OK - I'm thoroughly confused.

[E30 Cabrio]

I finally ordered my new HU, a Clarion DXZ785USB (BTW, $150.00 at frys.com)

I have the "Premium" sound and from past reading, I would have to bypass the factory amp and the factory fader.

Can I use the factory wiring, or do I need to replace that as well.

And what about the tweeters? What do I do with those?

I'm a complete newb so if I act retarded, it's because I am when it comes to this stuff.

I found a post on bypassing the factory amp, and I can do that, but am kind of lost as how to proceed from there.

Thanks.

[E30 Cabrio]

BTW, Frys.com raised the price to $249.00 for this HU

I don't know if the above price of $150.00 was an error or if it was a sale price, but it's over with now.

[clavinZERO]

SEARCH.


but....


The stock wiring uses a GHEY common ground idea. Basically you gotta run new speaker wire everywhere.

[Sam Cogley]

I'd recommend installing an aftermarket amp and new speakers as well.

[clavinZERO]

Luke aka Stereoinstaller1 actually has good things to say about the stock speakers... you just gotta mod them a wee bit.

"Luke? Luuuuuuke!?" </Aunt Beru voice>

[Sam Cogley]

Luke aka Stereoinstaller1 actually has good things to say about the stock speakers... you just gotta mod them a wee bit.

"Luke? Luuuuuuke!?" </Aunt Beru voice>

My fear is that after 16+ years, things are going to be worn out, no matter how good they started. When I pulled the rear side panels from my Cabrio to examine the speaker mounts, they didn't look to be in the best of shape.

[E30 Cabrio]

Unfortunately, I don't have the time or the means to do a complete swap.

First the HU, then maybe later the speakers and wires. I found a writeup on doing the bypass/rewiring and my HU arrives next week, so I'm going to bypass the amp first, rewire the front speakers and then bypass the fader.

I'm going to run the stock speakers and rewire the front speakers while using the stock rear speaker wires.

Another thing is that Cabrio owners don't have a lot of speaker choices for their cars as there aren't a lot of speakers that will fit.

Also, I drive about 4K miles per year, so dropping a lot of coin on a sound system just isn't practical.

The new HU (Clarion DXZ785USB) should be a major upgrade to the factory HU and amp and it has iPod intergration, USB, Aux-in, Sat ready, etc...plus it has 728 adjustable colors, so I can match the BMW Amber lighting on both the LEDs and the buttons on the HU

Here's a pic of the HU:



Instead of blue, that will be BMW Amber once it's in my car.

I'll be sure to post pics once it's installed. Should look nice. None of that Silver and Red and all that other bling bling BS that are on aftermarket HU's nowadays. That shit pisses me off.

This HU retails for $220-300 and I got mine on sale for $150

I don't know if Frys.com made a pricing error or what, but the day after I ordered mine, they raised the price from $150 to $250

Either it was on sale or someone messed up on the pricing.

Regardless, my CC has been charged an it's on a DHL truck on the way to my office.

[twothrees]

Pics would be great when installed. I am having a hard time finding something that looks good, without the bling, and has a usb port.

Nice cabrio, btw.

[StereoInstaller1]

So, yeah, I have no clue on the cabrio...but on most E30s that have a fader, there is a common ground point behind the instrument panel which connects the 2 left grounds and the 2 right grounds so the fader will work.

I like to connect the rear speakers at the 4 pin molex that is near/behind the left front speaker, then run new wires to the 2 fronts.

If you can find a pair of decent quality aftermarket crossovers and make sure your tweeters do NOT have the built in capacitor, you will be impressed by the sound.

My wifes car has the stock front speakers with modded stock crossovers...unbelievable sound powerd by an Alpine 4 channel, with a single 12 on bass.

[Sam Cogley]

Another thing is that Cabrio owners don't have a lot of speaker choices for their cars as there aren't a lot of speakers that will fit.

Whoever wrote that chart for Crutchfield has no eyeballs. There is plenty of room in the rear side panels for most 5.25" speakers, another chart I've seen shows a 3" mounting depth. The fronts are the same as any other E30.

So, yeah, I have no clue on the cabrio...but on most E30s that have a fader, there is a common ground point behind the instrument panel which connects the 2 left grounds and the 2 right grounds so the fader will work.

For some reason my Cabrio doesn't have the external fader, even though it has the premium system.

[StereoInstaller1]

Late models use a 4 channel amp, and have the fader in the deck.

[Justin B]

Whoever wrote that chart for Crutchfield has no eyeballs. There is plenty of room in the rear side panels for most 5.25" speakers, another chart I've seen shows a 3" mounting depth. The fronts are the same as any other E30.

Rears, I seriously doubt there's 3" at the minimum depth behind the speaker mounting area, maybe at the max, and for the front I'm 99% sure there's more shit behind the magnet than on a non-cabrio. I've dealt with it myself, but its been a while. I bought 6.5" CDT NEO's (thin) for my front and have nothing in the rear. Now to finally (someday) tune the x-over in my amp and figure out some small sub solution inside the cab. The highs are pretty piercing right now, I need to turn them down some but damn I'm feeling lazy. lol

[clavinZERO]

The highs are pretty piercing right now, I need to turn them down some but damn I'm feeling lazy. lol

You've been saying that for years now right? LOL get to it!

[StereoInstaller1]

I really wish I could make shit that sounds like mine but only weighed like 40 pounds...

[DaveSmed]

Late models use a 4 channel amp, and have the fader in the deck.

My '87 had the dash mount fader, two channel headunit and the four channel amp.

I think the fader had to do with what deck you had.