My '97 E36 factory CD changer is on its way out. It skips incessantly, even after I cleaned the laser lens. So I'm looking for a relatively inexpensive replacement.

I thought about upgrading my head unit while I'm at it, but I'm not an audiophile like some of my friends, and I don't like the looks of most of the aftermarket head units. Then I thought about buying a used OE changer, but I'm a little leery of buying used electronics.

So I looked at Crutchfield's online catalog and saw that the Alpine CHM-S630 M-Bus CD changer and a Blitzsafe adapter will interface with my car's stock I-Bus connector. The price for the kit is $290.

Does anyone have any experience with this setup?

Thanks in advance for your help.