help with aftermarket head unit in 90 325is

[dreamchasin]

I have been trying for about a week and cannot get it to work properly. Luke said he'd help but I've called and no answer or returned calls so I am coming to you guys

No hard feelings luke just explaining before everyone tells me to PM you.

[Cephas]

Well...what do you need help with? Which wires are which? Moar details please!

[dreamchasin]

First the passenger speaker worked. Then took off ground wires. Now all speakers work but the passenger front speaker is louder than the rest. And the back speakers pop with any kind of bass or really anything. They aren't blown either.

My car has the stock amp, and premium sound.

[Cabriolet]

did you bypass the stock amp?
pics of how you wired it up, are the only sure way to get help
and add a hell of a lot more detail. what HU, how you wired it, if you bought that shit harness adapter.

[dreamchasin]

did you bypass the stock amp?
pics of how you wired it up, are the only sure way to get help
and add a hell of a lot more detail. what HU, how you wired it, if you bought that shit harness adapter.

Did not bypass the amp, I am not 100% on how to do that (im very stuck on stupid when it comes to wiring/electrical) without installing new wires. I did NOT use a harness adapter. Used the factory one from pioneer. the headunit is a Pioneer 3200-UB.

[Cabriolet]

ok, you need to bypass.
just do a little reading here:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=191119

even for a noob, this shouldnt take more than 3-4 hours to finalize.

[dreamchasin]

haha i understand "even for a noob". you don't understand my level of understanding something by reading instead of doing hands on. I have no issues swapping a 5 speed into an auto e30. but if I were to read it (even though I know how to do it) i'd be confused. I can't read things and comprehend it. I guess I am quite retarded but oh well.

[blueapplesoda]

You know you are asking for advice on a forum in words....do you expect a video in return?

[Cephas]

The speaker system in an e30 shares a common ground. You need to bypass the stock wiring for it to work. The best way, in my opinion, is to run new speaker wires to each speaker and just unplug the stock amp

[dreamchasin]

Okay so if I run new wires, should I run both positive and negatives to the headunit? Or just positives?

[george graves]

I think Luke is on the road - I think that's why he's not here to help....so I'll pretend to be him....

BUY A DAMN LUKE BOX. WAFFLES!

but....to answer your question...

Both. Two wires to each speaker.

Keep track of positive and negative (there is usually a white stripe on one of the wires....it looks like a long "-" negative sign, so I always use that as negative. But it doesn't matter - just don't mix them up or it will still work - it just won't sound as good. The install manual that came with your head unit should have plenty of diagrams I would think.

[StereoInstaller1]

I have been trying for about a week and cannot get it to work properly. Luke said he'd help but I've called and no answer or returned calls so I am coming to you guys

No hard feelings luke just explaining before everyone tells me to PM you.

Hey bud, sorry about that...these days, my time is kinda precious. Working 7 days a week typically, so finding time to have you call ti walk you through this process is difficult, that is why I asked you to call at the time I specified.

Lets do this: call me at 10AM tomorrow morning, pacific time. My cell phone is a cheap dumb phone and the ringer is incontinent....but I will be on the PC at that time, so hit me on the GAS Facebook page if you cant reach me.

The speaker system in an e30 shares a common ground. You need to bypass the stock wiring for it to work. The best way, in my opinion, is to run new speaker wires to each speaker and just unplug the stock amp

This is incorrect. Please do not do this. Your original BMW wire is superior quality. The amplified cars use completely common grounds on all speaker wires: no 2 channels share a negative at any point.

However, the Input wiring is common ground, but that is NOT your speaker wire...it does not connect to a speaker, it connects to an amplifier.

The correct way is to find the junction point and separate the grounds at that point, and BMW changed the system several times through the years.

However, the stock wiring is incredible quality, better than anything you would be willing to pay for. The trick is to find where the junctions are and work around it.

I go as far as to use BMW wire to add to the harness when needed.

Take 2 speakers and call me in the morning,

Luke

[dreamchasin]

Hey bud, sorry about that...these days, my time is kinda precious. Working 7 days a week typically, so finding time to have you call ti walk you through this process is difficult, that is why I asked you to call at the time I specified.

Lets do this: call me at 10AM tomorrow morning, pacific time. My cell phone is a cheap dumb phone and the ringer is incontinent....but I will be on the PC at that time, so hit me on the GAS Facebook page if you cant reach me.



This is incorrect. Please do not do this. Your original BMW wire is superior quality. The amplified cars use completely common grounds on all speaker wires: no 2 channels share a negative at any point.

However, the Input wiring is common ground, but that is NOT your speaker wire...it does not connect to a speaker, it connects to an amplifier.

The correct way is to find the junction point and separate the grounds at that point, and BMW changed the system several times through the years.

However, the stock wiring is incredible quality, better than anything you would be willing to pay for. The trick is to find where the junctions are and work around it.

I go as far as to use BMW wire to add to the harness when needed.

Take 2 speakers and call me in the morning,

Luke

Thanks Luke. I thought you said call after 10AM pacific, sorry. I will take everything apart then call you.

[dreamchasin]

I think Luke is on the road - I think that's why he's not here to help....so I'll pretend to be him....

BUY A DAMN LUKE BOX. WAFFLES!

but....to answer your question...

Both. Two wires to each speaker.

Keep track of positive and negative (there is usually a white stripe on one of the wires....it looks like a long "-" negative sign, so I always use that as negative. But it doesn't matter - just don't mix them up or it will still work - it just won't sound as good. The install manual that came with your head unit should have plenty of diagrams I would think.

double post

Thanks GG!