Difference between CD23 and CD43 Business CD players

[StanleyVanBuren]

Searched but was unable to find the difference here.

I have an e36 and am looking to upgrade to the BMW Business CD player. Everything I've come across seems to indicate the CD43 works in these cars, but I've also found for sale on ebay a Business CD deck with a slightly different configuration which is labeled "CD23."

Does anyone know the difference between these two decks and if this CD23 is any less likely to work in an e36?

[tom @ eas]

Haven't comer across a CD23 before, do you have a link? (PM if you want to keep it private).

[StanleyVanBuren]

here is one

cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290196123508

[tom @ eas]

Haven't worked with that one myself, I would hold out for a CD43.

[Roguls]

It's an older one than the 43. Bill at bimmerclinic has great deals on new cd43s.

[StanleyVanBuren]

It's an older one than the 43. Bill at bimmerclinic has great deals on new cd43s.

I tried sending an email to bill at bimmerclinic but thus far no response. Is there some link I'm missing that I should check out here? Bimmerclinic.com doesn't appear to have an actual website setup.

[stevend456]

I just installed a new cd43 in my 96 328ic and it sounds so much better than my old radio. I bought my radio from 12v electronics, you can find them on E-bay but if you go to their website it's a little cheaper.

[Halston Pitman]

Pretty cool unit. Looks like an e30 cd player! haha

[StanleyVanBuren]

Pretty cool unit. Looks like an e30 cd player! haha

Is that what this is? I'm trying to figure out if there will be any difference in functionality between this deck and the CD43 for my e36. As long as it plays CD-Rs, it's going to go through the external amp anyway, right? So there shouldn't really be a difference, right?

I'd just get a CD43 but the CD23s seem to be selling for less and I'm trying to figure out why I shouldn't just get one of those.

[Halston Pitman]

Oh I don't know where it came from but it looks like something that would come out of an E30

haha

It would probably play CD-Rs. I see no reason why it would not.

[MParallel]

Forgive me for digging this up, but if people look for this info, I can tell the difference.

This is probably not all, but there are 3 important differences:

1: higher output. The CD43 will give you significantly better sound (in the OEM HU context). CD43 and C43 have this higher output.

2: CD Changer connection. CD43 has it, CD23 not. So no Changer can be used, obviously, but also no ipod/mp3 player connections, bar FM transmittors. Early model changer don't work with this unit.

3: iBus input (pin 7). Available on the CD43, not CD23. Means this will accept ibus signal for cars with steering wheel buttons to control the radio.


I have both units. The CD43 was the latest upgrade in the 1-DIN sized HU's. It's simply put thé OEM unit to have, if you want to keep the factory look.

[bmwstephen]

Mparallel-holy thread revival but I just came across a C23. Are you saying that the C43 has more output than the C23?

What about fitment? I know the CD43 didn't always sit flush unless you modified the surround. What's your take on the C23?

[MParallel]

I only just found this by accident. CD23 does sit flush. CD43 and C43 don't have a limiter that limits output, which older units have, because of a ground loop the engineers couldn't solve.

This is from a famous post from somewhere 1999 where one the of BMW guys working on the E36 audio system spoke about. I have pasted it on BF.com a couple of times.