Best Mp3 Solution in a BMW E46?

DezUk

DezUk

DezUk

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So i have had the car for over a month now and loving but the only let down is the CD changer in the boot as it skips all the time. The harmon kardon system isn't bad, better than i thought but it just needs brought into the 21st century with mp3 compatibility.

So whats the best solution to get mp3's working in harmony with the original head unit or am i nest to buy a whole new after market unit. I have a half decent alpine unit in my old car but i don't think it would look right in the dash of the beemer. Ideally i wouldn't mind having a hard drive solution but I am assuming thats a whole car pc?


Cheers
 
You could try and get hold of an MP3 changer, the only mp3 compatible OEM changers are ones made after September 2005. Took me a month to source mine, another option is the ipod intravee thingymajigger
 
I'd go for an Intravee, KCA-420i (discontinued so you'll need to look on eBay) and an iPod.

The MP3 changer idea is silly because you don't get ID3 tags or anything and who wants to burn CD's when you fancy some new tracks?!
 
OllyM said:
I'd go for an Intravee, KCA-420i (discontinued so you'll need to look on eBay) and an iPod.

The MP3 changer idea is silly because you don't get ID3 tags or anything and who wants to burn CD's when you fancy some new tracks?!
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I wouldn't call it silly. What if you don't have an Ipod?, an OEM changer can simply be hooked up to the existing wiring and is an easy way to add support they can be had off Ebay for under £100 with the only downside of late 2005 models are fairly rare. How much does Intravee cost to implement, a fair bit more no?

Also how is burning a CD anymore hassle than removing the Ipod from the car and updating it with new tracks?, most of us have the technology to do this in minutes these days and CD-Rs can be had for peanuts.

ID3 tags would be nice, the changer is the cheaper option but less advanced, swings and roundabouts and it depends on the level of implementation/usability you're after in the car.
 
£150 for the Intravee at last glance, £20 maybe for the KCA-420i and you can even buy an iPod with a broken screen to use in the car - mine just sits in the boot.

So the cost isn't much more and you gain a lot of functionality - he can't sell his old CD changer to fund the upgrade if it's skipping as it's broken ;)
 
Over twice the cost then if you want to go that route, guess it's up to the OP to decide what he wants to do, he'll have to be uber patient to track down an MP3 compatible changer
 
I'd pay the extra simply for the track info and playlist/artist/song browsing capability but each to their own :)

I dock my iPod every few weeks and it just updates with stuff I've changed (or my Smart Playlists have changed) in iTunes - I don't actively have to burn a new CD :D
 
OllyM said:
I'd pay the extra simply for the track info and playlist/artist/song browsing capability but each to their own :)
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I probably would if I spent aslong in my car as you do. Luckily it's either driving short distances to work or the shops so I can live without, infact I've not changed any of my CD's in the 3 months I've had my changer :p
 
Tom|Nbk said:
I probably would if I spent aslong in my car as you do. Luckily it's either driving short distances to work or the shops so I can live without, infact I've not changed any of my CD's in the 3 months I've had my changer :p
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I listen to Radio 2 all day if I'm driving for work :p

Only really use my Intravee in the evening or at the weekend :)
 
the intrevee 2 is nice you can navigate the playlist and stuff on the 16:9 screen have it in my Range Rover and also lets me change between ipod and my mp3 cd-changer
 
To be honest the CD chnager option sounds fine to me as I don't have an ipod. What is the exact model number of the CD chnager unit?
 
If you are going the MP3 changer route then get the Alpine CHA-634S MP3 changer and an interface, these are commonly sold on ebay and in car audio shops as packages for about £100. This changer is exactly the same physical dimensions as the BMW changer as Alpine make the BMW changer. The BMW brackets even fit the holes on the Alpine. Also if you get the Alpine one then in the future you can buy and connect an Intravee to it if you decide you want ID3 tags. Don't bother with the OEM one.
 
Ok thanks for the info, just had a quick google search for an Alpine CHA-634S and can't find any sellers. Could be a hard thing to find by the looks of it.
 
Sorry it's CHA-S634.

They do seem to have gone up in price a bit though so probably best to look out for one on ebay. I have one in my garage I took out of my 325ci but I plan on fitting it to the Z4 at some point. :)
 
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