Radio amplifier

[DanaMoyers]

I recently replaced my stero setup in my 1990 E30 which had premium sound, and the installer could not find the amplifer to perform the necessary bypass. Have the irritating high end whine coming from the amp and it ruins the sound. I have looked near the power antenna location and do not see an amp, which is where it was said to be, so if anyone could send me a picture or describe what it looks like and other possible locations, I will be a much happier driver. THanks for any help.

[dogsbark26]

The source of your irritating whine is not clear from your post. Do you mean to say that you are still using the OEM amplifier in you current installation? Whatever.
To the best of my (limited) knowledge, there is only one possible location for the OEM amplifier. Behind the driver side rear wheel well. Near the base of the power antenna mechanism. If you remove the trunk liner on that side (you will, I believe, need to remove the rear panel covering the tail lamps in order to remove the driver side panel) you will see the black Hirshmann antenna mechanism beneath the antenna grommet visible from the vehicle's exterior. Mounted to a bracket just forward of that are two things: the diode box for the check panel above the rear-view mirror, and the OEM amplifier. The amplifier has cooling fins on the heat sink.

Welcome to the forum.

[DanaMoyers]

Thanks, I have looked at the site where the antenna is located and did not see the amp. Do I need to remove the antenna to locate the amp or will it be visible. When the stero was installed, the installer could not find the amp either, I mentioned that it was aparently near the antenna, cause I looked it up on the web, and yet we haven't found it. Crazy, I was hoping there could have been another location where they were located.

[bmwguy325is]

Its on the drivers side of the truck near the antenna mast. Yo may have to remove the box of the atnenna as well. It dosnt look like an amp like you think. Its a lil box with a bunch of wires going to it. If you follow the bunch of wires you can find it too. Beware though that the brake lights and all that are included in the bundle.

[DanaMoyers]

I just looked again and it is not there. My 1990 E30 had preimum sound and yet there is no amp at this location. The stereo guy and I have looked for it's alternative location and cannot find it. I think my only other option is to rewire everything and that will be expensive.

[dogsbark26]

Several issues here.
What makes you think your car had premium sound?
Does premium sound always include an OEM amplifier?

I think you should discuss your installation with r3vlimited member: StereoInstaller1. Try pming him.

I cannot imagine any reason you would need to rewire the whole thing. The purpose of the amp bypass is normally to reroute the OEM head-unit signal carrying wires (going to the OEM amp) to the aftermarket amp; and to move the rear-speaker wiring from the OEM amp outputs to the aftermarket amp outputs. Whatever the installer has done already, you are getting signal from the head unit to the aftermarket amp and from the amp's outputs to the speakers. So I think your problem is more likely caused by either: a bad ground (loose or in the wrong place); or cheap (poorly insulated)/poorly routed low-level signal cables between the head unit and amp (picking up interference).

Ask StereoInstaller1 though. He is ever-so-much-more knowledgeable than I.

[German Audio Specialties]

Find the amp bypass thread, it is stickied.

Trust me, the amp is where it is supposed to be.

If you have questions, post them here.

Luke