Thank you so much. Great video, just did exactly what you did, found the old grease was dried up like a paste, helped me recover my trapped Pearl Jam CDs from inside too. Thank you!
Thanks! Did mine yesterday (2004 Jaguar XJ). I added switch cleaner to the mix - many problems in devices are caused by the little switches telling the mechanism where it is not working properly. My problem was that it did not want to eject the cartridge. At first after the lubrication service it still did not want to do that. So I focused on that side, without opening up any further , spraying contact cleaner and activating the eject button, the release clip, and the tiny peg which I think is to monitor the presence of a cartridge. Now it's 100%!
thanks for posting. just fixed the cd changer in my bmw. had to fiddle with it a bit as there was cd stuck inside. very much appreciate you making this video. greetings from the uk.
Hi there, thanks for the posting. I cleaned it nice and had it working for two days and now again getting stuck. Any additional suggestions? I made sure that all points were lubed up. Don't see any broken. Willing to try it once more. Tx in advance for your help and advise. Also any idea what Alpine would charge for their 90 days guaranteed repairs? Would like to keep the original unit in my 98 Z3.
Which part is getting stuck??? Is it the plastic cd container or the tray which holds each cd that has the laser??? I just fixed a friends cd changer recently and it required even further disassembly on that tray when the laser is held. Still fairly straight forward, it's just an issue of hold lubricant causing the assembly to stick. I'm not even sure what Alpine would charge. I would assume their hourly rate is about $80 or they'd say you'd need to buy a new unit.
Thank you for the video! Fixed mine! Used a needle nose pliers to force the big gear unstuck. Lub everything up with lithium grease and works well. Silicone spray the 4 rubber absorbers too
@@4DIYers the same error came back yesterday, I guess the black gear is stuck again, there is a small switch that is suppose to cut power of the motor from over-running the gear till it stuck. On the wheel there is a lever that is pushed to trigger this switch, I may look into it, perhaps the motor is moving too fast due to worn parts going past this trigger point. Did you have the no disc error came back? What did you do?
It would be best to go over it again, clean any areas you may have missed and maybe take it apart a but further. I had one model that required more disassembly, after the second time the issues were fixed.
The external casing seems to differ on these E39 CD changers depending on what model year the car is. I found the hardest part was getting the casing off! Mine (2000 year CD changer) had 4 tabs on the top of the case that needed pushing before I could unlatch it from the faceplate side. Also, it isn't that hard to remove the changer from the base cover, i.e. remove the springs and the 4 rubber attachment points. Then you can roll the lens mechanism up so it's visible from the back side and spray it with compressed air through there without having to actually remove the lens mechanism. Putting it back together wasn't that bad but the CD changer wasn't lined up quite as well in the base casing when reinserted despite the springs being in the same position as previously, and it looked slightly pulled to one side and stretching the rubber mounts. I found that I got a lot of cotton threads when cleaning it up with alcohol (meths) which didn't blow away so easily with air; and also when apply the grease with the cotton bud, I had to be really careful and not rub it onto sharp edges or I'd get threads everywhere. Some of the gearing and cogs didn't appear to have any grease on them, which you didn't mention, so I thought wth and put a little on them. Screwed it together and it all works so far! ;-)
Thanks so much for the video. I removed the CD changer of a 2002 BMW 745i, hoping i can fix it with the video. Apparently, it needs more than cleaning. It just won’t pick-up and read the CD. Nothing seems to be broken. I hope you can have a Part 2 of the tutorial that could help me with the problem. Thank you!
Thank you so much. Your video was very helpful, I've fixed my changer and now my CDs don't get stuck anymore, but I've got another issue. Sometimes when I'm listening, the music is just perfect without any problems for hours, and sometimes it starts making awful noises as if the CD is all scratched up, but it isn't. I've tried using one of those cleaning CDs with small brushes, but still no help. The problem comes and goes whenever it wants to. It doesn't come after hitting a pothole or any noticeable vibration, just from driving on a clean straight road out of nothing. It's really irritating is there any fixable reason why this is happening, or should i just replace my whole changer ?
@4DIYers You can gain access on these when you remove that metal clamp holding the top white ring in place, the one that goes in the middle of the disc. The lever taking the disc out of the magazine has to be move to the left, than once you remove that white ring you can see the lens. There is enough room for a alcohol soaked q-tip and light from a flashlight to poke through so you can see what you're doing. Also apply grease to the top of the white ring, it should have some from factory and thus it is easy to see where to reapply it.
