Need H/U recommendations

[Ar15bimmer]

The stock radio on my 328 doesn't work (the phone mute is stuck on) so my Mother in law said she'd get me a new head unit for christmas. I'd like one with CD/USB imputs and Sirius Satellite ready. My upper limit is about a grand. (I love having rich inlaws ).

[aznboy1992]

WOW! a grand limit. hmm u should get a kenwood LCD flip out. those look good in a 3 series. the cheapest model online right now is the kenwood kvt-512. they run for about 400-600new and 350-400 refurbished.

[muleskinner]

I like the late model Alpine (9884 and forward) because it has a lot of amber illumination instead of some psychedelic freakout like many modern HUs.

[Mean Supreme]

Alpine 9884-9886 are good, neither have the option for USB connections in the front though. The USB connections are in the rear so you'd have to purchase a cable ( I believe the 9886 comes with an USB/Ipod cable) and run it into your glovebox or anywhere else you'd like it to be. Alpine has the CDA-102 that replaced most of the 988# models and it has a USB connection in the front, however, from experience certain Ipods don't function with it so if your gonna use another USB source like a flashdrive I'd run into Best Buy plug it into the display and see if you get it to read. Pioneer headunits are best USB connections in the front, higher voltage preouts, higher wattage (not much but higher), and the 6100BT has built in bluetooth my friend! Dope! But it lights up blue against the amber on our Bimmers so that might play a factor in your decision.

[admranger]

I'd get a salvage yard factory unit and spend the rest on and ipod interface, some HAT speakers, and a decent amp. Stealth is good. Good stealthy sound is more betterestest.

[12v Electronics]

Originally Posted by admranger

I'd get a salvage yard factory unit and spend the rest on and ipod interface, some HAT speakers, and a decent amp. Stealth is good. Good stealthy sound is more betterestest.

I would be careful what you recommend to him. He has an AR-15 (and a scary avatar .)

[bondovw]

alpine 9886 about 300. is a great deck , I love mine!

[es175]

Originally Posted by bondovw

alpine 9886 about 300. is a great deck , I love mine!

+1

The 9886 has separate IPOD and USB connections, I have a 500 gig drive (I know overkill) hooked up to the USB on mine. The drive gets all the power it needs from the HU.

[slomofo]

i normally don't recommend Pioneer but the new pioneer premier DEH-P99RS has all the bells and whistles and is supposed to be a good sound q deck. i also like the Eclipse CD7200mkII as it's got the BT, Ipod/usb, sirius control as well as time alignment, 8V preouts, and all the other goodies. you need an external amp for that though.

[Ar15bimmer]

Originally Posted by 12v Electronics

I would be careful what you recommend to him. He has an AR-15 (and a scary avatar .)

I'm not going to be getting a huge whiz-bang sound system. I just want something I can plug my ipod into and listen to Sirius but at the same time isn't a best buy special.

[rogan]

Forget the Pio P99RS then, it's a serious unit and will have too many features for your use. External amp as well I thnk.

Do you want bluetooth? Parrot have released a RKi8400 headunit that looks decent. Doesn't have CD and no idea how you'd connect Sirius.