» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | | | | 05-30-2005, 04:43 PM | #1 | Junior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 14 | Changing dash tape player to cd player I drive a 96 318ti. I'd like to install a bmw cd player instead. Is it plug and play? Also, I cant get an iPod addaptor. You can on any 3 series 96-current, except the 96 318ti If a changed the to a cd player will the adaptor work???????????? | | | 05-30-2005, 04:49 PM | #2 | Site Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Naples, Florida Posts: 238 | Quote: Originally Posted by David I drive a 96 318ti. I'd like to install a bmw cd player instead. Is it plug and play? Also, I cant get an iPod addaptor. You can on any 3 series 96-current, except the 96 318ti If a changed the to a cd player will the adaptor work???????????? | If its from another 3 series BMW it might. Though im not familiar with the compatibility with the different cd players. You should just get an in-dash player from a store like Best buy or Circuit City. They have a good selection their to look at even with the iPod adapter in it. __________________ Nick 1995 BMW 318iC. Modifications by: Understeer.com, M3 Aerodynamics, Bilstein, Stromung, Turner Motorsports, Bavarian Autosport and Downing Atlanta Superchargers. | | | 05-30-2005, 05:32 PM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Pismo Beach, CA Posts: 500 | If you go to crutchfield.com, it will let you search decks by vehicle model. I wouldnt recommend getting it from there, but it is a good place to look, because they do have everything. I have a 96 318ti, and I switched my factory deck to a pioneer mp3 deck about 2 months ago, and there were no modifications needed. If you are not familiar with wiring anything, I would advise paying about $60, and having a smaller shop doing it for you. It isnt plug and play, but if you get butt connectors and caps, it will work by basically just matching the colored wires. My pioneer wires pretty much matched up with my stock colored wires. Just get a tiny screw driver, and pop open those two little flaps towards the bottom corners. Then get a tiny hex head wrench, and unscrew the two set screws. Then go at it from there... As for the ipod, there are adapters for tons of decks out there. Again, if you go to crutchfield.com, you can search for the ipod adapters that go to aftermarket decks. They usually run about $90-$130. I know Pioneer, Panasonic and Alpine should all have adapter kits. But Ive also heard that the ipod adapter interface isnt too great. The deck will only display 8 characters from the ipod. And I also read that the relay time is awful. I'd recommend just paying an extra $50-80 or so, and getting a deck that plays MP3, WAV, and AAC (iTunes) files. You still get 150 songs on a cd that way. __________________ Joe, In San Luis Obispo E30-> '96 TI sport -> E30 -> '96 TI | | | 05-30-2005, 08:16 PM | #4 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: cary, nc Posts: 2,259 | my friend has the 'I-Trip', which is a wire that plugs into the cigarette lighter and into the i pod...it charges it, and is also a FM adapter... you set the 'I-Trip' setting to any FM radio station that doesnt have anything on it, then turn your head unit to that station and it plays whatever is on your i pod. works pretty good in my opinion, not sure how much it cost though... __________________ 1995 318ti Active Pioneer Speakers [] Aluminum Billet door locks [] ACS Pedals/Deadrest [] ACS Shift Knob / E-Brake Handle [] Clear Corners/Tails/Sides [] Sylvania Exterior Lighting [] Custom CAI [] Dinan Engine Chip [] Dinan Transmission Chip [] H&R Race Springs [] Tokico Illumina Shocks [] BMW X-Brace [] Relocated Lighter Mod [] Custom iPod Mod http://www.cardomain.com/id/robcarync | | | 05-30-2005, 08:24 PM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Pismo Beach, CA Posts: 500 | Yeah, the iTrip works fine. Thats only about $30-$45 in most cases. I do find the wires to the cigarette adapter a little tacky though. Id rather wait until they come out with a dock of some sort you can mount in your car, and wire somehow to your deck where you cant see the wires. Im assuming they'll come out with that eventually. __________________ Joe, In San Luis Obispo E30-> '96 TI sport -> E30 -> '96 TI | | | 05-30-2005, 08:32 PM | #6 | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 | there are whole bunch of FM transmitter products, but the sound isn't going to be as good as having it directly plumbed into your head unit. i'm going to be undertaking a project to encode all my cds using itunes' lossless encoder and it would be nice to be able to hear the improved quality, even when in the car. i think the other desireable thing with the ipod and head unit control is to be able to see the tag info, easily navigate and control it, all with the actual ipod hidden away (at least this is what i would like). __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts 2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | 05-30-2005, 10:02 PM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 169 | Hey David http://www.crutchfield.com route is the way to go got my Pioneer receiver,amp speakers the the help is great also if ya have problem,no regrets. Same price as Bestbuy etc,etc for what ya want vwt3 __________________ 95ti Alpine White, K&N cone filter, Fullcoilovers by GroundControl Koni adjustable,Eibach springs. JUST POINT AND SHOOT...http://www.munks.com/ . Also 69 VW t3 fastback 2110 motor,full air ride .http://www.airkewld.com[/size] | | | 05-30-2005, 10:06 PM | #8 | Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Warwick, RI Posts: 26 | Quote: Originally Posted by David I drive a 96 318ti. I'd like to install a bmw cd player instead. Is it plug and play? Also, I cant get an iPod addaptor. You can on any 3 series 96-current, except the 96 318ti If a changed the to a cd player will the adaptor work???????????? | A CD player out of a late-model Z3 should plug right into any E36-- they are the same size and fitment. You can probably find one on eBay, although the few that I've seen have sold for alot of money. You could probably get something "better" for less money if you go aftermarket. __________________ 1997 318ti Sport, Alaska Blue w/ Black & Grey Interior, | | | 05-31-2005, 05:49 PM | #9 | Junior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 14 | I'm not sure the z3 radio would work in my car, I see a lot of EXCEPT '96 318ti. It has something different than the rest of the E36s | | | 05-31-2005, 05:50 PM | #10 | Junior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 14 | Quote: Originally Posted by robcarync my friend has the 'I-Trip', which is a wire that plugs into the cigarette lighter and into the i pod...it charges it, and is also a FM adapter... you set the 'I-Trip' setting to any FM radio station that doesnt have anything on it, then turn your head unit to that station and it plays whatever is on your i pod. works pretty good in my opinion, not sure how much it cost though... | I have an iTrip, and its a pain, and the quality sucks. It is especially bad while going on trips. You're supposed to set it to a radio station that is not airing anything, but while on a trip, there will be something on that set station soon. | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |