1989 Original Stereo - which wires are which?

Post Mon Sep 05, 2011 2:26 am

Hi all, I have a 1989 bmw 316i and its never had an aftermarket stereo in it so it still has the old pioneer cassette player/radio in it. However I would like to put my aftermarket stereo in and take the old stock stereo out. The only problem is I dont know where the wires go? Does anyone have a wire diagram?

Thanks.

Ryan.

title edited by skip

Post Mon Sep 05, 2011 8:49 am

right, you have two sets of wires going to the rear, left rear will be yellow/brown and yellow/black and the right will be blue/brown and blue black, I believe that front speakers are green and another colour, been a while since i changed my stereo over, if you want i could probably pull mine out and have a look what the fronts are for you.

Post Mon Sep 05, 2011 9:34 pm

Yeah that would be great mate if you could do that. I will take a picture of the wires I have and where the wires connect to the cage and bmw connector. Do you also know what iso connector I would need because I can get them off ebay but dont know what one I need because theres loads and if I get one then I wont have to cut the wires.

Thanks mate.

Ryan.

Post Mon Sep 05, 2011 10:22 pm

stokiedundee wrote:Hi all, I have a far-too-big avatar and it's throwing the whole page out. can anyone help me out here please?

Thanks.

Ryan.

Post Mon Sep 05, 2011 10:28 pm

Boom! Goodbye avatar...

Post Tue Sep 06, 2011 6:40 am

As far as I am aware there are no iso connectors for the e30. However what I did and what might work for you is I used spade connectors and that way you can remove the stereo when you need. That was my way around it all. I believe that would be the best. I've done complete strip and reinstalls of new stereos in 15 minutes that way.

Post Tue Sep 06, 2011 11:05 am

Yeah I dont think there are any mate. I looked on ebay and I only found them for the e36 and that but none for the e30. I really dont know how to wire my new head unit up to the bmw wiring so I think I'll have to get my mate to do it across the road. I have no idea!

Thanks for your help though mate.

Ryan.

Post Tue Sep 06, 2011 12:13 pm

Hey mate, I'll rip out in the morning and pull a couple of photos out for you, i might even get around to writing up a bit of a how too on an install for you if you really liked? It wouldnt take me very long and i need to work on some wiring issues in my car tomorrow anyways, could even go through and scan diagrams lol, been a bit busy with school tho. got a bit of time off tomorrow so if your willing to say give it a go, ill be more then greatful to help you mate.

Post Tue Sep 06, 2011 10:30 pm

Yeah mate, that would be great/nice of you. I will take a couple of photos of my wiring aswell and upload the link to them on here in the morning. Thanks mate.

Ryan.

Post Wed Sep 07, 2011 7:34 am

Hey there mate,
I'm just going to make up a photobucket album and link everything to there so you have a whole heap of pictures, I have got all the wires and everything written down for you as well. So hang with me a few minutes and ill see what i can do for you (:

Post Wed Sep 07, 2011 8:42 am

Alright there (:,
Begin by removing your original stereo, this is done by inserting the
removal tools *which hopefully come with your new aftermarket stereo* you should end up with something along the lines of:

Please Note: The green and red wire provides 12v power to your aftermarket headunit the brown wire is the ground. Accessory wires I cannot see on this photo. however can be tested with a multimeter and the key in the ignition, it will be 12v with the acc on and without it will be 0 the green/red wire will be live (12v) at all times.
To check this you ground one pin (negative) of the multimetre to a chassis attatchment and then the positive pin of the multimetre to the wire.
At this time i would suggest, with your own choices in mind, that low oxygen speaker cabling for the fronts would help, its easier to determine your front and rear speakers. However the choice is yours.
At this stage move to your glovebox and remove the cover for your wiring. should look like this

Post Wed Sep 07, 2011 9:10 am

To determine what colour your front speaker wires are i suggest you pull out your foot well grilles and check the wires. Pretty sure they are the same as the rears however.
To check the rears either remove the speakers from the top or check:

For the right or:

Break out this equipment:

and with this preceed to crimp connectors onto all of your wires which come out of the back of your stereo.
at this time, it would be worthwhile to mention that whilst most stereo's are adequetly protected by the cars current fuse, i often run an inline fuse in with it as well.
start by connecting your power and ground wires, if you reconnect the battery at this time you should have power, however using the wires you found with the multimetre to be the ACC wire connect the two, now reconnect your battery and check to see if your stereo will connect at this time, please remember that you must press the ON button on your new stereo.
Once you have found these, wires, the remaining wires will all be related to your current stereo, connect up your back wires which where found through removal or checking of your rear speakers, by process of elimination find out the front wires. OR use the new wires you have ran. Reconnect your battery and try out your new stereo! Remember to check all your speakers before you reinsert your stereo.
This should be what your finished project looks like (:

Enjoy the uprated sound quality of your cars system (:

Post Wed Sep 07, 2011 4:56 pm

Hi mate thanks for all the help but I really dont think I would be able to wire my new stereo up as I am electrophobe!!!! (dont have much confidence in doing it). Where do you live? Would it be ok if I drove to you and let you wire it for me and I would pay you a tenner? Let me know mate. Anyway heres the direct link below to the pictures of the wires that I have. I forgot to take pics of the wires under the glove box but they will be the same as yours I'm sure.

Ryan.

Pic 1 is my aftermarket stereo's iso connector and wires.

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc4 ... 011154.jpg

pic 2 is the wires from my e30

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc4 ... 011149.jpg

pic 3 is the wires from my e30 going to its old original pioneer cassette unit.

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc4 ... 011147.jpg

Post Thu Sep 08, 2011 1:57 am

Hey mate I'm in Australia so I don't think thats a drivable distance :p
When I get home I'll see what I can do in relation to matching up wires
And getting a wiring diagram drawn up for you. I used to be an electrophorbe
Too! I gave this a go when I first brought my car and have gotten used
To shoddy BMW electrics since then haha (:

Post Thu Sep 08, 2011 3:58 am

stokiedundee don't be a big girl. harrysal has put all the effort possible into this thread and I damn want you to fit this stereo. Photos of this in and on by next Sunday 12 noon on the dot.

Post Thu Sep 08, 2011 1:38 pm

Thanks mate, that will be nice of you. And then I think I will give it a try and see how I go on, whats the worst that could happen!!!!!

Ryan.