OEM Install Issue - 'BMW Business' CD HU...?

[B10er]

Hi,

I was referred to this site by a member; hopefully someone is able to help as I'm a borderline car audio-phobe...

I don't own an e30 (I've owned one, if that counts!), rather I own an 89 e34 (Alpina B10 3.5), and I want to install a BMW Business CD Head Unit for aesthetic and insurance purposes. It currently has an after market HU.

I purchased the BMW Business HU, and my understanding was that, although for a 91+ model year, with an adaptor, it would work in my 89.

The stereo install who tried to do the job recently told me it can't be done, as upon the removal of the aftermarket deck, he states that, unbeknownst to me, a seperate BMW amp, which won't work with the BMW Business, as the BMW Business has its own integral but much less powerful amp.

My questions:
1. Does this make sense?
2. Can the BMW Business CD HU be made to work? If so, how?

Thanks,
Chris

[digital_cowboy]

To my knowledge, the majority of oem bmw head units feed oem amps.

Assuming the Business headunit is a CD33 or CD43, it should be setup to feed a "stock" amp. I do not see why you could not run the signal outputs from the deck (front right, front left, rear right, rear left) to the corresponding wires leading to your amp. Here is the pinout for the cd43.

You can get the e34 wiring diagrams here.

With this, it should simply be a matter of lining up the wires in the dash to the wires on the deck.

[StereoInstaller1]

Do me a quick favor: pop the deck out of the dash and take a quick shot of your wiring, then post it here.

I wanna see what scared the waffleswaffleswaffleswaffleswaffles-ass installer you went to.

Make sure you show me then ends of the aftermarket deck wiring.

[B10er]

Hi,

Thanks very much for the quick replies.

I have little free time during the work week so it may take longer than I'd like, but I'll remove the aftermarket deck asap, and take the requested pics, and then hopefully we can get this done!

Best Regards,
Chris

[StereoInstaller1]

Chris, putting a CD43 in an E36 (not the 318, right?) would be a 15 minute job.

Having the amp makes it easier...

[Todd Black 88]

Its an e34 alpina b10 he is putting it into.

[StereoInstaller1]

Its an e34 alpina b10 he is putting it into.

Should still be basically plug and play with the correct harness.