Deleting NAV/radio unit, maintaining bluetooth + speaker capability

[cornerbalanced]

Hey guys. Purchasing a car with nav. I HATE nav. Heavy, outdated, ugly looking compared to single-din...all just my opinions of course.

Ideally, I would like to delete the nav unit, convert the center stack to single-din, and install an OE CSL radio delete block off plate. My main goal however, would be to maintain bluetooth audio, through say a Bluebus unit. At this point, everything will be controlled through my phone (song selection, volume control, etc.)

Does this sound even remotely feasible? Otherwise, I will likely attempt to convert from nav to a single-din CD53/business CD unit. If anyone/any shop in SoCal want's to help with this project, I will gladly pay!

[bmwfnatic]

You could just remove all the equipment.
Then take the speaker wires that start from the trunk and hook them up to an aftermarket amplifier, to which you would connect your BT receiver, there are probably amplifiers with built in BT as well. I don’t see why that shouldn’t work.

On my personal M3 I also did the nav “de-retrofit”, the audio harness is totally separate on this car, you remove the subconnector from the larger connector from both front doors, and the main connector for the power and such is located behind the radio on the AC box, and then the entire audio harness comes out in one piece. If you have a CD53 harness then it plugs in and that’s it, apart from disassembling most of the interior of course.

[cornerbalanced]

You could just remove all the equipment.
Then take the speaker wires that start from the trunk and hook them up to an aftermarket amplifier, to which you would connect your BT receiver, there are probably amplifiers with built in BT as well. I don’t see why that shouldn’t work.

On my personal M3 I also did the nav “de-retrofit”, the audio harness is totally separate on this car, you remove the subconnector from the larger connector from both front doors, and the main connector for the power and such is located behind the radio on the AC box, and then the entire audio harness comes out in one piece. If you have a CD53 harness then it plugs in and that’s it, apart from disassembling most of the interior of course.

That would be a great solution. I unfortunately am completely moronic when it comes wiring--and wouldn't want to risk messing anything up, maybe I can pay kaiv to do this for me aha.

For your own nav "de-retrofit" - CD53 harness, and a CD53 radio unit is all you need? Otherwise 'plug and play'? I was worried I would have to re-route the entire harness from the trunk all the way to the head-unit. If it's just the front half of the car (behind door cards/behind dash) that's not so bad. I plan on swapping interiors regardless...so a lot of this can all be knocked out at once.

Appreciate your input!

[bmwfnatic]

That would be a great solution. I unfortunately am completely moronic when it comes wiring--and wouldn't want to risk messing anything up, maybe I can pay kaiv to do this for me aha.

For your own nav "de-retrofit" - CD53 harness, and a CD53 radio unit is all you need? Otherwise 'plug and play'? I was worried I would have to re-route the entire harness from the trunk all the way to the head-unit. If it's just the front half of the car (behind door cards/behind dash) that's not so bad. I plan on swapping interiors regardless...so a lot of this can all be knocked out at once.

Appreciate your input!

No, it’s more the rear half of the car, on another E46 I did the swap with the front half carpet and dashboard still in place, you can snake the wires underneath them.

It also depends if you are going for a CD53 + HK harness where there will still be the HK amp in the trunk or a base/euro/stripper spec CD53 harness where the CD53 will be the only amplifier and nothing will go to the trunk.

[cornerbalanced]

No, it’s more the rear half of the car, on another E46 I did the swap with the front half carpet and dashboard still in place, you can snake the wires underneath them.

It also depends if you are going for a CD53 + HK harness where there will still be the HK amp in the trunk or a base/euro/stripper spec CD53 harness where the CD53 will be the only amplifier and nothing will go to the trunk.

Very good to know. Thanks! In this case, probably something best saved for when I swap interiors. If you ever find yourself in SoCal and want a few bucks, let me know hahaha.

Would be curious to quantify the weight savings of deleting all the OE components, keeping BavSound speakers + speaker wiring and installing an aftermarket amp. Will start planning this out now.