OK to buy a head unit from Germany to use in UK?

[dunc_sx]

I'm looking to buy a Blaupunkt headunit (new), usual price is £460 but there's a few sellers on eBay selling for £340 posted from Germany.

You can set the language in the head unit menu and it's going in a BMW so think the wiring should be fine, just wondering if there are another potential issues I'm not aware of? DAB or radio frequency issues? Bluetooth compatability?

I've got next to zero knowledge on headunits so this may be a very stupid question. I'll be buying through eBay and using Paypal.

Cheers,
Dunc.

[steveo3002]

it will only pick up german radio stations

[4Q]

You might get stung for 20% vat when importing from Germany.

[matrignano]

You’ll need to go into the settings and reconfigure it to RHD for navigation

[dxg]

It might keep steering you to the right.

[dunc_sx]

Good answers

A bit of further research suggests the DAB frequencies in germany are different to UK so the DAB won't work for starters unless it can be reconfigured on the unit. Good shout on the 20% VAT too.

Sounds like it's a no-go, plus I wouldn't want to be steering right all the time!

Dunc.

Edited by dunc_sx on Sunday 11th June 11:25

[jhoneyball]

dunc_sx said:

A bit of further research suggests the DAB frequencies in germany are different to UK so the DAB won't work for starters unless it can be reconfigured on the unit.

Unlikely to be correct. Germany is almost certainly DAB+, rather than DAB as used in uk. Change of codec.

Its very unlikely that a dab unit wont work in uk. Everyone I have tried has worked fine on dab and dab+ (I have dab and dab+ signal generators in the lab) unless it is a VERY old unit before dab+ happened.

[Pilotguy]

I bought a Continental DAB from a Ebay seller on the continent. No difference in DAB/DAB+. The only option was 12v/24v.

https://www.continental-automotive.com/en-gl/Truck...

[dunc_sx]

jhoneyball said:

Unlikely to be correct. Germany is almost certainly DAB+, rather than DAB as used in uk. Change of codec.

Its very unlikely that a dab unit wont work in uk. Everyone I have tried has worked fine on dab and dab+ (I have dab and dab+ signal generators in the lab) unless it is a VERY old unit before dab+ happened.

It was an older thread I read where someone had a dab radio in Germany that wouldn't work in the UK.

Thanks for the info on the continental, did you get hot with 20 percent VAT if you contact mine me asking?

I'll need to check for sure with Blaupunkt before pulling the trigger though.

Thanks for all responses, serious and otherwise

Dunc.

[steveo3002]

check the model number , chances are its same as what sold in uk , if not then youre right to ask questions

[dunc_sx]

Good shout, cheers

[eccles]

dunc_sx said:

Good shout, cheers

I have the same Continental radio as linked to above in my old 80's Mercedes. I bought mine direct from Continental UK as the price was the same as most of the online retailers, including ebay.