e30 car phone questions

[gearheadE30]

I just picked one of these up. I have no idea if it works, but I have all of the harnesses, control boxes, and microphone to make the hands-free work. My current problem is that I have no idea how to wire it. It is out of a 1990 535i Individual, if that makes any sort of difference.

Any ideas? I'll probably mess around with it and try to get it working, but I may end up selling it. Also, if anyone has the actual phone part, I have one, but it is for a different (later e34) style support and doesn't fit the handsfree unit I have very well.

[StereoInstaller1]

ALL car phones are analog: can you even get service in your area? 99% of the analog service area are not available anymore, there are no carriers.

[gearheadE30]

Hmm, didn't know that.

At any rate, I still want to see if it works. The wires that I need to hook up, be it to the car or otherwise, are brown, red, orange, and black. The brown wire has it's own plug, so I'd assume that it is ground. That is the only one I'm sure of, though.

[netcsk]

If any of the crap out of an E39 will work, you can have it if you'll pay for the armrest/tray to replace it with.

[gearheadE30]

Thanks, but I think the phone is different in the e39. To the best of my knowledge, there were also 2 different e34 systems, one of which is the same as the e30.

FYI I got the entire thing for free, so its more of a fun-ish project than anything else.

[emi325i]

Why do you want a "car" phone? Rhetorical question; never mind.

[akorcovelos]

can't hook up analog phones anywhere anymore, but if you really wated it to work you could probably gut it and replace the internals with a digital phones. Would be retro baller for sure!

[emi325i]

OnStar was or is still using analog. Larger coverage or something like that.

[StereoInstaller1]

OnStar was or is still using analog. Larger coverage or something like that.

Yeah, the analog towers are still operating, used for all kinds of shit. The issue is that since analog is so inefficient it is not being sold for phone use anymore...except in very rural areas, so all the gear that "translates" the calls is gone.

[rkettner]

i like the idea of digital internals on an analog phone. however if it was hooked up to a car you would not be able to take it out?

[2Big4a3Series]

Interestingly enough, there is someone out there still profiting from the analog service. I have an analog bag phone (from the early 90's) that still works. Any time I attempt to make a call with it, I get an automated system that offers to complete the call for $2.99 a minute on my credit card.

I also see people in my area who seemingly have the traditional car phones. I don't know if these are digital versions of the retro style or if they were just people who kept their accounts over the last 15 years but apparently it is still profitable to someone.

[gearheadE30]

Well, if I ever get it working I'll have to see what it does. Gotta figure out what those wires do first, though (hint: I need help from someone with the phone installed!!!!)

I thought about doing the digital thing, but I'll have to see if that will be worth my money or not.

[akorcovelos]

just get another line added to your cell account and get one of the free phones, swap it's guts into your car phone. Then you would have to hardwire the car charger in to look like the original cord. Very possible, you should do it!