Smoked Stock Radio

[IronmanE30]

I am trying to get a stock radio working in my 89 vert. The original one was bad when I got the car so I upgraded to the newer version (88 88 1 600 175) of the radio. My antenna was no good so I removed it and caped the hole in the body. I then attached the wires as shown in the wiring diagram from BMW and gave it a try. It sounded good the first day for the 5 minute test that I gave it. The next day I took it for a ride and smelled something hot, soon a puff of smoke came out of the tape player and the radio was DOA. I got another one and did not hook up the power to the antenna and had no sound. From research here I found out that the white wire that powers the antenna also gives power to the amp. I am ready to hook up the white wire for the power to the antenna to the radio but don't know if I need an antenna in the car to use the tape player or if by not having the antenna it will smoke the radio again.

Please let me know if you have to have a working antenna hooked up to power up the radio to just use the tape player. I am running out of replacement radios so I want to make sure I have it right this time.

Cheers,

Jim

[StereoInstaller1]

The antenna only needs power to make it power...the signal wire needs nothing.

I hope to fuck you didn't try to wire up power to the signal cable somehow...that would blow up your deck in a big fucking hurry, y'know?

[IronmanE30]

The antenna only needs power to make it power...the signal wire needs nothing.

I hope to fuck you didn't try to wire up power to the signal cable somehow...that would blow up your deck in a big fucking hurry, y'know?

Wish I did know. Ok, you got me, I searched Google for "signal cable" which was no help, is the "signal cable" the large coax antenna wire? If so I put that in the proper hole in the back of the radio. I don't want to piss you off cuz I have heard you rant at others folks smarter about this than me but are you saying that the small white wire that powers the antenna does not also power the amp? If so, then I am back to square one at getting this damn radio working. I am just about ready to shit can the stock radio and go aftermarket but I like the stock look. I have read a lot of your posts and I know you are the radio god here on R3v so thanks for your input. I was hoping that you would respond.

Cheers,

Jim

[StereoInstaller1]

Jim, first off, I only rant at retards, so you are safe. Lack of knowledge is no crime, but being a retard is.

So, yeah, that big grey cable is the signal cable. As long as it is connected to no power wires, you should be OK.

Most E30 with "premium sound" have 2 white wires. There is one in the main amplifier harness and another running with the antenna signal cable. The one in the harness turns on the amp.

Are you fairly sure the wiring in your car hasn't been hacked? So many of these cars have been butchered. Not quite as easy as a Honda, unfortunately.

[IronmanE30]

Thanks, I do recall seeing two white wires. Once this wonderful rain lets up I will pull out the radio and get some more details. When I looked at the wiring diagram and checked grounds for continuity, continous power for the radio code and the switched power for the radio it all looked good. The only thing I can think of is that I may of had the power from the radio to the amp hooked to the power from the radio to the antenna or something like that. So many wires so little time....

Thanks, I really appresheate you taking the time to help me out. I feel like a retard because I have been putting stereos into my cars for about 35 years and never had a problem like this. Of course they weren't BMW's.:crazy:

Cheers,

Jim

[StereoInstaller1]

Give me a shout anytime, Jim.

But waitagoddamnminute, it never rains in southern california!