stereo/speaker re-wire? (paging stereoinstaller1)

[aaron325ix]

As far as i remember I can fade the sound from front to back, but with the deck, not that stupid OEM one BMW's have. I took some pics of first the deck which isnt workning now!? I just got in the car the ohter day and the face was still open and it wasnt coming on whem I started the car. I hit the SRC button and it lights up for a second and protrudes out, then back in and off again. I tried to reset it, and even checked the fuse in the back to no avail. A guy here in wown said he would charge $90 plus parts. Seems high but then I dont really know. Then I got a couple of pics of the rats nest wiring, which might make sense to you (Luke). Finally i took pics of the sub/amp set up in the trunk just so you have an idea of what i have to see if anything is amiss there, also just to get your opinion on the components there. Man I wish I had an e30 enthusiast with a stereo shop here in town. Too bad I live in Sac. Anyway let me know what you think, or if you need any more or better pics. Thanks again.
AW

[StereoInstaller1]

OK, to start off with, your deck has a major issue. You have broken a "Ribbon Cable", which is a notorious Kenwood issue...and is why they no longer make faces like that. The part is about $15 and is available at http://www.pacparts.com/.

This little doo-dad is a major pain in the ass to deal with, and I know most techs charge about $100 to get in and change it. I have yet to do one myself, but I have 3 deck with bad cables to fix.

As far as your wiring, other than the stock wiring not being clipped off, it really is not too bad.

Luke

[Jean]

If you get your cd player fixed/replaced and still need help, let me know. I am local, just removed that factory fader crap last night actually .

[aaron325ix]

OK, to start off with, your deck has a major issue. You have broken a "Ribbon Cable", which is a notorious Kenwood issue...and is why they no longer make faces like that. The part is about $15 and is available at http://www.pacparts.com/.

This little doo-dad is a major pain in the ass to deal with, and I know most techs charge about $100 to get in and change it. I have yet to do one myself, but I have 3 deck with bad cables to fix.

As far as your wiring, other than the stock wiring not being clipped off, it really is not too bad.

Luke

so do you thiunk i should try to change it myself and save the 90 or so bucks or is it too much of a PITA? Or would you recomend a new deck all together? What do you mean about the stock wiring not being "clipped off"? Seems to me the way they connected the wires together with all those little connectors it forms a giant "ball" of wire and plastic and makes the unit hard to cram in the housing with all the other monster cable, disk changer cable, etc. Did you have any opinion on the sub/amp set up in the trunk? I think it could sound better, mounting it in the ski hole, perhaps un-bridging it ? I dont even know what the difference is, but i'm pretty sure it's bridged. Thanks again.
AW

[aaron325ix]

If you get your cd player fixed/replaced and still need help, let me know. I am local, just removed that factory fader crap last night actually .

Thanks I might take you up on that, stereo stuff has always been a bitch for me. Let me know if you need anything as well I used to have an 84 318i. I am in E. Sac, by sac state. Cheers.
AW

[Jean]

Np, weekdays are pretty busy for me but let me know in advance and I could take a look and see what we can do with it. I am not too far away from fair oaks, but maybe 15-20minutes away from sac state. Later.

[StereoInstaller1]

Fixing the deck is something I have not even looked at, but I think it would be sweet if you did. Order the part, give it a shot!

It did not look to me like the factory wire was used at all....is it?

[aaron325ix]

Fixing the deck is something I have not even looked at, but I think it would be sweet if you did. Order the part, give it a shot!

It did not look to me like the factory wire was used at all....is it?

Are there no special tools I might need or anything weird like that? By factory wire do you mean the 8 pin female connector?

[StereoInstaller1]

Are there no special tools I might need or anything weird like that? By factory wire do you mean the 8 pin female connector?

yep. All of the blue or yellow wires.

[aaron325ix]

no, it doesnt appear to be used.

[aaron325ix]

Well, I managed to replace my ribbon cable without the help from a crack head, pothead or drunk. But after replacement, the stereo does the same thing. I turn on the key, it lights up, protrudes out, back in, and turns off. Dont get it, any ideas? I do feel like having a drink now though! Thanks in advance.
AW

[aaron325ix]

bump.. Luke you mail box is full

[DSchultz325e]

As far as i remember I can fade the sound from front to back, but with the deck, not that stupid OEM one BMW's have. I took some pics of first the deck which isnt workning now!? I just got in the car the ohter day and the face was still open and it wasnt coming on whem I started the car. I hit the SRC button and it lights up for a second and protrudes out, then back in and off again. I tried to reset it, and even checked the fuse in the back to no avail. A guy here in wown said he would charge $90 plus parts. Seems high but then I dont really know. Then I got a couple of pics of the rats nest wiring, which might make sense to you (Luke). Finally i took pics of the sub/amp set up in the trunk just so you have an idea of what i have to see if anything is amiss there, also just to get your opinion on the components there. Man I wish I had an e30 enthusiast with a stereo shop here in town. Too bad I live in Sac. Anyway let me know what you think, or if you need any more or better pics. Thanks again.
AW

Which shop did you go to? There's only a couple I'd trust around here: Paradyme and Auto Radio Stereo. I go with the latter of the two. You can drive a bit to Acme Tops and Tunes in the South area, but these two are good enough.

[aaron325ix]

Yea I cant remember the name, but its a ghetto looking place off arden near Dimple records. Big mistake. I was going to go to ARS, but they wanted to fix it for $100 plus parts. Then i ended up replacing the ribbon cabel my self, but it still doesnt work. Now I dont know what to do!

[DSchultz325e]

Yea I cant remember the name, but its a ghetto looking place off arden near Dimple records. Big mistake. I was going to go to ARS, but they wanted to fix it for $100 plus parts. Then i ended up replacing the ribbon cabel my self, but it still doesnt work. Now I dont know what to do!

Haha, Stereo Shitty. Indeed they are a pretty ghetto establishment. But yea, ARS isn't the cheapest place around, but they definitely know what they're doing. I don't know if Paradyme deals with Kenwood, but you might give them a shot. I know for sure 100 dollars alone is far too much to spend on an aging deck when you can get that Panasonic deck Luke was touting a while back. I actually threw a refurb one (120 shipped) in my fianceé's E36 and she likes it a lot. No problems to speak of, and it looks like a dead-on color match.