal USB and a rear as well.

Details in this thread:

https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...hlight=Kienzle

[White Z]

I looked for the Kienzle but can't find anything. The only page I find is in German and nothing about the HU.

[Watch Carefully]

I looked for the Kienzle but can't find anything. The only page I find is in German and nothing about the HU.

My records show I bought the Kienzle CR1223BT and adapters via eBay. I just searched eBay wordlwide and see none available today.
I'm unsure whether a newer model replaced it.
Good luck,
Brad

[BimmerBreaker]

If you're lucky like me, PO hacked the factory harness up so bad it's easier to just wire the unit directly into the car!

You can splice in the stock radio harness plug, THEN build out an adapter, so it's returnable to original... just sayin'

[CoconutPete]

You can splice in the stock radio harness plug, THEN build out an adapter, so it's returnable to original... just sayin'

It's on the "long" list.

Audio didn't work at all when I got the car and she needed a LOT of other help so I just got it off the ground the best I could.

[White Z]

After going around and around with it, I think I'm going to go the Continental route. I don't really mind the color being off a few shades and most of the time it'll be daylight so I won't even notice the yellow.
The main things I was looking for was that I wasn't blinded at night and I could get back to the retro look the car was missing. Thanks everyone for as always, the great help. Once I get it installed I'll send a few pictures and a little review. It might be awhile since the car is vacationing in AZ.

[s8ilver]

The main things I was looking for was that I wasn't blinded at night and I could get back to the retro look the car was missing.

For some reason, a lot of shops (and possibly DIYers) just never hook up the illumination/dimmer wire. When I pull the headlight switch, my ancient Pioneer drops most of its illumination for night driving. I think I have 20 or 25 different levels of brightness. I run full bright with lights off, and just a tick or two above full dim with lights on. Some radios are smart enough and have a built in light sensor and do that job automatically. Of course, most modern radios are hideous. The Continental will always look good.

[White Z]

I believe if you use this harness ( the black end plugs into the black piece in the car) and the other two plug into the back of the HU then that should be it. The lighted buttons should dim as you dim the headlight knob but the main display area will always remain the same intensity. We shall see....
Screenshot_20211105-084904_Chrome~2.jpg

[Solarphil]

I’m still a huge fan of the original iPod, and I’ve found the CD43 with Grom adapter is about the best ticket to get tunes in a 80’s - 90’s - 00’s era BMW in a package that matches stock. Grom also offers Bluetooth and satellite radio options as plug in modules, but I don’t like Bluetooth for audio so I’ve never tried them, can’t vouch for them.

[spfd72]

Yep. Grom unit works well. USB plug hidden and shows track info on cd43 display (within single line limits). I play Spotify, Amazon music, podcasts, etc via iPhone with out any issues.

[White Z]

I know this is an older post but I said I would update it when I finished the project. I finally got around to installing the radio yesterday and it works great. Although the color is a little off it does look better than the super bright blue and fits the car. Overall happy with it...
IMG_20220116_073126.jpg

[IndianaRoadster]

Looks good, to the casual observer they could easily think that came from the factory and that's what you want.

[cyberman]

I know this is an older post but I said I would update it when I finished the project. I finally got around to installing the radio yesterday and it works great. Although the color is a little off it does look better than the super bright blue and fits the car. Overall happy with it...

Thanks for following up on the thread! Looks good to me.

[Hoyt Clagwell]

It does look right. I don't want to nitpick (but I guess I'm doing it anyway) but it kinda' looks like there should be a trim piece around the perimeter. But hey, it would certainly be OK with me and like I said, it does look right.

[Tim95M3]

I ended up doing the same thing. I really like it, only "issue" is that it doesn't power on automatically with key-on. Have to manually turn it on every time. Not sure if this is a wire in the wrong place or just how the unit is designed.

[z3forlife]

You should have a constant 12v and a switched 12v input to the head. Then I would expect it to power on with start as long as it was on when you last stopped.

[panasonic]

I ended up doing the same thing. I really like it, only "issue" is that it doesn't power on automatically with key-on. Have to manually turn it on every time. Not sure if this is a wire in the wrong place or just how the unit is designed.

I'm having trouble following the conversation, but if you installed a continental/vdo radio the installation instructions use poor wording and you likely accidentally switched the 12v+ and Switched 12v leads. I think they didn't even follow the standard for the plug they used on those radios. At least on the CD7416UB-OR

[scenturion]

I'm having trouble following the conversation, but if you installed a continental/vdo radio the installation instructions use poor wording and you likely accidentally switched the 12v+ and Switched 12v leads. I think they didn't even follow the standard for the plug they used on those radios. At least on the CD7416UB-OR

The crappy harness I got from amazon for the Conti/VDO radio had these switched at the factory. Worth checking.

[White Z]

After using the stereo for about a week now I've made a few observations. Although they aren't bad they seem a little quirky.
PThe sound is just about alright. Since I'm a bit older I don't need the thumping bass anymore just a nice quality sound will do.
I did notice that when the unit is set for "North America" or "USA" in the settings once the key is turned off or removed the unit clock resets to 12:00am ( the unit DOES NOT lose power since preset stations are saved). This seemed odd and I thought maybe I had the wires incorrectly attached but if you change the settings to "Europe" the clock behaves perfectly. Once again in "North American" mode the radio stations do not show song title and artist along with radio station identification, but set the system to "Europe" and everything seems to show up except that the AM stations are replaced by LW (I guess a band that is used across the pond). Again, although small they really don't other me I just thought I would let others know in case someone else is in the market to purchase. The instructions that came with the unit are weak at best so I hope this information helps.

[Tim95M3]

The crappy harness I got from amazon for the Conti/VDO radio had these switched at the factory. Worth checking.

Finally got around to pulling the head unit out. Sure enough, I switched the yellow and red wires around and now it works as it should.