Wanted BMW CD43

[Zephyr]

I am not sure about the outcome when rubbing this with anything. Seems like this “soft paint” that bmw used tends to flake when scratched and looks horrible.
best approach would be a small bmw domed silicone logo over that mg one.

like this one https://beststickers.net/index.php?...path=63&product_id=316&sort=p.model&order=ASC

 

[Mus Musculus]

I am not sure about the outcome when rubbing this with anything.

Thanks. I have already got a log like the one you posted. I will try to remove the MG logo, but if it doesn't look nice, I will just cover it up...

 

[Mus Musculus]

Wow! I've just installed an MG badged CD43, and the sound is something else. I can only assume that the BMW system was set-up to work with whatever speakers/amplifiers they had in place (obviously).

The 3rd party Pioneer radio I had in the car could not even drive the back speakers, but now everything is working properly. Not audiophile stuff, but what an improvement.

I am going to install this: Bluetooth Music Hands free MP3 adapter. I suppose I could get a much better output following @Zephyr's guide, but I am pretty chuffed with the results so far.

If I am unable to get the MG radio to look a bit more BMW like, then I guess I will spend the money on a real OEM unit...

 

[Zephyr]

Wow! I've just installed an MG badged CD43, and the sound is something else. I can only assume that the BMW system was set-up to work with whatever speakers/amplifiers they had in place (obviously).

The 3rd party Pioneer radio I had in the car could not even drive the back speakers, but now everything is working properly. Not audiophile stuff, but what an improvement.

I am going to install this: Bluetooth Music Hands free MP3 adapter. I suppose I could get a much better output following @Zephyr's guide, but I am pretty chuffed with the results so far.

If I am unable to get the MG radio to look a bit more BMW like, then I guess I will spend the money on a real OEM unit...

Exactly the one I have. works great. If you are not interested in aux, or usb you can hide it inside the glovebox, or behind the radio inside the dash.

 

[Mus Musculus]

Exactly the one I have. works great. If you are not interested in aux, or usb you can hide it inside the glovebox, or behind the radio inside the dash.

Thanks. I got this device based on your recommendation.

I want to have a way of accessing at least the USB port, so will look at the best way to install next weekend. I like where you have the unit. Will try to find a way to route the cables kind of concealed. Any tips?

Meanwhile, I had a nice blast to the past listening to David Bowie's last CD (Blackstar) on a quick run around the local countryside. The wind noise could not drown the CD sound, unlike with the Pioneer unit. Pretty happy!

 

[Zephyr]

Thanks. I got this device based on your recommendation.

I want to have a way of accessing at least the USB port, so will look at the best way to install next weekend. I like where you have the unit. Will try to find a way to route the cables kind of concealed. Any tips?

Meanwhile, I had a nice blast to the past listening to David Bowie's last CD (Blackstar) on a quick run around the local countryside. The wind noise could not drown the CD sound, unlike with the Pioneer unit. Pretty happy!

do you have the “viber” app? You can call me and I can show you real time. Or skype/teams or something similar.
its pretty simple. Remove glovebox and console side panel, (some philips screws covered in plastic caps) pass the cable under the side panel and then push with your fingers under the center console all the way back.

 

[Mus Musculus]

Thanks @Zephyr I will try next weekend and if I get stuck I will get back to you.

 

[RickyBobby]

Wow! I've just installed an MG badged CD43, and the sound is something else.

Mine came with an after market Pioneer unit but fortunately the seller also provided the CD43 unit they'd removed. There was nothing wrong with the Pioneer but I replaced it because I preferred the OEM look - when I did I was suprised by the improved sound quality but I'm sure another member had suggested this would be the case because of the reasons you suggested I.e. it was made specifically for the Z3 set up especially with the Harman Kardon upgrade

 

[Mus Musculus]

Like I mentioned before, I am not trying to con anyone into thinking an MG radio is the same as the BMW, but boy, can we make it look the part?

I've found a chap in the US producing vinyl transfer decals that look like the original "BMW Business CD" lettering. This is my first test using a small piece cut off of a mobile phone case. Note: it's hard to take a picture that's legible enough, considering the small size, so the logo looks much better in person:

I've got an acrylic paint pen that matches the colour of the radio pretty well, and the old MG logo is gone. I am now waiting for a second transfer decal to use on the radio itself. Seems much better to me than the various BMW/M logos used for the same purpose.

 

[WEZ1963]

Can anyone confirm if this is Orange or Yellow illumination?

 

[AntStark]

Yip..it’s definitely one of those

 

[Mus Musculus]

Can anyone confirm if this is Orange or Yellow illumination?

That's certainly a yellow/orange display. Obviously MG, as per picture.

Note: at the time BMW owned the Rover/MG group, and to save money (synergies) the same stereos were used for the three brands. ~ The Rover radios, which are harder to come by, had the same red LEDs as the BMW ones. Again, they are all the same units, just different branding.

 

[WEZ1963]

That's certainly a yellow/orange display. Obviously MG, as per picture.

Note: at the time BMW owned the Rover/MG group, and to save money (synergies) the same stereos were used for the three brands. ~ The Rover radios, which are harder to come by, had the same red LEDs as the BMW ones. Again, they are all the same units, just different branding.

So this won’t match the Z3 illumination?

 

[Ianmc]

So this won’t match the Z3 illumination?

Mine does!

 

[WEZ1963]

Mine does!

Is yours the same as above?

 

[WEZ1963]

Mine does!

Any pics of it installed?

 

[Ianmc]

Its actually installed in our E36 at present. Colours equal though!

 

[Mus Musculus]

So this won’t match the Z3 illumination?

No, it will not match the illumination.
I was very keen to get the look just right, but in the end I decided that investing in mechanical fixes was better that just splashing money on a CD43. Besides, for my car, the C33 radio/cassette would be the age correct one. That sounds even worse than aftermarket ones and doesn't allow for any of the Bluetooth adapters to be added.
In the end, I just went for MG CD43, as it is effectively the same unit that would be installed on BMW, but the display will not match the colour scheme:

This looks much more like yellow, but the colour is really orange, and matches the colour of the display in the speedometer (miles, service, etc.). Why even the original lighting is not all red, I don't know...

I am happy to live with that though, considering the difference in price between the BMW and MG units for sale. For now.. Considering how OCD I am, I will likely spend the extra money and get a BMW/Rover branded CD43 at some point.

Edit: Speeling!

Edit 2: I had the wrong brand mentioned (Rover). Mine is actually an MG branded CD43, and the illumination doesn't match the BMW red.

 

[Ianmc]

Mine is a Rover CD43 one (pictured above) and the colour matches perfectly!

 

[Mus Musculus]

Mine is a Rover CD43 one (pictured above) and the colour matches perfectly!

Sorry, I don't know what I was thinking. Mine is an MG CD43, and I have edited the post to correct the description.

The Rover branded CD43 has red illumination, exactly like the BMW one. Not easy to come by though...