Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

How the hell do you connect a radio with the stock dimmer switch?

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    How the hell do you connect a radio with the stock dimmer switch?

    I want to use my Alpine head unit out of my 88 325is in my 84 325e and I'm not sure which wires go where. The 88 didn't use the stock fader switch and the 325e still is. I don't mind bypassing it if it makes things easier. But here's the wires that I have:

    green/red
    white/red
    purple/white
    brown
    light blue/brown
    yellow/brown

    And then coming from the fader switch is a blue wire and a yellow wire.

    Head unit is a CDA-9857. I got the wiring diagram from Alpine's site here:



    And I'm using the 84 ETM here:



    Normally I'm good at figuring this stuff out but I'm having a brainfart. Help plzkthx. :)
    Matt

    Originally posted by slammin.e28guy
    I pack my CD player with asbestos. Those mother fuckers pay dearly for stealing my shit.
    Originally posted by kronus
    try whacking parts of the motor with a wrench while yelling "YOU WANT SUMMA DIS? HUH?"
    Originally posted by chadthestampede
    This is like a reverse build thread; it starts out nice and gets shitty.

    #2
    Bypass the fader, it's probably shit and your head unit has an internal one. Find the internal fader diagram in the ETM. There should be two inputs and four outputs - note the output wire colors and wire those directly to the matching channels of your head unit.
    cars beep boop

    Comment


      #3
      Sounds easy, but the head unit is aftermarket, so there's a positive wire and a negative wire for each speaker. So I have 4 wires from the fader switch, but 8 wires from the head unit connector.
      Matt

      Originally posted by slammin.e28guy
      I pack my CD player with asbestos. Those mother fuckers pay dearly for stealing my shit.
      Originally posted by kronus
      try whacking parts of the motor with a wrench while yelling "YOU WANT SUMMA DIS? HUH?"
      Originally posted by chadthestampede
      This is like a reverse build thread; it starts out nice and gets shitty.

      Comment


        #4
        that's because the front and rear speakers are wired together. just do what everybody else does and run new wire

        Originally posted by ROLLingKING
        i have a bronzit and plan on making it look sweet.
        Originally posted by slammin.e28
        Moral of this story?

        If you drive your e30 on stairs, you're gonna have a bad time.

        Comment


          #5
          And here I was thinking this thread was about making the HU dim with the dash lights.

          Run new wires. Delete old. win money.

          Ich gehöre nicht zur Baader-Meinhof Gruppe

          Originally posted by Top Gear
          Just imagine waking up and remembering you're Mexican.

          Every time you buy a car with DSC/ESC, Jesus kills a baby seal. With a kitten.


          Comment


            #6
            Yeah I just searched and found a thread where Luke explained it. But I'm too lazy to run new wires so I'm just gonna unsplice the factory wires and hook em up to my head unit.
            Matt

            Originally posted by slammin.e28guy
            I pack my CD player with asbestos. Those mother fuckers pay dearly for stealing my shit.
            Originally posted by kronus
            try whacking parts of the motor with a wrench while yelling "YOU WANT SUMMA DIS? HUH?"
            Originally posted by chadthestampede
            This is like a reverse build thread; it starts out nice and gets shitty.

            Comment


              #7
              If that is a premium sound car STOP right the fuck there.

              Call me in the AM. You can do this car in about half an hour IF you don't fuck it up.

              IF you don't have my number, PM me.

              Luke

              Closing SOON!
              "LAST CHANCE FOR G.A.S." DEAL IS ON NOW

              Luke AT germanaudiospecialties DOT com or text 425-761-6450, or for quickest answers, call me at the shop 360-669-0398

              Thanks for 10 years of fun!

              Comment


                #8
                definitely not a premium car. 84 325e.

                Originally posted by ROLLingKING
                i have a bronzit and plan on making it look sweet.
                Originally posted by slammin.e28
                Moral of this story?

                If you drive your e30 on stairs, you're gonna have a bad time.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Oh duh...I saw "radio out of my 87" and failed to see the facts.

