Before the install
tp_radio_6b
This is the tool you need from BMW - it's about $15 (BMW CCA Discount)
The end of the tool is actually shaped like a pentagon, not a hexagon, thus a 49 cent hex key will not work
Here's the small door you need to flip open on the side of the standard radio
Here's the small door open
both doors open
Here's the radio tool inserted into the radio. Keep turning clockwise (?) until you can't turn any more. Do the same on the other side. The radio will now be released -- grab onto the knobs and gently pull out
This is the wierd connector behind the radio. You need to pull it "up" (up being relative to the radio as it normally sits in the car). As you pull this thing "up" it will force the receptacle out of the back. This is all, basically, an excellent example of german over-engineering. The purpose is to get the big plug out of the back of the unit. You can then simply pull the antenna off and unscrew the bullet (anti-theft) cover
Here's the plug and the magic sliding cover after it's been removed from the radio.
The TP plug goes right into the BMW plug. If you encounter resistance, try turning it over, it only goes in one way. Slide the cover back down the the two plugs will be locked together.
The CD changer, on the other hand, is a problem -- it can go in eaither way and I'm not sure which way is correct.
Peering inside the cavern, you can see the little cave in which the anti-theft bullet sits
Detail of the cave. What is "RD" or "LD" -- who knows. My guess is it's related to Left Hand Drive and Right hand drive, but I don't really know.
use the green wire you purchased separately and shove the connector into hole 10.
just keep pushing, it will eventually come though and seat into the hole.
Strip the green wire and the black/white wire, twist together and solder them. Note: The GAL is pretty easy to get to because it goes directly to the radio in the Z3, perhaps Becker thinks it might be located elsewhere on other models, so that's why they left pin 10 out.
No magic backup light connector under my shift boot, but fishing around under the emergency brake uncovers a connector taped to the floor.
Found! The connector Rachel mentions wich is actually for use in a cell-phone kit was actually located under my emergency brake boot (not shift boot). Bad news, in my 2002 3.0 there have clearly been changes. The plug contains unswitched power, switched power and three other "potentially live" plugs, but none of them are live when in reverse.
when you turn it on, a couple of things happen -- you need to insert the CD and it will babble to you in German that it is checking the CD, then it will go through a 4 minute upgrade of the the radio software, then it's ready to actually start working.