OMG Help! What a mess

[Staszek]

So needless to say I am never buying a car from a weekend hobby "car stereo" guy again.

I have found more electrical problems with this car I dont know where to start.

Dome lights dont work, so I figured bulb of fixture or door pin. Well pulled the fixture and found some wiring cut up there, why the heck would you cut wire in the headliner I am not sure. So I pull the door pin and there is a connection missing to it not sure exactly where it went but I will have to dig it out of the mess. The drivers side window wasnt working so I replaced the switch, still wasnt working, or it worked intermittently so I replace the motor. It works yay, until I closed the door, stopped working. I already had the door panels off because I was replacing them and took the speaker out he put in the door, and I started following his speaker wire. He had the thickest speaker wiring going between the door and the car for the large mid he put in it. I pulled it all out and the window works again. I think the wiring was so tight it was actually pulling some of the wires away that were making contact when the door was closed. It should not have made a difference but it works now.

Sooooo yesterday I pulled down the cover under the steering wheel and cam into this mess, his aftermarket alarm that was wired like a 5 year old. I pulled it out but I still have a mess of stuff behind that I am not sure what is stock and not. I also dont know how these relays are supposed to mount since I dont think BMW just had them laying in there.

[ahrensNW]

Your po deserves a bullet

[Staszek]

Yea, I am not sure what that big red wire is thats going through the firewall, I have to trace it. Ugggg I bought the car because body wise it was in super good shape, just two small rust spots, but I think I would rather deal with rust then electrical right now.

[goskidmark]

Yea, I am not sure what that big red wire is thats going through the firewall, I have to trace it. Ugggg I bought the car because body wise it was in super good shape, just two small rust spots, but I think I would rather deal with rust then electrical right now.

If it's not a daily driver... I would pull the dash and start from scratch. That's just me. It looks like hell in there. I wish you the best of luck.

[Staszek]

If it's not a daily driver... I would pull the dash and start from scratch. That's just me. It looks like hell in there. I wish you the best of luck.

Its not, its our 4th car and is basically sitting as a project car right now. I do plan on pulling the dash eventually to put a new one in.

What would help is a good picture of what it should look like lol.

[barbierij]

I think I would rather deal with rust then electrical right now.

I'll trade you a rusty iX right now!

[Staszek]

I'll trade you a rusty iX right now!

Haha dont want an iX but thanks:)

[barbierij]

really? REALLY? Who doesn't want an iX? Except for people who want S5x swaps and do peelouts 'n stuff.

[goskidmark]

Its not, its our 4th car and is basically sitting as a project car right now. I do plan on pulling the dash eventually to put a new one in.

What would help is a good picture of what it should look like lol.

I can search Google all day long for under the dash wiring images, but nothing I found was close up like you need. If I were back home in the states I would take some detailed pictures for you. Unfortunately I am half way across the world.

[george graves]

PO ran a wire to the head-liner cause he thought he was going to pick up the "door open" trigger for his alarm there. Not a good place. Ya pick that up in the door jam, frame side.

I wouldn't be surprised if that alarm was installed by a "pro" that has been doing it for years. A lot of those stereo guys cut corners where you'll never see it. They need to move cars, and you'll never see it, so why not right? (frustrating I know)

My advice - is to learn to read the ETM manual. Pictures are never going to tell you what-is-what. It's like me showing you a post card of NYC and telling you what subway to take. You need a map - It's all in the ETM.

[Staszek]

PO ran a wire to the head-liner cause he thought he was going to pick up the "door open" trigger for his alarm there. Not a good place. Ya pick that up in the door jam, frame side.

I wouldn't be surprised if that alarm was installed by a "pro" that has been doing it for years. A lot of those stereo guys cut corners where you'll never see it. They need to move cars, and you'll never see it, so why not right? (frustrating I know)

My advice - is to learn to read the ETM manual. Pictures are never going to tell you what-is-what. It's like me showing you a post card of NYC and telling you what subway to take. You need a map - It's all in the ETM.

Thanks, I started looking at that, and it will help with the wiring, I am just curious to how those relays were mounted, I cant imagine they were just laying there.

[george graves]

Why find a mounting point? That takes time! Time is money! Crimp it, shove it, and forget about it!

BTW, usually the supper thick wires are for a "starter kill" - so, be careful removing them.

[Staszek]

Why find a mounting point? That takes time! Time is money! Crimp it, shove it, and forget about it!

BTW, usually the supper thick wires are for a "starter kill" - so, be careful removing them.

True, although I am tryng to do it right, I am anal like that :) Anyone who has ever bought one of my old cars knows that everything works perfectly and is pretty up to speck when you get it if not better. But I hear ya, its a consideration.

[rcsoundn1]

I used to install alarms and remote starts. The industry is nuts with how much many will just hack together. That does not look like a factory relay to me, but Im no expert. My guess is that is may be a starter kill relay with a power wire run directly to the battery. Looks like a viper alarm. Take it slow, and trace all the wires. It sucks, but it is what it is. I hated doing alarms and remote starts because it was more about how many you could do in 1 day, sacrificing quality.

[613EDRTY]

I know your pain op...my coupe looks similar under the steering wheel...years of aftermarket bs being installed...take it slow.