4DIYers No problem, thanks to your video I also was able to fix the changer. Also I used a tiny bit of contact spray on those micro switches and worked that in a bit, cause those can get a bit dirty over time as well, So after I did the greasing up and contact cleaning, I thought I'd clean the lens as well to cover everything in one go. Subbed.
Luckily I haven't had any issues in the past with the microswitches. Seems to be the lack of lubricant causing the most issues. Definitely beats trying to buy a new or used unit. They can get quite pricey and a used unit may cause the exact same issues. Thank you again for the tips and support :)
4DIYers Do you per chance have a service manual of this cd changer? It seems my arm is stuck again that needs to grab the cd's out of the magazine. So I want to try and get in a bit deeper next time.
LogiForce86 Unfortunately I don't. The try area where the cd's are pulled into can be split down and it's quite easy. I don't have a video on this but if I remember correctly the slotted brackets on the side need to be removed by taking off the snap rings (use a small standard screwdriver, don't lose them, and also keep an eye on the nylon washers), remove the phillips screws on the try pins, then just be careful around the wiring. Take lots of photos if you need to, videos even help too.
Hi mate I found a wire hanging in my boot wrapped up which I found out was for a cd changer so Iv bought one an I can hear it works but it’s not coming up on my radio it’s still saying insert disc but there’s some in their any ideas
Hey thank you for the useful video! I just finish trying doing the same in my car ( BMW 740i 1996) My CD reader is diff and I understand that bc of the car model But idk why it just doesn’twork with me :/ I used lubricant and every was smoothly going with me Any way it keep showing to me CD error:/ Any suggestions PLEASE!
@@4DIYers and just to mention, there is third motor for laser, is same chinese make and if your lens is clean, its not a micro switch, its motor. buged me long time, so now i got to sale my e46 i put some effort to fix it. its second used unit on this car. So main problem is rusty brushes, well not pro brush just rusty wire on rotor when it finds sweet spot wer fkt.
Very useful video thanks for posting. My problem is that one of the trays within the changer is stuck half way out. I can't push the cartridge out cos the tray is caught in amongst the cd spinner gubbins. I can move it maybe an inch or so but it looks like it's getting caught on the little white disc in the centre. Any advice on how to get the tray to go back into the cartridge?
@4DIYers Hi, thanks for the helpful video! I've got a CD stuck in the reader though, so the cartridge won't come out. Do you have any tips on getting a stuck CD out?
Hey, nice video, maybe you guys have some info My changer interrupts the sound when I drive on slightly bumpy road, is it a normal behavior? or its has problem and can be fixed? Like old cdplayer had antishock so it did not interrupt does these ones have it?
Lithium grease tends to be plastic safe and it doesn't change under temperature so you won't have to worry about it dripping on components when hot. Don't forget to subscribe :)
Somehow I had managed to fit the cassette not only upside down, but also back to front. I blame the manufacturer for putting the part number that way around on the other side. But is there a prize for managing to be quite so stupid ?
lol back to front is easily done as there are 2 holes on top and bottom of the side of the case, and when putting the external 4 screws in to latch onto the bracket it isn't clear which way until you try to install it, but upside down? lmao that is a classic. I wish you had filmed it.
Thank you so much. Great video, just did exactly what you did, found the old grease was dried up like a paste, helped me recover my trapped Pearl Jam CDs from inside too. Thank you!
Awesome to hear and glad to help out!
Thanks! Did mine yesterday (2004 Jaguar XJ). I added switch cleaner to the mix - many problems in devices are caused by the little switches telling the mechanism where it is not working properly. My problem was that it did not want to eject the cartridge. At first after the lubrication service it still did not want to do that. So I focused on that side, without opening up any further , spraying contact cleaner and activating the eject button, the release clip, and the tiny peg which I think is to monitor the presence of a cartridge. Now it's 100%!
Great video, helped me to take mine apart and release cd cartridge thanks very much.
Thank you and happy I could help!
Thank you, great post unlike other posts you show everything to repair the cd changer !
Thank you, happy to help!
thanks for posting. just fixed the cd changer in my bmw. had to fiddle with it a bit as there was cd stuck inside. very much appreciate you making this video. greetings from the uk.
Awesome to hear, thank you for the feedback! I also have a video on the operation when the case is removed, not sure if you've seen that.
Hi there, thanks for the posting. I cleaned it nice and had it working for two days and now again getting stuck. Any additional suggestions? I made sure that all points were lubed up. Don't see any broken. Willing to try it once more. Tx in advance for your help and advise. Also any idea what Alpine would charge for their 90 days guaranteed repairs? Would like to keep the original unit in my 98 Z3.
Which part is getting stuck??? Is it the plastic cd container or the tray which holds each cd that has the laser??? I just fixed a friends cd changer recently and it required even further disassembly on that tray when the laser is held. Still fairly straight forward, it's just an issue of hold lubricant causing the assembly to stick. I'm not even sure what Alpine would charge. I would assume their hourly rate is about $80 or they'd say you'd need to buy a new unit.
Thank you for the video! Fixed mine! Used a needle nose pliers to force the big gear unstuck. Lub everything up with lithium grease and works well. Silicone spray the 4 rubber absorbers too
Excellent to hear and happy to help!
@@4DIYers the same error came back yesterday, I guess the black gear is stuck again, there is a small switch that is suppose to cut power of the motor from over-running the gear till it stuck. On the wheel there is a lever that is pushed to trigger this switch, I may look into it, perhaps the motor is moving too fast due to worn parts going past this trigger point. Did you have the no disc error came back? What did you do?
It would be best to go over it again, clean any areas you may have missed and maybe take it apart a but further. I had one model that required more disassembly, after the second time the issues were fixed.
The external casing seems to differ on these E39 CD changers depending on what model year the car is. I found the hardest part was getting the casing off! Mine (2000 year CD changer) had 4 tabs on the top of the case that needed pushing before I could unlatch it from the faceplate side. Also, it isn't that hard to remove the changer from the base cover, i.e. remove the springs and the 4 rubber attachment points. Then you can roll the lens mechanism up so it's visible from the back side and spray it with compressed air through there without having to actually remove the lens mechanism. Putting it back together wasn't that bad but the CD changer wasn't lined up quite as well in the base casing when reinserted despite the springs being in the same position as previously, and it looked slightly pulled to one side and stretching the rubber mounts. I found that I got a lot of cotton threads when cleaning it up with alcohol (meths) which didn't blow away so easily with air; and also when apply the grease with the cotton bud, I had to be really careful and not rub it onto sharp edges or I'd get threads everywhere. Some of the gearing and cogs didn't appear to have any grease on them, which you didn't mention, so I thought wth and put a little on them. Screwed it together and it all works so far! ;-)
Thank you for help.
Thanks so much for the video. I removed the CD changer of a 2002 BMW 745i, hoping i can fix it with the video. Apparently, it needs more than cleaning. It just won’t pick-up and read the CD. Nothing seems to be broken. I hope you can have a Part 2 of the tutorial that could help me with the problem. Thank you!
Thank you. Now I know where to put that lithium grease.)
Thank you for the info.
No problem!
Hi, do you know how to disassemble a BMW f 20 CD player. I should clean it as it continually ejects the CD even though it isn't inserted. Thank you
Thank you so much. Your video was very helpful, I've fixed my changer and now my CDs don't get stuck anymore, but I've got another issue. Sometimes when I'm listening, the music is just perfect without any problems for hours, and sometimes it starts making awful noises as if the CD is all scratched up, but it isn't. I've tried using one of those cleaning CDs with small brushes, but still no help. The problem comes and goes whenever it wants to. It doesn't come after hitting a pothole or any noticeable vibration, just from driving on a clean straight road out of nothing. It's really irritating is there any fixable reason why this is happening, or should i just replace my whole changer ?
@4DIYers You can gain access on these when you remove that metal clamp holding the top white ring in place, the one that goes in the middle of the disc. The lever taking the disc out of the magazine has to be move to the left, than once you remove that white ring you can see the lens. There is enough room for a alcohol soaked q-tip and light from a flashlight to poke through so you can see what you're doing.
Also apply grease to the top of the white ring, it should have some from factory and thus it is easy to see where to reapply it.
Excellent tips, thank you for sharing! Don't forget to subscribe.
