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 Heavy, outdated, ugly looking compared to single-din...all just my opinions of course.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.

[Baris - Carphonics]

I can make you a retrofit cable for it to all work with a business headunit and oem hands free.

[cornerbalanced]

I can make you a retrofit cable for it to all work with a business headunit and oem hands free.

This is very promising! So would the retrofit cable connect my stock nav harness to the business headunit? No need to replace my current harness

[Baris - Carphonics]

This is very promising! So would the retrofit cable connect my stock nav harness to the business headunit? No need to replace my current harness

You won’t need to replace your current harness.

I make oem nav retrofit cabling, since bmw discontinued it and they started to get very expensive.
I also make the cable extension cable for going aftermarket head unit, for those who have nav system, because the current ones on the market are made from the lowest quality wiring you can buy.

For yours, I can make the extension cable going from your bm53 radio in the back to the front. You will also need extra cable in the loom for the oem Bluetooth audio and cd changer audio, which I can provide.

[CrisSilberGrau]

Similar to cornerbalanced however I like the look of the oem NAV screen. I dont like the 6 CD changer and miscellaneous scaffolding in the back. Ideally, I'd like to delete the rear CD/Nav unit and keep the nav screen (I like the old font and graphics, even though Id need to replace the LCD screen as its missing pixels per usual.

Weight is also the main concern here as well. Interested in all options. Subscribed.

[Baris - Carphonics]

Similar to cornerbalanced however I like the look of the oem NAV screen. I dont like the 6 CD changer and miscellaneous scaffolding in the back. Ideally, I'd like to delete the rear CD/Nav unit and keep the nav screen (I like the old font and graphics, even though Id need to replace the LCD screen as its missing pixels per usual.

Weight is also the main concern here as well. Interested in all options. Subscribed.

You can save weight by doing a few things.

Remove tape or cd mechanism from the monitor.

Remove nav module and cd changer.

Cut the top part of the scaffolding. So you’re left with the bottom part holding the bm53. Add our CarPlay box which sits next to the bm53. This way, you have everything you need for music, calls and navigation.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_tMVOcKS6_/?igsh=YzV6M3Ewc285aGll

I also do new LCD screen replacements.

[LeopardM3]

I get hating the OEM Nav because it's outdated at this point, but there are several options besides just making things hard on yourself and removing everything:
1. Keep the unit, buy one of the many bluetooth solutions, and just use that with your phone - your car maintains the stock look.
2. Buy an aftermarket unit. If you're in SoCal, there are no shortage of shops that specialize in exactly this kind of thing - wiring up one that is perfect for your needs and will let you run Apple Carplay or Android Auto, etc. A fairly popular unit that lots of ppl have used is Avin Avant, and apparently their newest model allows for wireless carplay/android auto (which mine does not). Avin has the benefit of looking basically OEM, which is nice, although their service is...not great. But, if you get it professionally installed at a shop, it'll get done right.

[Baris - Carphonics]

I get hating the OEM Nav because it's outdated at this point, but there are several options besides just making things hard on yourself and removing everything:
1. Keep the unit, buy one of the many bluetooth solutions, and just use that with your phone - your car maintains the stock look.
2. Buy an aftermarket unit. If you're in SoCal, there are no shortage of shops that specialize in exactly this kind of thing - wiring up one that is perfect for your needs and will let you run Apple Carplay or Android Auto, etc. A fairly popular unit that lots of ppl have used is Avin Avant, and apparently their newest model allows for wireless carplay/android auto (which mine does not). Avin has the benefit of looking basically OEM, which is nice, although their service is...not great. But, if you get it professionally installed at a shop, it'll get done right.

You can modernise the oem system with CarPlay / android auto.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_tMVOcKS6_/?igsh=YzV6M3Ewc285aGll

[LeopardM3]

You can modernise the oem system with CarPlay / android auto.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_tMVOcKS6_/?igsh=YzV6M3Ewc285aGll

Nice, even better. Honestly, because of Avin's crappy service, I'm considering just buying an OEM nav unit to swap back in. Knowing I can do that with the OEM unit is even better.

[Baris - Carphonics]

Nice, even better. Honestly, because of Avin's crappy service, I'm considering just buying an OEM nav unit to swap back in. Knowing I can do that with the OEM unit is even better.

What’s been the issue with Avin?