help! I'm totally lost ...

[haumana]

I'm a newbie X5 owner. I want to change the stock stereo, but am totally lost about it. Here are the details of my ride...

2004 4.4 (mfg. 9/2003)
No Nav
No DSP
No BT
No BMW Assist

My end game is to have either a single DIN or double DIN head unit that has a USB port in front. I do not need GPS or NAV or DVD; Bluetooth would be nice, but not high on the list. I live on an island and at best, can only drive around in a circle. No place I go is far enough for me to provide video entertainment for my passengers. I prefer to listen to my MP3's via USB over Disc, iPod, or Bluetooth.

Do I need to replace all the speakers if I just change the head unit?

or will the power from the HU and a wiring harness take care of that?

Will my steering wheel controls still work with a new HU, or do I need an additional adapter?
If I can do a simple HU swap, is there a minimum wattage I should look for?
Does anyone have a setup that they can post pictures of?

I'm guessing that even though my steering wheel has the phone buttons, that my X5 was mfg too early ... so there probably won't be any wiring in place, right?

Any help is appreciated!!

Thanks in advance!!

[admranger]

Originally Posted by haumana

I'm a newbie X5 owner. I want to change the stock stereo, but am totally lost about it. Here are the details of my ride...

2004 4.4 (mfg. 9/2003)
No Nav
No DSP
No BT
No BMW Assist

My end game is to have either a single DIN or double DIN head unit that has a USB port in front. I do not need GPS or NAV or DVD; Bluetooth would be nice, but not high on the list. I live on an island and at best, can only drive around in a circle. No place I go is far enough for me to provide video entertainment for my passengers. I prefer to listen to my MP3's via USB over Disc, iPod, or Bluetooth.

Do I need to replace all the speakers if I just change the head unit?

or will the power from the HU and a wiring harness take care of that?

Will my steering wheel controls still work with a new HU, or do I need an additional adapter?
If I can do a simple HU swap, is there a minimum wattage I should look for?
Does anyone have a setup that they can post pictures of?

I'm guessing that even though my steering wheel has the phone buttons, that my X5 was mfg too early ... so there probably won't be any wiring in place, right?

Any help is appreciated!!

Thanks in advance!!

Why do you want a new head unit? The factory one is not that bad. What is bad are the speakers and the amplifier/crossover network.

Are you looking for sound quality? Mega thumpin' bass? Or just something that doesn't sound terrible?

Help us out with some more info on your goals.

[haumana]

Originally Posted by admranger

Why do you want a new head unit? The factory one is not that bad. What is bad are the speakers and the amplifier/crossover network.

Are you looking for sound quality? Mega thumpin' bass? Or just something that doesn't sound terrible?

Help us out with some more info on your goals.

I actually think the factory sound quality is decent, not phenomenal, but acceptable - but what I really want to be able to do is store my music on a flash drive. I like the ability of keeping a ridiculous amount of my music on something that doesn't require to be recharged (or is battery powered), and have to deal with a cable and place to put an iPod. We don't get Sirius or XM here, the radio stations play way too many commercials. and a lot of the dj's just suck. I don't want to BT stream my music either, not that the stock HU is able to do that.

I'm looking for anything thumping, though it would be nice, I don't want to spend lots of money on upgrading if I don't have to. If the it turns out that if I have to redo all the speakers if I change out the HU, then I'll consider adding some kind of pocket sub, but I really like the cargo space and don't want to take up room just for a sub.

I was a bit disappointed to learn that while the stock HU and steering wheel have the buttons for the phone, that sadly, my vehicle just doesn't have it, so if a new HU happens to have BT included, then that would be an added bonus.

I hope this helps with the direction I'm trying to go in with my new(er) ride. I admittedly got spoiled having thousands of songs at the touch of a button on my 4Runner (and not at the expense of my phone battery or cables).

Thanks again!!