                  NVM.

                  Closing SOON!
                  "LAST CHANCE FOR G.A.S." DEAL IS ON NOW

                  Luke AT germanaudiospecialties DOT com or text 425-761-6450, or for quickest answers, call me at the shop 360-669-0398

                  Thanks for 10 years of fun!

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Bypass it and use the Alpine's. Not a big deal. I used to have an 85 325e with 4 20w? speakers and no tweeters. You will want to run new wires and get components.
                    "I'd probably take the E30 M3 in this case just because I love that little car, and how tanky that inline 6 is." - thecj

                    85 323i M TECH 1 S52 - ALPINEWEISS/SCHWARZE
                    88 M3 - LACHSSILBER/SCHWARZE
                    89 M3 - ALPINEWEISS II/M TECH CLOTH-ALCANTARA
                    91 M TECHNIC CABRIO TURBO - MACAOBLAU/M TECH CLOTH-LEATHER

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Just run two new ground wires to the front speakers. No need to tear the entire car apart.
                      -Dave
                      2003 Lincoln Towncar | 1992 BMW 325iC | 1968 Cadillac Deville

                      Need some help figuring out the ETM?

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Originally posted by StereoInstaller1 View Post
                        If that is a premium sound car STOP right the fuck there.
                        What difference does it make?


                        '73 2002 m20 turbo [sold] '87 rat rod 325is [couch modded] '91 vert [daily] '88 325is [spec build v1] '84 325 [spec build v2] '99 323i vert [sold]

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Nah, I searched last night and someone had a thread basically identical to this and Luke explained how to do it properly. So I just unwrapped the wires about 12" and found the factory splices. Cut those and found which wires were for the rears and which were for the fronts. Now I have a working stereo in the car.

                          I also swapped out the premium rear speaker shelf from the 88 and put it in the 84. Though the bigger speakers don't fit flush in the holes, so I have to enlarge them a little.

                          Has anyone tried putting the later model front speakers into an early model? I mean going from the carpet crap to the plastic ones? Will they fit?
                          Matt

                          Originally posted by slammin.e28guy
                          I pack my CD player with asbestos. Those mother fuckers pay dearly for stealing my shit.
                          Originally posted by kronus
                          try whacking parts of the motor with a wrench while yelling "YOU WANT SUMMA DIS? HUH?"
                          Originally posted by chadthestampede
                          This is like a reverse build thread; it starts out nice and gets shitty.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Originally posted by E30Nova View Post
                            Nah, I searched last night and someone had a thread basically identical to this and Luke explained how to do it properly. So I just unwrapped the wires about 12" and found the factory splices. Cut those and found which wires were for the rears and which were for the fronts. Now I have a working stereo in the car.

                            I also swapped out the premium rear speaker shelf from the 88 and put it in the 84. Though the bigger speakers don't fit flush in the holes, so I have to enlarge them a little.

                            Has anyone tried putting the later model front speakers into an early model? I mean going from the carpet crap to the plastic ones? Will they fit?

                            share us the link :) im curious myself :)

                            Comment


                              #15
                              I did a bunch ow writeup over on 'tech after a heated battle with someone over there.

                              Originally posted by AbsorbantNut View Post
                              What difference does it make?
                              I just did a deck (Alpine 102 in fact) in a PS '88 325iS. I used the factory amp...let me make this clear: IF you have an otherwise perfectly functioning all stock PS car, feel free to use the amp. It makes it so easy, sounds great, works nice, all that crap.

                              Likely would sound better bypassed, but on an early PS car, it sounded pretty damn good.

                              Also, down the road, adding more power is easier if the stock PS wiring is in place and in use.

                              Closing SOON!
                              "LAST CHANCE FOR G.A.S." DEAL IS ON NOW

                              Luke AT germanaudiospecialties DOT com or text 425-761-6450, or for quickest answers, call me at the shop 360-669-0398

                              Thanks for 10 years of fun!

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X