same car 5a vs tip
both 2.8s

If anyone has recently installed an Alpine (OEM) CD Changer into an early <=98 A4, please drop me a line. Seems they changed the bracket recently, and I'm having a heck of a time figuring out how to mount this thing under the rear deck.

I've studied the FAQ directions carefully. Doesn't map to what I'm seeing.

I did find the wiring for the changer, that's good news. But, I've yet to use the changer, as I'm not quite sure how to fit the cartridge into the changer (doesn't seem to fit)...

Thanks much,
Scott Stiles
'98 A4 30v/qms
'99 M3/2

Hope this helps, E-mail me if you have questions.

I ordered mine from Clair Parts online (ask for Barry). It was around $530. The bracket cost about $50. I had also tried bidding on one on Ebay.com but when the bid price got up around $450 I figured I'd just buy a new one.

I installed it in my 97 A4. The bracket that supposedly works on this unit does not fit the pre drilled holes in the roof of the trunk, you will need to drill your own (unless the 96 is different than my 97). There was a post on the forum at one time that mentions an older "U" bracket that has been discontinued.

I could only find one spot that was adequately flat to mount the bracket, and it was rather far back in the trunk. Personally I like the changer far back and out of the way. After drilling the holes, using the bracket as a template, I reached through the larger pre-existing holes in the roof and dropped the mounting bolts (with washers) down through the holes. Make sure when your choosing the spot to mount the bracket, you take into account how you will drop the bolts down through the roof (i.e. make sure all the holes can be accessed via a nearby large hole). Then I lifted the bracket up onto the bolts and gently put the nuts on. The insulation in the roof of the trunk held the heads of the bolts enough to turn the nuts, and once they caught, I used a nut driver to tighten the nuts up to the bracket.

Putting the ears on the unit and sliding it into the bracket is self explanatory.

The entire installation took me less than an hour. Follow the instructions in the FAQ to find the changer cable and pull it over the trunk liner, then throw them away, because they refer to the older "U" bracket. The bracket also includes a second metal part that connects to the bracket, but I couldn't figure out how it was used, and did not use it.

I'm sure there is an easier or better way to do this. For example, using sheet metal screws instead of trying to drop the bolts through the roof. But this worked, the unit is unobtrusive and is held very solid.

The changer works and sounds great. Good luck!

Bob

I recently bought the same changer. You don't need the bracket, instead it fits snugly into the tool bin on the left side of the trunk. Just take out the jack and it fits perfectly, no skips at all. Just remember to set the suspension on the changer for vwertical.Hope this helps

Sounds like we ran into the same issue. I'll be fabricating my own mounting surface under the package tray, i guess.

Kind of frustrated that they sent me the wrong bloody cartridge for the changer... Oh well.

Thanks again,
Scott.