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Thread: E46 double DIN headunit, move climate controls ?

  1. #1

    E46 double DIN headunit, move climate controls ?

    hi there,

    was thinking of possibly upgrading the entertainment system in my 318ci to a double DIN unit (perhaps even one with Apple's Carplay)

    I can see the fascia and harness here:
    http://www.ebay.ie/itm/CT23BM07-BMW-3-Series-E46-1998-05-Car-Stereo-Double-Din-Fascia-ISO-Aerial-Kit-/251474645305?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3a8d0e 9139

    in that listing the seller says that you need an additional part from your BMW dealer in order to move the climate controls.

    It seems that this may be only available to those with automatic climate controls, my car has the old fashioned dials.

    my question is , can i move my climate controls down a slot, to the now empty slot above the ashtray? even if they are the manual (dial) controls ?

  2. #2
    BMWHaus Contributor
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    RE: E46 double DIN headunit, move climate controls ?

    Cables are the same at the back for dials and digital air con so should be no problem

  3. #3

    RE: E46 double DIN headunit, move climate controls ?

    Quote Originally Posted by nigzcurran
    Cables are the same at the back for dials and digital air con so should be no problem
    oh really ? cool.

    I'm not really bothered about the digitial air con unit (in fact I think i prefer the dials) this raises the next question, will my current aircon unit fit down there? the slot looks smaller.

    thanks

  4. #4
    BMWHaus Contributor
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    RE: E46 double DIN headunit, move climate controls ?

    Not sure on that but the newer air con units are a lot slimmer on the back so are an easier fit, the earlier e46 with the dial air con are totally different to the newer ones and are operated by steel cables rather than electronic

  5. #5

    RE: E46 double DIN headunit, move climate controls ?

    Quote Originally Posted by nigzcurran
    Not sure on that but the newer air con units are a lot slimmer on the back so are an easier fit, the earlier e46 with the dial air con are totally different to the newer ones and are operated by steel cables rather than electronic
    So what you're saying is that they are totally interchangeable in their original slots but you're just not sure if the dials will fit the lower slot?

  6. #6
    BMWHaus Contributor
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    RE: E46 double DIN headunit, move climate controls ?

    All depends on what year your car is, if it's the older model with the steel cable type controls I doubt you can move it, anything else and your laughing, the unit will slide out very easily and you can have a look, electric cables =good. Steel cables =bad. Hope that helps

  7. #7

    RE: E46 double DIN headunit, move climate controls ?

    hi there again,

    sorry to bother you, but i found some seemingly contradictory information here:
    http://www.bmwhaus.ie/forum/showthread.php?tid=4519&highlight=hvac

    according to this thread, ALL of the manual HVAC units (Dials) are cable controlled and therefore not swappable with the Digital ones and therefore not moveable

    can you offer any thoughts on this?

  8. #8
    BMWHaus Contributor
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    RE: E46 double DIN headunit, move climate controls ?

    Yep i had dials and swapped for digital, I lost control of direction though so mine just blows on the windscreen but everything else is fine

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