New Bimmer Owner Needs Aftermarket Stereo Head Installation Help *New to installation

[j1v3turk3y]

Just got my new head unit in today. Previous owner of Bimmer pulled factory unit and replaced it and he also pulled his new head unit just before I purchased the car.

What you see in the pictures included is what he left me working with.

Basically, I need a step by step guide (with diagrams if possible) of what wires to run where.

I have included pictures of the wiring from my head unit and the wiring in the car.

I have tried to find a diagram online but have had no luck. I can find them all day long for different models but none for my 1996 BMW 328i


The wiring from the BMW is sporadically labeled and I have found the left rear wire, the left front wire, the right rear wire and right front wire. however, on my head unit there are only two wires for left and right. Will i need to hook booth left speaker wires and both right speaker wires to their respective wire on the head unit?

We had the unit installed earlier and were getting the typical problem of power to the unit with no sound from the speakers. I saw on here where this is likely a failure to connect the amp wire to the power.

How do I identify the amp wire and where would I need to connect it in order to solve this problem?

Sorry, as I said, I'm a total newb when it comes to stereo installation and was hoping to learn a little something.

If I need to provide more info, please let me know.


Thanks in advance.

[12v Electronics]

Thomas Jefferson just called and said he wants his radio back.

That radio will not work. You will need something a bit more current/better. You already have the adaptors you need, so just go find a unit you like and match up the wires on that harness adaptor.

[j1v3turk3y]

Originally Posted by 12v Electronics

Thomas Jefferson just called and said he wants his radio back.

That radio will not work. You will need something a bit more current/better. You already have the adaptors you need, so just go find a unit you like and match up the wires on that harness adaptor.

It's actually a brand new radio. It's not a cd-player, it plays mp3's via SD card and/or usb and has the aux port for a plug in mp3 player.

Why will this radio not work? I had to cross check the unit before purchase with my vehicle and it said it was good to go.

Can I not install anything but a typical cd player unit? I have no use for a typical cd player and would really like to get this to work.


Thank you for the quick response.

[12v Electronics]

If that is new then you should take it back. What kind of radio is it? Brand, model, etc?

From the colors in the pic, you have ?? guessing..

Red- IGN
Black- ground
Green- left rear speaker positive
Grey- Right front positive
And 2 RCA's

I assume the wiring colors are not standardized as they make no sense. Even old common ground systems have more wires than that. Is it possible that it is a pre-amp only unit (no amplifier) and uses non standard wire colors?

Look at the adaptor that is in your car. You need to hook up just about all of those wires.

Answer- Get a radio with 4 channels of audio output, a constant 12v and a remote amp turn on wire. Just about every aftermarket HU has these. I don't know where you got that one, but definitely take it back. It will not work.

[MKB707]

Originally Posted by 12v Electronics

If that is new then you should take it back. What kind of radio is it? Brand, model, etc?

From the colors in the pic, you have ?? guessing..

Red- IGN
Black- ground
Green- left rear speaker positive
Grey- Right front positive
And 2 RCA's

I assume the wiring colors are not standardized as they make no sense. Even old common ground systems have more wires than that. Is it possible that it is a pre-amp only unit (no amplifier) and uses non standard wire colors?

Look at the adaptor that is in your car. You need to hook up just about all of those wires.

Answer- Get a radio with 4 channels of audio output, a constant 12v and a remote amp turn on wire. Just about every aftermarket HU has these. I don't know where you got that one, but definitely take it back. It will not work.

You were the only one brave enough to answer this lol. I looked at the back of the HU and was puzzled it must be a pre-amp only deck because it doesn't have nearly enough wires. If you let us know the model of the HU that would help.

[speedster]

ya, you should grab a new radio.

[j1v3turk3y]

Well, that blows. Every one of these units I have found (about 5 different brands thusfar) have a nearly identical wiring scheme.

How would one go about installing these things?

Do any of you guys have any suggestions?

I want a unit that has no cd player or tape deck w/ a radio, usb connection, aux port and sd card slot only.

Any ideas?


Thanks.

EDIT TO ADD: When I ask for suggestions, I mean do you guys know of any units like mine (with radio, sd card slot, aux port and usb connection only) that will work? I've looked at 5 diff. brands this morning and they all have a nearly identical wiring setup. I really only want a unit for mp3s with no cd player or any of that crap haha. Thanks again.

[12v Electronics]

What is your budget?

[Mean Supreme]

Alpine makes a Din size radio, which is what you need, with industry standard color coding for easy wiring and has a cage for easy mounting. It doesn't play cd's but strictly USB and Ipod connections. However, no SD card slot but you can use a USB flashdrive. It's pretty slick much easier to install too I'm sure.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Alpine+-...2318&st=Alpine

The connections are in the rear but the radio comes with extensions to run them anywhere you like I.E. glovebox.

[12v Electronics]

There are others that do SD, USB and 2 aux inputs front and rear for as low as $130. Just need to know your budget.

[admranger]

Tom, that's not Jefferson's, it is Marconi's radio. And you call yourself an expert...

[12v Electronics]

Originally Posted by admranger

Tom, that's not Jefferson's, it is Marconi's radio. And you call yourself an expert...

Had to think about that one for a minute, but - LOL!

[Hawknthasky]

Don't get wrapped around the axle. Do a google search for the owners manual, it will typically be available free in PDF format. Read the instructions carefully. That adapter you show in the first pic converts standard european wire colors (the BMW pig tail) to standard USA wire colors (adapter pigtail). For ease of installation, you can unplug the adapter and work on your stereo on your bench so you don't have to do it in your car. Always solder connections and heat shrink for best quality. If you don't know how to do this, there are many resources on the web to get you started.

If you do get a different radio with more wires, you won't have to worry about the colors. Just join black with black, green with green, yellow with yellow, etc. EXCEPT: the power antenna from the stereo. Be sure NOT to connect the power antenna to the amplifier. You have to mix these two colors, I think they're the blue wire and the purple wire.

If you must know, here are the US wire colors.

Also, for reference, I'm rocking the Alpine IDA-x100. Ups: sound quality, ease of finding tunes (as long as you have them managed properly), sound setting options, ability to add more features later on. Downs: display is unreadable in direct sunlight, no dedicated buttons for preset stations, price for what you get.

Also, these types of stereos are referred to as mechless units, as they have no mechanism for tapes or CDs

[shortyskeneye]

I got the same problem in the same car. sept i got a kenwood mp142
and no sound but turns on....
i hooked the colors up but still...
ima check the power antenna n see what to do....
any suggestions? cuz car without sound is boring especially when i drive 45 mins to school =/
help?