ARRRGH!! I mean, um, radio help. Please.

[ProZak]

OK, so I took the plunge and bought an Alpine HU (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp;jsessionid=3PTRLYDRMI3OVKC4D3LFAGI?sku Id=6983295&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat62700050003&id=1099388650551) with an iPod adapter (http://www.bestbuy.com/site//olspage.jsp;jsessionid=3PTRLYDRMI3OVKC4D3LFAGI?id= 1099388651051&skuId=6983419&type=product) to replace my factory tape deck, having discovered that the Alpine has a setting for amber illumination that's a perfect match. Very exciting.

I also bought a Scosche (http://www.scosche.com/scosche_caraudio.aspx?CategoryID=78&ItemID=BW01B) wiring harness adapter, because Circuit City in my area no longer carries Alpine stereos or accessories (ref this thread (http://www.bimmer.info/forum/showthread.php?t=17917)) and I thought I would be in good shape. Spliced everything together, color to color, plugged in new HU, powered it up, HU gets power, all the buttons work ... no sound. Dammit. Hmm. Went over to Anton's site (http://www.bmwe34.net/e34main/Upgrade/Stereo_radio.htm) and read a bit, realized I needed to send a signal to the amp. OK, too easy. Hmm, amp wire is a teeny coax type. *shrug* Cut off the metal bit that plugged into the factory stereo, spliced in Remote On wire from Alpine HU, no joy. Moved to ignition wire from Alpine HU, no joy. $#%@#$@$^%$#%!@#$@!#%#$

Any ideas? I'm losing my mind here. I'm thinking maybe the amp coax wire carries power (center wire, copper) and ground ("jacket" wire, aluminum / silver) and I need to ground it somehow? Please advise.

Oh, 1995 525i, 10-speaker factory stereo. And I'm not interested in re-wiring the whole car, thanks.

-Zak-

[winfred]

theres a seprate wire for the triggering of the amp in the main radio plug, the coax is something else the pin out should be somewhere on the board

[ProZak]

OK, I'm pretty sure I can find the trigger wire. What's the coax for?

[winfred]

the little dinky one i think is some propriatary signal


OK, I'm pretty sure I can find the trigger wire. What's the coax for?

[winfred]

it's on the old pre nav cars going back to the early 90s too but not all


maybe for a gps signal, because that HU has capability for SAT radio

should all these wires be labeled?

[Paul in NZ]

do you get sound if you play a cd?If not maybe the rear window/antennae thing....

its mentioned about halfway down here (http://www.bmwe34.net/e34main/upgrade/stereo.htm)

[ProZak]

Success! Remote amp wire on the Alpine (blue/white) into (blue) wire on the adapter (pinout 16) -- only wire, FYI, that is not a perfect color match. I'm glad I didn't fry the amp with 12+ volts into that coax thing, just sorry I cut it. Harder to put the factory stereo back in when I sell the old dear, 10 years from now.

Oh, well. Now I get to much with iPod integration. Thanks a bazillion for the quick assist; this board *rules.*

[winfred]

i couldn't remember the factory wire color on the 91 and up cars, i didn't think it stayed white like the 90 and older, blue would been my first guess but i didn't want to tell you the wrong thing and it's easy to find a pin out. good luck with the pod :D


Success! Remote amp wire on the Alpine (blue/white) into (blue) wire on the adapter (pinout 16) -- only wire, FYI, that is not a perfect color match. I'm glad I didn't fry the amp with 12+ volts into that coax thing, just sorry I cut it. Harder to put the factory stereo back in when I sell the old dear, 10 years from now.

Oh, well. Now I get to much with iPod integration. Thanks a bazillion for the quick assist; this board *rules.*

[DanQ]

I just went through the same ordeal with my 93. I got a harness that connects into the factory radio connector from Circuit City and then soldered the connections from the Alpine unit to it.
The blue wire from the CC harness was labled for power ant but was really powering on the amp. Connecting it as it's labled left me with a nice working radio but no sound when playing CD's or the iPod.
Moving the blue/white connection (Amp/Remote) from the alpine over to the blue wire on the CC harness corrected this.
The iPod adapter works better than expected. I haven't seen the 700MB limit that everyone's talking about. Maybe my playlists were up to snuff already?

[ProZak]

The iPod adapter works better than expected. I haven't seen the 700MB limit that everyone's talking about. Maybe my playlists were up to snuff already?

*shrug* Dunno, but mine is working like gangbusters. I'm quite pleased. :D