Need Help finding a new Headunit!

[Slick Willi]

Hey yall i have a 1997 e36 328i and my stock radio HU recently took a crap on me and i am having problems finding something to replace it plz help me!

[Cwaters]

www.crutchfield.com ?

[scoutmasterdave]

Nakamichi CD-400.

[karthalin]

Alpine CDA9835

Clarion DXZ845

Nakamichi good

Eclipse mabye?

I have an E36 M3, the Alpine 9835 is goin in next week.

[karthalin]

and check out www.rockfordfosgate.com on their Head Units, I think one of them has black trim with red display. And their head units are not all that bad. Not as good as Alpine or Eclipse.

[NHenson1]

why don't you buy my BRAND NEW nakamichi cd-400 from me?? $225 plus shipping.

[Blazin95Red325i]

alpine cda98xx and higher, the new blue one is a cheap pos.

[Slick Willi]

well im not really sure if i need a new head unit,

a friend of mine looked at me and said dnt u just need a new face plate?

heres whats the issue....

my display on the radio is extremely dim i cant see the station im listening to, when i took it to the dealer they said just to goto best buy that it would be cheaper than getting the new deck thru them. When it comes to car audio i am the DUMBASS so please help!

[Slick Willi]

and i already hace a jensen 6 cd changer anyways... i know it isnt the best but it does the job for the moment

[93bmw325is]

my freijnd has a alpine 9830 for sale

[jamesr316]

you need a new head unit. unless you want another OEM deck which will cost more...

Go Alpine or Clarion.

[drive4show2002]

for sound processing and color matching what is the better buy, clarion dxz735 or alpine 9830/9831?

[Slick Willi]

does any alpine or clarion fit then?
or do i need some wierd adapter thingy

[Andryuha]

my freijnd has a alpine 9830 for sale

How much? I might be interested as well

[Slick Willi]

i can get the CLARION DXZ445 on ebay for 100 bucks.... is that a good deal????

[Darkmage]

I just bought a Alpine 9815, for about 280 on ebay. it's discontinued but its hella nice.

Waiting for it from UPS today... (I dont know if they ship during Xmas)

[Slick Willi]

i think they do if u wanted x-mas say delivery

[Slick Willi]

so does anyone know if that clarion on ebay that i can get is a good deal?

[jshearer]

The clarion on ebay is the low end and i just got and installed a clarion 645 and like it alot matches very well not all silver and flashy plus the "mandarin" color mnatches the amber perfectly. crutchfield has free shipping and free wiring harness and antenna adapter with order over $200, the sound quality is so much better than the stock headunit. I recommend the dxz645 or 845 clarion the 745 as far as i know has more colors than the 645 but not much else and the 845 has internal memory for mp3 and wma, but both play burned cds with wma and mp3 and have attachments for a cd changer.

Oh yeah the 645 is $250 and 845 is $300 but you can find it even cheaper too, i just trust crutchfield alot more after recent ebay purchases(burned twice in a week by two separate people).

[Slick Willi]

ok ill prolly get the clarion dxz645mp, then do i need to get the wiring harness and do i need and ant. adaptor at all? (any other essential accesories)

[jshearer]

you will need the wiring harness b/c you have to go into the factory wiring for the bmw, the antenna adapter you will need also b/c bmw has a europeon antenna wire but any new stereo will not.

I had to get a high to low power converter for mine b/c i have a '94 325is, but I have heard that it is not needed in the 96 and newer, but the best thing to do is to check with crutchfield or where ever you are buying from and they will tell you if you need it or not. Crutchfield will have it in the required accessories area after you put in your vehicle type.

[Slick Willi]

you will need the wiring harness b/c you have to go into the factory wiring for the bmw, the antenna adapter you will need also b/c bmw has a europeon antenna wire but any new stereo will not.

I had to get a high to low power converter for mine b/c i have a '94 325is, but I have heard that it is not needed in the 96 and newer, but the best thing to do is to check with crutchfield or where ever you are buying from and they will tell you if you need it or not. Crutchfield will have it in the required accessories area after you put in your vehicle type.

awsome thanks everyone for the input, if any has any better suggestions that i should consider let me know, but for now i think im set!

[Darkmage]

you will need the wiring harness b/c you have to go into the factory wiring for the bmw, the antenna adapter you will need also b/c bmw has a europeon antenna wire but any new stereo will not.

I had to get a high to low power converter for mine b/c i have a '94 325is, but I have heard that it is not needed in the 96 and newer, but the best thing to do is to check with crutchfield or where ever you are buying from and they will tell you if you need it or not. Crutchfield will have it in the required accessories area after you put in your vehicle type.

I also have a 94 325i, am I going to need that power inverter too? I didnt see anything on crutchfield, do you have a link or anything that could show me?

Thanks

[BimmerDude18]

awsome thanks everyone for the input, if any has any better suggestions that i should consider let me know, but for now i think im set!

I have the same dim display problem as you and am currently trying to fix it. I am a sound enthusiast but hate the aftermarket headunit look. I'd like to find a better headunit that has a nice clean integration....but because they all have that ghey surround I'm trying to fix the stock one. Others have fixed the problem, so I'm hoping its not too tricky.

-Tyler