[Lowblock]

I think your quickest and easiest way would be go the dice route. You can go with the regular silverline and use an ipod, or use the mediabridge which has a few more functions. Are you planning on doing this yourself? due to the fact you don't have DSP does make changing out the HU easier. IIRC you can wire in an aftermarket double din (single din units look very out of place), and fire up all channels from that using the aftermarket HU, that being said you are still stuck with a mediocre amp and speakers, which can also be changed out but can be a wiring nightmare if your not experienced with Mobile Audio, plus your throwing more money at it. How much money are you planning on putting into this upgrade? As far as SWC regardless of what unit you buy you will have to buy a SW controller, wire it in, and program the unit, but is doable. You have to pick the wire at the steering column and run it to the control. Which if your not familiar with could be a little difficult. I think your best bet would probably be the mediabridge, it seems it would allow you do do everything you want to do, plus a little bit more. and its pretty easy to install, particularly if you don't do Sirius, plus you can use your swc's. It would suck not being able to get Sirius, that's all I have listened to for years, ipod sometimes. Where do you live?

[TerminatorX5]

what you need, based on your requirements, is a CP600BMW... It takes a 32G SD card, plug-n-play in place of your factory CD changer, and voila!!! you still have your factory HU, and you have gazillion songs on an SD card

CP600BMW - inovative MP3 player CD-changer replacement

[Lowblock]

Originally Posted by TerminatorX5

what you need, based on your requirements, is a CP600BMW... It takes a 32G SD card, plug-n-play in place of your factory CD changer, and voila!!! you still have your factory HU, and you have gazillion songs on an SD card

CP600BMW - inovative MP3 player CD-changer replacement

Over a hundred dollars more, doesn't have a USB port so he can plug a thumb drive in, best bet is still the Mediabridge.

[haumana]

Originally Posted by Lowblock

Where do you live?

I live in Hawaii. No satellite radio here

I'm willing to toss about $300 - $500 for a basic upgrade of some sort. If it's easy enough, I'm willing to do a DIY. If it's not, then I will need to take it to a shop. I just don't want to checkout a shop and have them over sell me on stuff I don't need - like replacement amp(s) or speakers. I like the double din idea, because i do think that a single would look really strange in such a big area.

I will definitely take a look at the DICE and CP600BMW options. Though I really like the idea of cleaning up the dash with a simple double din.

Thanks for all the advice, it's totally appreciated!!

[Lowblock]

No Sirius! that sucks. You can do a double din, some rewiring of the current system will have to be, I believe you have to run a second, the rear outputs from the HU to the amp in the back, but im not certain. If you could find a schematic of the system you have I could help you out more. If you are going to go with the DD 500 bucks probably isn't going to do it if you take it somewhere. The last E53 I did we charged $175 for the install/rewiring, plus you need a harness, a dash kit, and the deck itself. I would recommend the Janus design dash kit because hands down it matches the dash very well, better then the BK and Metra stuff. It itself costs almost 100 bucks. Your cheapest and easiest route is the media bridge, do you have a CD changer? Its a simple plug in and run the microphone wire to the front somewhere. Good luck and if you have anymore questions feel free to ask

Dave

[haumana]

Originally Posted by Lowblock

No Sirius! that sucks. You can do a double din, some rewiring of the current system will have to be, I believe you have to run a second, the rear outputs from the HU to the amp in the back, but im not certain. If you could find a schematic of the system you have I could help you out more. If you are going to go with the DD 500 bucks probably isn't going to do it if you take it somewhere. The last E53 I did we charged $175 for the install/rewiring, plus you need a harness, a dash kit, and the deck itself. I would recommend the Janus design dash kit because hands down it matches the dash very well, better then the BK and Metra stuff. It itself costs almost 100 bucks. Your cheapest and easiest route is the media bridge, do you have a CD changer? Its a simple plug in and run the microphone wire to the front somewhere. Good luck and if you have anymore questions feel free to ask

Dave

Mahalo for the advice! After looking high and low, I can't seem to find (a free) wiring diagram to take a look at it. I think the media bridge might be the way to go until I decide how in-depth I really want to get with the sound system.

If I have no intentions of using the iPod, and just using the USB feature, do I really need to pull the wiring to the front of the vehicle, or can I just leave in the back where the disc changer is? Is the BT wiring all in place, and it's just a plug'n'play?

UGH! Too many options!

[dolbyX5]

The media bridge is what you want. I use an ipod and it stays in the back and never sees the light of day. All your steering wheel controls work with it. It's an easy integration, really plug and play. I have the single cd w/no dsp or nav. Good luck.