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<E30> WTB: CD changer
Alex Fadeev <Alex.Fadeev@domain.elided> wrote:
> The only catch is that aftermarket CD changers will not work with
> E30 stereos. Actually, not all factory E30 heads will work with BMW CD
> changers either.
I believe that depends on which stereo the car has. BMW installed
at least three different stereos on E30 cars. You are probably
thinking of the BMW Alpine CM5908. When selecting a CD changer is
is *necessary* to know which model stereo is in the car, and it is
not enough to know the year and model of the car or the BMW part
number for the stereo.
An aftermarket Pioneer CDX-M30 changer *will* work with the BMW Pioneer
KE-83 stereo which was installed on some E30 and some E34 cars. The
KE-83 has no "Program" button, but it can be identified as follows:
+/MODE/- buttons for controlling bass, treble, balance, and fade; CODE
function; weather band; cassette player; also, the label on the back
will have the model number KE-83zbm. The CDX-M30 is the 300-dollar
changer I mentioned in an earlier post, and it was available from SBH,
Smile Photo, and other mail order houses at the times I bought my two.
> To learn more, read the FAQ:
> http://cbsgi1.bu.edu/bmw/new_bmw.html
I guess the CD info is there somewhere, but it was not immediately
obvious where. The best info I've seen is Phil Marx's <BMW@domain.elided>
posts to this digest in 1996. I have taken the liberty of including
them below without his permission.
Curt Ingraham
'72 2002tii
Oakland, California
********************************************
>From: BMW@domain.elided (Phil Marx)
>Date: Wed, 18 Sep 1996 18:51:08 -0400
>Subject: <All> CD changers Pioneer M-series
There has been some discussion on the list about the compatiblity of the
Pioneer M-series after-market CD changers to the Factory CD-Ready radios.
I've been playing with these for about a week now trying to fit one to a
'93 740i for a customer and have come up with the following compatibility
findings through frustration and trial and error. Talking with both
technical staff at Crutchfield and AAMP of America, who make the
interconnect adapters for such applications, I find even these supposed
experts have misinformation. The adapter listed is about $20 from
Crutchfield and connects the factory CD data cable to the Pioneer
after-market data cable. Removing the threaded connector on the factory
cable and taping the two together will give a better connection. There
exists some confusion as to the naming of the factory radio types, either
by label or by read-out from pushing (-) and (Program) buttons
simultaneously. I will list them both ways. I am no expert, and would
appreciate any input or corrections which would help to clarify this
confusing compatibility issue. This obviously only applies to CD-Ready
factory radios, those with (6) station preset buttons.
Radio Model year/application changer adapter
----------- ---------------- --------------- ----------
CM5908 (Alpine) 89-93 E30 factory BMW only n/a
infrared slot) 89-91 other
KE83zbm (Pioneer) 89-93 E30 CDX-M30 ("M" series) None needed
(+) (-) (Mode) at lower right corner
CM5901(Alpine, 91-94 All CDX-M30 AAMP BMWPIO
Alpine2, Alpine3)
KE91zbm (Pioneer 91-94 All CDX-M30 AAMP BMWPIO
PIO, PIO2,*not PIONEER4*)
CM5903L (Alpine5?) 95+ All Factory BMW only n/a
KE93zbm (Pioneer) 95+ All Factory BMW only n/a
If your Pioneer label says "KE91zbm version 4" or reads "PIONEER4" when
pushing (-) and (Program), the CDX-M30 will not be recognized by the head
unit. The disc magazine will load and index, and eject when asked, but it
cannot be accessed by the head unit, even though the factory changer will
work with either version, the aftermarket M-series changer will not. The
Pioneer4 is showing up on '93 740i models and as a warranty replacement for
the earlier Pioneer.
If you have the later head unit that will (-) (program) its name, but it's
an early production E36 4dr w/o factory CD wiring, the only way to make the
M-series changers work is to get the factory wiring and the adapter and
connect to the Pioneer changer data cable. There is no cheap way that I
know.
95+ information is from AAMP and I have not tried anything yet. I believe
the 318ti uses a different head unit, like the P102 of the E36 318i w/o
weather band, and might work, again, I haven't tried it out.
As previously mentioned on the digest, the CDX-M30 is available quite
cheaply at times. Crutchfield shows a list price of $558 but they have
returned units in their outlet priced at $399, dropped to $349 then listed
on sale at $339 and some have bought them for even $100 less. They will
not mail-order the returns and I don't know what they sell new ones for.
Any Pioneer "M" series changer will work, the CDX-M30 is just the most
current.
I hope this helps somebody, 'cause there was no help for me when I needed it.
Phil Marx BMWCCA #6021 BMWMOA #2024 (804) 293-8269 fax (804) 293-0817
Bavarian Motor Warehouse, Inc. Check out our Web page: See our 1600
416 W. Main St. Cabriolet and other lovely BMWs.
Charlottesville, VA. 22903 http://www.comet.chv.va.us/bav/
**********************************************
>From: BMW@domain.elided (Phil Marx)
>Date: Thu, 19 Sep 1996 19:52:35 -0400
>Subject: RE: Cd changers
>From: metz@domain.elided (John Metzger)
>Phil Marx wrote...
>
>>Radio Model year/application changer adapter
>>- ------------ ---------------- --------------- ----------
>>CM5908 (Alpine) 89-93 E30 factory BMW only n/a
>> infrared slot) 89-91 other
>
>
>Are you sure about this? The guys at Mesa thought that the CDX changer was
>supposed to work with this head. If it doesn't I'm screwed because there is
>no way I'm paying the stealer for the factory changer. Maybe I'll just go
>with an in-dash aftermarket unit and save the factory head for when I sell
>the car (if ever)...
>John '91 325iC
John, I'll repeat parts of a private posting which I sent to another
subscriber, since there seems to be a lot of interest in this subject, and
I'm learning more each day.
When the a early CD ready radios came out in the E30s you could only use
the Alpine with the Alpine changer and Pioneer with Pioneer. BMW's
bulletin said:
"These components are only compatible with each other, the use of other
components is not possible and may cause damage to either unit." The
original CD for the Alpine was the drop down door 12 disc unit, later the
shoe-box sliding door 6 disc unit, from Alpine. My info from AAMP says
"aftermarket Alpine CD changers do not use the same command protocol as
BMW's Apine built changer. Consequently they will not work on any BMW
system."
I tried the CDX-M30 on one of the two "slot" units I have in stock. The
plug-in jack at the back of the units is identical. As soon as the system
is connected it blows the little fuse hidden under the cover next to the
speaker jacks in the back of the Alpine "slot" factory head unit.
The next question asked was: "Do I have to replace the head unit to put a
CD in a car with the Alpine Infrared Slot-type unit?
Not exactly. There is a BMW unit which will work with that car. You will
need a BMW Alpine CD changer and a data cable. You can probably use either
the 88 88 1 600 178 (12 disc unit) or the newer 88 88 1 600 220 (6 disc
unit) which superceded to the 82 11 1 467 002. Or basically any *Alpine*
BMW unit with a 13 pin plug arranged in 3 rows of 4 + 1 row of 1. If the
factory changer says CDX-M61 and has the same plug, it's a Pioneer and
won't work. Of course you can always go the FM inductive pick-up route for
a couple of hundred bucks which will require you to tune in a certain FM
frequency and access discs from a separate key pad. Or simply swap your
infrared slot with similar year car without the slot, but with 6 station
memory buttons, preferably one with the model #KE83zbm, which is a Pioneer,
and then the aftermarket CDX-M30 changer will go right in and comes with
it's own cables. Any of this help?
Phil Marx BMWCCA #6021 BMWMOA #2024 (804) 293-8269 fax (804) 293-0817
Bavarian Motor Warehouse, Inc. Check out our Web page: See our 1600
416 W. Main St. Cabriolet and other lovely BMWs.
Charlottesville, VA. 22903 http://www.comet.chv.va.us/bav/
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End of bmw-digest V9 #1190
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