Recommendations for an '07 BMW 323i
 

Hi folks,

1st timer here!

I'm about to take delivery of the above car and am going crazy trying to decide on which car stereo to install. My current Bimmer has an Alpine 3-CD in dash changer and and I'm running a V12 [?] Alpine amp into 4 (plus sub) top of the line Alpine speakers - total cost was about $3.5k in 2000. I've been extremely please with this rig and now need something for the new Bimmer.

I would have liked to have gotten a hard drive based unit, but virtually all of the companies that were making these things a few years ago no longer are. I would also like to have a head unit that can handle SACDs. I have never had any luck with Sony products (in fact, all of mine have died prematurely), so that company is not an option.

Can anyone recommend a single-din head unit that can play SACDs? Is there a concensus on which company makes the best head units these days?

Thanks for any help you can provide!!

P_W

I could be completely off here, but if your car has I-drive, I dont think you can replace the head unit.

If that isnt the case, why not stick with alpine, as you seem to like it. I am not familiar with any heads that play SACD, but I havent looked either.

Congrats on the bimmer! My father just bought his first bimmer, a '02 745i that should be here today or tomorrow, can't wait to take it for a spin! If your 323i has the iDrive, you can't replace the current HU AFAIK. You would have to check some BMW forums about replacing the HU.

look on roadfly
and look to see if this is how there up dating http://www.mobileaudiocontrol.com/product.asp?Product_id=231512

I'm not getting the iDrive (it has gotten really awful reviews from BMW drivers). Alpine doesn't have any SACD units - the buggers!

P_W

unfortunately Sony is the only one that has a car audio SACD player.

side note: the SACD format is owned by Sony might have something to do with it.

It is not "owned" by Sony. Sony (and Philips) originated the format and allows all record labels to create SACDs. However, it appears you are right about the car SACD players. Sony seems to be the only company making them, despite the fact that Philips announced that they would be making them as far back as '03.

Oh well.

Why didn't the hard drive based system work out? So many of the original manufacturers have stopped production, including my fave - PhatNoize.

R

What I have heard from most bimmer owners with the iDrive is that once you get the hang of it, it better than having a million buttons. They just love the iDrive. I have heard people say it is the worst thing on earth, but more love it than hate it from what I have heard.

Car SACD players
 

Actually, Bose has car SACD players, but they're all OEM units.

P_W

I think reliability was part of the reason the hard drive players went extinct.
In theory, a good sturdy hard drive can take impacts up to 15 Gees while in operation... in practice, I dont think it works that way.

Thats too bad about the SACD... looks like its sony or no one.

Unless sony offers a universal cd changer that will play SACD?? that might work, although it would be transmitting through a FM modulator, which isnt exactly good for quality.