Business audio upgrade options
 

Hi guys


Im looking at buying a very tidy 4.6 but it has the business audio system instead of the sat nav screen.


I believe its got the 6 disc changer in the boot so before buying im a tad confused on the upgrade options available to me.


Id like to keep everything looking as original as possible ideally but I assume that putting the OEM nav setup in is almost impossible.


That then leads me to double din systems - does this involve cutting the dash and using facia plates etc ?

:thumbup:

Thankyou for the quick reply :)


Ive seen the debates on what android system is best etc but is fitting one to a business setup that same process as with the nav setup ?


Production date is 2003-02-07 (Is that Feb 7th or July 2nd) so pre 2004



I dont believe it has DSP but not 100% sure how to know however VIN decoder lists these options for multimedia :
S672ACD changer for 6 CDs
S676AHiFi speaker system S661A


Radio BMW Business C43

Ill have to get some more info on the DSP situation to be sure - if it does have DSP is it alot more work or impossible ?

For Android a straight swap with DSP has proved to be challenging. Some of the Android systems will clearly state will not work with DSP and those that do claim it is compatible also state it will need professional wiring to make it work.

The system I am installing is the Avin Avant-3 and they claim full compatibility with DSP with no wiring modifications and a straight installation. They are back-ordered until the end of the month so we will see.

As far as the factory Navigation retrofit there are several threads here, you should have a look at the amount of work and cost to do that job. I wouldn't want to go through all that effort to end up with a system that has the technology from 2000 but that's just me. If it were easy, a simple plug and play retrofit, it would've already be in my X5 years ago.

I did the factory Navigation retrofit on my E46 back in 2005 and it ended up costing me thousands. It would have been cheaper to add it as an option when I bought it. :thumbup:

Id never heard of AVIN over here in the UK but it does look like a premium product with plenty of options - ill be following your install and thought on it once fitted :)


Ill have a look at the retrofit threads manily due to a salvage E53 over here costing about the same as the AVIN with all the options :)

Paul, the install of an e53/e39 aftermarket Android system is very straight forward (as long as you have no DSP) and many look very "OEM".

DIN or Double DIN requires faceplates and other mounts and generally look awful (IMHO). Very subjective I know but who wants a blue/red/green disco-panel next to wood-grain? :rofl:

Is getting a screen important?

If not check out Grom audio BT3, it replaces the cd changer to a module.

You keep all stock components but add Bluetooth streaming and other features while maintaining everything stock.

Avin-3 unit's dsp compatibility is just iBus, nothing on the unit by itself to work with DSP so any Android HU with iBus USB+App license should make DSP work with out additional wiring.

From my own research the reason DSP doesn't work is because all the wiring harnesses they offer don't route the remote amp wire (usually the blue wire on most aftermarket units) to the trunk.

I came across another member's personal website (Crowz) and stated something about extending that wire and connection it to the factory harness in the trunk and getting it to work ( gotta read it again as I could be wrong)




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I guess I should use the words "double din" as in reality the OEM nav isnt that size :)


A screen is not a massive issue in all honesty - if I can play music from my phone and control it via the steering wheel buttons ill be happy.


Android auto and DAB radio would be nice but in reality ive survived in my current car with just the AM/FM radio !


I had an Intravee in my last E53 but that had the nav unit and tbh I didnt find it that great.

Both the Grom and Android retain steering wheel controls.

Grom is pretty much plug and play. Not sure if it supports DAB as we don't have that in the US but it does support (add-on) HD radio and is the only unit that has HD radio.

As for nav I find myself using my phone 99% of the time even on my other cars with more modern factory navigation systems.


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Hi another alternative is the Dynavin N7. Works with or without the DSP and as there is no Nav it is a straight forward plug and play.

You have the HI-FI probably analog DSP system.

I would look at installing a Raspberry Pi 7" screen system in place of the Business CD, or installing a GROM Bluetooth system so that you can stream music or audio from your phone to the X.

From all of the options the GROM sounds like the cheapest and easiest if I just want the play music.


The more I think about it the less I need a screen - it has parking sensors all round and I have a seperate sat nav option.

I kinda came to the same conclusion but then realised the GROM is over half the price of the full system so end up back on the fence again... :confused:

Ended up do nothing - yet. :rolleyes:

There's a company over here called carphonics that seem to upgrade the standard unit to accept Bluetooth, aux or iPod but I'm yet to email them about how.

They seem to take your CD54 unit and add the bits you want. They can also upgrade the amp while it's there.

I've looked at that with interest, as if I could get the aux. input on my CD54 going, I could add my own BT.