4DIYers No problem, thanks to your video I also was able to fix the changer. Also I used a tiny bit of contact spray on those micro switches and worked that in a bit, cause those can get a bit dirty over time as well,
So after I did the greasing up and contact cleaning, I thought I'd clean the lens as well to cover everything in one go.
Subbed.
Luckily I haven't had any issues in the past with the microswitches. Seems to be the lack of lubricant causing the most issues. Definitely beats trying to buy a new or used unit. They can get quite pricey and a used unit may cause the exact same issues. Thank you again for the tips and support :)
4DIYers Do you per chance have a service manual of this cd changer? It seems my arm is stuck again that needs to grab the cd's out of the magazine. So I want to try and get in a bit deeper next time.
LogiForce86 Unfortunately I don't. The try area where the cd's are pulled into can be split down and it's quite easy. I don't have a video on this but if I remember correctly the slotted brackets on the side need to be removed by taking off the snap rings (use a small standard screwdriver, don't lose them, and also keep an eye on the nylon washers), remove the phillips screws on the try pins, then just be careful around the wiring. Take lots of photos if you need to, videos even help too.
Hi mate I found a wire hanging in my boot wrapped up which I found out was for a cd changer so Iv bought one an I can hear it works but it’s not coming up on my radio it’s still saying insert disc but there’s some in their any ideas
Thanks alooooot... it works with me.
+moud osman Glad to help out!
yağsız devre temizleyici ile temizleseniz yetiyo ayrıca sallanmayı onleyen silikonlar çabuk patlıyo dikket edin
There's still a cd in the reader. How do I get it back into the casette in oder to take it out
Hey thank you for the useful video!
I just finish trying doing the same in my car ( BMW 740i 1996)
My CD reader is diff and I understand that bc of the car model
But idk why it just doesn’twork with me :/
I used lubricant and every was smoothly going with me
Any way it keep showing to me CD error:/
Any suggestions PLEASE!
thank you very much
it's was the magazine doesn't eject
i hope to work now after manual eject
thanks
Glad to help out!
Solved. problem is electric motor for vertical and horizontal movement.
Excellent to hear!
@@4DIYers and just to mention, there is third motor for laser, is same chinese make and if your lens is clean, its not a micro switch, its motor.
buged me long time, so now i got to sale my e46 i put some effort to fix it. its second used unit on this car. So main problem is rusty brushes, well not pro brush just rusty wire on rotor when it finds sweet spot wer fkt.
Error: no disks?
I have same error. Did you find a fix?
Very useful video thanks for posting. My problem is that one of the trays within the changer is stuck half way out. I can't push the cartridge out cos the tray is caught in amongst the cd spinner gubbins. I can move it maybe an inch or so but it looks like it's getting caught on the little white disc in the centre. Any advice on how to get the tray to go back into the cartridge?
Exactly what I'm dealing with now and need to know how to tut ake out.
@4DIYers Hi, thanks for the helpful video! I've got a CD stuck in the reader though, so the cartridge won't come out. Do you have any tips on getting a stuck CD out?
I have had that problem. Just check out my video on the operation of the cd changer and it'll show what you need to push to pop out the cartridge.
Hey, nice video,
maybe you guys have some info
My changer interrupts the sound when I drive on slightly bumpy road, is it a normal behavior? or its has problem and can be fixed? Like old cdplayer had antishock so it did not interrupt does these ones have it?
Thank you. No it shouldn't do that. Try switching over the locations of the spring slots on the side of the case.
I have a disk loaded in the laser reader and no power can I manually retract the disk back into the cartridge? how would I do this?
Please watch the video, this has been covered at 7:50
is the lithium grease tougher then regular grease?
Lithium grease tends to be plastic safe and it doesn't change under temperature so you won't have to worry about it dripping on components when hot. Don't forget to subscribe :)
Somehow I had managed to fit the cassette not only upside down, but also back to front. I blame the manufacturer for putting the part number that way around on the other side. But is there a prize for managing to be quite so stupid ?
lol back to front is easily done as there are 2 holes on top and bottom of the side of the case, and when putting the external 4 screws in to latch onto the bracket it isn't clear which way until you try to install it, but upside down? lmao that is a classic. I wish you had filmed it.
I got the same one, E39, one cd failed, the next day all the cds. XD