Aftermarket Amp Install Nightmare

[moon]

Radio: 02 factory radio w/o nav, w/o DSP. I do have a business CD upfront.
It seems like the basic set-up.

Problem: My aftermarket amp has RCA inputs only. I've got all other connections ie power, ground, remote, speakers working. When i plug my mp3 player into the amp's input it works great. I need to connect into the factory's signal. I found this http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=fljb-VfTLlo on google which says to use the sub connection in the right panel of the trunk. None of the wires in that panel match the directions. I did find an unused connection labeled AMP.

My factory amp lives in the left panel of my trunk but it has a lot of wires plugged into it. It also has 8 pairs with each pair twisted together. The following links did not clear anything up for me.
http://www.x5world.com/articles/x5/s...ctory-amp.html

http://www.x5world.com/articles/x5/s...formation.html

Please help.

[richirich]

Follow this link and these directions....This will do you just fine......

http://www.bavariansoundwerks.com/pr...lyingleads.pdf

There is one caveat...........you have to but a converter - speaker to 2 channel or 4 channel line output converter.....something like this!!

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-NQNAYIj...aspx?I=142SLC4

Doesn't have to be this one specifically but this will give you an idea.....

Enjoy!! Post some pics when the install is complete!!

RR

[inky]

I tried to work with the stock wiring in my 2001 X and none of the wiring diagrams matched up with what was actually in my car so I scrapped the whole thing and broke down and got a Kenwood double din touch screen and have never been happier! trying to deal with line converters and such really starts to degrade the sound quality and also factoring in the aftermarket decks ability to do more just ends up making it a sound choice to go with an aftermarket head unit.I now have CD, DVD video, USB input(flash drive music storage), satellite music, plus options for GPS nav and rear view camera plus bluetooth all while keeping the steering wheel controls functional. It even lights up red at night just like the rest of the dash controls. If you can scrape together a little more green and go with the aftermarket headunit.

[BlackE32_SilverE53]

I agree with Inky, going with aftermarket is great, I installed my Alpine IVA-D901 and have full steering wheel control functions with the exception of my choice in iPod controllers. I went with the iPod video adapter which does not work that great with the iPhone. It only displays video when using the 5th generation iPods and my steering wheel controls do not work with the iPhone and I have a feeling it will not work with the new iPod classic, I have only tested it with the 5th generation and all is well with that unit.

Yes you have greater flexibility to add all your toys for less than you would have to shell out for the BMW system. You do loose a few small extra bonuses (like the text in the information window) but the gain may be much better.

[CharlieHustleX5]

You need to get yourself a line output converter or a line driver. That will let you convert the current signal your BMW factory tuner/amp produces into RCA Preouts.

Here are the wires you can tap into when installing a line driver or line output converter. They will be twisted together in pairs as they route into the connector.:

Front Left: (-) Blue/Brown (+) Blue/White
Front Right: (-) Blue/Brown (+) Blue/Red

Rear Left: (-) Brown (+) Yellow
Rear Right: (-) Brown (+) Blue

You will find these wires at the radio amp/Module found in the drivers side rear trunk area, behind the compartment door to access the tail lamp.

[moon]

Thanks to all that provided input on my problem. I did pick up that line converter from Crutchfield. I figured if that didn't solve my problem then I would scrap the whole thing and go with an aftermarket head unit. I followed the input wire connections found on the pdf link provided by richirich (my hero) and it works. I have an Alpine 5 channel amp feeding into a 350w JL 12” sub & a 350w Zeus 12” sub. The amp is bridged so I’m feeding about 200w into the 12’s. I’m about to replace the amp with
http://cgi.ebay.com/ALPINE-MRD-F752-Amp-Amplifier-RARE-5-ch-Tripath_W0QQitemZ290255871107QQihZ019QQcategoryZ18 795QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
which will put out about 300w X 3 bridged into the 12’s. I am also going to replace the 12” Zeus with 2-350w JL 12” subs for a total of 3-350w 12” JL subs. The current configuration sounds awesome in sync with the factory system. It’s true that you never know what was missing until you add an amp and a sub into the mix. I thought the sound system was fine before but now I’ll never go back. I will post pictures of the project as soon as I can.

My next project is adding an aux input to the factory head unit. I want to be able to connect any mp3 player with a headphone jack to it. I haven’t looked thru the forum yet but if anyone has any advice, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again.

[richirich]

Originally Posted by moon

Thanks to all that provided input on my problem. I did pick up that line converter from Crutchfield. I figured if that didn't solve my problem then I would scrap the whole thing and go with an aftermarket head unit. I followed the input wire connections found on the pdf link provided by richirich (my hero) and it works. I have an Alpine 5 channel amp feeding into a 350w JL 12” sub & a 350w Zeus 12” sub. The amp is bridged so I’m feeding about 200w into the 12’s. I’m about to replace the amp with
http://cgi.ebay.com/ALPINE-MRD-F752-Amp-Amplifier-RARE-5-ch-Tripath_W0QQitemZ290255871107QQihZ019QQcategoryZ18 795QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
which will put out about 300w X 3 bridged into the 12’s. I am also going to replace the 12” Zeus with 2-350w JL 12” subs for a total of 3-350w 12” JL subs. The current configuration sounds awesome in sync with the factory system. It’s true that you never know what was missing until you add an amp and a sub into the mix. I thought the sound system was fine before but now I’ll never go back. I will post pictures of the project as soon as I can.

My next project is adding an aux input to the factory head unit. I want to be able to connect any mp3 player with a headphone jack to it. I haven’t looked thru the forum yet but if anyone has any advice, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again.

Very Glad to hear it all worked out!

RR