Hey jwq,
You don't even have a F-Series device, do you?
"However, I have a HD3BT-II (=European version of Z3) myself"
What real page numbers on the service manual state any differences? the pages you have stated on another post do not tally ie page 117, page 187 doesn't even exist!!! TMC is only found in 4, yes only 4 different pages in the manual & have no references that any IC's are missing, or do Pioneer spell TMC differently?
Have you actually opened one up? No, i didn't think so.
All these negative nancys who try & claim they know all about the f-series