Never managed to get the aux. on the CD54 (E39 Becker) working though - seems to be very little info. about the aux. on a CD54 (E39 Becker) - most info is on either the CD53 (E46 Alpine) or CD54 (E46 Becker) and it seems my one is different. :dunno:

Kind of, I've got DSP (my vin decode says 'hifi professional dsp'), and I installed an N6 Dynavin in place of business radio. It only works so-so with DSP. On mine, it doesn't turn the amp on every time. At first it wouldn't command the amp more than 1/2 the time. After returning it for service, it's better, but I still find myself having to switch the key on and off a bit. Considering the premium price of dynavin, if I had the chance to do over, I'd go a different route.

No need to get into the explanation of how to integrate with DSP here since I don't think the OP has it. His upgrade should be pretty easy whichever route he chooses.

Paulpen - I've done this, as well as upgrading speakers. Look for my writeups.

One question - do you have the system with a factory amp in the boot?

I am happy to advise you, as I researched this quite a bit before I did the work (double DIN JVC unit with a facia surround that looks like it came from BMW). I also added a controller so that the steering wheel controls work with the new head unit. Note that my work was done 4-5 years ago, when Android units were less common. My key was to move from a basic unit to gain DAB+, iPhone inputs (I added Bluetooth) and a provision for CD's (a bit old school). PM are fine as well.

Wpoll - might be worth sending them an email to see what they can do for your unit ?


Gregory - Im not sure what ive got yet as not viewing it until tomorrow but im certainly interested in your route. All the android units seem to have their own little quirks and in all honesty id rather have a basic setup that works rather than spend time and money and then have to accept "quirks / issues" !

Postage to and from the UK is prohibitive.... :rolleyes:

I spent some time goofing with it last night - made the wiring loom including caps and resistor - no dice - still no aux.

There are several variations of pin outs for these radios and I'm using the one that seems most likely (matching the other wiring etc.) - might need to experiment some more. :dunno:

If you had a diagram for yours would you be able to wire it correctly ?

I have multiple diagrams and none of them seem to be correct... :rolleyes:

Trouble is my unit seems to be fairly uncommon (CD54 E39 Becker) so there's not much info on it.

No biggie... it wasn't something I wanted anyway. I rarely listen to music when driving - even long distance. I wanted it so I could add in a BT interface for music streaming for the significant others in the car, when they travel with me - not a regular thing either.

Thats fair enough chap - ive always found bmwplanet diagrams to be pretty good unless you have already looked there ?

Nope - I'll have a gecko - thanks. :thumbup:

*edit* long gone but I think they were vehicle wiring diagrams, using the WDS system (which I have access to on other sites) - pretty much the same as what's on the newtis.info site.

Wiring diagrams like this often don't cover the minor variations due to third-party hardware like Alpine vs Becker (for radios head units etc.). :(

I went down a similar path as Mr. Robot, & retrofitted apple airplay (lossless streams) into the stock radio. For navigation I like to use my iPhone/waze as well. While it is also completely subjective, I much prefer the look of the regular radio with the matching trim hiding the CD player. I think it ties the dashboard together much nicer then aftermarket or the even worse stock nav. unit.

For the audio part, have you looked at the cp600bmw? That has an optical out for DSP and an analog output. Soud and build quality are top notch.

No bluetooth though, but 16 bit DAC and fully integrated into the BMW user 'experience' (meaning the menu and button's work like they do for a CD-changer)



For DAB+ I only know of a module for the CCC, so for the E70 and up, not the I-bus driven E53/39/46/38 etc.



I use an old Nokia bluetooth carkit to connect my iphone for phone only. The music is coming form an SD card in the CP600. I don't like using the phone for calling and navigating and music streaming at the same time. The bluetooth nokia kit's output goes into the BM54 radio so there's only a small button and a microphone visible in the car.



And for Aux; not all generations of radio modules have the hardware on board to accept the aux input triggered by a simple resistor. Don't know the precise date/year but I have had two E39's with the same configuration, with different radio internals. Both facelifts so no optical DSP.

Hi Wayne, I just stumbled upon this post, are the CD53 and CD54 interchangeable, or is the CD54 the unit that can interface with the CD stacker?

I have 2 CD53's in the garage, you are welcome to either / both. Both are SW 42, HW 41 09/05. I also have a MID.

Wow, Neil. You are the man... I'll do some research and get back to you on that option. As I said, I'm not too stressed about sorting it - to be honest, my main driving factor was just to understand more about these systems so I can help others.

Even just knowing where there are some spares in this part of the world is great news for the whole community. :thumbup: