HK Traffic Pro install in a E36 '97 M3

The HK Traffic Pro kit includes a connector with pigtails that goes to the BMW radio harness. It also includes a connecter with pigtails that goes to the HK Traffic Pro.
You get to connect the pigtails. This lets you adapt the BMW harness to the HK TP.

Would be nice if the pigtails on the HK TP connector were the same length with the wire for the reverse lights being longer like it is with the BMW kit. I can make them the same length but will lose the markings.

This pic shows the adapter cable wiring. Although the speaker wires are labeled correctly the wire colors are 180 out. Pins 4 and 10 are missing from the BMW connector

You can use the BMW pin shown in the following pic to fill them.

Will be doing the install next Saturday. We ordered the red illumination assuming that it will be a closer match than the amber. The BMW install kit for the E36 M3 includes an antenna bracket (not available separately) that is not included in the HK kit. Will figure something out here.
What we know.
The BMW NA and Euro TP will run the BMW IBUS changer if you have the right cabling. These units will also run the Becker changer.
The HK and Becker TP will not run the IBUS changer, I'm told.
The BMW NA TP uses the same software discs as the HK TP.
The ones that came with the HK TP work in my BMW NA TP.

Tried the HK TP unit in my car today using my BMW NA TP cable assembly.
Red looks OK.
It will NOT run the BMW IBUS changer.
I swapped the removable display from my BMW NA TP unit and installed it on the HK TP unit and it works. Had to enter the security code for the HK TP unit. Instead of coming up BMW on the HK TP unit, it comes up Becker. So I guess you might be able to purchase a BMW EURO TP display as a part if you wanted to match the BMW illumination.

At the price of the HK TP, the color match is disappointing.

If I have one of our Euro parts guys ship over a Euro OEM TP, will it work in the US?

Originally posted by JonM
At the price of the HK TP, the color match is disappointing.

If I have one of our Euro parts guys ship over a Euro OEM TP, will it work in the US?

I'm told that the FM will and the AM won't. Not sure if it's changeable via a menu or what.
If you buy the unit order the E46 installation kit 65 90 0 139 889 which comes with the cable you need to run the changer.
You would also need the NA NAV CD's. Assume that they would work in the unit but am not sure yet. Don't know how a Euro NAV CD would work here since it knows you are here and not there. Borrowing one to see is on the list to see if my unit recognizes it.

The US navigation CD wont work with the European Traffic Pro.

Originally posted by Horst
The US navigation CD wont work with the European Traffic Pro.

Thanks.
The person with the '97 M3 purchased the HK Traffic Pro from Crutchfield.
Sunday, he tried to purchase the CD changer that goes with it from them, assuming he could use the $100 gift certificate he received purchasing it from Crutchfield. Crutchfield doesn't sell them.
Don't see them at the HK or Becker NA sites either. Any idea where we can get one for our upcoming Saturday installation?
Do you know what the retail price is?

We have the six disc changer BE 7860 in stock and will honor the Crutchfield coupon. To order call Burl in our parts dept. at 888 423 3537 x1209.

Originally posted by Horst
We have the six disc changer BE 7860 in stock and will honor the Crutchfield coupon. To order call Burl in our parts dept. at 888 423 3537 x1209.

Is there a way to retrofit amber illumination? The market for Traffic Pros is probably 100% enthusiasts, so you know I won't be the only one to ask for it.

Originally posted by Ron Stygar
We ordered the red illumination assuming that it will be a closer match than the amber.

Ron, do you know anyone who has the amber? Just curious how different it is from stock BMW illumination...

Originally posted by AndyM


Ron, do you know anyone who has the amber? Just curious how different it is from stock BMW illumination...

Haven't see it. Someone private emailed me who tried both. He prefered the amber which is more yellow like from the pics for readabilty.
Maybe he will post some pics to me.
I took out the red one today for a drive in my Z3 and it washes out some in bright sunlight and goes to a pinkish color which the Someone also noticed.
At dusk the red matches the BMW pretty good but gets redder as it gets darker.
If my M3 guy doesn't like the red, we will be returning it to try the amber. Another pain in the ass.
The HK NA and Becker Euro BMW unit match is close to perfect. All they have to do is make this display available for HK NA Traffic Pro which as mentioned, comes up Becker instead of BMW on the HK unit. Most woud accept that.
The lack of an illumination match will be the downfall of this excellent product with the BMW crowd. The Becker changer thing they can live live if it becomes readily available, hopefully in the same place that they purchase the HK Traffic Pro unit from.
You've gots to make it easy for people to give you their money. Right now, that is not the case.

Originally posted by Ron Stygar

[...]
If you buy the unit order the E46 installation kit 65 90 0 139 889 which comes with the cable you need to run the changer.[...]

