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Changed. Forget Pyramid - Need a Pioneer KE-ZBM or two...
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85-325e



Joined: 30 Jun 2002
Posts: 4712
Location: Southampton, NY

PostPosted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 6:01 pm    Post subject: Changed. Forget Pyramid - Need a Pioneer KE-ZBM or two... Reply with quote

My stereo went South again... the humidity was brutal here this summer, and I disconnected the battery, then couldn't find the radio code. I let it sit for a few weeks, then it occurred to me that it might actually be on the radio housing... So extracted it, and there it was on top! Duh!

Anyway, I powered it up and there was a loud modulating screeching, then popping... the radio started to work, but still had the garbage noise on the right channel. Worked like that for a few days, then stopped powering up.

I changed all the wiring to match the pyramid stereo, and it would be much easier at this stage of the game for me to just pop another in. I really don't have any place to work on the car anymore, so it'll be in the parking lot!

If you have one, please let me know, even if part of it isn't working. I don't really like the look of ANY aftermarket stereo that will fit, and sort of need the weather band the older ones had.

I'm going to take a stab at discussing it with an Alpine Service Center and see what they say... but I doubt they'll do anything on my nifty old stock-like pyramid radio!
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Cosmo - 1985 BMW 325e, Single Owner, 265,000+ ORIGINAL miles and still going strong! But now on the East Coast and the salt air corrosion is eating my beautiful car alive... Sad



Last edited by 85-325e on Wed Oct 08, 2014 12:36 pm; edited 2 times in total
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85-325e



Joined: 30 Jun 2002
Posts: 4712
Location: Southampton, NY

PostPosted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 1:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I got the radio working again (blown fuse) but it's still popping like mad. I'm going to try to check the wiring, but unless something's shorting with an exposed wire that wasn't previously exposed, it's still the stereo that went South.
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Cosmo - 1985 BMW 325e, Single Owner, 265,000+ ORIGINAL miles and still going strong! But now on the East Coast and the salt air corrosion is eating my beautiful car alive... Sad

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85-325e



Joined: 30 Jun 2002
Posts: 4712
Location: Southampton, NY

PostPosted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 7:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's the stereo, not the amp... the right channel seems shot. I unplugged the amp, and jumpered the wires to see if I got the noise from the radio or from the amp... Definitely the radio...
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Cosmo - 1985 BMW 325e, Single Owner, 265,000+ ORIGINAL miles and still going strong! But now on the East Coast and the salt air corrosion is eating my beautiful car alive... Sad

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beejay



Joined: 18 Nov 2002
Posts: 1158
Location: Eastern, Pa

PostPosted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 10:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

it's definitely the Radio, The capacitors leak and crap out. I went through a few radios.
You may be able to find someone to fix it. It's just replacing the leaking cap's
the other option is to find the 5 /7 series radio.
they are plug and play. Although not without their own problems. (volume knob static for one)

this is one. and is what I replaced mine with.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-PIONEER-KE-83ZBM-CASSETTE-PLAYER-E34-E32-etc-e30-RADIO-STEREO-ke83-ke-83-/361051111728?hash=item541052c130&vxp=mtr


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Bob
92 325ic gone Sad
14 BRZ ltd
05 Tundra SR5 TRD
01 VFR800fi - 03 DR650S - 83 CB1100F - 82 CB900F - 69 CB750
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85-325e



Joined: 30 Jun 2002
Posts: 4712
Location: Southampton, NY

PostPosted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 12:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks Bob...

Yea, I know it's the radio... I just talked with the Alpine Service Center in NY (Syracuse) and they'll look at it no charge, then give it to their oldest tech to see if he can do something with it. I have to pay shipping in both directions, but they don't even give a hint as to what a repair might cost without looking at it.

I'm tempted but have to figure out how I'll deal with looking at the dash for 3-4 weeks with that open hole, like someone stole the stereo out of the car!

I thought about configuring the hookups so that the left channel was attached to the right speakers as well, but I know the music will be pretty funky only playing the left channel all the time through all the speakers.

It's too bad the aftermarket solutions all look so bad. Plus, I think it would be pretty tough to get an aftermarket stereo to sit and stay in the opening of the radio bezel without the clips that screw in and out on the stock radios.

I've eliminated the dash fader switch because I rewired everything years ago for the fader built into the 5908. This sucks!

That one there is pretty pricey. I think for that I can get Alpine to repair the one that I have now, back to almost as good as new... Have to think this through a bit...
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Cosmo - 1985 BMW 325e, Single Owner, 265,000+ ORIGINAL miles and still going strong! But now on the East Coast and the salt air corrosion is eating my beautiful car alive... Sad

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beejay



Joined: 18 Nov 2002
Posts: 1158
Location: Eastern, Pa

PostPosted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 3:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

85-325e wrote:
I think for that I can get Alpine to repair the one that I have now, back to almost as good as new... Have to think this through a bit...


Yea, it's a little pricey. BUT, I went down the repair road too, and to fix it correctly was very very expensive. I sent 3 radios down to a Specialist in Philadelphia. He sent me a quote back to fix the best out of the 3 and I about fell over.
That's why I went with the other style. (they are not prone to the capacitor problem) I had found a NOS one on ebay. I think I gave 150 for it. (got lucky) it was well worth it. No hassles, plug it in and in less than 5 minutes I was back up!

I think your repair is going to be over 150.00 easily. But then, hopefully it will be good to go for many years.
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Bob
92 325ic gone Sad
14 BRZ ltd
05 Tundra SR5 TRD
01 VFR800fi - 03 DR650S - 83 CB1100F - 82 CB900F - 69 CB750
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85-325e



Joined: 30 Jun 2002
Posts: 4712
Location: Southampton, NY

PostPosted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 4:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, with everything hanging out, I tried the deck one more time... Yikes...

So, I packaged it up and sent it to the Alpine authorized center in Syracuse Priority Mail, so I guess I'll know by the end of the week what the deal is. I'm going to rewrap the wiring as it's all ok, and put the car back together, with that gaping hole now in the console.

The wait is going to suck. Who knows though... they may just have the part and do it reasonably. They told me that once they get it, it'll go to the most senior tech (I guess that means the oldest) because he would probably have more experience with it, and may even have some parts lying around.

Keeping my fingers crossed, but will also keep my eyes open for another unit.
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Cosmo - 1985 BMW 325e, Single Owner, 265,000+ ORIGINAL miles and still going strong! But now on the East Coast and the salt air corrosion is eating my beautiful car alive... Sad

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85-325e



Joined: 30 Jun 2002
Posts: 4712
Location: Southampton, NY

PostPosted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 1:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, they got the radio and are returning it. They can't fix it.

I have to say that they were VERY honest about everything, and are returning it to me free of charge.

I can't say I'm not bummed about this. I was really hoping that they would have some parts lying around or could do a quick fix.

In any case, I'm back in the same sinking boat, so I guess I'll have to try to find another or an alternative.

For what it's worth, I would always send an Alpine back to these guys. At least they didn't try to soak me for something they couldn't do.

The place is:

United Radio Services (URS)
5717 Enterprise Parkway
E. Syracuse, NY 13057

Phone: 1-800-634-8606 or 1-315-446-8700
Fax: 1-315-446-8505

Hours: 8:30 A.M. thru 5:30 P.M., E.S.T., Mon.-Fri.
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Cosmo - 1985 BMW 325e, Single Owner, 265,000+ ORIGINAL miles and still going strong! But now on the East Coast and the salt air corrosion is eating my beautiful car alive... Sad

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beejay



Joined: 18 Nov 2002
Posts: 1158
Location: Eastern, Pa

PostPosted: Sun Sep 21, 2014 6:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

you can retrofit an E36 radio but it requires some wiring changes. easiest and (safest) repair is to put one of the 5 series radios as above in.
Don't waste another dollar on the infrared radios. most used ones are now junk. trust me on this, I've been through too many of them.
you'll be back up and jamming in the time it takes to plug it in and tighten the screws

the seller looks to be reputable. I would trust the radio listed. it's no long term guarantee but I think those are easier to repair down the road.
I think the only issues I remember reading were tape player issues and volume static
_________________
Bob
92 325ic gone Sad
14 BRZ ltd
05 Tundra SR5 TRD
01 VFR800fi - 03 DR650S - 83 CB1100F - 82 CB900F - 69 CB750
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85-325e



Joined: 30 Jun 2002
Posts: 4712
Location: Southampton, NY

PostPosted: Sun Sep 21, 2014 11:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

OK, well, I bought one... Don't know how it'll be... I've seen the picture someplace else but I have good connections with PayPal and if it's bull, I'll get my money back.

The auction you posted had ended before I even saw it...

