Radio Wiring and Amp Bypass

[Big swifty]

Installer, for sure.

Do you have a testlight? Go get one if you don't have one. there is a cheapie at walmart for about $5.

Then, tell me the exact colors you connected to, E30s did some weird color swapping

I'm an idiot. Connected the wrong ground. All is well!

As an aside, and I know this is the "Amp bypass" thread, have You ever successfully mounted an XM antenna inside the E30?

[Big swifty]

Thank You!
Figured it was my fault. Yes, I definitely have a test light. At work now, will check and report when I get home.

[StereoInstaller1]

Installer, for sure.

Do you have a testlight? Go get one if you don't have one. there is a cheapie at walmart for about $5.

Then, tell me the exact colors you connected to, E30s did some weird color swapping

[Big swifty]

Stereo Installer 1 your help is superb and much appreciated.
I have a quick question...

1989 325ix, no amp, does have fader. I have stripped back wires to the twisted pairs and have connected all speakers. Radio functions all work fine.

Problem is that if the headlights (2 orange dashboard lights really) are on, as soon as the FM antenna is connected it will blow fuse 23 and the 2 orange dashboard lights are kaput.

Is this an internal (head unit) issue or an external (installer) issue?

[StereoInstaller1]

Update, Seth? Do we have adequate audio yet?

[elcoy]

Seth
I am a poster child for what Luke is telling you. I struggled then finally jumped in and followed what is being said in this thread it will work with no $ invested. I followed post 189 and it works perfect for me. Be noble and use your brain not your $. Answer to the calling of the true BMW enthusiast and fix it. I still feel good for doing it my self

[StereoInstaller1]

I know :(. I fail.

I was fiddling around in the car and got sound out of it when I connected the car's white with the blue on the HU. It was...not nice sound that didn't last for very long, so I'm just going to order some new speakers, wires, and do it properly. Thank you for all the help.

Kindest Regards,

Seth

No Seth, stop! Do NOT buy aftermarket speakers...remember, I told you that the deck was NOT wired correctly to use the stock amp....did you think it was gonna sound great when it is wired wrong? Of course it sounded like shit, you sent about 4X the voltage the stock can handle to the input stage!

You need to do the bypass first, that is the "Proper" way to do it.

You need to throw knowledge at the car, throwing money is a waste of time (and obviously enough, money).

It is never going to sound good if the install is wrong, what you propose is not the logical way to go. Fix the install first!

Let me explain: the stock Premiums are excellent speakers, they have the best bass of ANY (seriously, regardless of budget, the best ever) speaker of that size. 5.25" speakers are not that common, to the point that dozens of speaker companies don't even offer them, but will have 3 choices in 6.5".

Also, the BMW wire is far superior to the bullshit they call "speaker wire" these days, you will again be downgrading if you "run your own". The stock wire has exceptionally good copper, far better than "Monster" or whatever. All that stupid speaker wire is crap, and not intended for automotive use, no matter what they say on the package. Generally it is corroded and nasty after 3 or 4 years while the BMW wire is still excellent after 20+ years. Basically, you have to go to $10/foot wire to improve. You also have more than enough already ran in the car. If you learn how they did it, if you understand "the BMW way" it makes all the sense in the world...but very few professionals do, much less some dude in a garage.

The bypass takes half an hour, just stop fucking around and do it, you don't need to buy anything at this point.

Until you have a subwoofer AND amplifiers, don't waste your time, just do the amp bypass and see what you have.

What you need to do is install one of our subwoofers and a 5 channel amp, then you get kick-ass sound no matter what.

These cars require a whole different approach, that is why car stereo shops freak out and tell people all kinds of bullshit...don't fall into that bullshit trap, it doesn't work.

Don't panic, you can have great sound in your E30 without spending an assload of money or time.

Sorry if this post is fragmented, I don't have time to write right now.

Luke

[c10seth]

I know :(. I fail.

I was fiddling around in the car and got sound out of it when I connected the car's white with the blue on the HU. It was...not nice sound that didn't last for very long, so I'm just going to order some new speakers, wires, and do it properly. Thank you for all the help.

Kindest Regards,

Seth

[StereoInstaller1]

...Seth....you are IN the bypass thread now..

[c10seth]

You got a "like" from me, sir. ^_^. I'm still having trouble just finding the amp bypass thread. I know this thread says Amp Bypass, but I must just be missing the obvious. Thank you again.

Seth

[StereoInstaller1]

Oh BTW, as far as a paypal donation, no thanks. We just hope you buy stuff from us someday, sooner or sooner. Maybe throw a "like" at our facebook page, GAS I would love to see us hit 1000 by the end of the month. It doesn't pay our bills, but sure doesn't hurt, either.

Thanks for making an old man feel useful!

Luke

[c10seth]

Thanks, Luke. I'd much rather just use the deck to power everything to keep it simple. I'm looking for the amp bypass thread right now since I'm already in there.

Seth

[StereoInstaller1]

Hey, steroinstaller.

I have a 1989 325ix and I'm having trouble with getting any sound out of my speakers. My goal is to just replace the head unit for right now. My car seems to have the 4 pairs of wires and I believe I have everything connected correctly. The head unit that I have turns on, lights up, sees my phone, and can select all of its functions, but no sound at all. Attached are some photos. If you can help me solve this I'll throw you a "tip" at your paypal.

Kindest Regards,

c10seth

[/URL]

OK, so, since all you are aiming for here is sound, lets get that up and running first.

You have not turned your stock amp on. I am sure you have noticed that there are two white wires. One is separate, but ran with the antenna cable, obviously enough that is the power antenna (solid blue on "deck side" if available) and the other is actually wrapped in the harness, that is how I can tell from here that your car has Premium Sound, your harness has 2 white wires.

That is why no sound, you didn't connect that white wire to the blue/white. No amp turn on, no sound. Powering up that wire is no guarantee of sound either, as stock amps are often dead, killed by water leaks most commonly.

No idea what these brown twisted with blue and brown twisted with yellow are for

These 2 twisted pairs went from the deck to the fader, thats all.

If you have unwrapped the harness properly they will just fall out anyway, no worries. Nice hunks of wire to save in the junk drawer!

Now, here is the next question: do you plan to bypass your stock amp and use deck power on your speakers, or do you want to take the easy-but-shitty way out and use the stock amp? If you want to use the stock amp, you need to connect the speakers a bit differently than you have there. Ask anyone who has done the amp bypass following this thread, it makes a world of difference and in your case it is super easy to do, just follow the thread.

Luke

[c10seth]

Thank you. That would probably help! :)

[Todd Black 88]

What deck?
Post it's wiring harness diagram