2002 E53 Radio Cage/Bracket Removal

andrewb · #1 11-28-2014, 09:32 PM

Hello All - for my 02 E53, I have purchased: Buy BMW X5 DVD Player with GPS Navigation E53 2001-2007 Can Bus TV IPOD Singel Din 7 Digital Screen [8786] - $469.00 : Cars-electronics.com Removing the Business CD and Radio was a breeze. Problem is the cage/bracket. This prevents the proper "seating" of this double DIN unit. I have searched far and wide for any instructions on how to remove said cage; to no avail. I did see one post that stipulated the removal of the wood dash accent strips which would reveal screws that would help in the cage removal. Did that, no screws. I'd really appreciate your help, not real crazy about getting a dremel and cutting anything. One day might sell the car, and would like to include the OEM CD and Radio with it. Thanks in advance for your assit.

romeokc10 · #2 11-29-2014, 03:16 AM

You have to cut to cut it out, no other way around it, do a search, lots of threads about this. I had to cut mine to install my aftermarket navigation system, you have no choice if you want to install a double DIN unit, so warm up your dremel. Also if you have the DSP sound system, these are not plug and play.

andrewb · #3 11-29-2014, 02:23 PM

OK, can you talk about how you mounted the brackets to hold in the unit?

stuntflyer · #4 12-31-2021, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewb

Hello All - for my 02 E53, I have purchased: Buy BMW X5 DVD Player with GPS Navigation E53 2001-2007 Can Bus TV IPOD Singel Din 7 Digital Screen [8786] - $469.00 : Cars-electronics.com Removing the Business CD and Radio was a breeze. Problem is the cage/bracket. This prevents the proper "seating" of this double DIN unit. I have searched far and wide for any instructions on how to remove said cage; to no avail. I did see one post that stipulated the removal of the wood dash accent strips which would reveal screws that would help in the cage removal. Did that, no screws. I'd really appreciate your help, not real crazy about getting a dremel and cutting anything. One day might sell the car, and would like to include the OEM CD and Radio with it. Thanks in advance for your assit.

I am just following up on this to see if anyone else had an answer to this question. I have seen elsewhere online where someone stated that cage can be removed without using a Dremel to hack it up, but I cannot recall where I saw it. I'm contemplating upgrading my Head Unit as well and I too would like to avoid hacking up the current radio rack if it can be avoided.

Overboost · #5 12-31-2021, 06:06 PM

Gray dashes were the only ones that had a bolt in bracket is my understanding. If you have a black dash, cutting the bracket out is your only solution.

When I trimmed mine for the Avin Avant-4, I left as much as I could and still the the headunit in.

stuntflyer · #6 12-31-2021, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Overboost

Gray dashes were the only ones that had a bolt in bracket is my understanding. If you have a black dash, cutting the bracket out is your only solution.

When I trimmed mine for the Avin Avant-4, I left as much as I could and still the the headunit in.

Ok thanks for the info. Much appreciated. Guess I need to go dig up my Dremel.

Lowblock · #7 01-01-2022, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Overboost

Gray dashes were the only ones that had a bolt in bracket is my understanding. If you have a black dash, cutting the bracket out is your only solution.

When I trimmed mine for the Avin Avant-4, I left as much as I could and still the the headunit in.

Thats strange because mine went right in without taking anything out. I have a Dynavin too and that didnt require any mods to go in either. weird

Crowz · #8 01-02-2022, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lowblock

Thats strange because mine went right in without taking anything out. I have a Dynavin too and that didnt require any mods to go in either. weird

Its been forever since I did one of these but didnt the factory nav cars just fit without cutting and the non factory nav had to be cut?

Was yours equipped with the factory nav radio by chance? The others are talking about the business radio which is completely different.

Lowblock · #9 01-02-2022, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crowz

Its been forever since I did one of these but didnt the factory nav cars just fit without cutting and the non factory nav had to be cut?

Was yours equipped with the factory nav radio by chance? The others are talking about the business radio which is completely different.

Ah, the 4.6 was factory nav but the 4.4 was the business radio, but thats the one that got the dynavin unit and those are still a "din" radio. There may have been some filing down of some areas but there wasn't any cutting if I remember correctly. I do also recall the Avin units being different and remember there was no cutting in my e38 install either. It has been a number of years so, you know, dead brain cells...

Dave