Stock Alpine amps universal?

[kngpen]

I need to replace the amplifier in my 95 525i model number BMW 8 360 761. I can get another amp which has the same plug configuration but has a different model number; BMW 8 400 70. I dont know what the difference is if any between the two.

Here is the BMW 8 360 761

http://i9.ebayimg.com/01/i/04/40/14/7e_1_b.JPG

and here is the BMW 8 400 70

http://i5.ebayimg.com/03/i/04/bb/da/b8_3.JPG

Will this plug-in and work correctly since the plugs are the same?

[genphreak]

Hey kngpen, having been in electronics for a long time- looking at them I'd guess they are the same; just different manufacturers... but then, they are both Alpine... perhaps Alpine made the aluminium cased one (their normal style) and then replaced it for a cheaper steel casing as BMW were taking care of cooling pretty well in the mounting location. Perhaps the aluminium one came from an earlier E32... before the BMW's audio equipment procurement cycle matured (as it did when the revolutionary 10-speaker E34 was introduced). What you can do is ask the vendor about the EQ module: You should keep the equalisation plug form your old one- and if the new amp doesn't have it, it will be different for sure. If the connections are the same it may still work but the sound won't be tuned to the car's interior. Double check the connections by the way, I think BMW did some weird things with them through the beginning... Search for audio and stereo amp upgrades- modifications for wiring diagrams and wire colours are here Bruno's site (w very neat PDFs) (http://www.bmwe34.net/e34main/upgrade/stereo_wiring.htm) has a lot of good info (you probably know already)and there is plenty more out there. You can get really handy connectors/adapters at Crutchfield (http://www.crutchfield.com). Be sure to know what connectors to run from your deck if you have changed it, even though my deck has both I have to use speaker-level outputs to avoid interference coming in on a coaxial wire setup. (Even with good wire and noise supressors)... good luck... :) GP