I just bought a '98 C5 and can't play a cd. The guy I bought it from had an after market sterio installed and put the factory one back in. Eventually I plan on upgrading but for now I just want to play a cd. The manual talks about a theftlock (loc) code if the sterio is stolen, but when I put a cd in, it kicks it back out and says "err". Anyone know how to fix this?

 

Its funked. Either the optics are severely dirty or the mechanism isnt spinning up the cd to find the start bit on the cd track. Either way, you will have to send it to a bose repair dump or get a real head unit. "err" is a general failure of the unit.


snoopdan

 

got any recommendations on a "real" head unit?

 

what's your price range? do you want to keep the rest of the bose system (an adapter will be needed if so) have any long range plans on the stereo system? Do you have an ipod? (some decks can control them)

 

There is such an insane amount of choices, from bling to stock-ish...Do you want a MP3 player? Or even maybe a hard drive storage head unit? Single disc? Navagation? wanna watch Top Gun on your dash? All things to consider are these....


and once you upgrade one part of the bose fiasco, you'll headed to more upgrades. Its inevitable.

snoopdan

 

I want a cd player, mp-3 player, dvd would be nice with TV tuner too. I want a sub, but I don't want it in the big compartment in the back. Maybe 2 8's or 10's in the side compartments back there. I've got maybe around 2k to spend.

 

ok one last question....what's more important to you...dvd/navigation/lcd screen or sound quality

I ask this because with a 2k budget you can't really have both. you can have a great sounding traditional set up...h/u, speakers, sub, and amp. or if you want dvd you'll blow most of your wad on the h/u and then you'll have to power your speakers off the h/u power.


or...build a car pc :-)

 

sound quality is definitely most important. I don't really need to watch a dvd while driving, but it looks good. I have considered a car pc. Any idea how much that would run.

 

under 2000. i'm installing mine now as we speak...search my posts for a write up i've been doing i think i have a breakdown of prices.

 

Car PC's arent exactly turn key yet....ask scott, if you make one for your vette, you'll have your signficant other hating you.

Dvd/Nav's can be attained for around 800 or so used if your diligent in your search if your interested in that route. So 2k isnt entirely unreasonable to get all the goodies.

Try looking at a few head units just for base knowledge, such as the Pioneer NAV models, Kenwood, Alpine, Eclispe, Denison, even Panasonic has some insane Japanese versions with LCD screens.

This is a side note to this, but ive been looking at one of these wireless head unit jobby's with 20 gigs of muzak on it. Hell, I think I only have 13 gigs or so of music, so id fit me pretty good, and since im a computer geek by trade, even better.


Omnifi 20 gig DMP1

snoopdan

 

Call me crazy, but are you using a burned cd? I had a couple of discs that I burned a few years ago on some amazingly cheap cd-r media that won't play in the stock unit.

If you're like me and have a metric ton of el-cheap-o cd-r media, try burning it at a slower speed.

Just a thought.

 

Good point, I didnt even think of that. Bose head units are a little b!tchy about CDR's in the first place, and even more so if you didnt use disc at once while burning it ... and some burners/media are just crap too. Cdr's arent meant to be able to see throught them when you hold them to a light, which tells you actually how much alumnium they really have on them.....


However, this post really has no point

snoopdan

 

Before you go spend the money on a new unit... try an original CD (not burnt). My head unit does not play any burnt CDs. I have tried many brands. I have heard that the earlier C5s have this problem. The stock CD changer plays everything though... so I just load that up.

 

thats odd, mine did the exact opposite

 

I agree with you, I had the same problem on my
86 with stock Bose.Factory cd's worked just fine, but home burned cd's had a tendency to give me
#@^& err code. I burned at a slow speed and used memorex blank cd's instead of staples and I cut the err problem way down.

 

I tried original cd's already. I have the same factory unit in my blazer and tried both originals and burned cds in both-- they work in the blazer and not in the vette.

 

nonsense...you need to spend money on the stereo


and yeah, as snoopdan said...not exactly turn key but you can get some that aren't as custom and save some time. I could clue you in on how if you want to explore that option some more.

if you do go this route (upgrading the soundsytem...not the car pc) here is what i think you'll appreciate:

cdt 6.5" components in the door $150
12" image dynamics sub in the trunk $150
snoopdan may dissagree on this but... Phoenix gold titanium amp 4x75 (i see them on ebay for about $350)
above is what i have installed in my car and i'm very happy with it and didn't cost me an arm and a leg. the Titanium amps used to be amazing amps back in the day and they can handle the abuse. i'm running mine bridged at 2 ohms for the sub and it kicks!


that's $650...now you have 1350 to spend on wiring and a head unit. I guess you can get good quality sound AND dvd/nav for about $2000.

If you can live without the lcd screen and dvd then go with a 3 way component setup. if you want to have just dvd and don't really mind not having gps then you could get a soundstream dvd h/u for under $200 (check ebay), mount that where the a/c controls are, then squeeze a 6.5" (even 7" willl fit..sort of) in the stock h/u location and you are on your way.

 

actually the eclipse av3423 is a 7" touchpanel dvd reciever and it runs about $1350 msrp( i think) and it is also 'commander advance' ready which means that if you want to add nav later on down the line you can with this head unit.