Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: 1985 (German import LHD) 318I E30 harness for radio

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Essex, UK
    Posts
    65
    My Cars
    1999 BMW E36 318i S

    1985 (German import LHD) 318I E30 harness for radio

    Hi, recently bought the above car, very happy little lad ha except for the radio, it doesn't have one......just a blanking plate. Pulled the blankin plate off expecting to find many wires, nothing, all the wires have homes (heater control hazards ect) apart from 2 wires with round connections im assuming clock fitments.
    Ive routed around in there for many minutes under the dash steering wheel column etc. No harness.
    Now do I assume that from 1985 in Germany music was banned?!? Or has someone removed the harness for some reason? I doubt the factory decided no radio option.
    Im very puzzled. Any help would be grand 👍

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    corpus christi, texas
    Posts
    6,738
    My Cars
    No e30s, again :(
    Are there speakers in the car? I think the factory radio plugs were round, though
    No e30s again.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Essex, UK
    Posts
    65
    My Cars
    1999 BMW E36 318i S
    Quote Originally Posted by superj View Post
    Are there speakers in the car? I think the factory radio plugs were round, though
    Yes there are 2 parcel shelf and one on each side near driver/passenger knee area.
    Its puzzled me as ive never seen round connectors before, no antenna either.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    corpus christi, texas
    Posts
    6,738
    My Cars
    No e30s, again :(
    wow, that is weird. if I remember when I get home, I can take a pic of the factory radio connection in my parts car.
    No e30s again.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Essex, UK
    Posts
    65
    My Cars
    1999 BMW E36 318i S
    Quote Originally Posted by superj View Post
    wow, that is weird. if I remember when I get home, I can take a pic of the factory radio connection in my parts car.
    Yes please that would be awesome
    Thank you

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    corpus christi, texas
    Posts
    6,738
    My Cars
    No e30s, again :(
    20180514_185515.jpg

    Ok, i know the round white and black are speaker wires. I think the white wires with black shronk wrap ends are part of the radio, like maybe grounds, maybe not. My kids messed up the wiring around the hvac so don't know which are which now but i think the square plug is the power and lights.

    You will need to get a multimeter or at a minimum, a test light, to verify power/grounds
    No e30s again.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Essex, UK
    Posts
    65
    My Cars
    1999 BMW E36 318i S
    Quote Originally Posted by superj View Post
    20180514_185515.jpg

    Ok, i know the round white and black are speaker wires. I think the white wires with black shronk wrap ends are part of the radio, like maybe grounds, maybe not. My kids messed up the wiring around the hvac so don't know which are which now but i think the square plug is the power and lights.

    You will need to get a multimeter or at a minimum, a test light, to verify power/grounds
    Ive got a multimeter so im guessing the new radio I put in I will have to make a harness. They always come with a harness adapter so I should be able to sort something out. I will have a look when im back home again.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    corpus christi, texas
    Posts
    6,738
    My Cars
    No e30s, again :(
    you can get an adapter from online, like amazon, but most people do their own because the radio/speaker grounds are not like a normal radio. if you hook up like normal, your speakers will only barely work. you have to not hook the radio speaker ground wires up to get normal sound, just leave them covered. if you run your own wires, you can set the system up like normal.

    we did both of my kids cars that way. they both have aftermarket radios and amps with subs.
    No e30s again.

Similar Threads

  1. Wiring Harness? Aftermarket Radio
    By LPSimpsons87 in forum 1975 - 1983 (E21)
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 05-10-2010, 02:49 PM
  2. 1985 318i MODS?
    By ViEtNaMeEh in forum 1983 - 1991 (E30)
    Replies: 38
    Last Post: 02-05-2004, 01:48 AM
  3. Need harness plug for factory radio
    By ///M3 713 in forum BMW Parts For Sale
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 04-15-2003, 08:26 PM
  4. FS: black 1985 318i 5speed
    By e30325es in forum BMW Cars For Sale / Wanted
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 01-18-2003, 01:04 AM
  5. Wireing Diagram fof the Radio Harness
    By positivepower in forum 1992 - 1999 M3 (E36)
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 01-09-2003, 08:10 AM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •