pre 96 OEM dim radio display repair

[Blink21Me]

I know how to repair the dim display on C33 radios from 96+ E36's. But somebody handed me a radio that came from a 95 and it looks to be an entirely different fix. Does anyone know how to repair the dim display on these radios from pre-96's??? I have been searching but couldn't find an answer, all results led me to C33 radio repairs... thanks for the help

[Blink21Me]

anyone???

[Blink21Me]

can someone confirm that C33 is what come on 96-99 E36's?

[Riick]

Check RealOEM (http://www.realoem.com/bmw/)part numbers for various years if same.. same radio

[zx7rhitch]

CD conection is different.If you dont have a CD player it doesnt matter

[zx7rhitch]

Sorry I ment CD changer

[Blink21Me]

RealOEM.com is no help...

still waiting for response to my questions

[Seeker]

I wouldnt even mess with a stock radio.. just replace it with a new unit.

These stock radios are known to just die w/out warning.

[zx7rhitch]

PP INFORMATION+BOOK INFORMATION
http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/E36-Radio/E36-Radio.htm
http://www.unofficialbmw.com/e36/stereo/blau/blau.htm
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=360756

[zx7rhitch]

92-95 Head unit good for 92-95 cars
96-99 Head Unit 96-99 cars
Either head unit will work in all cars.The CD Changer will not be compatiable for un like years.
If you have a 92-95 car and want to upgrade with factory stuff you will need the proper cd changer cable and 1 wire ran from head unit to cd changer.
Im no expert but this is just what I have done and worked with.Good Luck

[Blink21Me]

here you go this is the display I was trying to fix, thanks for the link!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y204/blink21me/Other%20Stuff/pic1.jpg

[randywalters]

here you go this is the display I was trying to fix, thanks for the link!Either that is not a picture of your own car, or you really have a 95 M3 and not a 97 :lol

I think that is the early crappy radio from a 95 and older E36 and is older than the C33. You should at least just junk it and pick up a good used C33 for like $50.

[zx7rhitch]

[quote=randywalters;13446335]Either that is not a picture of your own car, or you really have a 95 M3 and not a 97 :lol

I think that is the early crappy radio from a 95 and older E36 and is older than the C33. You should at least just junk it and pick up a good used C33 for like $50.[/quo

Must be a different car or someone else has swaped them around to get a newer version.Thats not a 1996 or newer version.

There are 2 bulbs in there that light the display that are kinda tricky to change.Ill see if I have some pics later for you.

[Seeker]

here you go this is the display I was trying to fix, thanks for the link!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y204/blink21me/Other%20Stuff/pic1.jpg


that was the EXACT radio I had in my 93

the thing up and suddenly died one day.. typical failure.. all the lights/buttons worked.. saw it was tuned to a station, but no sound

ended up yanking it and putting a nice JVC mp3 disk player in instead.


I'm tellin you dude.. dont waste your time and money on these old head units.. they DIE!

[zx7rhitch]

I like the oem factory look the best.There is nothing wrong with these units unless your trying to run some high end equipment.Get what you like

[Seeker]

I like the oem factory look the best.There is nothing wrong with these units unless your trying to run some high end equipment.Get what you like


There IS eventually something wrong with these head units.

If you do a search, you will find numerous people complain about the same thing.. they go silent.. no more sound.

Whatever it is that causes it, it's an inherent problem in all the early factory Alpine units

[zx7rhitch]

Its not in all the alpine head units.Ive had 4 of them and never had a problem I have 2 now no problems yet.Its what ever he wants to do not my car just trying to help

[Blink21Me]

I DON'T THINK YOU GUYS READ MY POST RIGHT, please scroll back up... First of all who said I'm trying to fix my own radio? I said "somebody handed me a radio from a 95 and asked me to fix it for him" because I know how to fix the one that came with 96+'s...

I said I was confused with which one was called "C33" and asked if somebody could confirm that C33 is what came with 96+ E36's... Otherwise why would I have had a very hard time finding a picture of that ole 92-95 radios... That in the picture is not my car, that's from the PelicanParts website that somebody linked in the above post...

Now the point of me starting this thread was to see if anyone knows of a link on how to fix this certain type of radio...

[grillvisiems]

Hello,

I have one problem, I don't know what type of cd changer are best for my radio. I have Philips 785/23F BMW Business RDS 65.12 - 8 374 583.
Can explane me anyone what is the types of CD changers and what model of changers will works with my radio?

Sorry about my english knowledges.

[randomy]

I think several people offered advice on how to fix it, which was to replace it with a more *ahem "reliable" stereo like the C33.

[MParallel]

I like the oem factory look the best.There is nothing wrong with these units unless your trying to run some high end equipment.Get what you like

I totally agree, again, if you're not into hi-end aftermarket audio. I have yet to see a non-factory HU that looks good.

They remanufactured the CD43 unit, of which I also bought one. Easily the best factory unit looks and soundwise. There's a document on the 'net somewhere where the project manager explained this.

Together with my recently retrofitted Harman/Kardon soundsystem, I can only image how good this sound was from a factory system, considering it's 10+ years old.

This look you will never beat with any aftermarket unit

http://www.idon-industries.com/bimmer/bmwsyndikat/26.jpg


And with some more matching stuff, this will never be matched neither:

http://www.idon-industries.com/bimmer/lights/01.jpg

http://www.idon-industries.com/bimmer/lights/02.jpg

[325icintn]

Which stock radio is this and how do I fix it?

[cyclejerk]

Bump. I have the same problem as above. The entire LCD glows a bit too much. When it is really really hot it works fine???? Can I purchase the LCD by itself??

Thanks, Mike


Which stock radio is this and how do I fix it?

[CLEANM3whipz]

Damn mine is f*cked up too, it'l be bright sometimes and other times it'l be all dim. You know how to fix them??