[s-cars] 8 Pin CD Changer

[Dave Forgie]

Sean:  I have been down this road before.  As others (e.g. Charlie)
pointed out, its the little silver transceiver box that is the key to
using the OE radio to control the CD.  However, there are two twists to
this:  As Charlie pointed out, many "normal" Sony changers will work -
so if you can score the transceiver - the solution isn't too expensive
but the SONY changer is huge.  Now the perverse part:  When Audi
switched to the smaller 6 disc Alpine changer, they (Audi and Alpine)
decided to mess with the Alpine wiring so it was only available from
Audi, at Audi controlled prices.  I actually phoned Alpine in Ontario
and talked to some techies to get this confirmed.

When I first got my car in 1998, both the transceiver and both changers
were available from the dealers.  However, the cost was unbelievable -
about $895 (CDN).  ($600 US).  For a CD changer!!!  So I never got
one.   I am looking at a new Sony FM modulated CD changer that plays CD,
CD-R, CD-RW and MP3's for about $299 CDN (Visions).

Dave F.