stereo wiring help

[sadham]

Hi,

could anyone tell me if these wires look right. One looks like its cut so any help on understanding what I'm looking at would be appreciated. My stereo (stock) doesn't seem to work, display just lights up orange but nothing written on it and doesn't do anything.

[Brianmoooore]

The two parallel twin wires are the speaker cables (presumably no rear speakers), and appear to be fitted with mini DIN speaker plugs.
The round black wire is the aerial, and the bound loom is the standard item, which plugs into the accessories socket behind the glovebox. The termination of these wires look like they could do with some attention, but brown = earth, grey/red = supply for the radios panel lamps, white/purple is a 12 volt ignition switched supply intended as the radio's main power feed, and red/green is a permanent 12 volt supply intended as the radio's memory supply.

[sadham]

From looking at the images would you know what would be causing my stereo to stay on (just display lit up) when key isn't even in the ignition?

[BenHar]

The answer to that is in Brian's reply.

and red/green is a permanent 12 volt supply .

Ben

[Brianmoooore]

There's no stereo connected up in the pics., so the short answer is no, BUT, if the stereo is connected as BMW is intended (rarely happens), then the knobs should be back lit when the lights are on, irrespective as to whether the stereo is turned on.
Again, if connected as BMW intended, the stereo should only work when the ignition is on, but I, and I suspect many others, rewire it so that it can be listened to with the ignition off and the car parked.
An automatic electric aerial was available for saloons and cabs., and stereos for these have an extra wire coming from them, connected after the on/off switch. This wire provides a signal for the aerial to extend, and can also be used to turn on auxiliary amps.
If the stereo is connected wrongly, with a live power feed (the red/green) connected to this wire, the stereo will be permanently on.

[BenHar]

Just a slight correction to that. The stereo should only work when the ignition switch is on or in the accessories position (first click).

Ben

[sadham]

Sorry for sounding thick but do you know what I would need to do to stop it from staying on when key isn't in the ignition?

[sadham]

Is there a diagram or write up of some sort to show how it should all be connected the way BMW intended?

[Brianmoooore]

I've already said in a post above what the four wires in the BMW loom are for, but there's no possible way anyone can tell you what to connect each one to without knowing the wiring connections for whatever stereo you have.