Porsche / Blaupunkt CD Trouble
 

The CD player on my C4 has recently started skipping badly, then progressed to not playing tracks at all. I've purchased a head cleaner CD, but it seemed to only be of minimal help. Does anyone have advise to getting this working again, or should I just buy a new unit? (I'd rather keep this original 'Porsche' unit if possible).

Also for the experts, how is this unit removed without damage?

I had exactly the same problem last week. Then on a 2 hr trip yesterday I turned it on with the same CD in and it worked perfectly. Therefore I assume it was not a heads issue but something electrical/electronic. Still wondering what the problem was... :confused:
Peter

Das:

I recently took a 'vintage' 1988 Alpine CD preamp in for service due to it not wanting to play discs. The quote was over $240 for fixing the transport and alignment. New Alpine's are obviously less than this repair cost, but they were willing to repair it and still could get parts.

I guess it depends on how original you want to keep your Porsche. Check with a local high end car audio dealer to see if they can fix your original Blau. My local store sends their work out to a well known place in MN (can't remember their name off hand)that can fix most anything. If they could fix the '88 Alpine, they probably could fix your Blau.

I have gotten positive comments from concours judges about the stock Reno II still in my car and working (I don't win anything, just get comments...). So, it might be worth it to keep the factory unit going or at least store it on the shelf for the next owner.

Hope this helps,

Jay
90 964

das: not sure if I understand exactly what you want to take out- The radio is easy. I use 2 U shaped clips I swiped from my wife's SAAB, that just plug into the two small holes on each side, pull, and out it pops. I just replaced my New York Blau CD (Works fine) with a Becker. The New york takes a expensive cartridge you must put the CD into to shove in the slot. It's a pain in the a__, but I got the cartridges from a place in MN- I could look up the company and send address if anyone needs.

I don't mean any harm...but you guys are crazy to go through so much pain keeping the original factory Blaupunkt CD decks in your Porsches!

These units (factory Blaupunkts) are sincerely inferior to todays fairly and relatively inexpensive upgrades.

Again, not insulting you or trying to make YOU feel inferior, but repair costs on these factory units are through the roof! I purchased a Pioneer DEH-4300 AM/FM/CD deck for $219 @Best Buy and it far outperforms the factory unit in sound quality and ease of adjustment, etc. It has 4 x 50watts, which translates to 4 x 20watts (roughly) RMS...which is the rating for that little Blaupunkt amplifier under most of your passenger seats.

BTW, my factory unit was a cassette deck, which I must admit is the MAIN reason for the change out...but still, even if it was a factory CD deck, it would've soon made it's way to the spare parts locker in my garage.

Okay, I got that off my chest...I'm better now. Just a thought, a rant, a rave...so much for my two cents - eh? Okay, no hate mail, just LOVE from my online "Porsche Buddies"...okay? :eek:

To each his own....I prefer 100% originality over sound. Besides, my Porsche is a weekender so it doesnt make much sense have all that audio power....I just like to hear that engine.

Jeff:

You are 100% correct in that the factory systems in our 964's are pretty poor sounding systems. That amp under the seat probably has about 5 watts RMS output. The Nokia speakers are even worse. If you look at the prices Porsche charged for that stuff on the window stickers, it was even more of a crime.

But, that being said, I'll stick with my stock junk too due to keeping the car original. I never turn the system on either. When I bought my car, that was a definite plus to still have the factory system in the car. One less thing I had to return to original condition.

Now, in my everyday car, that's a different story!

But, enjoy that new head unit Jeff! That should be a good improvement.

Jay
90 964

Thanks for the responses so far. I found Blaupunkt on the internet with a tech service number and thought I'd give it a try. The tech service guy suggested I send the unit to Midwest Electronics-Blaupunkt Service and Support near Chicago for an estimate. He thought that I probably have a laser misalignment which may be an inexpensive repair (laser moves over time from jarring). Of interest here is that an estimate of repair is only $12, cheap enough that I will definitely give it a try. All I need is a u-clip to remove the radio, perhaps my Mercedes has one in it, or the tech service guy suggested stopping at an electronics store (Best Buy/Circuit City). The number for tech service is 800-266-2528 or go to blaupunkt.com for more info.

After removing the CD player to send to Blaupunkt, I found it to be made in Japan. I don't think that Blaupunkt will fix it, and I don't know what brand that it is? I guess I will have to buy a new one.

As I discovered, some older Blaupunkt gear was actually made by Sony!

I had a Blaupunkt Lexington (AM/FM cassette) in my wife's van a few years back, and bought the 10-disc changer to go with it. Eventually, the Lexington died, but the changer was okay. I did some digging, and Crutchfield (www.curtchfield.com) told me my old Blaupunkt changer would not work with new Blaupunkt head units, BUT, it IS fully compatible with NEW Sony head units, since "Sony made some Blaupunkt stuff." Sure enough, the Blaupunkt changer works great with my totally modern Sony head unit.

Thus, you may find your "German" Blaupunkt head unit stamped "Made in Japan."