DKSBMW 0 Report post Posted March 29, 2013 Okay here goes... I've had this car for a few months (2001 318i) and ever since I've had no radio. The original BMW Business CD was there, but when I took it out, it was without the harness and just loose wires (I got this car very cheap, but in mint condition minus the radio)... All speakers work, and am sure they are connected to built in amp (as I have seen the connection in the dash)... However, part of my upgrades include my own amp and subwoofers, so I will not need the built in amp. ---- THE QUESTION.... I want to wire an aftermarket stereo (a cheap sony xplod) however nothing that I have tried has gone right, and I'm hoping for some advice so I don't have to get this done in a shop. I have isolated the wires and so far know my ground is a thick brown wire, and power is possibly a red/green striped wire and/or purple/white striped wire. Can someone shed some light on whats going wrong? The xplod has the basic yellow, red and black wires, that are easy to wire in your average car, but this BMW has been seriously scratching my head. My fuses are fine, all checked (including the xplod's).... But no matter how I connect the wires (I'm doing it properly, with the plastic caps) the stereo just won't go. I have tried the same method with other car stereos and it just doesn't power them. What am I doing wrong? I am quite a noob to BMW, but I love them so please bare with my noobnis. I'm tired of having no music. Any help, links would be highly appreciated, if TL:DR I appreciate also Many thanks. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BM WORLD 1283 Report post Posted March 30, 2013 first check you have power at those wires using a test light or volt meter. you also need to supply power to the aerial amplier (thin white wire) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DKSBMW 0 Report post Posted March 30, 2013 first check you have power at those wires using a test light or volt meter. you also need to supply power to the aerial amplier (thin white wire) Mate, I couldn't thank you enough. You seriously saved me a tonne. Truely Appreciated. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rogan 7 Report post Posted March 30, 2013 Just connect up the earth, ignition, and battery leads. Your headunit shoulkd now power up. If it doesn't then either it's out to lunch or you've gopt fuse/harness problems. Once those three are hooked up and unit is working, then start wiring the rest I have isolated the wires and so far know my ground is a thick brown wire, and power is possibly a red/green striped wire and/or purple/white striped wire. Can someone shed some light on whats going wrong? The xplod has the basic yellow, red and black wires, that are easy to wire in your average car, but this BMW has been seriously scratching my head. My fuses are fine, all checked To be quite brutal, if this is as far as your diagnositc ability goes then take it to someone who knows what they're doing. No point blowing up something and being back at square one with a bigger job at hand. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Neal 545 Report post Posted March 31, 2013 (edited) Helpful link http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=245914 Body of posting has wiring colours / use. If you dropping after market speakers in the factory location use the mid bass wiring as it's a thicker gauge. Note the rear screen aerial is active and will need power to operate. It also has a diversity system which an after market head unit won't use ( helps with finge area reception) Also check out the metra brand which has some drop in harnesses depending on factory head unit. If you have a rear factory amp then it will become more complex as Bmw have sole rights to the tyco connector which covers the amp power , balanced inputs and speaker outputs. E.g no aftermarket looms with the tyco connector One thing to consider is if you have the factory 10 speaker amp / speaker setup it's probably better to run RCA from the Sony , convert to balanced audio via suitable box link or after market bass processor and feed it into the factory amp as it will have more power over all than the 12 watts rms per channel that the Sony has. Edited March 31, 2013 by Neal Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
btccm3 1 Report post Posted March 31, 2013 I'm one of those ppl in a shop that can do this for you but to be honest stereos are pretty easy. My advise to you would be to go on the 12volt.com website and look up your year/model of car and there will be a full color code key for you. If your e46 is a 318 I would be quite surprised if it has the factory amp setup as not many 318's do. you will def need at least a lead light and Brents advise about powering up the thin white is very true your radio reception will be total crap if its not connected to your remote output from the sony(blue wire) good luck. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
btccm3 1 Report post Posted March 31, 2013 (edited) I'm one of those ppl in a shop that can do this for you but to be honest stereos are pretty easy. My advise to you would be to go on the 12volt.com website and look up your year/model of car and there will be a full color code key for you. If your e46 is a 318 I would be quite surprised if it has the factory amp setup as not many 318's do. you will def need at least a lead light and Brents advise about powering up the thin white is very true your radio reception will be total crap if its not connected to your remote output from the sony(blue wire) good luck. here is the key for a 99 e46 im sure it will be the same Constant 12V+ Red/White Switched 12V+ Purple/White Ground Brown Illumination n/a Dimmer n/a Antenna Trigger White Antenna Rear Window, Diversity Front Speakers 5 1/4" Kick Panels Left Front (+) Yellow/Red Left Front (-) Brown/Orange Right Front (+) Black/Red Right Front (-) Brown/Orange Rear Speakers 4" Rear Deck Left Rear (+) Yellow/Black Left Rear (-) Black/Orange Right Rear (+) Blue/Black Right Rear (-) Brown/Orange please check by testing everything before making any connections as I'v found this site to sometimes be inaccurate however its more often than not bang on. Edited March 31, 2013 by btccm3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mossqua 0 Report post Posted April 1, 2013 (edited) Okay here goes... I've had this car for a few months (2001 318i) and ever since I've had no radio. The original BMW Business CD was there, but when I took it out, it was without the harness and just loose wires (I got this car very cheap, but in mint condition minus the radio)... All speakers for sale work, and am sure they are connected to built in amp (as I have seen the connection in the dash)... However, part of my upgrades include my own amp and subwoofers, so I will not need the built in amp. ---- THE QUESTION.... I want to wire an aftermarket stereo (a cheap sony xplod) however nothing that I have tried has gone right, and I'm hoping for some advice so I don't have to get this done in a shop. I have isolated the wires and so far know my ground is a thick brown wire, and power is possibly a red/green striped wire and/or purple/white striped wire. Can someone shed some light on whats going wrong? The xplod has the basic yellow, red and black wires, that are easy to wire in your average car, but this BMW has been seriously scratching my head. My fuses are fine, all checked (including the xplod's).... But no matter how I connect the wires (I'm doing it properly, with the plastic caps) the stereo just won't go. I have tried the same method with other car stereos and it just doesn't power them. What am I doing wrong? I am quite a noob to BMW, but I love them so please bare with my noobnis. I'm tired of having no music. Any help, links would be highly appreciated, if TL:DR I appreciate also Many thanks. Its not that big problem. You car facing power supply issues. Just check it and enjoy good music tracks Edited April 2, 2013 by Mossqua Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fryday13 0 Report post Posted July 23, 2013 My advise to you would be to go on the 12volt.com website and look up your year/model of car and there will be a full color code key for you. You Sir, are a god. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
