The straight story... (archive)

Your car is pre-wired for a BMW Factory (made by Alpine) CD changer. The wires are already run from the radio to the trunk. If you purchase the factory changer, all you have to do is mount the changer and plug in the wires. It is quick and easy.

: Okay, I screwed up in February when I bought my little Z car. I didn't get the $1,300 BMW CD changer when my salesman offered it to me for $750 because I heard I could get one put in aftermarket for half the cost. I even checked before I signed on the dotted line.

: Then after I got the car, I found out there has to be an adapter, which isn't available, so I would be stuck buying the BMW changer. Not having $750 to plunk down, I am still without a CD changer...wwaaaaaahhh.. I am kicking myself, if I had got it financed into the cost of the car at the time of the sale, I wouldn't even notice the cost.

: Now I have been reading all these posts about splicing and soldering and installing and wiring and all that stuff. Let me get one thing straight. I am a GIRLY-GIRL. I don't know anything about that stuff. So I still don't know what to do.

: Now I see a post from TC2 that I can order the actual BMW CD changer from Richmond BMW for $489 and he/she installed it in 15 minutes. Supposedly my car is already wired for it. My significant male person says he can install it if the wiring harness is already there. I have no idea, I tell him, what is a wiring harness? I'll ask the Z-ers on the board.

: Can someone just simply tell me, what is the best way to go to be sure I get the right thing, without screwing up the warranty, without messing anything up, and without having to pay a fortune to the dealer?? There seems to be a lot of controversy over this.

: Joy
: 1998 2.8 Atlanta Blue/beige/beige
: Texas tag reads "1 FUN Z" and I'm loving every minute of it!

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