525i cd player install help!! - BMW Forum

jnstrcklnd · 09-19-2006, 10:23 PM

Hi guys! I am new here. I just bought a 1990 BMW 525i. And I want to install a cd player that I purchased into it. I bought the adapter, I had my original stereo reomved by BMW and am ready to go. The problem I have is that the connections to the radio and the connections on my adapter are completely different. Am I missing something? Please help. Thanks.

da_bull · 09-20-2006, 06:04 AM

Metra's part number (70-8590) should plug right into the factory harness. I have one in my car and it made for a 30 minute install. When you say "connections" are you talking about the wiring colors not being the same or the plastic molex plugs not matching?

jnstrcklnd · 09-22-2006, 12:49 AM

The molex plugs not matching. I have a pic of the back of the oem stereo, but I cant figure out to post it here in the reply.

da_bull · 09-22-2006, 06:32 AM

Host that picture on some sort of webspace (here in the vbgarage, photobucket.com etc, btw photobucket is easy to use and its free) Hit the "Go advanced" at the bottom of this page, you will see two rows of icons above where you type. The 14th icon on the bottom row says insert image, you can copy/paste the URL (the whole http://www.picturepage.com/mybmwmolexplug.jpg thing) in there and it will show up. Hope that helps and

to the forum btw...

jnstrcklnd · 09-22-2006, 04:23 PM

Thank you. I posted the pic in vgarage.

I hope you can help, I would really like to install me cd player, Im watching an oem changer on ebay. That may be my next step. Thanks for your help.

da_bull · 09-22-2006, 09:49 PM

I just see a red x, but I went to your vbgarage. You have the older harness for some reason (88-down 5 series). You can use one of these for the speakers only: http://www.crutchfield.com/S-pNPqELa...sp?i=120701693 and splice the power wires. Does your car have a "dial" style fader on the dash or center console? You dont have to use those adapters, this wiring is pretty easy. Just holler with the colors in your dash, I can walk you through it.

jnstrcklnd · 09-23-2006, 09:29 PM

Really? I will check it out tonight and get back to you with the colors etc... I have a factory amplifier, can that still be used? Also, the fade, I dont have one on the center console. I REALLY appreciate your help.

da_bull · 09-23-2006, 10:50 PM

Yeha actually it works rather well using the factory amp. Just lemme know when you get all the colors etc.

jnstrcklnd · 09-25-2006, 05:34 PM

OK, finally got the colors for you. If you need me to take a pic, I will.
1 Yellow and 1 white wire to small grey plug.
1 yellow wire to white circle plug.
1 blue wire to black circle plug.
1 White, single, by itself,
1 white w/ purple stripe and 1 brown to black square plug.
1 yellow with black stripe and 1 blue with black stripe to black rectangle plug.
2 orange and brown to ground on back of radio.

Ok, there you have it. I have a sony cd player with the red, yellow, black, blue, grey, whit, purple, green wires. I know what they are.
Am I going to have to hack my factory harness up?

da_bull · 09-25-2006, 07:26 PM

Unfortunately yes, they dont make a harness for that one.

Ok, here we go...

Grey plug 2-pin: Yellow I believe is memory (to yellow on Sony) and the white is the dimmer (not used)
Yellow circle: Right channel positive (to Sony solid gray)
Blue circle: Left channel positive (to Sony Solid White)
Yellow/Blk: Right rear positive (Sony solid purple)
Blu/Blk: Left rear positive (Sony solid green)

The black striped ones from the Sony arent used in this configuration but tape them off well, because if they touch something the could still damage your headunit.

Single White (if it has a really small female spade): remote turn on for factory amp (to Sony Blue/White, or one labeled amp remote, not power ant)

I believe the White/Purple is 12V for the key, look really close on the factory radio it should say 12V+ or something (red on Sony)

The brown ones are ground (black on Sony)

If you cant get it from there, if you can post a picture of those remaining plugs I can probably decipher them by their pin position. Hope that helps...

Bill

jnstrcklnd · 09-25-2006, 07:43 PM

Wow, sounds like it just might work. I printed off your instructions and am going to attempt sometime later tonight. I REALLY appreciate all of your help and I will keep you updated and send you pics if I can t figure it out. But with your instructionsd it seems pretty straight-forward.

da_bull · 09-26-2006, 06:06 AM

If you have a voltmeter or test light, I would feel better if you could verify the 12v wires before hooking your radio to them.

jnstrcklnd · 09-26-2006, 03:46 PM

The radip tells me which one the 12v is... I havent had a chance to check it, but I will. I do have a test light so, I will double check everything.

da_bull · 09-26-2006, 09:06 PM

I thought those radios denoted a couple of the wires on there. Its always best to double check, even though you think everything is right on the money, its a lot less expensive (15 minutes of your free time vs. a $250 radio

)

Most ground icons are similar to this:

jnstrcklnd · 09-27-2006, 01:43 AM

da bull, I really appreciate your help. I followed your instructions and my cd player works great! I cant express enough how greatful I am. Maybe you can post a "How To" for fellow Bimmer owners. Thanks again!!!