You’re sick and tired of listening to cassettes and only being able to enjoy the radio, while your smart phone is filled with your preferred tracks but you don’t have a jack or usb port on your car radio, so you can’t appreciate your car travels to the fullest… That’s specifically why we’ve created this content to help you, because now you’re going to learn about how to install a car radio on your BMW i3. To get this done, initially we will see how to remove the old car radio, then how to install a car radio on BMW i3 and to finish, how to connect it.
How to install car radio on BMW i3: Removing the old car stereo
Before we begin the serious business of how to install a car stereo on your BMW i3, there is one fundamental step, take off the audio set you already have on your car. There are two scenarios, either you have an original headunit, or you have an universal set. Before you start taking out, always make sure to remove the negative wire from the battery to prevent any risk of short-circuit or electrocution. Once this is done, here are the two techniques depending on the stereo that equips your BMW i3:
- Original car radio:
In this instance, you’ll have to be patient, in general, the simple use of extracting clamps in the 4 holes in the corners of the car radio should be enough to remove it. But on some particular models of specific years, this process will not be enough to remove the old car radio from your BMW i3. In truth, you will need to remove certain parts of the centre console to access the car radio itself. To accomplish this, you will need to use a screwdriver to remove the plastic covers that are in the way. Once you have access to the station, make sure to disconnect all the connections. - Aftermarket radio :
In this situation the operation is easier, you will just have to use the extracting clamps and press on the 4 corners of your station to make it come out of its place. Once this step is done, make sure to unplug it and remove the metal frame that supports it in the notch of the center console. That’s it, you’ve completed dismantling your old car radio, all you have to do is install the new one!
How to install car radio on your BMW i3: Fitting and connecting the car radio
Let’s go to the essential section for you, how to install a car stereo on your BMW i3. Beforehand, take the time to check the compatibility of your car and your headunit, and to read the installation instructions, which may give you specific guidelines.
Here are the various steps required in installing an aftermarket car radio. Firstly, put in place the metal frame supplied with your new car radio, this frame has the task of holding your car radio in place on your BMW i3, once situated, make sure to press the locking tabs on each side of the frame. Once this step has been completed, you will need to connect the three plugs of your car radio, two ISO connectors for power supply and sound transfer to the speakers of your BMW i3, then the radio antenna socket. For the latter, on some models you may need an adapter to transform it from male to female in order to adapt it to the socket of your new radio. At last, all you have to do is push your car radio into the metal frame, snap it into place, and position the plastic or metal frame supplied with it on its contour. That’s it, you’ve just learned how to install a car radio on BMW i3, make sure to check that the radio is switched on, that the sound is working and that you’re picking up the radio and you’re ready to enjoy your new car radio. If you have other trouble, or want to learn more about your car, don’t hesitate to visit our page dedicated to it.
If you need more guides on the BMW i3, go to our BMW i3 category.
