[Cogitoergosum]

Hi all,

Need some input from some experienced people here! I have a 2011 328i, which came with the base head unit stock. My steering wheel buttons are all non functional, and there is no audible chime when I drive with the handbrake on, door open, no seatbelt, etc.

The prior owner swapped in an aftermarket head unit to "get better sound and get Bluetooth". Ideally I'd like to go back to an OEM looking stereo and retrofit a bluetoooth audio and phone adapter in there, as the aftermarket unit looks bad.

I just wanted to check whether non functional chime and steering wheel buttons is a symptom of a badly installed head unit? If I just pop the head unit out, is it "plug and play" to get the old / OEM unit back in and should that restore the chime and button usage?

Failing that, does anyone know anyone in the Orange County, CA, area that can help?

[Nickco43]

Originally Posted by Cogitoergosum

Hi all,

Need some input from some experienced people here! I have a 2011 328i, which came with the base head unit stock. My steering wheel buttons are all non functional, and there is no audible chime when I drive with the handbrake on, door open, no seatbelt, etc.

The prior owner swapped in an aftermarket head unit to "get better sound and get Bluetooth". Ideally I'd like to go back to an OEM looking stereo and retrofit a bluetoooth audio and phone adapter in there, as the aftermarket unit looks bad.

I just wanted to check whether non functional chime and steering wheel buttons is a symptom of a badly installed head unit? If I just pop the head unit out, is it "plug and play" to get the old / OEM unit back in and should that restore the chime and button usage?

Failing that, does anyone know anyone in the Orange County, CA, area that can help?

It sounds like you need a new professional radio and a eBay CD changer emulator for BT. Should be about $250 or so.

[ctuna]

You may not be very happy with the base system as was the
other guy.
I am not sure my parking brake will beep if left on but I do
have a manual transmission.
There are harnesses that are suppose to allow steering wheel
controls and alarms with aftermarket stereo's
If you get a used OEM Head Unit it most likely will have to be
programmed for your cars options and you may need an expensive
ICOM cable to accomplish that.

[Cogitoergosum]

Originally Posted by ctuna

You may not be very happy with the base system as was the
other guy.
I am not sure my parking brake will beep if left on but I do
have a manual transmission.
There are harnesses that are suppose to allow steering wheel
controls and alarms with aftermarket stereo's
If you get a used OEM Head Unit it most likely will have to be
programmed for your cars options and you may need an expensive
ICOM cable to accomplish that.

Thanks for the responses guys.

Do you know how to make the buttons and chime work with an aftermarket unit?

[Nickco43]

Originally Posted by ctuna

You may not be very happy with the base system as was the
other guy.
I am not sure my parking brake will beep if left on but I do
have a manual transmission.
There are harnesses that are suppose to allow steering wheel
controls and alarms with aftermarket stereo's
If you get a used OEM Head Unit it most likely will have to be
programmed for your cars options and you may need an expensive
ICOM cable to accomplish that.

You can use a K+D can to code a used head unit.

[Stubbie Blue]

Originally Posted by Cogitoergosum

Thanks for the responses guys.

Do you know how to make the buttons and chime work with an aftermarket unit?

You need a PAC RadioPro RP4.2-BM21

or an Axxess LC-BMRC-01 harness plus an ASWC-1 for steering wheel controls

[ctuna]

There are a number of harnesses that do this another one
is connects2

metra has one but I have heard mixed results about it.
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1457320
Do a search on google.

[Cogitoergosum]

Originally Posted by Stubbie Blue

You need a PAC RadioPro RP4.2-BM21

or an Axxess LC-BMRC-01 harness plus an ASWC-1 for steering wheel controls

Originally Posted by Stubbie Blue

You need a PAC RadioPro RP4.2-BM21

or an Axxess LC-BMRC-01 harness plus an ASWC-1 for steering wheel controls

Thanks for this. Having had a look behind my aftermarket head unit, I can see the prior owner installed the same BMRC-01 unit that you suggested (although it now appears to be non functional because there is no chime). No ASWC-1. I attach a pic if of interest (excuse the sunglasses case!)

It looks like there's an aftermarket microphone and a yellow power cable going into to the head unit. In theory if I take out all the aftermarket wiring and plug the stock head unit back into the OEM wiring loom, should I regain the use of my old stereo in full - it's the stereo from my car so I can't imagine I'll need to recode it? From my research into the BMRC-01 unit, I don't think any of the OEM wiring is cut or spliced when it's installed theory it should be possible to go back to stock with just some basic "plug and play" steps, unless you disagree.

Will I regain the use of the aux sockets in the armrest and should I still have use of the OEM microphone/ Bluetooth on the Professional head unit?

I know most tend to upgrade speakers / head units but I'm thinking of selling the car on soon to fund an upgrade, so working steering wheel buttons will help do that plus the Tune2Air as some have suggested. Thanks!

[ctuna]

90 percent chance you will have to recode, unless you are
lucky and get a unit that is exactly coded for the same options
as what the car was already coded for.

[Cogitoergosum]

Thanks for the response matey.

Bit of a head scratcher here. Do you know why anyone would do this to the fuse box (see pic)? Why would you wire in a 15A fuse in this way? The wires are not connected to anything...they just are taped up...

[ctuna]

appears to be an aftermarket add a circuit/fuse can't really tell
where its plugged in from the picture.
There won't be anything sticking out in a stock fuse board.