Aftermarket head unit in E36: Radio works, No CD/iPod/etc

[antik]

Because of how the E36 is wired, it's necessary to deviate ever so slightly in the wiring harness instructions included with your head unit and/or wiring harness adapter.

If you followed the instructions, you're likely experiencing an issue where FM and AM radio sources work great but there's no sound when you try to play any other source but radio (iPod, Sirius, XM, etc).

The solution is to wire the Remote Turn On lead off of your head unit (generally blue w/ a white stripe) into the Power Antenna wire into your wiring harness adapter (generally solid blue). Wiring the unit in this fashion sends voltage to the amplifier in your trunk which it recognizes as a turn on signal for all sources as opposed to only when sources requiring the stock antenna are active (ie. the AM and FM tuners).

Any chance this could be turned into a sticky? It's such a common problem and is asked so often, I think it deserves it.

[Halston Pitman]

I would stay sticky it to the top :)

[92m3clone]

i just bought a bimmer and the guy said he sent the indash tv back because he thought it malfucntioned. The speakers in the car weren't working. Well after crutchfield sent him a new unit they said they tested the old one and it worked fine. He told me that he should have "bypassed" the factory amp, and thats what needs to be done to make all the speakers work. I just ordered a new bypass harness from crutchfield, do you have any idea if this will work for me?? Please help, i posted in another part of the forum and got no response. THANKS

[antik]

i just bought a bimmer and the guy said he sent the indash tv back because he thought it malfucntioned. The speakers in the car weren't working. Well after crutchfield sent him a new unit they said they tested the old one and it worked fine. He told me that he should have "bypassed" the factory amp, and thats what needs to be done to make all the speakers work. I just ordered a new bypass harness from crutchfield, do you have any idea if this will work for me?? Please help, i posted in another part of the forum and got no response. THANKS

It shouldn't be necessary to bypass the factory amplifier to get sound unless the factory amplifier is dead (in which case there would be no sound from a stock head unit either). In fact, doing so is problematic in an E36 as the factory amplifier has built in crossovers for your component speakers.

The easy way to test if you're wired incorrectly and are experiencing a problem because of this particular wiring issue is to try using the FM radio. If you hear sound (even if it's just FM static) then you're experiencing the problem described. If you cannot hear sound regardless of source (AM & FM radio included) then the condition of your factory amplifier might be suspect.

[92m3clone]

ok... i think im understanding what your saying.. I was told (by a friend who was gonna do the install) that if the amp is dead thats okay too. They were gonna bypass the factory amp and the new in dash tv that has a built in 200 watts was going to be able to power the in car speakers. There is already a box and an amp in the trunk and the previous owner said just get that bypass, hook that up to the new deck and that everything will work. What do you think??

[antik]

Again, does your FM radio work? This is the question addressed in this thread and I'd like to keep it on track as I'd like to see this stickied in the hope to stop seeing the same question quite so often.

That said:
Are the speakers stock? If so, wiring directly into the TV's amp is not going work well because the factory amplifier contains the crossovers to send the correct signal to each of the 3 speakers in the door.

Unless you convert to aftermarket speakers, you really are sort of stuck with your factory amplifier.

Bump your old thread... let's try to keep this thread in particular clear for the folks who are sure they're having the problem described and we'll discuss your issue in the thread you previously posted.

Taking this opportunity continue campaign for a sticky...

[jbsoccer06]

Ok i have a feeling i am going to be having the same problem.. Im installing an aftermarket head unit and i was also told that i should bypass the system... but what im reading from you guys your saying i would need aftermarket speakers because of the signals the factory amp puts out.. If that is right should i just purchase a harness from crutch field and connect everything that way?

[antik]

If you're bypassing the factory amplifier in a car, all you're doing is connecting the input wires before the amplifier to the output wires after it (ie. connect the wires for front left input to the front left output).

Nothing required but some speaker wire and your choice of connectors (solder is ideal).

EDIT:
I've found your other thread and it sounds like you do not need to bypass anything. Just install the head unit as described by just about every head unit install manual that'll come w/ the head or the adapter harness the only trick to it is the wiring trick as described in the first post. Everything is normal except this one wire connection.

[antik]

Bump for a sticky?

Any prayer of this happening or should I give up?

[wsmc831]

It's a nice thought, but nobody takes the f-ing time to search, so this forum will be ever the spot for "what size are my speakers", "my cd player doesn't play", "my radio has 'code' displayed, what to do?", "will this * set of components plug right in?" "who makes a good replacement for my (insert any size other than the actual size of the mid) inch midrange" "what Hu looks the best with my dash" "what's the best subwoofer"........

people have tried to make things easier, nobody pays any attention after 5 minutes.

[antik]

Yeah but isn't that the point of a sticky... if it's right there at the top of the forum, it increases the potential for someone getting ready to click the "post topic" button 3" across the screen from the link of seeing something they might think is relevant and giving it a shot.

I understand it doesn't fix everything... just hoping it might help.

[$500bimmer]

almost everyone i talk to has the same problem

[Benny Z]

oh for fvck's sake, if people aren't self-helping enough to search, they're not going to be self-helping enough to read a sticky.

[Halston Pitman]

Well the problem is for some issues you have to be spot on with what you are searching for. Others you can find it with a pretty broad search.

It really is kind of sad. Users that have the answer will spend more of their time insulting someone and calling them names and sometimes even spend the time to embed a picture in the post. After that is all said and done they could have reyped the answer or done the search and provided a link.

There are not many "new" audio questions in all reality. If no one posted some of the same old questions this section would be pretty slow.

Ok back to work!

[Halston Pitman]

Just used this post again.

Can we get a sticky mods?