I don't think it'll have the plug for the back, so I'll have to find one of those now too... I think it takes the DIN plug... wonder where I'll find one of those???

I'll let you know if this works out Bob... Thanks...
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Cosmo - 1985 BMW 325e, Single Owner, 265,000+ ORIGINAL miles and still going strong! But now on the East Coast and the salt air corrosion is eating my beautiful car alive... Sad

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beejay



Joined: 18 Nov 2002
Posts: 1158
Location: Eastern, Pa

PostPosted: Mon Sep 22, 2014 7:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm not sure how your 85 is wired. but I believe it should be individual wires as in this picture. Should not need the DIN connector. that was for the Trunk mtd CD player.

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Bob
92 325ic gone Sad
14 BRZ ltd
05 Tundra SR5 TRD
01 VFR800fi - 03 DR650S - 83 CB1100F - 82 CB900F - 69 CB750
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85-325e



Joined: 30 Jun 2002
Posts: 4712
Location: Southampton, NY

PostPosted: Mon Sep 22, 2014 9:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wow, great! I looked around last night for a schematic or photo of the back of one of these and couldn't find it.

The guy is already playing games, and I've already contacted ebay just in case. I wrote him a few questions before I bought it (one of which was 'Do you have the code?'), but then decided that I'd just buy it because the price was cheap and see what happens... (he had two... one other guy bought one and I bought one, both for $35.00 + shipping).

Soon after the payment was sent, I received a message from him saying he couldn't sell them and that he'd relisted them because he had gotten the codes and now wanted more money (wasn't much... $15 more)! I'm no stranger to ebay, and a good percentage of the things I've added to the car over the years came from there, so I contacted ebay, let them know what he was trying to do (I think it's called extortion), and told them that if it isn't shipped by tomorrow, I'd call them back tomorrow night.

Before I got the message from him, I did an image search on Google for the radio, and found the picture that he used in his auction on another site, from several years ago, so I'll just have to wait and see what happens.

From the pic you posted, I think the wiring from the pyramid radio is the same... same connectors etc, so I should be OK.

I'll keep you posted as to what's happening. Thanks for all the info and support Bob...

Cheers,

Enis
_________________
Cosmo - 1985 BMW 325e, Single Owner, 265,000+ ORIGINAL miles and still going strong! But now on the East Coast and the salt air corrosion is eating my beautiful car alive... Sad

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beejay



Joined: 18 Nov 2002
Posts: 1158
Location: Eastern, Pa

PostPosted: Tue Sep 23, 2014 10:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

search for E34 radio. you will find lotsa info.
see the bottom of this page.

http://www.bmwe34.net/E34main/Upgrade/Stereo_radio.htm
_________________
Bob
92 325ic gone Sad
14 BRZ ltd
05 Tundra SR5 TRD
01 VFR800fi - 03 DR650S - 83 CB1100F - 82 CB900F - 69 CB750
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85-325e



Joined: 30 Jun 2002
Posts: 4712
Location: Southampton, NY

PostPosted: Tue Sep 23, 2014 11:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Don't think I'll get the radio... Spent 3 hours on the phone wit eBay and PayPal yesterday. Guy's a crook. Still hasn't shipped it, sent the extra $15 at eBay's request (they provided the $15), and he'll be weeded out.

I got the return from the Alpine service center yesterday as well... sad to see that perfect looking radio which is basically useless.

Wish I could find some broken donors for that pyramid stereo and I'd try to fix it myself...
_________________
Cosmo - 1985 BMW 325e, Single Owner, 265,000+ ORIGINAL miles and still going strong! But now on the East Coast and the salt air corrosion is eating my beautiful car alive... Sad

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beejay



Joined: 18 Nov 2002
Posts: 1158
Location: Eastern, Pa

PostPosted: Tue Sep 23, 2014 9:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

keep an eye on ebay. they do come up often.
it's a tough search though. I just did a basic "bmw radio"
you can scan through the pics pretty fast if you memorize the style of the radio.
As I mentioned, I got lucky and found an NOS one.guy had 2 listed for buy it now. I got one for a decent price.
email the seller above. maybe he has more.
Looks like a good radio from a reputable seller.
_________________
Bob
92 325ic gone Sad
14 BRZ ltd
05 Tundra SR5 TRD
01 VFR800fi - 03 DR650S - 83 CB1100F - 82 CB900F - 69 CB750
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