Installing a receiver

[TMac325is]

This weekend I am going to install a new head unit in my 95 325is

i was wondering if anyone has any good websites that have DIY info and pictures

i check the Audio and electronics topics but didnt find anything useful

if anyone has installed a unit themselves, any advice is really appreciated

[Kevin325i]

It really shouldn't be to bad. The part that takes the most time is taking apart the dash to get at the deck. I have yet to do this on my BMW, planning on it sometime soon so I can get these stupid wires the guy before me ran through the cabin. But I have done it on several others.

But anyways, before you go tearing apart the dash make sure you've got a deck that will fit (some cars don't have very much room behind deck so longer ones won't fit without cutting) and a wiring harness from a local autoshop or Crutchfield that way, you do all the sodering of wires outside the car, then just plug it into the harness in the car.

Also, I think most decks will need an adapter to fit the BMW antenna plug, not sure though.

Kevin

[jllphan]

Here ya go.....


1. Locate two small flaps on each side of oem deck and open.
2. Using a 8mm hex key, unscrew the nuts inside the flap door to loosen deck.
3. Pull deck out and disconnect
4. Insert the supplied cage of the new deck into the din slot and secure.
5. New head unit's wiring harness should be interfaced with Metra Wiring Harness (pictured below) purchased at stereo shop (part no. 70-8590). To do this, you just take the bare wires of the new deck's harness and connect to the bare wires of the Metra Harness using barrell connectors, this leaves you with a plug on each end.
6. Plug one end of the harness to the car and the other to your new deck.
7. Using an antenna adaptor (also purchased at car stereo shop-part no. 40-NI10), snap it on the antenna lead in your car and connect to new deck.
8. Slide the new deck in until it clicks into the cage, and presto...drink a beer.

There is a little more to it than that, but with the aforementioned tips, you should be fine....

[jllphan]

oh yeah, just in case...

[camnipotent]

The deck will have instructions with it, so that should help. Also, you WILL need an antenna adapter. Guaranteed.

[TMac325is]

NICE! thanks for your help guys!

I'm probably going to go with buying an Alpine. but the problem is that it doesnt have mp3 playback, and i cant really fork over the dough for one that does.
But ill goto tweeter and bring home one of these: alpine, clarion, eclipse, or pioneer

[Kevin325i]

Oh yeah, one more thing. I got a newer deck from pioneer with a spinny dial for the volume. I HATE the spinner dial. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I think it's got crap in it, but if you've got an option of decks that are of equal quality and price, don't get one with a spin dial.

My $0.02
Kevin

[camnipotent]

How much are you willing to spend again? You should be just fine with $200. You could easily get a deck with MP3 playback. Keep checking around. You'll be glad you did.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-8sdAQL5B90L/c...1&avf=Y&search=

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-8sdAQL5B90L/c...1&avf=Y&search=

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-8sdAQL5B90L/c...1&avf=Y&search=

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-8sdAQL5B90L/c...1&avf=Y&search=

[TMac325is]

yeah, ive heard good things about Clarion

but i think im gonna go with an Alpine for $259.99
CDA9827

then ill get both of the Metra harness for $16.99 each

i have a bunch of hex keys but none are 8mm, so i gotta pick up one of those

ill see if i can have it installed by midnight, probably put up a pic when im done

[TMac325is]

quick question before i go out to buy it

does the battery have to be disconnected when im installing, or can i do it without that

just not turning the ignition?

[jllphan]

Originally posted by TMac325is@May 8 2004, 06:40 PM
quick question before i go out to buy it

does the battery have to be disconnected when im installing, or can i do it without that

just not turning the ignition?

As with any prudent person, I would recomend doing so...

but no you don't have to, the primary reason for doing so is to prevent damaging aspects of your electical system/audio system

Most of this is fused, so you won't be in danger, realistically only your speakers, and oem amp are in danger if you dont

BTW, dont forget your antenna adaptor as well i think the par no is 40-ni10

[TMac325is]

ok, the deck is in place, but I DID NOT USE the wires that came with the Alpine unit i installed

AND the didnt use a 2nd antenna wire

before i turn it on, is anyone sure if i did this right?

[jllphan]

Hang on dude, should be like this...


car harness plug--->metra harness--->Alpine harness--->Alpine deck

and you should need an antenna adaptor, the BMW lead will not plug into the Alpine deck.

[TMac325is]

ok, i got everything working now,

BUT

im having the same problem that somebody else had where the cd player doesnt have sound. i can hear it spinning, and the seconds are counting down, but i dont hear anything

otherwise the unit sounds great, but i really need to get the sound to work for the cds

[TMac325is]

there is one wire that was next to the antenna on the factory deck which wouldnt plug into anything on the Alpine deck, so it is sitting freely behind the new deck.

do you think that is what is causing the problem?

the AM/FM works though