XSeries-forum

Hello, This is probably out there somewhere in the ether, can anyone recommend an after market stereo on a 2005 X5. The fitted unit is a "Buisness" unit I think. Its the one in two sections withe radio at the bottom and CD at the top.

Kind regards

My E53 was the non satnav setup similar to yours with the single slot CD and MID ( multi information display.
I fitted a Dynavin satnav aftermarket headunit.
Why are you changing out yours, is it for improved sound, or to gain satnav and Bluetooth.
Out of the aftermarket headunits don't have decent radio reception unless you go down the Alpine or better units.
Also if you go double din you will loose the ability to change the binnacle settings ( clock, mpg etc ) unless you re route the cable for the MID and have it in the glovebox or rear cubby.

[quote="Horizon"]
Out of the aftermarket headunits don't have decent radio reception unless you go down the Alpine or better units.
[/quote]

Do you mean this is specific to the X5, or just in general with aftermarket units?

There has been several members who have fitted aftermarket headunits that have struggled with radio reception.
The X5 used a diversity system on the radio aerial system which has a signal booster in the tailgate.
I fitted an aftermarket headunit in the Golf and it was brilliant , DSP amp built in and everything, the sound was better than the OEM, but the Bluetooth phone quality was poor.
The Dynavin unit I fitted in the X5 had poor radio reception, but great Bluetooth
I was even tempted to fit a standard areal to the X5 to overcome the problem, but never did.

Hi I have fitted one of these not to bad ,it takes about 15 seconds to start every time but apart from that it's ok.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/173046675486 ... noapp=true

Hi Horizon ,
I am looking for an original radio cd unit to fit in my  2002 X5 E53 that I just bought last week as the Sony unit looks a mess,
do you want to sell your radio/ cd unit or can you give me the model number so I can to buy elseware.
Regards
Steve H

Mines from a facelift 55 plate, I think they have a different quadlock to the pre facelift.
Mines a single slot CD radio module, the prefacelift had a tape player I think as well as an 8 pin quadlock.
My part no is 65. 12-6 961 218
Check real oem to see if it's compatable.
It's just stuck in the drawer and needs to go. Your welcome to it if it's compatable.
When I fitted the Dynavin it had two separate looms, one for facelift and one for pre facelift so I guess it won't fit
Free to a good home if you pay postage.

Thanks Horizon, I  will have a check,
Regards
Steve H

Hi if you fit an after market head unit you will have to run a new wiring harness from back to front , not hard but will take you most of the day, I have one of eBay all singing and dancing  with front and back camera's,  I took the passenger seat out to make live easier,

[quote="Silverfox58"]
Hi if you fit an after market head unit you will have to run a new wiring harness from back to front , not hard but will take you most of the day, I have one of eBay all singing and dancing  with front and back camera's,  I took the passenger seat out to make live easier,
[/quote]
The OP has a non satnav car, so all the wiring is in the dash, they incorporate the radio module in the CD/ tape unit not in the boot as is with factory OEM nav

Just picking up on this as I'm finally preparing to embark on an upgrade for my 2005 X5. Whatever head unit I end up using, I need to know what is in my X5 and where, so I can figure out the wiring and connections.

My X5 has the (dropdown) widescreen Nav with tape player behind it which I believe means it is basically just a display system, with the rest of the audio/video gubbins in the boot area. So, some questions:-

Would I be right in thinking that the actual radio and amplifier are in the boot?
Both contained in the same physical box or 2 separate boxes?

As mine is a 2005 with I believe the Mk IV Navigation, would I be right in thinking these would be in the rear left hand 'rack' alongside (i.e. below) the Navigation DVD/computer?

There's also an analogue TV module. Would that be in the same location or elsewhere?

I'm thinking that if I want a decent amplifier, I can lose most of that stuff and it would probably make the most sense to introduce my own wiring to connect it all up, e.g. 4 x coax for the line level signals, power, amp-on signal, antenna feeds etc from the new head unit back to my amp (probably in the recently vacated LH rack). But I could then utilise any existing speaker wires into the doors etc. These would emanate from the existing amp, but where's that (see above) and where do they go?

Does the existing amp feed a single speaker in each door? What other wiring already exists? To tweeters in the A pillars? To the small vertically facing speakers in the top of the dash? Or if used, would they require new wiring to be installed.

If the tweeters are connected, do they have their own feed direct from the amp, or is there a crossover located somewhere between the amp and the front doors? Where?

I wish there was somewhere to simply download a decent wiring diagram of how BMW have all this connected, then I could probably figure it out, but I've not come across anything remotely useful in that regard. Hence, to save me an inordinate amount of time trying to identify and trace every single wire, that may or may not even be there, I would really appreciate it if anyone with experience of these cars could assist with some real info about what BMW have put in my car and where and how it is connected.

Still researching this. Does no-one know anything?

I've seen a BSW video that implies there are existing wires to tweeters (if fitted) in the A pillars. I have just the basic 6 speaker system with no tweeters there, but is there wiring for these already in place and if so, where does it come from? If the tweeter wires exist, that's wiring for 2 speakers in each door. Does it come all the way from the amp or is there a crossover somewhere?

In the rear doors there is just a single speaker, the upgraded HiFi system had 10 in total, with 2 in each rear door. Do they have their own wiring from the amp or is there a crossover involved there too? Since I only have the single speaker in each rear door, does the wiring also exist for the additional speakers that I don't have but would if the car had the HiFi upgrade?

I'm really struggling to find out what wiring is in the car already so I can avoid duplicating this by running my own wiring everywhere. I would have thought there was just one actual wiring loom with all possible wiring built-in and then each car uses just what is needed for the chosen options. But is that how BMW do it? Or do they make many different looms, so a car with basic HiFi does NOT have the wiring for the additional speakers that would be fitted with the HiFi upgrade?

Likewise, is there any wiring to the RH Rr cubby for a sub? That would be needed if DSP was installed, but does the wiring exist in my car with basic audio?

There are experts out there with this knowledge in their heads. Would be great if one of them could reply.