Stock Tape Deck Q's...

[jerods87e30]

Where would one go to find extensive information about the stock headunits in our cars (specifically a 1989 E30 with premium sound)?

I would like to find out what every terminal in the back is for/what plugs in or out of them, technical specs such as power output, watts, impedence levels, etc., and wires/wire color diagrams starting with the headunit going back into the car to the amp/speakers (the setup) depending on what the sound system's prestige is in the E30.

The reason i am inquiring is because I am about to undergo a full overhaul of my car's audio system and would like to know more about what I am doing and what I'm working with.

If anyone has any detailed information about these stock radios, please do share! Thanks

[Justin B]

If you really want to overhaul it, just tear out all of the stock sound wires from the head unit to the stock amp to the speakers and redo it. I don't know the stock tape deck's specs though, sorry.

[clavinZERO]

+1 to tear out old wires and re-run them... the stock radios (at least in my 90) used some retarded common grounding method. You are truly better off running new wires to all the speakers.

[jerods87e30]

+1 to tear out old wires and re-run them... the stock radios (at least in my 90) used some retarded common grounding method. You are truly better off running new wires to all the speakers.

What kind of wires? guage? other factors? I know that these things all depend on things like the headunit, the amp, the speaker's size/impedence, etc.
I hear that a 12-14 guage wire does the job pretty well, at least that's what a few people on this board were discussing a little while ago.

Any additional information about wires and crossovers 'n' such would be dandy. thanks

[NomadE30]

i would probably use 14 gauge wire for the speakers if your using just the aftermarket stereo to power the speakers.

Speakers can be made better by a better amp and a crossover, but make sure you got no blown speakers, my friends stock premium sound hooked straight up to the deck with no crossover or amp sounds amazing for stock speakers.

[StereoInstaller1]

Where would one go to find extensive information about the stock headunits in our cars (specifically a 1989 E30 with premium sound)?

I would like to find out what every terminal in the back is for/what plugs in or out of them, technical specs such as power output, watts, impedence levels, etc., and wires/wire color diagrams starting with the headunit going back into the car to the amp/speakers (the setup) depending on what the sound system's prestige is in the E30.

The reason i am inquiring is because I am about to undergo a full overhaul of my car's audio system and would like to know more about what I am doing and what I'm working with.

If anyone has any detailed information about these stock radios, please do share! Thanks

I have a question for you...if you are going to do a "full overhaul", why do you care what is what with the old stuff? If you really want a full blown understanding of the wiring used, check this out: http://wedophones.com/BMWManualsLead.htm If you look through the manual for your car, you should find every single wire and connection point for your car.

Here is the deal on the wiring of your stock '87 premium sound: the deck feeds 2 channels of common ground speaker level audio into a puny little 2 channel blaupunkt amp, which makes about 12 watts/channel RMS on a 4 ohm load. This output feeds into the stock fader (dash mounted) which is NOT common grounded in the true sense, but either side of the car shares a front and rear ground...so both left speakers ground together and both right speakers do as well.

So do you already have a plan, or is that why the research?

Luke

[jerods87e30]

I have a question for you...if you are going to do a "full overhaul", why do you care what is what with the old stuff? If you really want a full blown understanding of the wiring used, check this out: http://wedophones.com/BMWManualsLead.htm If you look through the manual for your car, you should find every single wire and connection point for your car.

Here is the deal on the wiring of your stock '87 premium sound: the deck feeds 2 channels of common ground speaker level audio into a puny little 2 channel blaupunkt amp, which makes about 12 watts/channel RMS on a 4 ohm load. This output feeds into the stock fader (dash mounted) which is NOT common grounded in the true sense, but either side of the car shares a front and rear ground...so both left speakers ground together and both right speakers do as well.

So do you already have a plan, or is that why the research?

Luke

Can I use aftermarket wire instead of stock wire in my "new" sound system, if I am just going to use stock amp, head, speakers?

[StereoInstaller1]

Sure, but why? You will have to either make your own color codes, or test, or worse yet, label the damn things.

Stock 20 year old BMW wire is excellent, generally. Top notch shit, rearely oxidized at all...and that is the only real concern.

Luke

[jerods87e30]

Sure, but why? You will have to either make your own color codes, or test, or worse yet, label the damn things.

Stock 20 year old BMW wire is excellent, generally. Top notch shit, rearely oxidized at all...and that is the only real concern.

Luke

Well, I just don't know if anyone can get me a complete, full, audio harness w/ plugs and the like. Can you or anyone you know? Does aftermarket (new) wire oxidize faster than the stock wire from E30's? I am fine with making my own color codes and ways to remember and whatnot, it's the availability of an entire audio harness from a premium sound 1989 325is.

Luke, is the audio setup the same in a 1989 325i as a 1989 325is [premium sound]? likely the same...

[StereoInstaller1]

Very likely identical except for the speakers themselves.

I cannot claim to be an expert on the stock E30 stuff...I usually rip it out!

Luke