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View Full Version : How to tell which stock BMW Amplifier can be gutted and used as a crossover only?



Fetch
06-16-2007, 02:02 PM
I would like to be able to disconnect the amplifier portion of the BMW amp (to use my own amplifier) and just use the BMW tuned crossovers inside the amp box, like some of you guys have done.

I see three types of amps that were put in E34s during production. I opened mine up and it was all one circuit board/unit.

Out of the other two amplifier types besides mine, there seems to only be one other that has the same plugs that mine has. I would prefer not to have to rewire my cable harnesses.
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1.Currently I have this stock BMW Amp in my trunk: The Wrap around heat sink model. To the best of my knowledge the amplifier portion cannot be disconnected from the crossover electronics.
http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/79/wraparoundfa8.jpg

2.This is what I call the 33% heat sink unit. Notice!: It does have the same wiring harness plugs as my current 'wrap around heat sink' amp, but can the amp portion of the electronics be easily disconnected???
http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/8348/33heatsbw9.jpg

3.This is the small heat sink on top/oldest version amp. I'm pretty sure this one is known to have an amp board that just pulls out and 3rd party amp high level outs can be soldered right in place. Notice!!: this old amp has one plug that is a different wiring harness plug compared to my car, and wouldn't be plug and play without minor modification.
http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/1390/oldestee6.jpghttp://img510.imageshack.us/img510/3558/oldest2ho6.jpg




So who knows if I'll be able to use the 33% heat sink unit? Or will I have to get the oldest small heat sink on top amp and re-splice all my wires into this different style wiring harness?

attack eagle
06-16-2007, 04:50 PM
I have reports that the very early cars with common ground heads also were slightly different circuit boards.

All I can tell you is open it and meter it out, but I doubt it.

Fetch
06-16-2007, 07:34 PM
thanks for reminding me about that....I certainly won't be using a common ground system, so I guess that rules out amp #3 above, because I think that's the only one which is common ground.