Retrofitting e30 with e36 Business CD

[Thud]

I've posted this on a few forums already; I was able to find an OEM Business CD RDS (CD23; Blaupunkt Model BP3850) from a 1994 e36 very cheap (try the German eBay site). I intend to install it in my e30 to replace my barely working OEM-ish* head unit (cassette), and I'm looking for some info from anyone who has done this before (I know a lot of people have). I do not have an owner's manual.

* I say "OEM-ish" because the unit is actually older than my car by a few years and has some archaic connections compared to newer units. Whoever installed (or re-installed) it did a lot of creative splicing.

1) I already have the wiring harness for the new unit (BHO8590), so that's not an issue, and I'm pretty sure I can figure out the connections for that with relative ease. However, someone did a hack job on the wiring in the car's previous life (probably put in an after-market and then replaced it before selling), so if anyone has a color-to-color matching chart, that might be helpful.

My current head unit has a double brown ground wire that screws into the back of the unit; not sure how to adapt them to the new unit. Any ideas?

2) The connector on the antenna cable I currently have in the e30 (which I can only assume is OEM, but can't be sure) does not fit the antenna plug in the back of the new unit (the cable's connector is too big); does anyone know where/if I can find an appropriate connector/adapter? Or do you think I need to buy a whole new antenna cable and do a cut & splice?

3) There's a small port on the right side of the back of the unit (next to the wiring harness connection) that looks vaguely like a miniature BNC-type connection. My assumption is that it's an auxiliary connection for a special antenna or something, and not anything I need to be concerned with. If anyone knows otherwise, let me know.

Anyway, if anyone has any info regarding this installation I'd welcome it. Thanks.

 

[jrt67ss350]

I'm not quite sure why you'd want to go through the trouble of doing this swap. It's not like the e36 head units are good or anything.

Is this a German radio? You mentioned the German ebay site. If this is a German spec radio, it won't work here in the US, at least not to listen to the radio. I'd figure this out before proceeding any further with this swap.

To answer your questions:
1) I don't know where you are going to find a color-to-color matching chart because everyone that switches the radio out of their e30 switches it to an aftermarket head unit and rewires the speakers. As far as the ground wire goes, you probably just need to find a ground under the dash somewhere and connect a wire from it to the back of the head unit.

2) I don't know what to tell you about this. Sounds like the e36 head unit must have an oddball size antenna connector, because I know for a fact that the antenna connector in the e30 is the standard size. There probably is an adaptor that exists for people swapping an aftermarket an head unit into the e36.

3) That port is probably for the CD changer or something.

 

[Febi Guibo]

If this is a German spec radio, it won't work here in the US, at least not to listen to the radio. I'd figure this out before proceeding any further with this swap.

That's not true. AM/FM will work, in fact, even a european radio with RDS will work with RDS stations here.

If you got a metra harness, be sure to keep the wrapper, it has the wiring plan for the E36 headunit... for a description of the E30 wiring colors, try this document:

E30 Radio Wiring Diagram

The antenna adaptor you want is a female motorola to male 'euro' ...I will try to get a part # for you, but you can also try installer.com. I have one that works, but the fit on the headunit is not perfect, so I'm still looking too.

finally, here's a pic of my E36 cassette deck in my E30 --I'm in NYC so anything to discourage thieves is a plus...

 

[nadroj]

That's not true. AM/FM will work, in fact, even a european radio with RDS will work with RDS stations here.

If you got a metra harness, be sure to keep the wrapper, it has the wiring plan for the E36 headunit... for a description of the E30 wiring colors, try this document:

E30 Radio Wiring Diagram

The antenna adaptor you want is a female motorola to male 'euro' ...I will try to get a part # for you, but you can also try installer.com. I have one that works, but the fit on the headunit is not perfect, so I'm still looking too.

finally, here's a pic of my E36 cassette deck in my E30 --I'm in NYC so anything to discourage thieves is a plus...

wow thats a really good idae

 

[Febi Guibo]

hey thanks man... I like the stock looks and I've previously donated two headunits from another car I had.

The C43 cassette unit is pretty cheap used; a lot of people upgraded to the CD43 unit or to something else, so you can get them for $40-45.

My OE 'pyramid' alpine unit was almost dead anyway.

I figure with an ipod hooked up to a CD changer cable adaptor, I won't miss CDs. At some point I'm going to get an amp and better speakers.

fyi: I had to shave the hvac panel to get the headunit to sit flush...

 

[nadroj]

yeah i really like the stock looks of the radio/cd players in the bmws i would rather do that (waht you did) than buy an aftermarket one, they always look out of place