M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS
FAQ / REFERENCE => How-To's => Topic started by: DesktopDave on December 23, 2010, 10:47:25 PM
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Zoso's excellent radio thread, copied from his old page. Please let me know if this isn't kosher (I'll take them down), but these how-to's are so good I had to re-post them here.
318i Modification -
CD/MP3 Player Installation
When I purchased the car the radio was missing. The previous owner had a system in the car and ripped it out before selling the car. Hanging out of the dash were several sets of RCA cables and numerous random wires. Whatever factory radio harness used to be in the car was gone. It took a while to discover what the previous owner had done to the car. Luckily the guy left me with a good starting ground for installing my new system. Like I said, the RCAs were already running to the trunk along with a amp turn on line. The 5.25" speakers in the rear deck lid and the front kick plates were upgraded with Kicker and Kenwood speakers. Pod style tweeters were added to the plastic plates that are near where the side view mirrors attach and crossovers were installed to the front speakers and the tweeters. All the speakers were wired into the trunk. There were already thick power and ground wires leading to the trunk.
I have a 4 channel, 200W Denon amplifier that I wanted to use in the car. The next step was finding a suitable head unit. My goals for the head unit were:
1) Needs to play CDs and MP3s on CD-R and CD-RW formats.
I especially wanted MP3s because I have a large collection and it is very handy to be able to put them onto one CD and have a ton of music available. I also have several audio books and "learn foreign language" audio books that I'd love to listen to on my hour long commute to work. I wanted the ability to play CD-RWs because if I burn an audio book and listen to it, I want to be able to reuse the disc to burn another audio book.
2) Needs to have a simple, flat black faceplate.My M3 has a Kenwood fold out screen with NAV and DVD. I love the system, but when the screen is closed, it does not match the interior of the car. I really wanted something that would look good in the car. Too many head units I saw in my search had silver or glossy black faceplates with crazy looking buttons and graphics on the LCD screens. Most of them are obnoxious looking.
3) Needs to have red buttons and screen.I really wanted the control buttons and screen to match the dash lights in the car. I definitely didn't want a blue screen or green control buttons.
My search finalized with the Clarion DXZ645MP (http://www.crutchfield.com/S-e6httXRta4j/p_020DXZ645/Clarion-ProAudio-DXZ645MP.html)
It has a relatively simple faceplate and is flat black. The great part about this head unit is that you can change the colors of both the LCD display and the control buttons to be between 80 different colors. It also satisfies my CD/MP3 capability with the ability to play CD-RWs.
I bought it from Audio Warehouse Express (http://web.archive.org/web/20041026201145/http:/www.audio-warehouse.com/). I saw it for less money on Ebay but there were several reasons why I got it from AWE. First, the Ebay sellers were playing games with the numbers. There were charging $25 for shipping and then $5 for insurance. They also were adding 7% to 9% state sales tax and they were all out of state. That sales tax was going right into their pocket. With these extra fees, the Ebay price came within the $20 of the AWE price. The Ebay sellers supposedly would replace defective equipment but it had to be within 3 days of receiving the product and a certified stereo repair shop had to take the defective radio and prove that it was defective when you received it. Can you see where this is going? The Ebay seller's warranty is crap. I don't want to be rushed to installing the unit to see if it works and I don't want to have to take it to a stereo repair shop and pay for them to troubleshoot it. The Clarion comes with a 1 year factory warranty, but only if you buy it from a certified dealer. The certified dealers sell the unit for a good amount more than a non-certified dealer. AWE isn't a certified dealer but they give a replacement warranty that isn't absurd like that of the Ebay seller's. I ended up paying about $10 for shipping and got it the very next day.
BMW Parts:
Antenna Grommet- 65 21 1 376 008
Click on the thumbnails for larger pictures.
