URGENT URGENT URGENT!!! Installing Head Unit Q????

[cS]

Help need ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How hard is it to install an aftermarket head unit on an e36??? The guys at the audio store said it's very hard b/c we have AMPS. they want like $170 just to install my head unit! ill do it myself.

how do you install it yourself? search function yielded no helpful info. drop a link if you can.

[cS]

i take it no one has installed a head unit? : :

[al_r]

Long story short - you can change the head unit out just like any other car - with the right adapters. That head unit will still play though the built-in BMW amp, so you may not get any audible benefits. The built-in BMW amp also does the crossover work btwn. the the HU and speakers.
To get to the next level requires bypassing the amp and/or adding crossovers, new speakers, a 'real' amp etc.
HU install is maybe an hour, bypassing the amp shouldn't take more than an hour, so together with the adapters, $170 sounds high.

What year/model/stereo do you have?

[Roffle Waffle]

drive up to here, I'll do it fo' free

[cS]

Originally posted by al_r
Long story short - you can change the head unit out just like any other car - with the right adapters. That head unit will still play though the built-in BMW amp, so you may not get any audible benefits. The built-in BMW amp also does the crossover work btwn. the the HU and speakers.

Thanks for the reply.

My car is a 92 325is.

I am gonna go to Best Buy and purchase a HU. I need something under $200. I heard Pioneer makes some nice ones.

Are the sony xplod HU's any good? They have one which is orange/black which would match perfectly!!!!!!!!!!

Got any reccomendations?

At this point Im sticking w/ the stock amp.

Where can I get the adapters and are they easy to install?

[SecretAznSauce]

here you go man


1992 BMW 325 Stereo Information
Constant 12V+ Red/White
Switched 12V+ Purple/White
Ground Brown
Illumination n/a
Dimmer n/a
Antenna Trigger White
Antenna Rear Window, Diversity
Front Speakers 5 1/4" Kick Panels
Left Front (+) Yellow/Red
Left Front (-) Brown/Orange
Right Front (+) Black/Red
Right Front (-) Brown/Orange
Rear Speakers 4" Rear Deck
Left Rear (+) Yellow/Black
Left Rear (-) Black/Orange
Right Rear (+) Blue/Black
Right Rear (-) Brown/Orange

[ASCH MAN]

Just make sure to get a wiring adapter and euro antenna adapter. That is all you need and your system will sound a ton better. The factory amp is not really that bad, it is the head unit that is the worst part of the equation, and you are going to notice a large difference.

The stereo shop must not work on too many BMW's or just wanted to overcharge you.

[cS]

Are there different kinds of wiring adapters?

[Roffle Waffle]

Do not buy sony. Kenwood or alpine is the way to go

[Roffle Waffle]

18.88 at the store, $10 shipped on Ebay. Only 1 type of adapter. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=32812

[EMMM TREE]

heres a nice diagram

[toussi1]

Don't buy the one from ebay, its shit quality and falls appart. I ended ripping the wires out of the ebay adaptor and jamming them into the cars harness.

I got the HK amp powering the speakers and its not that loud. I'm wondering if the HK amp is more powerful or the 52x4 built in amp of the deck????

[cS]

Does any old electronics shop sell these adapters?

[toussi1]

yea they do, just pay the higher price for something quality. But you are going to have a hard time jamming all that stuff in your dash, there is NO SPACE back there. Make sure you cut the wires short.

[cS]

Thanks toussi

The dude at circuit city told me that running the HU to the stock amplifier is going to make the stock amplifier burn up and might burn my car down.... im thinking this might be a bad idea..

anyone running this???

[al_r]

If it was true, you might call it a bad idea...
Who ya gonna believe - us or them?
I ran my Sony to the amp for a week or so - til I found time for the 'bypass surgery'.
As I said earlier, I found maybe a little improvement in sound quality, but I did get CD capability, which is what I was after to begin with.

[cS]

oiii......

what is involved in the "amp bypass surgery"? search didnt help.

i want to add 2 subs and an amp LATER, and use the HU w/ stock speakers NOW. Links? Help?

Thanks guys...

[al_r]

Originally posted by iDefi

what is involved in the "amp bypass surgery"? search didnt help.

i want to add 2 subs and an amp LATER, and use the HU w/ stock speakers NOW. Links? Help?

Thanks guys...

The amp bypass involves cutting the wires to the current OE amp (at the amp) and splicing the wires from your new HU to the existing speakers so they're driven by the new HU.
It's about an hour job if you've got the tools (wire crimps and crimper) and color codes ready. I've got the color codes for my '92 325I in a spreadsheet if you want it.

To add an amp or two later, buy and connect the RCA cable(s) and remote power-on wire to the HU when the HU is installed; they can be routed to the trunk later.

HTH.

[cS]

sounds good.

PM'd ya

[cS]

I went to car toys and they tried to get me to buy their shit and use the factory amp.

Fuckers.

They told me I need to buy a 4-500 crossover if i want to bypass the factory amp. Is this true???

I thought all i would have to do is: attatched the wires to the back of my new head unit, and bypass the factory amp by cutting the in/out wires at the amp and attatching them together.

Has ANYONE got a walkthrough? DIY? Or am I screwed?!

[Randy]

You're getting the runaround. METRA makes a harness to fit your BMW. You won't burn up anything, that's why cars have fuses.

Just wire up the harness to the radio plug. Then attach the antenna adapter and cram the wires down towards the a/c controls under the radio.

Otherwise, just rewire all the speakers to the head unit.
I ran an aftermarket radio on factory speakers in my 92 for 2 years. Then I rewired everything.

[cS]

Cool. I got the harness. im not getting any sound, but I do have power. Making headway.

Any idea why I am not getting any sound? tuner or cd.

I checked all the wires and they seem to be right.

A few go no where.

blue:power ant
blue/white:to amplifier or equalizer (????)
pink/black:vehicle phone
orange: illumination

[Randy]

you have a wire going to the factory amp that you need to tap into with remote lead from radio. can't remember color.

[cS]

thanks randy.

[one]

I'm running my alpine in my '92 325i hardwired, no bypass.

They tell you that for 2 reasons:

(1)- they want to sell an adapter

(2)- they were trained from the Dr. Suess school of car audio where they think the bmw amp runs off a 2 volt signal like regular aftermarket amps do.

B.S. - The factory BMW amp can take up to 15 volts down the throat with no kickbacks. it has a limiter in it to adjust the output to match the input.

which = auto limiting = no kaboom = no problem and no need for an adapter.