Retro or old style head unit advice

Head units and speakers, MP3 and CD changers, GPS and SatNav, plus PDAs, mobile phones, Bluetooth, TalkAbouts...
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Mcjazz
Joined: Tue 07 May, 2013 22:28
Posts: 56

  Z3 roadster 2.2i

Retro or old style head unit advice

Post by Mcjazz »

Hi I am looking for a bit of advice / help here I want a basic head unit with radio, cd and iPhone connectivity for the Z3 I don't like flashing lights ond futuristic displays Something along the lines of the Becker in looks.

Any pointers / experience would be a great help.

Thanks

Moray
resunoiz
Joined: Tue 04 Sep, 2012 16:12
Posts: 162

  Z3 roadster 1.9

Re: Retro or old style head unit advice

Post by resunoiz »

http://www.dension.com/

I have a Dension Gateway V2 on my original autoradio, works fine :)

ipd, usb and aux connectivity. there are also bluetooth solutions ;)
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Southernboy
Joined: Thu 07 Oct, 2010 12:39
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  Z3 roadster 3.0i
Location: Johannesburg

Re: Retro or old style head unit advice

Post by Southernboy »

The Becker Grand Prix is tops...all the connectivity plus very discreet, extremely good fit, and you get a choice of red lighting whcich matches the red lighting in the cluster etc....They are now standard fit to Porche, Ferrari, and Merc...
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The tuning system, station select, etc is tops...the iPod connection can be routed to the glove box so it doesn't need to lay on the passenger seat etc...They're not cheap, but worth the investment.
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Mcjazz
Joined: Tue 07 May, 2013 22:28
Posts: 56

  Z3 roadster 2.2i

Re: Retro or old style head unit advice

Post by Mcjazz »

Thanks people I did look at the Becker Grand Prix there is a Second hand one on ebay just now for £400. Too rich for me.
What do people hink of Alpine units they seem less fussy than most ?

Moray
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Jonttt
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Joined: Sun 28 Dec, 2008 16:32
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Location: Liverpool

Re: Retro or old style head unit advice

Post by Jonttt »

The Becker's are the only real retro bells and whistles options.

You do get the grand prix's from £250 if your a bit patient and check german ebay sites as well as they are multi lingual (ie the same units sold in Germany and you can download the manuals in english).

I can update the software to the last v5.2 for you (CDROM) and can show you how to get the last 2009 Becker maps or even the 2013 BMW maps with speedcamera warnings (Thats what I use). The speed camera warnings are the best I've seen as you just get 3 beeps even if not using the sat nav function (ie plays the beeps over the radio ;-)

I have the cascade units in both my toys.

The ipod interface units have jumped up in price to c£110 though if you want that functionality but it is the best ipod interface I have ever used.
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abh29
Joined: Wed 06 Jun, 2012 09:48
Posts: 32

  Z3 roadster 2.2i

Re: Retro or old style head unit advice

Post by abh29 »

Hi, Becker Grand Prix on ebay NOW 22 minutes to go at £200
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Mcjazz
Joined: Tue 07 May, 2013 22:28
Posts: 56

  Z3 roadster 2.2i

Re: Retro or old style head unit advice

Post by Mcjazz »

Went for 205 so how would I have known how old the unit was or Is that immaterial. Any questions I could ask regarding he Becker which if I am being honest had never heard of until I joined the forum.

All help gratefully received.

Thanks

Moray
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John1950
Joined: Tue 15 Mar, 2011 18:49
Posts: 655

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Cadeilhan, Le Gers

Re: Retro or old style head unit advice

Post by John1950 »

Last year I went and bought an expensive (£200) head unit which can even show videos on a small screen. I've hardly ever used it and I must admit, I must be a bit of an old fart because I simply want to be able to press a button to change the radio station rather than sift through 'menus' so I'll be selling mine.

Meanwhile, I've bookmarked this for further checking out in about a month's time:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mutant-Dash-C ... 53ee6d73de

It seems to be both cheap and easy to use though I'd love to hear what the rest of you think.
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Caledonian
Joined: Sun 31 Oct, 2004 15:26
Posts: 71

  Z3 roadster 3.0i
Location: Gourock

Re: Retro or old style head unit advice

Post by Caledonian »

I bought a Philips CEM 3000B a couple of months ago because I was looking for something plain and with DAB, but definitely not 2Fast2Furious if you know what I mean!
I also wanted a headunit that you can change the backlight colour to match the interior lighting.

Anyway, bought an aerial splitter thing from DAB on Wheels for £20 and am using the stock aerial for the DAB radio, no problems at all. Only other thing you need is a BMW to ISO wire harness adapter which you can get for about £5.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_265865


Halfords doing it now for only £99
Mcjazz
Joined: Tue 07 May, 2013 22:28
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  Z3 roadster 2.2i

Re: Retro or old style head unit advice

Post by Mcjazz »

Caledonian looks good how is that for ipad and what is the connector you mention for ?

Thanks

Moray
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Titan
Joined: Fri 01 Apr, 2005 20:20
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  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: North Yorkshire

Re: Retro or old style head unit advice

Post by Titan »

Moray
It depends if you want looks or functionality
Without doubt Beckers are the dog's whatsits but they are at the top end if the market.
I fitted an Alpine because the display colour was a near perfect match for the rest of the fascia plus it gave USB & iPod connectivity. But that was 5 years ago and technology has moved on!
It's worth a look at your local Halfrauds but remember you will need to add BMW harness converter.


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Caledonian
Joined: Sun 31 Oct, 2004 15:26
Posts: 71

  Z3 roadster 3.0i
Location: Gourock

Re: Retro or old style head unit advice

Post by Caledonian »

http://www.dabonwheels.co.uk/Kinetic_DA ... itter.html

This is the splitter I bought. Allows you to use conventional FM radio and DAB without the need for a second aerial.


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CT20BM01-BMW- ... 25765e0763

(Not the exact one but a link to the same sort of thing)

The harness converts the BMW wiring loom into the international standard ISO 2000 so that you dont need to cut or join any wires in the dash.
Mcjazz
Joined: Tue 07 May, 2013 22:28
Posts: 56

  Z3 roadster 2.2i

Re: Retro or old style head unit advice

Post by Mcjazz »

Titan it was a visit to Halfords that caused me to ask on here as I stood dejected looked at the light show that was their Wall of sound.. Plus I wanted something that was more in keeping with the z3 dash. Funnily enough an audio shop suggested Alpine as the boy said they are a bit more ordinary..sounds good to me. Quite like that one Caledonian has pushed up though.
Del
Joined: Sat 19 Nov, 2011 18:35
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  Z3 roadster 1.9

Re: Retro or old style head unit advice

Post by Del »

I thought I read somewhere that Alpine actually made the original ones for BMW.
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Titan
Joined: Fri 01 Apr, 2005 20:20
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  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: North Yorkshire

Re: Retro or old style head unit advice

Post by Titan »

Mcjazz wrote:Titan it was a visit to Halfords that caused me to ask on here as I stood dejected looked at the light show that was their Wall of sound.. Plus I wanted something that was more in keeping with the z3 dash. Funnily enough an audio shop suggested Alpine as the boy said they are a bit more ordinary..sounds good to me. Quite like that one Caledonian has pushed up though.
I know this is old now, but here is the thread from when I replaced our OEM unit.
Good Luck!
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