Becker Cascade Pro fitted :o)

TitanTim · Post by **TitanTim** » Sun 27 Mar, 2011 14:48

Finally got around to fitting the Becker today which replaces the Sony unit that came with the Zed

Just wanted to thank Gary (Gazhyde) for the loan of the Sony removal tools, thanks alot Gary

Jonttt regarding fitting and Titan (Terry) for the part no for the screw head caps.

Prior to fitting I removed the two radio fuses. Apart from removing the Sony mounting sleeve which was a pain in the ar$e, fitting was a doddle and ran the Becker ipod connection through to the glovebox and the Sat Nav and mic cables the same route with the Nav receiver parked in dash corner. Only problem I had was one of the glovebox latch clips broke

luckily I had a spare knocking round. Doing the wiring for the GAL was much easier than I anticipated thanks to a previous how too on here. The mic cable was run up behind the passenger windcreen pillar trim and across the top of the screen and attached next to the rearview mirror.

I was always dissapointed with the Sony unit, no matter how much I played with the equaliser, bass, treble etc the sound quality was always thin and lifeless, plus being an older model I couldn't connect an ipod/iphone. I know many have swapped the standard speakers out and did wonder if it was these that were just poor.

Anyways as soon as the becker was fired up all I can say is what a revelation, after a little tweaking the sound quality and depth is simply superb, well pleased

I was worried the Becker wouldn't match the dash as well as the Sony as the Sony had a silver finish however I'm not dissapointed in the end result. I know the Beckers are expensive but have to say I'm glad I went for one now.

Previous Sony unit,

Becker unit,

Ipod location,

Sat Nav Receiver,

Cheers,

Tim.

('_')Z3 · Post by **('_')Z3** » Sun 27 Mar, 2011 15:07

Good job, it looks great.

I was truly amazed at the sound difference when i fitted mine too.

Jonttt · Post by **Jonttt** » Sun 27 Mar, 2011 15:14

Looks great Tim and I'm glad you had no problems fitting / wiring the GAL

I would change the display colour to match the instruments (there is a very close match in the settings)

The bluetooth phone works remarkably well even with the roof down. I've had factory fitted units in Mercs and BMW's that do not work as well!

TitanTim · Post by **TitanTim** » Sun 27 Mar, 2011 15:17

('_')Z3 wrote:Good job, it looks great. I was truly amazed at the sound difference when i fitted mine too.

Cheers Z3, in many ways I was relieved as if it had been the speakers then

but yes the difference in quality is very marked

Tim.

Hang_em_high · Post by **Hang_em_high** » Sun 27 Mar, 2011 15:19

That looks far better and far more OEM than the Sony unit that was fitted Tim.
Nice job

GazHyde · Post by **GazHyde** » Sun 27 Mar, 2011 15:19

The dash looks much better than with that Sony head unit!

Glad to see your up and running.

Gary

TitanTim · Post by **TitanTim** » Sun 27 Mar, 2011 15:25

Jonttt wrote:Looks great Tim and I'm glad you had no problems fitting / wiring the GAL

I would change the display colour to match the instruments (there is a very close match in the settings)

The bluetooth phone works remarkably well even with the roof down. I've had factory fitted units in Mercs and BMW's that do not work as well!

Thanks Jon, I will have a play over the week as I ran out of time today

Glad I bought 2 harness adapters in the end as the existing harness adapter was Sony specific and was no good for the Becker

so having the spare to butcher for the GAL was lucky. Haven't tried the bluetooth or Sat Nav yet as need to load the maps on

Overall though the sound quality is like night and day

Tim.

TitanTim · Post by **TitanTim** » Sun 27 Mar, 2011 15:27

Thanks for gthe comments guys, really appreciate it

Thanks again Gary

Tim.

gookah · Post by **gookah** » Sun 27 Mar, 2011 15:35

looking good Tim.
That interior is becoming very expensive, what with the mats and all...

TitanTim · Post by **TitanTim** » Sun 27 Mar, 2011 15:42

gookah wrote:looking good Tim.
That interior is becoming very expensive, what with the mats and all...

Cheers gookah, I know I'm just thinking that, going to have to leave the hood up permanently from now on

Tim.

Jonttt · Post by **Jonttt** » Sun 27 Mar, 2011 16:58

TitanTim wrote:Haven't tried the bluetooth or Sat Nav yet as need to load the maps on Tim.

The maps should be pre loaded on the memory card and its just inserted in the unit permanently keeping the CD free. You do need to insert the system CD each time the unit has power disabled to reload the languages (I think its a security feature as well as the 4 digit code

). As I don't use CD's (having the Ipod link) I just leave the system CD in all the time (as I often remove the battery from the car for storage).

Mad Max · Post by **Mad Max** » Sun 27 Mar, 2011 17:03

Hehe, Signal 1

hornel Z3M · Post by **hornel Z3M** » Sun 27 Mar, 2011 17:09

Sat nav instructions-- turn right into garage and cover over

Looks great tim, a credit to a truly fanatical Z3 owner.

Hard Top · Post by **Hard Top** » Sun 27 Mar, 2011 17:38

hornel Z3M wrote:Sat nav instructions-- turn right into garage and cover over
Looks great tim, a credit to a truly fanatical Z3 owner.

Very nice, looks good TT.

HT

TitanTim · Post by **TitanTim** » Sun 27 Mar, 2011 18:57

Jonttt wrote:
TitanTim wrote:Haven't tried the bluetooth or Sat Nav yet as need to load the maps on Tim.
The maps should be pre loaded on the memory card and its just inserted in the unit permanently keeping the CD free. You do need to insert the system CD each time the unit has power disabled to reload the languages (I think its a security feature as well as the 4 digit code ). As I don't use CD's (having the Ipod link) I just leave the system CD in all the time (as I often remove the battery from the car for storage).

Thanks for the info Jon, the e-bay seller whom I bought the unit off is midlo1988, seems she deals in second hand Becker Units and currently has a new Ferrari Becker Cascade Pro Unit at a buy it now of £1690

She was actually very helpful so can recommend the seller if anyone is looking to get a Becker in the future.

She sent me the latest Navteq Version 5 European 2011 GPS Maps (2gb card & system Cd), looking forward having a look at these

Tim.

TitanTim · Post by **TitanTim** » Sun 27 Mar, 2011 18:58

Mad Max wrote:Hehe, Signal 1

I changed it to Signal 1 as it was on Classic FM before

Tim.

TitanTim · Post by **TitanTim** » Sun 27 Mar, 2011 18:59

Cheers Paul

Thanks HT

Tim.

Jonttt · Post by **Jonttt** » Mon 28 Mar, 2011 00:26

TitanTim wrote:Thanks for the info Jon, the e-bay seller whom I bought the unit off is midlo1988, seems she deals in second hand Becker Units and currently has a new Ferrari Becker Cascade Pro Unit at a buy it now of £1690 She was actually very helpful so can recommend the seller if anyone is looking to get a Becker in the future.

She sent me the latest Navteq Version 5 European 2011 GPS Maps (2gb card & system Cd), looking forward having a look at these

Tim.

Jobs a goodun them

The F430 has the same unit with the Ferrari badge on it, god knows what my boss paid for it as an option (will have to dig out the invoice)

TitanTim · Post by **TitanTim** » Mon 28 Mar, 2011 19:03

Thanks Jon, I perish the thought

Shame the Ferrari wasn't still attached to my Becker

Tim.

zroadster.net

Becker Cascade Pro fitted :o)

Becker Cascade Pro fitted :o)

z

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