MY Dad is looking to get a Jet Black 2003 530ia with sand leather, premium and cold packages, xenon lights, and a 6 CD changer mounted in the trunk.

The dealership at home lists the changer at $850! While BMW's website lists it at $595. Is there any way this cost also figures in a $255 installation cost?

How easy would it be for me to install it for him? I did my headunit in my car... is there just a section in the rear of the trunk with a plastic "plug" in it, that I would pull out and just hook to the cd changer?

If it can save us $225, seems like a good thing...

Thanks for your help!

im not sure, i just have a headunit myself, but i think all you would have to do is wire it up. but then again i could be wrong. even if you want that i assume it would be a hell of a lot cheaper to just get an aftermarket place do it. like a local audio shop, it shouldnt cost more than 50 bucks for just an install.

when you go to the dealership next time check out the trunk to be sure about that plug.

My 5 does not have a cd changer but has a wire harness that you could attach the cd changer on. I guess if you have all the mounts it would be a bolt on install.

im not sure about the e39's, but my car was prewired for the trunk changer, all i needed was a mounting bracket for the changer and just plugged it in..

im sure you could save way more than $255 by buying the changer somewhere else!

my dad has 2001 525i, and it's prewired for a cd changer.

don't get the changer at the stealer. call up some places such as pacific bmw and try to find the best deal. then just order it up with the bracket kit and install it yourself.

i did the install on my e34, and it took less than an hour to do. i'm sure it's fairly similar on the e39.

i have a 97 540i that i just did the alpine cd/mp3 changer in last week - my local shop charged me $450 total for all parts and instal and had it done w/in an hour no probs.

Hope this helps,
Wagz