(http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/th_mess.jpg) (http://s729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/?action=view¤t=mess.jpg)
Here is a picture of my car when I was removing the dash cluster to replace some dash console lights. When I removed the lower knee bolster below the steering wheel, a pile of wires fell out. The wiring was a mess. The previous owner had added a mile of wiring. I suspect there is the remnants of some stereo modifications and an alarm system (notice the square shock sensor below the dash cluster?). There were wires with metal exposed. He had a wire connected to a splice, connected to another splice, connected to yet another splice. It took a while, but this rats nest of wires was removed.
(http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/th_what.jpg) (http://s729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/?action=view¤t=what.jpg)
While digging behind the back seat, I found this device. I posted a picture on Roadfly.Org (bimmer.org) asking what it is. The friendly forum members told me that it had to be a bomb or a weapon of mass destruction. After taking it out, it is my best guess that it was an old Lo-Jack system. The orange part on the bottom is a battery and the metal box near the top had coax coming out to it going to an antenna. Perhaps it was one of the first Lo-Jack systems because it is so big and so poorly hidden.
(http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/th_popout.jpg) (http://s729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/?action=view¤t=popout.jpg)
Some E30s were equipped with a hole going to the trunk for a ski-bag. My 318i wasn't equipped with the hole, but the metal is easily popped out. One tap with a large hammer cohersed the metal out.
(http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/th_glue1.jpg) (http://s729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/?action=view¤t=glue1.jpg)
The plan is to mount my 12" Kicker Subwoofer to a plank of wood and attach it to the inside of the trunk so the sub points toward the hole behind the rear seat. Start with two thick pieces of MDF. Attach some glue.
(http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/th_screw1.jpg) (http://s729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/?action=view¤t=screw1.jpg)
Glue and screw the second piece of MDF to the first.
(http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/th_trim1.jpg) (http://s729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/?action=view¤t=trim1.jpg)
After the glue dries, measure the trunk and begin to trim the wood.
(http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/th_trim2.jpg) (http://s729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/?action=view¤t=trim2.jpg)
Cut out a hole for the sub.
(http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/th_trim3.jpg) (http://s729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/?action=view¤t=trim3.jpg)
The trace is where the ski-hole is.
(http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/th_trim4.jpg) (http://s729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/?action=view¤t=trim4.jpg)
This is the finished shape. Spray paint the MDF or cover it with carpet.
(http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/th_rca.jpg) (http://s729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/?action=view¤t=rca.jpg)
Run some RCA wires from the stereo to the trunk. From what I have seen and read, there seems to be less crosstalk problems if you run the wires down the driver's side of the car.
(http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/th_mat1.jpg) (http://s729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/?action=view¤t=mat1.jpg)
The rear trunk metal was lined with Accumat.
(http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/th_attached1.jpg) (http://s729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/?action=view¤t=attached1.jpg)
The new sub deck is mounted to the metal in the trunk by drilling holes through the metal and wood and using screws, washers, and bolts.
(http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/th_mat2.jpg) (http://s729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/?action=view¤t=mat2.jpg)
I purchased a 3/4/5/6 channel Alpine 3566 amplifier from eBay. A bit more Dynamat is used under where the amp will sit to help with vibrations.
(http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/th_amp.jpg) (http://s729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/?action=view¤t=amp.jpg)
Here is a picture of the amp attached.
(http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/th_sub.jpg) (http://s729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/?action=view¤t=sub.jpg)
From inside the car, here is the sub peeking through the ski-hole.
(http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/th_sub2.jpg) (http://s729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/?action=view¤t=sub2.jpg)
Same picture with the padding back in place.
(http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/th_mat3.jpg) (http://s729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/?action=view¤t=mat3.jpg)
The left over Accumat was used around the front speakers.
(http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/th_tweeter1.jpg) (http://s729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/?action=view¤t=tweeter1.jpg)
I added the factory premium sound system tweeter pods. They look great.
(http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/th_tweeter2.jpg) (http://s729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/?action=view¤t=tweeter2.jpg)
Another picture of the tweeter pods.
(http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/th_antenna.jpg) (http://s729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/?action=view¤t=antenna.jpg)
Here is a picture of my antenna motor and mast. I like how the previous owner supported it with a chain of zip-ties.
The connector has three wires going to it. Red - 12V, Black - GND, White - On/Off. I couldn't find the stock on/off wire near the dash so I simply cut the wire and attached it to the amplifier turn on from the radio. Works perfectly. While you are back there, replace your antenna grommet so water doesn't get into your trunk. I used a little black gasket sealant between the grommet and the antenna mast hold to make a better seal.
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(http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/th_light.jpg) (http://s729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/?action=view¤t=light.jpg)
Here is the finished picture. I think it matches the car quite well for an aftermarket radio. My camera picked up too much light. The screen is really black with red text. For proof, look at the OBC. You know how your OBC look at night, right?
(http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/th_dark.jpg) (http://s729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/?action=view¤t=dark.jpg)
This is an attempt to take a picture of how well the radio matches at night when the dash lights are on.
(http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/th_trunk.jpg) (http://s729.photobucket.com/albums/ww299/desktopdave/BMW/Zoso/318i_radio/?action=view¤t=trunk.jpg)
Here is a picture of the finished product in the trunk.
Impressions:
I love the capability of this unit and how well it looks in the car. The MP3 functionality is great. I had a problem with alternator noise, but I solved this problem by adding a large value capacitor between the power and ground as close to the headunit as possible.
When I first turned the Clarion on and changed the screen color to red, I was disappointed by how poor the display looked at an angle. From the driver's seat, the entire screen looked red and I could barely make out any text. After reading the manual, I discovered the contrast adjust feature and I adjusted the contrast down to 1 and it now looks much better. It is still a bit tough to read in direct sunlight but I'm not going to complain about it.
As far as sound quality, I'm happy. Between the tweeters, the mid range front speaker, the mid-low range in the rear, and the sub, I have a good dynamic range.
One final modification to the stereo system is to find a black vinyl rear seat with an arm rest. With the arm rest folded down, the bass will escape from the trunk a bit better.
Equipment:
Clarion DZX645MP
Alpine 3566 3/4/5/6 Channel Amplifier
Kenwood front 5.25" speakers
Kicker rear 5.25" speakers
Kicker 12" subwoofer
Clarion DZX645MP Features:
Flip-Down Detachable Faceplate
Plays CD-R and CD-RWs
Plays MP3- and WMA-Encoded CDs
Sirius Satellite Radio Ready
CeNET Controls Optional TV Tuner, Optional Sirius Satellite Radio Receiver, Optional DVD Changer and 6-Disc CD Changer
CD Text, CD Titling, Station Titling
2-Band Parametric EQ (Z-Enhancer Plus)
Subwoofer Volume Control
Built-In Low-Pass Crossovers (off/50Hz/80Hz/120Hz)
6-Channel RCA Line Level Output
2 Zone Control With Dedicated RCA Line Level Outputs
Magna Bass EX
2-Channel Aux. Input
IR Remote Control
208-Watt (52W x 4)
Radio Tuner With 18FM/6AM Presets
80 Variable Color LCD and Control Buttons (9 presets and 1 user)
5 x 7 Dot Matrix by 10 Digit LCD Monitor
Retractable Rotary Volume Control
Screen Saver With User-Programmable Message Information
Aluminum Faceplate
Credits: I have to thank my friend Brendan for his expertise on this project. It was his idea to create the trunk sub deck and he was the one that did all the work. I also had him approve of all the stereo equipment I purchased for this project.
Disclaimer:[FONT="] I am not a professional mechanic. Information this page should be used at your own risk and discretion. Different models and model years may be different than my 1991 318i. Read: If you screw your car up following my instructions, sorry. Isn't it sad that in this sue crazy world you have to put a disclaimer on your web page? [/FONT]
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Thank you! I've been searching the forums for this kind of thread.