89' BMW Stereo Install

[skrilla22 10+ year member]

Ok i'm trying to install my buddys pioneer head unit in his car. He has a 1989 BMW 525i. He used to have an old blaupunkt in there but he spilled coffee on it so he asked me to change it out for him. When i took out the blaupunkt, i noticed that the colors for the bmw are a lot different. So what im trying to figure out is what colors are which so i can connect the right ones and hardwire them together. The harness on the pioneer have colors that are totally different than in the BMW.

I tried looking for wiring diagrams, such as the12volt but have had no luck. Does anyone know where to get some information on this i am stuck.

So far i have - (via http://www.the12volt.com)

White/Purple - 12v

Brown - Ground

thats it.. any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

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[skrilla22 10+ year member]

Anybody? I'm in dire need //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

 

[Goindef154 5,000+ posts]

With something like a BMW, I really think you need to get a wiring harness instead of hard wiring.

 

[Fear Of Theive 10+ year member]

Hey skirlla22,Hope it works out for you man.

 

[skrilla22 10+ year member]

With something like a BMW, I really think you need to get a wiring harness instead of hard wiring.

I tried to, i went to car toys and they said they do not make wiring harnesses for BMW. is he full of shit?

thanks fear.

 

[Goindef154 5,000+ posts]

Here's one on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Car-Radio-Wiring-Wire-BMW-525-86-87-88-89-90-91-92_W0QQitemZ120230680758QQihZ002QQcategoryZ32812QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247

 

[blazeplacid 10+ year member]

i THINK i have a wiring harness at home

does the car still have the factory harness?

if not you can google the "89 bmw 525 radio code"

i ha an e30 and it was a ***** to do anything in it

 

[liqdfire4755 10+ year member]

use a dmm and meter your wires to find the right ones. and i know best buy sells them because i do installs there. i think it uses the volkswagen harness

 

[blazeplacid 10+ year member]

the one in the ebay link is the one i have

 

[skrilla22 10+ year member]

Checked BB as well as car toys. I forgot to mention the person who installed the stereo before me cut the factory wiring harness.

 

[crx4luke 10+ year member]

There isn't an aftermarket harness for those old bmws. plus, most of those were either amped or common ground. Typically the blue wires twisted together are the left, and the yellow wires are the right. (maybe the other way around, but i'm pretty sure i have it right) Sometimes too there is a fader switch right above the radio in those. If that is the case then you can usually just hook up the front speaker wires to the input on the fader switch and go from there.

Those cars ar a pain, good luck.

 

[SRim23 5,000+ posts]

Checked BB as well as car toys. I forgot to mention the person who installed the stereo before me cut the factory wiring harness.

buy the harness for a reference then return it when ur done.

 

[Fiercetimbo17 10+ year member]

if there was an aftermarket in there use its harness to identify the wire colors..

 

[D_Jack 10+ year member]

its probably common ground.. either way if it were me i would just run new speaker wire to all the speakers.

 

[BobbyDD 10+ year member]

I've never even seen an 89 foot BMW.