I assume the E46 fitment is just a adapter/filler face piece like any other aftermarket E46 install, not an actual widened, cosmetically matching faceplate.

Originally posted by Kaz


I assume the E46 fitment is just a adapter/filler face piece like any other aftermarket E46 install, not an actual widened, cosmetically matching faceplate.

Looks like that's the case.
First pic is the contents of the BMW install kit (Becker BMW (Euro) Traffic Pro) for the E46.

Second pic is from the BMW Traffic Pro installation instructions.
Would be nice to see a pic from someone in Europe showing one to see how well it looks and fits.

I've been using the system for the past two weeks, and would have posted earlier but have been trying to work out this illumination issue.

I am the aforementioned user that Ron Stygar refers to. I have an E36 coupe, and had both the amber and red HK Traffic Pro's in my car at one time. The amber is by far more legible in direct sunlight than the red. Ron's observations are correct that it oftentimes washes out and has a tinge of pink in direct sunlight. After having initially used the amber, the difference was dramatic enough for me to want to switch back (again) to the amber. For reference, those who have been in one of the previous gen's E class may have seen a stock radio's non-COMAND illumination. The amber is very similar to that. While it is less of a match with the BMW illumination than the red, it's by far more usable IMHO. I would take pictures, but I no longer have my PowerShot. I'm currently located in the Bay area, in case anyone really wants to see the amber. I really wish it matched better, but the functionality of the Traffic Pro is unparalleled.

Ask any questions either here or via PM. I'd be happy to answer any questions y'all have.

They sell the amber TP in Circuit City now, its like a champaigne color, not to close to the bmw reddish-orange.. (funny to note that I could only get the CC one to display german text)

Originally posted by TxnBluDvl

Ask any questions either here or via PM. I'd be happy to answer any questions y'all have.

Did you install the Becker 7860 CD Changer? Any install tips/gotchas on this?
Thanks to Horst, we have one coming for the Saturday install.
Not sure what the M3 owner paid for it. I think around $400 using the Crutchfield coupon.

Originally posted by RichP
[B]They sell the amber TP in Circuit City now.[B]

I heard that was the original plan. Assumed that when they announced Crutchfield, that it didn't work out.
Interesting.

This,



and this,


equals?

First correct answer gets a prize.

The answer to Happy Wiring?

Installed. I had a professional shop do the install because I'm squeamish about removing trim parts without a Bentley manual. While this is a little more work, the sound is great, no risk of alternator whine:

Stereo cables down the left side, power down the right. Standard trick in an E36 to remove alternator whine. Mounted in place of the stock CD changer, using self-tapping screws.

Do not be alarmed if you first try and use it and the CD changer reads 10 CD's. It'll fix itself.

The unit is VERY small, smaller than the stock BMW changer. I didn't actually look at it until after they installed it, but I speculate that you may be able to squeeze it into the glove box.

That should do it, since the instructions that come with it aren't the most comprehensive. The trickiest part looks like it's the running of the cables.

Originally posted by Ron Stygar

Did you install the Becker 7860 CD Changer? Any install tips/gotchas on this?
Thanks to Horst, we have one coming for the Saturday install.
Not sure what the M3 owner paid for it. I think around $400 using the Crutchfield coupon.

Changer arrived today. Comes in a nice box. Appears to have everything we will need. Nice looking unit.

Started to make up the adapter cable tonight. The wire colors on the Becker end connector are different than what's shown in the install manual which I posted earlier. Just go pin to pin and ignore the colors. Following pics show the color differences between the manual and actual connector.

This


and this

equals this

Originally posted by Horst
The US navigation CD wont work with the European Traffic Pro.

Today, I tried an original Becker European navigation CD in my HK BMW NA Traffic Pro unit.
It didn't work (wasn't recognized).

Install went relatively well.
Most of the problems were caused by our lack of understanding on how this thing works on the initialization process. A lot of this was caused by swapping the units car to car.
Other then the illumination mismatch, the person was happy with the result when he left for New York City. He was happier as the trip progressed and he really realized how nice this unit works.
Top rated in Europe. Have a review coming and will post it if someone can translate it for me.
We will continue working on figuring this out. Nice having someone helping to do this.
This someone will post a review of his experience soon.
We took no pictures.

Originally posted by Ron Stygar

Ron or any other electrical guru,

Where did you get the loose pins in the above picture? Do you know of a supplier out there that supplies AMP pins and contacts by themselves as opposed to BMW's already crimped on pins/contacts? Lastly, what do you recommend for a crimping tool that makes those nice and neat double crimps a la BMW? I know Paladin tools (www.paladin-tools.com) makes a nice solution but I haven't been able to figure out what die set to get for the crimper. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks again,
Joe