Alfa 166 CD Changer upgrade

Hi,

Would anyone know if one can replace the standard 166 6 disk changer with a Blaupunkt CDC-A08 10 disk unit (standard on the 2004 GTV I think)? I guess the connections at the back are standard but I'm not sure if the ICS will handle 10 disks.

Also, would anyone know where I can get my hands on the Number buttons (1 -6) that eside on the left ofthe ICS screen? Just bought a 166 and these went AWOL during the previous ownership....

Thanks for your help.

David

Have a look at: http://www.loudlink.eu/

While we are on the subject of CD players, mine skips, even when going over the slightest bump. I've cleaned the lens, but no difference. Any suggestions?

Again...http://www.loudlink.eu/.
Got one and got to say best money spent so far!

Originally Posted by STMO123

While we are on the subject of CD players, mine skips, even when going over the slightest bump. I've cleaned the lens, but no difference. Any suggestions?

Pomeo's did that when I got her.Tried cleaning numerous times to no avail.

Kids arguing in the back driving down a strange village near Kilmarnock with a sleeping policeman on the road. Shouting at them and never saw it....What a bump.

I am not suggesting you do this BUT it is a method of resolving the problem.


Guess what....Cd player has worked fine ever since.

Hope this helps. It worked for me.

P me

Originally Posted by dcd155

Hi,

Would anyone know if one can replace the standard 166 6 disk changer with a Blaupunkt CDC-A08 10 disk unit (standard on the 2004 GTV I think)? I guess the connections at the back are standard but I'm not sure if the ICS will handle 10 disks.

Also, would anyone know where I can get my hands on the Number buttons (1 -6) that eside on the left ofthe ICS screen? Just bought a 166 and these went AWOL during the previous ownership....

Thanks for your help.

David

Because of the 166's uni-link, only the unit designed for the car will work unfortunately, but the mp3 route is always a good alternative option.

I know this sounds "crazy" but the 6 CD Autochanger - Becker/Seimens type - that you already have is the ONLY autochanger that will be reconised by your ICS unit and will work in an Alfa 166.

Lots of posts about this subject and the only alternative is the "Loudlink" item.

AT least your 166 has a CD Changer. Its annoying for those poor sods who don't have one and if the cables are not installed have to go to all the trouble of taking out the ICS unit

There are alternatives to loudlink, but they are longshots! It's been a while since I was looking at the same issue, but IIRC:

Rogier on this forum used to make a dongle to fool the ICS into thinking there's a CD player there. You can then put whatever you want into the audio input. A quick search on the forum will track him down - see if he has any left.

The reason you can supposedly only use the original Becker CD player is that it has a chip in it. You can use the standard Becker unit (as found in Porsches. It's a Becker Silverstone) if you have the bits to swap over. There is / was a guy on Italian ebay doing it. If your searching in Europe, bear in mind that the Lancia Libra (Lybra?) uses the same system.

There is also a simpler alternative: if you have the CD changer keep it in so that the ICS knows there is something there. Then just plug something else into the audio input.

Hope all that blithering helps.

Originally Posted by Pomeo

Pomeo's did that when I got her.Tried cleaning numerous times to no avail.

Kids arguing in the back driving down a strange village near Kilmarnock with a sleeping policeman on the road. Shouting at them and never saw it....What a bump.

I am not suggesting you do this BUT it is a method of resolving the problem.


Guess what....Cd player has worked fine ever since.

Hope this helps. It worked for me.

P me

Hmmmm....maybe I could replicate those cicumstances with....a nammer!

Thanks everyone for the info. Seems like the Loudlink route is the way to go. I just sold my Alfa 155 and kept the CD changer I had installed in it and was wondering if I could use it in the 166 (10 disks better than 6.....).....

Regarding the ICS number buttons, if anyone has a damaged ICS unit that's fit for cannibalizing, I'm missing all 6 of the number buttons and am trying to get my hands on a set without having to buy a whole ICS....... Any help on this one would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

David

Well, I've been out and given mine a severe seeing-to. Seems a bit better actually, think I need to get the heavy stuff out

make sure the dials on the side of the player are pointing upwards (i think) as they control the suspension of the mechanism and if set wrong it will skip....

I found the CD changer was very sensitive when using burned CDs instead of original music CDs these were an improvement but still skipped on bumps. It was driving me mad as the same CDs played fine in the 156. I had to resort to removing original CDs from the house which also became frustrating as when I felt like listening to a CD in the house I would find the case empty

Solution: LoudLink
New Problem: Finding 50 Albums I want to listen too

Originally Posted by niallmoran

make sure the dials on the side of the player are pointing upwards (i think) as they control the suspension of the mechanism and if set wrong it will skip....

I changed these 2 dials, which were horizontal, so the arrows are now pointing upwards, as you advised. So far this seemed to have cured the skipping.

Thanks niall , great tip as I did not know they existed but I do not understand why the dials have different settings - any idea of the reasons?

think it's maybe to do with the angle of the changers - in some cars (not 166's) the mechanism is mounted vertically....

Situation with cd changer for Alfa Romeo 166 is big problem to me. I want to search compatibility changer such brand as Alpine, Clarion, Sony, Pioneer with mp3.

The Loudlink site claims that all 166's are pre-fitted with the CD changer cable, whereas I've seen on this forum that some UK cars may not be... Does anyone know categorically whether UK cars are fitted with the cable before I take all the trim out of my boot to search for it ?

I have searched in the usual places (spare wheel well, tracing back by the battery cables & loom, around the rear suspension turrets etc) to no avail.

Thanks!