Tim Suddard
Tim Suddard Publisher
8/1/19 9:10 a.m.
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We’re now nearly done with the cabin of our BMW 318is, but there’s one last thing our interior needs: A working radio. Sadly, our car came with a non-working stock BMW radio. We know that our engine sounds amazing and it’s the only music we need, but don’t forget that our goal was to keep this as a daily …

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Slippery
Slippery GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
8/1/19 9:22 a.m.

Oh man, Cantaloupe is the way to go on an e30. You can bt using the factory radio. 

Cantaloupe

That silver Alpine looks way out of place there. 

Rodulrich
Rodulrich New Reader
8/1/19 5:15 p.m.

Or an old school Blaupunkt!

StuntmanMike
StuntmanMike New Reader
8/5/19 11:11 a.m.

Nice old school speaker pods! I agree with above though, silver face stereo is no bueno. Classic Alpine is always cool but I think an old Blaupunkt would be more appropriate.

FuzzWuzzy
FuzzWuzzy Reader
8/5/19 11:22 a.m.

What, no $20 Walmart stereo?

GeoS
GeoS New Reader
8/7/19 8:24 p.m.

The premium speaker housings are crazy money now! Nice addition.

Have to agree on the  old Blaupunkt...

 

irish44j
irish44j MegaDork
8/7/19 8:44 p.m.

Not sure how that looks period-correct, really. Don't think there were even CD players in cars back then, and my recollection is that all the Euro cars back then had black Blaupunkt stereos. 

The car looks lovely overall, but I have to be honest - that stereo looks totally out of place. 

Also chuckling a bit at needing two "professional" dudes to do a basic stereo install ;)

For 20 bucks on Amazon, you could have gotten a media receiver "looks" vintage but can still play bluetooth stuff.

https://www.amazon.com/Blaupunkt-Toronto-Media-Receiver-Installation/dp/B07NJQVXDW/ref=asc_df_B07NJQVXDW/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=343230747281&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1330647654118063163&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9008124&hvtargid=pla-729800380981&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=70175538958&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=343230747281&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1330647654118063163&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9008124&hvtargid=pla-729800380981

sfisher71
sfisher71 New Reader
9/8/19 8:49 p.m.

...So is that stock '91 steering wheel equipped with an airbag? Is there something comparable to the (oh-so-nice) resistor-equipped hub for installing a Nardi Classico in the E30?

I kept the Nardi when I sold the Miata that I put it in, but not the hub. I've been looking for the right vehicle to drop the Nardi into, this just might be it. 

irish44j
irish44j MegaDork
9/8/19 9:56 p.m.
sfisher71 said:

...So is that stock '91 steering wheel equipped with an airbag? Is there something comparable to the (oh-so-nice) resistor-equipped hub for installing a Nardi Classico in the E30?

I kept the Nardi when I sold the Miata that I put it in, but not the hub. I've been looking for the right vehicle to drop the Nardi into, this just might be it. 

Yeah, the '91 has an airbag.

But, of course you can replace it with damn near anything with an aftermarket hub. And anything is an upgrade from the stock e30 school-bus-sized wheel.

Side note, great e30 steering upgrade is to drill out the safety bolts from the column to the steering support and replace them with bolts and washers to space the wheel down so it's not so upward-facing. 

sfisher71
sfisher71 New Reader
10/3/19 2:37 p.m.

In reply to irish44j :

Thanks, especially for the tip on lowering the column. Though I've driven Italian cars for so long, the upward-facing wheel position isn't that big an issue.

And after driving the car for a few weeks now, I'm thinking of hitting up my friend with a small collection of black-spoked, leather-rimmed Momo wheels as I think it would suit the interior better. 

stuart in mn
stuart in mn MegaDork
10/3/19 5:38 p.m.
sfisher71 said:

...So is that stock '91 steering wheel equipped with an airbag? Is there something comparable to the (oh-so-nice) resistor-equipped hub for installing a Nardi Classico in the E30?

I kept the Nardi when I sold the Miata that I put it in, but not the hub. I've been looking for the right vehicle to drop the Nardi into, this just might be it. 

I'd look for a factory Mtech sport steering wheel from a 1988 325is or ix.  I have one in my 325ix and like it a lot.

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