Twinspark Posted August 1, 2012 Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 Not sure if this is the right part of the forum to be posting this... I have a really fancy head unit in my Alfa 75 at the moment - but due to the location in the car, it's an absolute pain to operate. (The head unit is behind the gear stick in the centre console, so impossible to operate when in 3rd or 5th gear, and the screen is hard to see). I thought I had the original 1990 vintage Blaupunkt in the garage to re-install - but it appears that I don't, and I can't find anything suitable on eBay. However, there are loads of Gamma head units from B5 Passats / A4 Golfs etc, on there - I like these head units, and find them easy to operate. So I have 2 questions: Does anyone have a retro Blaupunkt head unit kicking around that they would part with? Alternatively - will a Gamma head unit work in a non-VAG car? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted August 1, 2012 Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 You might need to adjust the wiring, usually the permanent live and switched live need swapping, but otherwise it should work. Can you show me a picture of what the head unit you are after looks like, as I have a VW head unit in my shed that I'd be happy to part with. It is a bit of a daft position in the Alfa isn't it, all adds to the quirkiness of the car imo, and it's great fun watching passengers search for the window switches, then, thinking they've found them, putting the rear window down! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twinspark Posted August 1, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 It's this one: Don't really want a Beta, as they're lower spec. - I always found the Gamma to be pretty damned good quality, and really easy to use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted August 1, 2012 Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 Hmm, I think it looks like that, is the Beta similar? as it may be one of those, I'll try and dig it out tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twinspark Posted August 1, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 Beta looks almost identical - but it doesn't have the fader button. As a guide - the Gamma tended to come in SE / Highline / GTI type cars. The Beta in S / base model cars. Not a hard and fast rule, but I had one in a B5 Passat SE and my mates had them in MkIV Golf GTIs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twinspark Posted August 1, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 Just to add - if it is a Gamma, it will be coded, and without the code, it's not a lot of use, as VW will charge more for the code than a head unit with code costs on eBay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted August 1, 2012 Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 Curiosity got the better of me, I've just been out in the rain and it's a Beta. It's yours if you want it, comes with a CD changer, possibly the cable for the changer too if I can find it. No idea what car it originally came out of, I bought it purely for the changer and fitted that to my Skoda Superb, then removed it again when I sold the car. It's got a little post it note stuck to it with a four digit code so I presume it should work fine. Also, I think you may need an aerial adapter too, as I think it'll be different on the VW head units. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twinspark Posted August 1, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 I believe the Beta is a 2-channel job, so thanks for the offer, but it's no good for me - as I need a 4 channel unit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted August 1, 2012 Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 No probs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twinspark Posted August 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2012 Found one of these in the garage: Which is now installed in the car. A bit late for the era, but better than some blingy impossible to use modern unit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_C Posted August 3, 2012 Report Share Posted August 3, 2012 I bought an original Clarion tape deck for my 205 a while back, about the only thing the car was missing originality wise. The 205 GTi came with four factory stereos over the years I am told Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twinspark Posted August 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2012 I'm hoping I did keep the original Blaupunkt Melbourne (not sure which model number) - it may be in my loft, but if not, I'm still looking for a correct era unit. This Clarion is really very nice, though - and I also managed to dig out one of those cassette adaptor things to play my iPhone through it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted August 3, 2012 Report Share Posted August 3, 2012 I fitted a Becker head unit in my Alfa 75, they don't come much simpler to operate than a that, and the sound quality is among the best you'll buy. I did initially fit an all singing all dancing Kenwood with a remote on the steering wheel, but it was still a pain in the ar5e, with the Becker, you never needed to look at it to operate it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twinspark Posted August 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2012 I'm currently watching an early 90s Porsche Blaupunkt Bremen and a Becker on eBay. The one issue I have is that there seems to be an issue with the wiring not being up to the job of running the head unit at higher volumes - as every one I've tried will cut out when you turn it up loud. I've tried a couple of different live feeds, but nothing has worked - what I need to do is get a run direct from the battery - but I'm struggling to find anywhere that I can (easily) push a wire through the bulkhead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted August 9, 2012 Report Share Posted August 9, 2012 Cassette desk ! :notworthy: Are you listening to Now 4 ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twinspark Posted August 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2012 Heh. I just want something easy to use and also something that can easily be hooked up to an iPhone. I've seen an excellent 'hands free' cassette adaptor on eBay, too. So you get the best of both worlds - retro head unit and hands free car kit at the same time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twinspark Posted August 21, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 Well, I've just had delivered a very, very nice Nakamichi TD35z. It looks like it has never been used - and cost me a whole 62 quid, including delivery. Not tried it out yet, as the 75 is in my lockup, but I'll try to get it installed within the next week or two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted August 25, 2012 Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 Great site for getting radio codes for free... www.radio-code.lt I like the Naks, I have had a couple, had a CD400 last time and they do sound great, lovely and warm but loads of detail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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