Done the CD-43 upgrade long time ago but never got to a small issue that kind of bugs me.. call it small details?
Well, at night the orange light coming form the CD-43 display and everything else is not as strong with the rest of the car... Will there be a way in the menu to increase or decrease the CD-43 light? I do have the menu manual but I couldn't find anything related to that area. Maybe a secret key code
:) As much as I love electronics I won't have the time or patience to take that thing apart and replace the led's if that's the resolution....
All the help and guidance is greatly appreciated....

As far as I know the answer is no.

It's been a few years since I tried a CD43, so I can't recall it's brightness in comparison with the rest of the interior. Is it a slight bit dimmer or a lot? If it's just a slight bit dimmer, you might get away without replacing the LEDs. Just lower the values of the current limiting resistors a bit to pump up the brightness.

For example, while doing my Indianapolis mod I reverse engineered the circuit diagram of the LEDs and found out that most groups of LEDs received a current of 4 mA. However, one group (using exactly the same LEDs) received 18 mA, so I knew all LEDs could take at least that current (probably 20 or 25 mA LEDs). If needed there would be a lot of headroom to pump up the brightness of the 4 mA groups.

I used a similar approach with the button illumination of the HVAC control unit. After fixing the light of the roller wheels, I found the button illumination too dim in comparison with for example the buttons on the center console. I measured the current through the LEDs - which was very low - and lowered the value of the current limiting resistors (simply by putting another resistor in parallel over the existing).

Of course, replacing all LEDs is time consuming, but so is locating the current limiting resistors and since they are probably very small SMT/SMD components, it may be difficult and frustrating to solder. To make a long story short, I don't think there's a quick and easy approach :)

IIRC the issue is due to the viewing angle of the console being different from its intended angle. Mine is the same way :( If you lean forward, does the brightness match more closely?

revtor would know more about this than I, I don't mess with polarized stuff :)

Thanks revtor and bryson. I knew it ain't gonna be an easy answer. I wouldn't mind getting into the electronics but now I have better things to do with the kids and wife :-) so I will pass.... Thanks again....

I have a CD43 fitted in my 8, it's a nice piece of kit and the sound is OK but there's one problem that occurs and I wonder if anyone else has experienced this: if I've been listening to a particular CD for a while the CD43 won't eject it. It seems that the CD gets quite hot in the machine and won't eject until it's cooled down. switching the unit off helps but takes a long time, with the car off and cooling probably a little faster then it doesn't take as long before I can eject the CD. Does anyone else have this problem?

Personally I haven't noticed the brightness difference noted by the OP, I'll have a look next time I'm out in the car at night.

I had a CD43 in my car until I got the Indianapolis, and it (CD43) was just as bright as the other orange "stuff" in the car. My unit was brand new, don't know if that has anything to do with it or not.

....at night the orange light coming form the CD-43 display and everything else is not as strong with the rest of the car...

Yes, I have noticed this too. Revtor's post suggests probably the only solution.

I have noticed that Alpine made head units (C33 and C43) are better quality than the Blaupunkt made CD43. I also feel the components made thru the early '90's were much more robust and reliable. Compare the bold, bright, sunlight readable display of the OBC to the display of the CD43. Compare also the small, delicate controls of the CD43 to those on the OBC.

Despite its shortcomings however, the CD43 remains the simplest and most convenient way to incorporate a factory-look, modern, plug-n-play CD head unit into the dash of our cars.