E30 Touring build update: cassette player bought!

"duurtlang" (duurtlang) 04/14/2015 at 17:25 • Filed to: e30 touring

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The slow moving !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! is moving forward. Slowly. I've just bought a period correct BMW Blaupunkt radio cassette player on eBay. When was the last time you used a cassette?

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The BMW came without a radio. A previous owner ripped it out. According to the build sheet the car came with a BMW Bavaria CII radio, so I bought a BMW Bavaria CIII. Close enough. Can't be too picky, right? Actual radio pictured. These 80s BMW radios are still worth a considerable amount of money apparently. I've seen some rather basic looking ones offered for over $100.

(steering wheel and worn drivers seat since replaced)

Other items installed or about to be replaced: viscous clutch, exhaust, rear brake lines, rear brake discs + pads, fluids, filters, plugs, shift boot and some misc items. It'll soon be time to find an appropriate buyer. It might even end up in the US, if so I'm aiming for $4000 excluding shipping.

JGrabowMSt > duurtlang 04/14/2015 at 14:32

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You need to get yourself one of these! I did for my SL, and it makes things so much easier. It has a CD changer, but it's in the trunk.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > duurtlang 04/14/2015 at 14:34

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"When was the last time you used a cassette?"

Yesterday. I found an old Ford Demonstration tape on the dash of a 1974 MG Midget at a junkyard to add to my collection a while ago (I now have 3 Ford Tapes). It has Africa by Toto on it. I play it alot.

duurtlang > JGrabowMSt 04/14/2015 at 14:35

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That's awesome! How much do these cost, and is the sound quality through the tape interface at least somewhat acceptable? On 25 year old BMW speakers that is.

Hoccy > duurtlang 04/14/2015 at 14:38

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New stereos don't look that good in pre 1990 cars. I can understand that people wants something that has AUX, USB and CD in their daily driver (I did too), but an enthusiast car should have a cassette player or just a plain radio, like this.

I installed an old 70's cassette player in my 142 myself, which sounds decent and most important: looks correct for the car.

duurtlang > Hoccy 04/14/2015 at 14:51

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Exactly. A modern looking radio looks out of place. Moreover, you can use cassette adapters for more modern functionality. There's even a bluetooth cassette adapter, I've just learned. It's not like you need extremely high quality audio in an old car.

Hoccy > duurtlang 04/14/2015 at 14:59

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I saw that comment too, might have to get one of those.

You don't need it, but with some fine tuning of the equalizer I've actually managed to get decent sound out of most cassettes. As long as you don't try to play hardstyle or dubstep, it works fine.

Gary Yogurt > duurtlang 04/14/2015 at 15:01

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$5-$20, they still sell them new on Amazon. I'd give you mine if you were close. (I have a pile of goodies from my wrecked E30. Need blue BMW floor mats?) Anyway, BMW speakers are decent, especially the E30 premium speakers. I found an unopened Sony cassette adapter and the sound quality was pretty nice! Sometimes you have to turn down the volume on your device and make sure to use the radio volume instead, to avoid hitting peaks.

duurtlang > Hoccy 04/14/2015 at 15:04

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I don't plan on using cassettes though. Cassette adapters are more interesting.

The bluetooth adapter is available for about €30 on Amazon and some other shops.

Cé hé sin > duurtlang 04/14/2015 at 15:10

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I used mine today (with a cassette adapter for playing from my phone)

JGrabowMSt > duurtlang 04/14/2015 at 15:22

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Sound quality wont be any better than if you put in a regular cassette or were listening to the radio. But it will automatically sound better, because you can play what you want to hear.

Mine was like $30 USD. Nothing terribly expensive, but super great to have.