Author Topic: Installing premium speakers in a 318is  (Read 5007 times)

Erik the Red

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Installing premium speakers in a 318is
« on: January 20, 2012, 02:20:48 PM »
I finally managed to accumulate a set of four factory woofers and four tweeters--complete with the proper door and rear parcel shelf/speaker housings to install in my 318is.  I noticed that in the space where the tweeters go in the doors, there are already wires in place that presumably run down to the vicinity of the kick panel speakers in the front footwells.  

What I don't have is the wiring diagram that shows me which wires from the car's wiring harness connect to which terminals on the speakers, and which woofer terminals the tweeter wires plug into.  

I don't plan to add the factory amp, just the speakers.  Appreciate your assistance on the project.

cheers
mike
91 318is Briliantrot

DesktopDave

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Installing premium speakers in a 318is
« Reply #1 on: February 05, 2012, 06:47:13 PM »
On the ones I've seen, the stock speaker connectors plug into one speaker terminal, then two terminals are wired from speaker to speaker, then the other stock wire returns to the amp.

I'd just rewire the whole thing myself, it'd give you a lot more control over the design of the system.  I'll bet a nice little 4-channel amp with some crossovers would make a huge difference.
'08 Karmesinrot 128i 6MT
'86 Zinnoberrot 635CSi (M30B32/G265/3.46 torsen LSD)

Sold: '97 Montrealblau 318iS, '91 Brilliantrot 318i, '91 Brilliantrot 318iS

DD318is

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Installing premium speakers in a 318is
« Reply #2 on: March 12, 2012, 01:51:08 PM »
Erik the Red, did you ever find the solution for the tweeters in the top of the doors?  I'm trying to install a pair, but it seems the wires, already in the door, aren't hooked up.

Thanks,

Dave
91 318is

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Installing premium speakers in a 318is
« Reply #3 on: March 12, 2012, 04:52:22 PM »
IIRC, the wires are meant to hook up "serially."  I don't have the ETM in front of me but it's all in a few of them...likely the 1992 325iC ETM...the '91 318is manual is missing some pages.

It's also possible that a PO cut the harness.  The four wire sets are usually twisted together in pairs.
'08 Karmesinrot 128i 6MT
'86 Zinnoberrot 635CSi (M30B32/G265/3.46 torsen LSD)

Sold: '97 Montrealblau 318iS, '91 Brilliantrot 318i, '91 Brilliantrot 318iS

Gerta318is

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Installing premium speakers in a 318is
« Reply #4 on: March 19, 2012, 12:10:12 AM »
Eric / DD - there's a good stereo write up on R3V:  http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=191119