DAB Radio for BMW- Best options???

[haza1992]

I have a 1 Series which has the standard BMW professional stereo system, however it doesn't have DAB radio. What would be the best options for me to go for? Should I go through for a upgrade through BMW or go for one of those aftermarket DAB tuners. I'm a novice on this topic so any suggestions and knowledge would be helpful!!

[daemon]

haza1992 said:

I have a 1 Series which has the standard BMW professional stereo system, however it doesn't have DAB radio. What would be the best options for me to go for? Should I go through for a upgrade through BMW or go for one of those aftermarket DAB tuners. I'm a novice on this topic so any suggestions and knowledge would be helpful!!

any option to replace your head unit with a DAB equivalent?

I've a 2012 Golf TDI and i'm upgrading from an RCD 210 to an RCD 310 DAB, which has extra functionality and DAB. Got it for £99 brand new off ebay. £20 DAB aerial and running it up the window pillar and thats me sorted. Should get £30 for my old unit on ebay too.

Much nicer IMHO than an aftermarket unit OR a box stuck on your dash,

[haza1992]

No options to replace at all as its the following unit

[daemon]

no, that doesnt look like much fun

Mate of mine has a TT and hes facing a similar problem - massive bill to go OEM or look at some sort of inline dongle.

[surveyor]

Is it worth the bother?

[furtive]

How about something like this?

http://www.dabonwheels.co.uk/BMW_AutoDAB_integrate...

[Craikeybaby]

I got an Alpine Ezi DAB for the girlfriend's 500, which also acts as an iPod controller. There's a box which goes under the dash and a small screen/control unit which is visible.

[haza1992]

I just popped down to my local Halfords at Lunch. Found the following adapter which isn't half bad tbh!

http://www.halfords.com/sat-nav-audio/car-audio/da...

[Zedboy1200]

The wife's finally got fed up with the quality of my OE BMW DAB so has gone retro fit on her '60' A3. Used an AutoDab internal part so retained unmolested external looks, but gained full steering wheel functionality with new graphics on OE Audi head display. Compatible with all German makes.

Cost £140, plus £100 for OE shark fin (all fitted). Perfect reception. AutoDab details here http://www.autodab.com but the real hero was Aaron from Medway Mobile Music!

Edited by Zedboy1200 on Thursday 6th November 14:36

[r11co]

The 'official' dealer fit option is just a rebadged AutoDab with a remote control rather than patching into the CAN-BUS for steering wheel control of the unit. It uses an FM modulator to broadcast the signal to one of the analogue presets on the standard head-unit. An expensive and rather cruddy option IMO.

Try and track down a BMW/Visteon tuner module as fitted at the factory. If the car is pre-wired for a CD changer then the module can be connected in place of the CD unit (with pin 2 of the power connector removed - otherwise you fuse the internal lights) and then get the car coded to recognise the module. You will need to also have an antenna somewhere in/on the car or track down a diversity module which has the DAB output. Not an easy option but the best in terms of quality and integration with the car.

[toon10]

I had a new 3 series hire car for a month with the BMW DAB radio. As much as I liked having Absolute and other stations at my finger tips, I stopped using it due to the constant signal loss. It wasn't just the odd blip here and there, it was 5 or 6 times per song. I don't know if it's a common thing or just a faulty system.

[Richard-w6hqq]

r11co said:

Try and track down a BMW/Visteon tuner module as fitted at the factory. If the car is pre-wired for a CD changer then the module can be connected in place of the CD unit (with pin 2 of the power connector removed - otherwise you fuse the internal lights) and then get the car coded to recognise the module. You will need to also have an antenna somewhere in/on the car or track down a diversity module which has the DAB output. Not an easy option but the best in terms of quality and integration with the car.

Is there any chance this would work for an older 1 series @r11co? I'm looking at how to (best) add DAB to my E82 which has no CD changer but DOES have a MOST loop for a COMBOBOX in the boot... I'd really like to know whether this Visteon 7B IBOC tuner (which I think is the one you mentioned) might work on my base audio system...