Finally found the right BMW

[Slurms]

Just bought a 2003 330Ci Clubsport..

Been looking for about 2 months now.. Seen some nasty ones and a couple of nice ones.. Finally settled on an Estoril Blue Clubsport with the full grey leather interior. Colour is just stunning and I even like the little wing on the back despite the fact that it does nothing for the cars aero efficency.

Picking it up on Wednesday night

Only downside to the car is that the stereo is the standard one.. So anyone with any tips on replacing the stock BMW stereo?

[Vee]

Slurms said:

Just bought a 2003 330Ci Clubsport..

Been looking for about 2 months now.. Seen some nasty ones and a couple of nice ones.. Finally settled on an Estoril Blue Clubsport with the full grey leather interior. Colour is just stunning and I even like the little wing on the back despite the fact that it does nothing for the cars aero efficency.

Picking it up on Wednesday night

Only downside to the car is that the stereo is the standard one.. So anyone with any tips on replacing the stock BMW stereo?

Does it have the Harmon Kardon upgrade ?
Have you switched it on.
While not great it is an improvement over standard.

[Slurms]

Vee said:

Does it have the Harmon Kardon upgrade ?
Have you switched it on.
While not great it is an improvement over standard.

No it doesn't so i'm going to be looking into changing the speakers as well..

Really want something that'll play MP3's do the later factory fit ones offer MP3 decoding ?

[MK4 Slowride]

Slurms said:

Just bought a 2003 330Ci Clubsport..

Been looking for about 2 months now.. Seen some nasty ones and a couple of nice ones.. Finally settled on an Estoril Blue Clubsport with the full grey leather interior. Colour is just stunning and I even like the little wing on the back despite the fact that it does nothing for the cars aero efficency.

Picking it up on Wednesday night

Only downside to the car is that the stereo is the standard one.. So anyone with any tips on replacing the stock BMW stereo?

I work for BMW, Slurms so if you'd like a copy of the build sheet I can provide it for you just mail me. Depending on the build spec can affect the cost of having Harmon Kardon or other ICE systems installed.

[Slurms]

MK4 Slowride said:

Slurms said:

Just bought a 2003 330Ci Clubsport..

Been looking for about 2 months now.. Seen some nasty ones and a couple of nice ones.. Finally settled on an Estoril Blue Clubsport with the full grey leather interior. Colour is just stunning and I even like the little wing on the back despite the fact that it does nothing for the cars aero efficency.

Picking it up on Wednesday night

Only downside to the car is that the stereo is the standard one.. So anyone with any tips on replacing the stock BMW stereo?

I work for BMW, Slurms so if you'd like a copy of the build sheet I can provide it for you just mail me. Depending on the build spec can affect the cost of having Harmon Kardon or other ICE systems installed.

Cool, you have mail..

[Lordsmut]

Nice one Slurms, glad you held on and bagged the one you really wanted.

[Slurms]

Yeah I compromised on the Stereo spec.. I really wanted one with the H/K upgrade but the problem with clubsports is that some dealers seem to think they are worth 2 - 3k above the stock 330Ci Sport..

While they do carry a premium (depending on your personal tastes) it's closer to £500 - £1000 I think and I just wasn't willing to pay crazy money only to loose it in depreciation.

[taffyracer]

HK was alwasy very poor, much better off spending £300 on some decent aftermarket speakers and amps than that pile of poo

[A S P]

If you want to retain the original head unit but improve things on a small budget an in-line amp like the Sony Sound-on-top amp can be worthwile. I've done that and replaced the dreadful standard speakers and its much better, its generally considered a better upgrade than the Harmon system which for a supposedly good hi-fi upgrade is actually quite poor.

The Sony amp is a xm-423sl, discontinued now but still occasionally available on eBay, there's bound to be other brands doing this style of amp as well though. For me this was preferable since I wanted to retain the standard looking stereo, I personally hate seeing aftermarket stuff, and for the improvement in sound was v cheap.

[MK4 Slowride]

taffyracer said:

HK was alwasy very poor, much better off spending £300 on some decent aftermarket speakers and amps than that pile of poo

HK isn't that bad as far a factory fit stuff goes. Obviously if you want to be heard from 5 mile saway then it will be a bad choice, but for cruising about it's fine.

[Slurms]

Yeah i'd rather retain the look of a stock stereo unit but unless I can find one thats MP3 compatible it's gonna have to go..

Edited by Slurms on Tuesday 14th August 13:34

[A S P]

Slurms said:

Yeah i'd rather retain the look of a stock stereo unit but unless I can find one thats MP3 compatible it's gonna have to go..

Edited by Slurms on Tuesday 14th August 13:34

I'm sure you can replace the standard changer with one that plays MP3's and it works as normal. I've fitted a Dension Icelink and just use my iPod, the cradle just sits to the left of the stereo. There are newer models of Dension, and other brands, which retain the changer and offer other inputs as well, all with the standard head unit.

http://www.dension.com/main.htm