E46 audio upgrade options?

Scania

Scania

Scania

Caporegime
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25 Nov 2004
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On the road....
I'm replacing my e39 with an e46 318i (blasphemy I know!!!) but after being quite happy with my old e36 318i and subsequently owning a 728i, 328i and latterly the 528i I think I've scratched the big engine itch and can't find a worthy e38 740i that I'd really like (never mind justify one) so its the 318 due to price and knowing the cars history from new.
Anyway, the sodding thing does not have a CD player which is a bit pants, so what are my options to gain one?

On the one hand, I'm thinking of eBay for a BMW autochanger (assuming it'll plug & play) or,on the other, an aftermarket jobbie with USB for my data stick / iPhone.

Tbh the standard fit radio sounds pretty good for what it is, so adding an autochanger is probably my preferred option, is it as simple as sourcing one from the bay and away I go or is it more involved? And if so, I'm thinking of the aftermarket option....

Thoughts appreciated :)
 
Because I've moved out of town, mileage has increased considerably, and at nearly 275k miles it wants a bit spending on it, the exhaust is still the one it left the factory with, it's never had a cooling system refresh, it needs 4 tyres and the gearbox is starting (I suspect) to give up the ghost, in short, it's worth **** all, wants a lot spending on it and now that I'm living with my gf, her daughter and my own daughter , my priority is now far from an aged but expensive to run car!

The 318 has 80k on it with FSH and is not about to hit me with a couple of grand in bills to get it right as the e39 most likely is!
Don't get me wrong, I'll be sorry to see it go, but as I say, prioritys are somewhat different now.

Anyway, what about the audio options for the e46? - forget the 528, as of Saturday,alas, it's history.

It's been a great car incidentally, I thought I'd keep it 6 months until it went bang, nearly 2 years later it's still running very well especially given its age & miles.
 
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Flawed decision, the E46 isn't exactly box fresh it sounds like its about 10 years old and frankly the 8v unit in the earlier ones is barely any more economical than your 528i. You'll save almost no money and end up driving a car thats worse, but there we go.

If you were going for a 2005 Focus instead I'd understand your point, but out of one aging BMW into another? At least the 528i is worth the hassle which an old 318i isn't!

But still, your audio question - they should be pre-wired for a CD changer in the boot, and any of the E39/E46 ones from Ebay will be fine. If you get a September 05 or newer changer it'll play MP3's as well.
 
I think after 2004? the BMW CD players play mp3, but a CD player would obviously be more expensive and not really worth it unless you want the OEM look.(I did)
Mine plays MP3 - it was a fairly pleasant surprise when I shoved a CD in and it worked. :)
 
I hear you, but as I say, I don't see the 318 hitting me in the pocket like the 528 almost inevitably is going to do so,as I say, given its miles and lack of supposedly inevitable gearbox & cooling system weakness related failures, I can't help thinking an 80k 318i will be a little easier on the pocket over the next 12 months...

Incidentally, it's my mums old car, and my old man (who paid to run both it and the 528 at one time) is quite sure it's the cheaper of the two to run long term, time will tell I guess...

Its done anyway, thanks for the answer re the CD changer - I was hoping that would be the case.
 
I'm not sure where you got the idea that the cooling system on a 10+ year old 318i isn't going to be a potential issue in the future :p

Sounds like what you needed was a Honda Accord, not another old BMW :p
 
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Why would you replace it, all you do is tell everyone how many miles it's done and how good it is (or point out that it's not an E38). You'll have nothing to do if you sell it.
 
[TW]Fox;22383838 said:
I'm not sure where you got the idea that the cooling system on a 10+ year old 318i isn't going to be a potential issue in the future :p
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That's easy to answer - it had a new rad, water pump & hoses about 3 months ago!! :D

Anyway, your not seriously saying a well looked after 318 with 80k & FSH that's had such work done is going to prove more troublesome than a 528 with 195k more on the clock despite never having had such work done? - That it's not needed such work doing yet surely does not mean its not almost inevitable that it soon will?

Even if they both had identical mileages, the e39 is hardly going to be the cheaper of the two to own & run is it?
 
I am saying its not going to be appreciably cheaper not that it will be more expensive. It's a fairly pointless money saving exercise. You will save a small amount on fuel and that's about it. Bar that gearbox there is nothing that's much more complex on an e39, the E46 has much in common.

You keep going on and on about mileage whilst forgetting they are both well over a decade old! Mileage is fairly irrelevant at this age as you yourself spent the last year telling everyone..

I agree its not cheap but neither is your new one really. Sounds like you needed to downgrade away from BMW if you wanted credible guaranteed savings in running costs.
 
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Spamalot said:
Why would you replace it, all you do is tell everyone how many miles it's done and how good it is (or point out that it's not an E38). You'll have nothing to do if you sell it.
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I know, it's no e38, I've had the option to change it for a far lower mileage car, for less than I've sold the e39 for, as I say, my prioritys are somewhat different now, the e46 will do me fine.

Previously, I lived alone, worked local to home and did not have the costs associated with a small family, now I do.
Swapping the 5 for a smaller, hopefully cheaper to run car seems to me to be the right move. Not from a petrol head point of view, sure, I'm looking at it more from the point of view of a family budget perspective.
 
Fox, the only reason I've opted for the 318 is I know the car, and it's past history.
I would rather have kept the 528 than gone for a random old e46! - especially a 318.
As you know, you buy cars - not just BMW's - on condition, this one is in very very good condition. With known history etc That's why I went for it, otherwise, sure, I probably would have opted for a Focus or Mondeo.
 
BMW Business CD players for the E46 play MP3's if they are made after September 04. The CD Changers play MP3's if they are made after September 05.
 
R420LA6X2/4MNA said:
I know, it's no e38, I've had the option to change it for a far lower mileage car, for less than I've sold the e39 for, as I say, my prioritys are somewhat different now, the e46 will do me fine.

Previously, I lived alone, worked local to home and did not have the costs associated with a small family, now I do.
Swapping the 5 for a smaller, hopefully cheaper to run car seems to me to be the right move. Not from a petrol head point of view, sure, I'm looking at it more from the point of view of a family budget perspective.
Click to expand...

You make it sound like you sold an Phantom and bought a g-wizz, the car you've changed to is almost identical.
 
R420LA6X2/4MNA said:
An e46 318i manual is almost identical to an e39 528i auto? Err, ok!
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Very similar cars with similar running costs (bar fuel, which is still not going to be a million miles apart).

I think what he is getting at is that they are not night and day different, more late evening and dusk.
 
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