lloydhickson Posted August 12, 2013 Report Share Posted August 12, 2013 Hello everyone, I have had a quick look around here and have not found one and so I thought I would put together a really simple guide of how to Install a 6 CD Changer to the trunk of your BMW E46. Now for starters I believe there is a way to check if your BMW has been pre-wired for the CD Changer but I am pretty sure 90% of them have been but please comment if your has not got any wiring but I can't be bothered to run outside and look but I googled and I am not sure if this is an american thing or all the E46's but have look to see if you can locate these labels and they will tell you what your car is pre-wired for. No tools required but a flat head screw driver and obviously one of these STEP 1. Locate the wires required: These are two wires, one for power and one for audio now I have heard these can be in 2 places and possibly more but they will always be on the left hand side of the boot. Hiding place 1. Hiding place 2. Regardless of whether you have the sat nav CD thing or not it the wires are usually tucked behind there somewhere and wrapped up in a cover but it is possible there not if you have for instance brought a vehicle and someone has removed the 6 CD changer. Now you will be left with this. STEP 2. Connect the wires to the back of the CD Changer. STEP 3. Install the CD Changer to the bracket, the location may vary to the year, model of your E46 but doesn't take a rocket scientist to work it out. STEP 4. Put it all back together and sit back and admire your work, it is literally that easy and plug in and play I only made this guide as I did not know it was so easy and I am sure many people out there do not realize that it was this simple either so no hate comments from all the people who do already know please Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kardan.h Posted August 13, 2013 Report Share Posted August 13, 2013 Do I need to make any changes to the head unit? Or does it automatically find the changer and update its menus? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lloydhickson Posted August 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2013 If your car is pre-wired it should literally be plug and play and the head unit will automatically detect the 6 CD changer as you can put in aftermarket CD changers and it works the exactly the same way. If you press 1 on the Headunit with the CD changer connected it will choose CD 1 and so on and so forth. kardan.h 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kardan.h Posted August 13, 2013 Report Share Posted August 13, 2013 Thank alot man. I know what I'll be doing this weekend Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoryW Posted August 13, 2013 Report Share Posted August 13, 2013 Just for info All uk cars are pre wired for the cd changer. I'm 99% sure it's actually all European cars are pre wires also Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lloydhickson Posted August 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2013 Just for info All uk cars are pre wired for the cd changer. I'm 99% sure it's actually all European cars are pre wires also Yeah I was pretty sure but would rather say most than say 100% all of them as dont want no angry people shouting at me because they brought the 6 CD changer and then its not pre-wired hahaha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kardan.h Posted August 19, 2013 Report Share Posted August 19, 2013 Just for info All uk cars are pre wired for the cd changer. I'm 99% sure it's actually all European cars are pre wires also Yeah I was pretty sure but would rather say most than say 100% all of them as dont want no angry people shouting at me because they brought the 6 CD changer and then its not pre-wired hahaha Yeah I think I'm one of the 1% opened the whole boot lining on saturday looking for the cable and there isnt anything there! Not pleased at all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lloydhickson Posted August 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2013 Just for info All uk cars are pre wired for the cd changer. I'm 99% sure it's actually all European cars are pre wires also Yeah I was pretty sure but would rather say most than say 100% all of them as dont want no angry people shouting at me because they brought the 6 CD changer and then its not pre-wired hahaha Yeah I think I'm one of the 1% opened the whole boot lining on saturday looking for the cable and there isnt anything there! Not pleased at all Yeah my 318 Coupe 2001 had it but not so sure about my current BMW, going to be looking this weekend! Sorry to hear that though mate. I did find a wiring diagram on the web somewhere on how to install wiring for the 6 CD Changer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mit Posted August 19, 2013 Report Share Posted August 19, 2013 All UK cars should be pre-wired, and most had the option fitted. There are some (usually grey/parallel import) that didn't have it though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kardan.h Posted August 19, 2013 Report Share Posted August 19, 2013 All UK cars should be pre-wired, and most had the option fitted. There are some (usually grey/parallel import) that didn't have it though. I took some pictures but I cant show them here! Is there an attachment button somewhere that I cant see? