Headunit upgrade

[MD13 526]

It's been a while since I've done any in car audio stuff. Pioneer used to be my go to for cheap and reliable.

What are people using these days for their 90's BMW's? Just looking for bluetooth, usb and somewhat fitting to the dash look (amber etc).

[treone 676]

JVC/Kenwood seem to good value for basic single din fitment and Bluetooth/usb/amber lighting (on certain models) functionality. Their mech-less ones also save on space fitting wise. 
 I have an Alpine single fin (UTE-XXbt or something like that) unit in one of mine, which I’m impressed with. It doesn’t look out of place and the amber lighting is pretty close too. Plus get BT and front USB charging/playback. Nothing flash but does the trick. HTH

[Olaf 3380]

Kenwood KMM-BT408 mechless.  It's the updated version of the 305 I have in my e30.  Small, clean look, tons of integration with your phone, three sets of pre-outs and all sorts of configs for time delay, eq etc etc.  Even configure what the pre-outs are doing.  

Amber lighting:  check.  Configure your own preferred shade.

Plays your carefully ripped WAV files from USB too.  Or just play Spotify from your phone if you favour convenience.

Install the included mic, set up bluetooth with your phone - bingo full handsfree.  It'll even take a second phone at the same time.

I bought one for my e46, not yet installed.  

If you want steering wheel integration you'll need a babelfish to take the canbus and talk to the Kenwood.

https://www.qualitycaraudio.co.nz/kenwood-kmm-bt408-bluetooth-usb-nz-tuners-3x-pre-outs-car-stereo?search=KMM-BT408 

Edited Thursday at 04:53 AM by Olaf

[treone 676]

^^ that’s a bargain! Think I might get me one 😎

[Neal 553]

There’s also the odd single din unit with carplay / android auto. At the pricey there is the Porsche high end single din , at the other end there are a number of headless CP AA units on AliExpress

 

 

[paulo 77]

On 3/27/2025 at 12:45 PM, MD13 said:

It's been a while since I've done any in car audio stuff. Pioneer used to be my go to for cheap and reliable.

What are people using these days for their 90's BMW's? Just looking for bluetooth, usb and somewhat fitting to the dash look (amber etc).

Here's my pick:

https://blaupunkt.com/product/frankfurt-rcm-82-dab/

I am guessing that they are reasonably pricey in NZ, though  

 

[deedub 79]

2 hours ago, paulo said:

Here's my pick:

https://blaupunkt.com/product/frankfurt-rcm-82-dab/

I am guessing that they are reasonably pricey in NZ, though  

 

Yea for me it's going to be either the blaupunkt or get the bluetooth module added to the originals like what this guy does: https://bmw-radios.com/

There are meant to be some tutorials out there for adding bluetooth to the OG radios. I might go down that path as the blaupunkt and the bluetooth service offered by the BMW radios guy aren't cheap.

Cheapest option would be to get a bluetooth tape (get bluetooth and keep the OE player).

[Eagle 1731]

VDO\Continental make a few different ones, not as cheap as they used to be though.I put a TR7412UB in my old Mercedes which matched quite well.

[Neil McCauley 425]

Jeez 3.5v triple pre-outs for sub $200 is bloody hard to beat! The Blaupunkts are great in theory but it sounds like quality isn't nearly as good as it was / for how much they are.

[MD13 526]

On 3/28/2025 at 5:55 PM, paulo said:

Here's my pick:

https://blaupunkt.com/product/frankfurt-rcm-82-dab/

I am guessing that they are reasonably pricey in NZ, though  

 

Quick looks shows $900 odd for one of those - can't justify that.