Author Topic: Aftermarket radio wiring harness adapter (Read 6270 times)

318idol · « **on:** June 06, 2007, 03:53:49 PM »

Hi, all...

Just picked up a SONY deck for my 1991 318i from Crutchfield. They said they were including a wriing harness adapter, but all that came with the deck were two small adapters for speaker wires -- no adapter for the main radio harness. I called and they said there was no adapter for my model.

Is that true? Is the 1991 an odd beast? My local car stereo store says they have them. Other online sources list them.

Does anyone have a part number and source for an aftermarket stereo wiring harness adapter?

I tend to trust Crutchfield, since they've been doing this since e30s were new cars! Any insight would be helpful. I could just cut off the factory connector and splice in the Sony deck harness, but would prefer not to.

Gary

D. Clay · « **Reply #1 on:** June 06, 2007, 05:13:46 PM »

I had the original "deluxe" stero. It has a pre-amp in the unit and the amplifier is by the antenna in the leftside of the trunk. I had to go to a stereo place and have the the wires from the front connected to the wires from the amplifier to bypass it. That was easier than running all new wires from the head unit to where they could connect to the speaker wires.
Head Unit is #11
Fader is #12
Amplifier is #6

RED IS 91 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 07, 2007, 07:56:25 AM »

http://www.m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1719&highlight=stereo+wiring

this post has a wiring diagram in it .(thanks sheepdog)
I didn't have an amplifier in my car. I spliced every wire when I put a Clarion head unit in .It doesn't take that long .I used the existing speaker wire .New Pioneer speakers all around and I was good to go............

good luck

jpod999 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 07, 2007, 10:01:20 AM »

Quote from: RED IS 91;27292

http://www.m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1719&highlight=stereo+wiring

this post has a wiring diagram in it .(thanks sheepdog)
I didn't have an amplifier in my car. I spliced every wire when I put a Clarion head unit in .It doesn't take that long .I used the existing speaker wire .New Pioneer speakers all around and I was good to go............

good luck

I had to splice every wire too. It was a pain.

Alpine003 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 07, 2007, 12:18:27 PM »

Quote from: 318idol;27225

I called and they said there was no adapter for my model.

Is that true?

I think it might be true. At least I never saw anything and every E30 I've seen had to have the wires hacked and spliced up.

318idol · « **Reply #5 on:** June 07, 2007, 01:09:29 PM »

Thanks, everyone!

318idol · « **Reply #6 on:** June 11, 2007, 11:45:45 PM »

Success! My 1991 318i came with the stock, basic radio. No amp. Upon removal, the back of the desk showed four odd t-shaped plug connectors for each of the speakers --already tagged with the German codes identifying each speaker. There was also a small black plug with four wires, for the 12 constant and switched, illumination and ground, plus an antenna wire. All the colors matched wires the article/diagram referenced aboved. I just snipped off the BMW plugs and spliced into the Sony harness. To their credit, Crutchfield supplied four special connectors for the odd speaker connectors. No problemo!

The deck is a SONY CDX-GT510 CD receiver, which has red buttons but a blue display, plus a plug for an ipod. Nice unit. Really perked up the stock speakers. I recommend it; about $130.

FL318is · « **Reply #7 on:** June 12, 2007, 08:04:51 AM »

^ pics pls

ecpreston · « **Reply #8 on:** June 12, 2007, 08:41:07 AM »