Hi Guys

[Wulf Krahmann]

I recently bought a Z3 in "HELLROT". She's a 1997 2.8 model with 109,000 km on the clock.
There are the usual niggly things that I would like to correct.

The radio does not work - apparently the display is "shot", I do have a code, but cannot check if it works. Trying to have it fixed so that she's back to original.

The previous owner fitted another radio - but even that is not working, no sound from any one of the speakers.
How can I open the door speakers to check if the wiring is OK. The same applies to the speakers at the roll bars?

Out of curiosity are there towbars available for the Z's?

Regards,

Wulf from SA

 

[andyglym]

to the forum from West Cumbria, England. You need to take the door cards off I think (Good clips on YouTube) and a couple of the panels for rear speaker, ditto YouTube. There are a couple with tow bars I believe.

 

[Wulf Krahmann]

to the forum from West Cumbria, England. You need to take the door cards off I think (Good clips on YouTube) and a couple of the panels for rear speaker, ditto YouTube. There are a couple with tow bars I believe.

Thanks Andy, will have a look at the you tube videos to see if I can find one that's relevant. If I manage will keep you posted.

 

[Slam]

Hi and welcome from London

 

[Keet]

Hello and welcome to the forum

 

[Jjim]

Hi, welcome from Mansfield - UK

You can get to the footwell speakers easily, to check the wiring. Just a bit of trim panel to remove.

 

[Bampz]

Hi and welcome from Pembrokeshire in Wales, is radio lighting up when switched on and if not I'd check fused first then wiring to the radio to check for power , also check the Ariel connections in the boot to make sure all ok , best of luck and the best sound is the sound from the exhaust as you enjoy your car

 

[PHILIP BAXTER]

Hi Wulf, and welcome from me in Cardiff.

 

[handsomejackuk]

Hi Wulf.... welcome from south wales Valleys... good to have you aboard...

 

[DavidM]

Welcome from Ireland!

 

[Wulf Krahmann]

Thanks, to all of you for making me feel so welcome. Will check all your advice out today, hopefully there will be some progress.
There is power as the code does light up but some of the "pixels" are not showing and the display does not show any numbers for the code as I push the station buttons. Have managed to get the display off the radio but have not seen anything obvious yet.
Have fitted a modern USB and MP3 radio in the interim, but there still complete silence even at full volume. Connected all the wires as per the diagram 1 to 17 to the A & B type standard modern radios.

 

[Grumps]

Hi from Mansfield UK. Bit of a rare car over in S.A. We have @Southernboy on here from Johannesburg who has two. Ooh and I like hellrot red

 

[BMBabe]

Weĺcome from Aylesbury UK

 

[BillyB]

from Edinburgh

 

[Redline]

Hi and welcome from Warwickshire.

If there is power on the unit it should be possible to follow the coding instructions slowly and correctly.
If there is an alternate source on either unit (CD, USB, cassette - yes they still exist apparently) try those. That way you can prove the output side and wiring. Get that sorted and focus on the radio.

The display problem will likely be a connector or solder joint. After that a capacitor that’s dried out.
I presume the display is an older LED matrix and probably orange.
LEDs can fail if the temperature inside rises above 100deg C, the light output falls and above 170C will fail entirely.
Displays may have a heat sink, but, in a hot climate it’s possible they’re often running way above their design temperature. Contrary to popular belief they do create heat themselves.
LEDs can also simply fail with age and use.
It could be the matrix itself.

 

[TrevD66]

Hi and welcome from Australia.... Enjoy your Zed.

 

[Jack Ratt]

Hello Wulf, welcome to the forum

 

[Shelly]

Hi and welcome to ZroadSter

 

[Wulf Krahmann]

I managed to finally get the replacement radio going in my Z. The previous owner or installer of the radio managed to jam the speaker leads between the speaker and the body, this led to the protective shutdown of the amplifiers of the radio and thus no sound.
I also stripped the BMW radio and it seems that the foil leads to the display are no longer giving continuity and thus the display is not working, will post any successes should I find a cure.

Does anyone have a Workshop manual for the Z3 specifically the 2.8 in PDF format? I noticed that Haynes did publish one many moons ago covering various models.

 

[Mint]

Hi @Wulf Krahmann, to the forum from me too in Staffordshire, UK. Good to hear you have got your radio working.