What wiring harness is needed?

[E30 Cabrio]

I'm planning to replace the stock AM-FM Cassette on my E30 with an CD/MP3 HU

What type of Wiring Harness adapter to I need?

It has the "Premium" sound and I don't want to rewire, I just want plug and play.

Thanks.

[StereoInstaller1]

No such thing on an E30.

[E30 Cabrio]

So how do I wire an aftermarket stereo?

And what about this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=012&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=220203628836&rd=1

[DaveSmed]

So how do I wire an aftermarket stereo?

And what about this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...203628836&rd=1

God only knows what that is supposed to fit, the description sounds like they think it fits anything with a Roundel.

The problem is, your cabrio has a separate amplifier in the trunk. All of your speakers run through that thing and frankly, it would better serve as a doorstop. (which says something, it's not even that heavy)

One plus is it's easy to get to in your cabby, for coupe owners its behind all kinds of crap in a little hole. If you look at the back wall of your trunk, you'll see the lump in the fabric on the lower drivers side where its located.

I'll copy and paste the write up I did on another site.

Yellow - Red/Green
Red - Violet/Gray
Black - Brown
Blue - White
Orange - Gray/Red

Following wires found at the fader:

Green - Yellow/Red
Green/Black - Yellow/Black
Purple - Blue/Red
Purple/Black - Blue/Black


Now, look in your trunk for the amplifier. Find these wires in the connector and connect them as shown:

(Note: There are two Black/Brown wires listed. They do not connect together. Connect them temporarily to test. If you have no sound out of your rear speakers, swap them and make your connection permanent.)

Black/Brown - Yellow/Red
Black/Violet - Yellow/Black
Black/White - Blue/Red
Black/Brown - Blue/Black

Finally, the front speakers. You need to run new wires to the front speakers from the headunit. (easier than rewiring the whole car, remember that) I will give you the wire colors at the back of the speakers to cut and connect to your new wire from the headunit.

Left:
White - Gray/Red
White/Black - Gray/Violet

Right:
Gray - Gray/White
Gray/Black - Gray/Brown

[E30 Cabrio]

Thanks Dave, but I just want to install a new HU without rewiring and bypassing the Amp and all that other stuff.

Is there any other (read: easier) way to install a HU without jumping thru all these hoops and rewiring and bypassing?

I have 2 herniated and torn discs in my back and don't want to aggravate my back and miss time from work.

Would Crutchfield have a harness I can use and then connect the wires?

Thanks again.

[DaveSmed]

Thanks Dave, but I just want to install a new HU without rewiring and bypassing the Amp and all that other stuff.

Is there any other (read: easier) way to install a HU without jumping thru all these hoops and rewiring and bypassing?

I have 2 herniated and torn discs in my back and don't want to aggravate my back and miss time from work.

Would Crutchfield have a harness I can use and then connect the wires?

Thanks again.

Well, Luke can chime in for sure, but I think connecting just the white and gray wires of the headunit will result in sound, but I really don't think you'll be happy with it as it is originally a very non-conventional setup. Hook the white to the yellow, and the gray to the blue.

Problem is, I really doubt you are gonna be happy with the results....

No one makes a harness for these things as they are not a conventional style setup as I mentioned. If you were to take this into a best buy, they would either attempt to rewire the entire car, or leave you with what the PO of my car had- one working speaker from his brand new headunit.

The wiring I came up with at least eliminates the need to run wires to the rear speakers, but even then the front ones need to have fresh wires run. Knowing someone with a similar injury, I definitely can't blame you for your reasons.

[StereoInstaller1]

Yeah..."unconventional" to say the least.

There never has been a harness made for our beloved cars...won't be, either.

So, as Dave said, use the white wire of the car to turn on the amp. There will be yellow and blue, plus illumination, constant, ACC and ground.

Simply enough, don't connect the decks speaker negatives to anything, leave them hanging. Capped off, of course, but hanging.

Now, hurry the hell up and heal so you can get your damn stereo in correctly!

Luke

[E30 Cabrio]

Damn. Looks like I'm stuck with the stock tape player. I'll give Crutchfield a call and see if they have anything.

[E30 Cabrio]

OK, how about this:

http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?g=103000&i=120701693&tp=2977

This would work for the speakers, right?

Then I would need to splice the rest of the wires.

Where would those go?

And then there is this:

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-QJwgyZ3TGjN/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?I=127OEM2

[StereoInstaller1]

Hey man, not to be a dick about this and all, but do you really think the $8/hr fuckwad at Crotchfield has any chance of being more knowledgeable about these cars than me, with 28 years as a professional stereo installer, or Dave, who has been way more than helpful sharing his not-unsubstantial experience?

Now, here is the wiring for you car:

Deck: Car:

ACC: Red Violet/Green
MEMORY: Yellow Red/Green
GROUND: Black Brown
AMP REM: Blue or Blue/White White
ILLUM: Orange Gray/red


L/F (+) White Yellow
R/F (+) Gray Blue

7 wires total, no adapters or other bullshit needed. Only throwing away 70% of your new decks performance...but your back will be better sooner or later, right? Maybe then you will deal with doing this install correctly before you attempt an S52 swap.

[E30 Cabrio]

I appreciate the feedback, but damn, no need to jump down my throat.

I'm just trying to find the most efficient and most inexpensive fix and am exploring all avenues.

And no, my back won't be better without having a double discectomy and laminectomy which is not an attractive option at this time, or at any time for that matter.

Having two torn and bulging discs is no fun, and neither is the constant, agonizing pain so forgive me if I'm not up to the task of crawling around in the trunk of my Cabrio to bypass the factory amp, or up for contorting myself to fit in the front footwell to rewire my stock speakers, so that's why I'm looking into every possible option other then a rewire job.

I don't have the know-how or the tools to do a motor swap. If and when it's done, it will be done be a professional as it's not a DIY job for me.

It's no fun getting old...

[thereisnoyun]

its actually not that bad to pull out the wires.

- go to the trunk and remove the two screws holding the amp, and unplug it
- snip the head of the plug that goes into the the amp
- pull the wire out from under your rear seat
- trace and pull the harness out
- rerun the wires from the speaker to the head unit
- install a headunit with a decent internal amp.

If you dont blast it, you'll be fine. Shouldnt take you more than a warm afternoon to complete, even with a bad back.