Radio Receivers

[RyeBread]

First post!!

So, I'm getting my father's '83 320i as my first car for school and work; I cannot wait. What I'm wondering is what aftermarket radio receivers are compatible with it; Crutchfield.com's "Outfit Your Car" gave me no results. The car does have AC. I know the receiver is at an angle, but I don't mind if a CD skips; I'm looking for something with an auxiliary port so I can have radio and a higher quality sound from my MP3 player.

Does anybody here have any experience with this? Any tips, recommendations? I could use some advice regarding the installation of it as well.

~Bread

[Reck]

Welcome!

I debated this for an age. I ended up installing the Kenwood KDCBT60U. It has a black front fascia and variable backlighting/dimming so you can get it to match your dash lighting very closely. It has all the usual ins and outs (inc aux), it also has ipod control from the head if you want it. Oh and a parrot bluetooth kit built in. It cost a fair whack but it was so worth it.. I'm sure someone will lambast me for not having a period radio in there but the rest of my car is stock, other than this head and the speakers/sub.



http://www.kenwood-electronics.co.uk/pr ... KDC-BT60U/

If you have a lot of money to burn though, these guys make retro looking heads filled with moderns technowizardry...

http://www.vintagevibes.net/

[edit] PS I think your model is late enough to have the standard DIN size.. Almost any modern stereo should fit AFAIK.

[petroscf]

I am very happy with my Alpine CDE 103BT

http://www.google.gr/imgres?imgurl=http ... =108&ty=49

Very good sound quality
MP3 player
USB inlet
AUX 3,5mm jack
Bluetooth, so you can talk in the car using the speakers (automatic music muting) just by pairing your cell phone. It also gives a microphone.
4 different colour combinations:
a)4 rectangle buttons blue and the rest red
b)4 rectangle buttons green and the rest green
c)4 rectangle buttons orange and the rest red
d)4 rectangle buttons red and the rest red

comb. a) and c) VERY tasty with the E21 dash lighting colour difficult which to choose of the 2 options

[RyeBread]

What about speakers? Any recommendations on those? The rear deck ones aren't working.. Could replacing them and the radio be something I could do on my own, or would it be best to leave it to the professionals?

[petroscf]

I left it to the professionals, myself...
I have 4 "kicker" small speakers (is it 4"x6" I think? or 6"x9"??) in the factory holes rear and front (no extra drilling) and a Roadstar subwoofer under the co-driver's seat.
I am happy in general with satisfactory bass, no extreme things-besides I am eventually starting to listen less to rock/pop etc. music (that needs bass) and increasing classical+opera in my life, so just the speakers do the job...

[Reck]

What about speakers? Any recommendations on those? The rear deck ones aren't working.. Could replacing them and the radio be something I could do on my own, or would it be best to leave it to the professionals?

It's VERY easy to replace the stereo and speakers yourself. Speakers are literally plug and play if the original wiring is still there.

There's plenty of guides on t'interweb that detail each step with photos etc. Spend a couple of hours researching on Google and do it yourself rather than hand over your hard earned! There's not really much that can go wrong so if you don't succeed, you can always let the pros have a go.

IIRC Petro they're 4x6.

[petroscf]

IIRC Petro they're 4x6.

Yes, I think you're right
4x6
Good high+mid ranges, no bass at all!!!!

E21 if I am not totally wrong has a place on each side door for round speakers as well. I don't know how big. I think the place is near the rear+down edge of the door. All you have to do is to cut the interior trim at that part and the speaker hole is there, made by the factory, with screw holes etc.
However, I think that a pair of speakers there would not be the best option, as the speakers would play only for the ears of ...the recaros??? So I've left the doors (for now)
And another question I have always had is : Would it be possible to use the -currently unused- central speaker (on top of the dash there used to be a speaker for monophonic radios) in order to place a central speaker? Would this idea work?

[Reck]

Probably. Might sound a bit gash as all modern music is designed to be played stereo.. Unless you could find a fancy headunit that supports a center channel?

I installed an underseat sub today. Sounds much better than the 6x4's on their own - although I can hear alternator whine when the music stops! I think I need a suppressor..

[RyeBread]

Anyways, I'm still looking for recommendations for receivers and speakers in the US. If anybody could give me basic instructions on to take everything out thatd be great. Or a link from Google; I've looked, but haven't found anything.

Also, with everything, wouldn't I have to get converters for the wiring?

Sorry to sound lazy. First car and first modification. Not if only I knew how to drive a manual, haha.