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agd320i Posted August 19, 2013 Report Share Posted August 19, 2013 Just for info All uk cars are pre wired for the cd changer. I'm 99% sure it's actually all European cars are pre wires also Yeah I was pretty sure but would rather say most than say 100% all of them as dont want no angry people shouting at me because they brought the 6 CD changer and then its not pre-wired hahaha Yeah I think I'm one of the 1% opened the whole boot lining on saturday looking for the cable and there isnt anything there! Not pleased at all Just joined the 1%.... kardan.h 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lloydhickson Posted August 29, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2013 Just for info All uk cars are pre wired for the cd changer. I'm 99% sure it's actually all European cars are pre wires also Yeah I was pretty sure but would rather say most than say 100% all of them as dont want no angry people shouting at me because they brought the 6 CD changer and then its not pre-wired hahaha Yeah I think I'm one of the 1% opened the whole boot lining on saturday looking for the cable and there isnt anything there! Not pleased at all Just joined the 1%.... Just did my 05 vert and the cables were all nicely there in hiding place number .1. (Now my car can have 7 CD's) Mwhahahaha twobigdogs 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mit Posted August 29, 2013 Report Share Posted August 29, 2013 I can't believe people still even bother with CDs! I'd rather have any kind of solid state media player in place of a CD changer... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lloydhickson Posted August 29, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2013 I can't believe people still even bother with CDs! I'd rather have any kind of solid state media player in place of a CD changer... Yeah I do sort of agree, but problem being with the older head units you kind of have to choose between either Aux cable or CD Player (With the cheap way anyway). I am looking to install Aux Cable to my car soon, need to find a good DIY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mit Posted August 29, 2013 Report Share Posted August 29, 2013 All the head units support media adapters, because the media adapters are designed to emulate a CD player! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lloydhickson Posted August 29, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2013 All the head units support media adapters, because the media adapters are designed to emulate a CD player! I think its 2002 onwards that do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mit Posted August 29, 2013 Report Share Posted August 29, 2013 No, it's all of them. Even the very oldest 1998 ones, except on those you have a CD button instead of a mode button so you have to press the button twice to do anything. On the ones with a mode button only one press is required Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richardsaxton Posted September 2, 2013 Report Share Posted September 2, 2013 This is really interesting. Do you have any advice for what to do with a 6 CD changer which sporadically doesn't eject and displays "No Magazine" when it is stuck in the changer? It's getting really frustrating!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chimp Choker Posted September 2, 2013 Report Share Posted September 2, 2013 Common fault on the changer. I took the cover off mine and greased the mechanism. Was fine till I sold itSent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lloydhickson Posted September 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 2, 2013 This is really interesting. Do you have any advice for what to do with a 6 CD changer which sporadically doesn't eject and displays "No Magazine" when it is stuck in the changer? It's getting really frustrating!! Is it not ejecting at all? Mine used to get stuck and I tried yamming a knife down the side and that didnt work but in the end I kept hitting the eject button whilst hitting it with the side of my hand and it come straight out, give it a go richardsaxton 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richardsaxton Posted September 2, 2013 Report Share Posted September 2, 2013 It ejects maybe one in every 30 attempts but it seems a little poorly. I'll try whacking it as you suggest! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lloydhickson Posted September 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 2, 2013 It ejects maybe one in every 30 attempts but it seems a little poorly. I'll try whacking it as you suggest! It ejects maybe one in every 30 attempts but it seems a little poorly. I'll try whacking it as you suggest! I have a Jeremy Clarkson look at life, "anything can be fixed with a wack of a hammer" haha... Seriously though I dont know how to fix this issue but maybe buy new cassett but mine normally comes out with a couple of light whacks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonakT Posted September 2, 2013 Report Share Posted September 2, 2013 Same issue with mine, I've just bought another changer on eBay for £26! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben- Posted September 2, 2013 Report Share Posted September 2, 2013 I can't believe people still even bother with CDs! I'd rather have any kind of solid state media player in place of a CD changer... Can you link me to a media player to replace the changer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lloydhickson Posted September 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 2, 2013 (edited) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Genuine-In-Car-AUX-Connector-Retrofit-Kit-E46-3-Series-65120153501-/190704698001?pt=UK_In_Car_Technology&hash=item2c66e2c291 Edited September 2, 2013 by lloydhickson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
