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Installing Aftermarket Headunit (Alpine)/XM receiver/Alpine IPOD interface

Author : stoneweed1 Posted on : 29/10/2004
Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E46) 1998+ Category : Electrical - Radio
Source : http://www.e46fanatics.com
 
I wanted the capability of MP3 that had a decent Folder Browsing capability on the headunit along with an XM receiver that I could control from the headunit (I didn’t want an extra gadget (Delphi) hanging around). Additionally I wanted the capability of adding an IPOD and controlling it from my headunit. The only choice I had was an Alpine Headunit. I pulled the 9811 Alpine HU out of my other car and self-installed it. The newer alpine headunits have better displays, but I didn’t want to buy another one just yet. So far this one is adequate.

The plan is to install the XM receiver in the driverside trunk near the Factory Amp and the IPOD interface under the front passenger seat. The AI-Net cable will run from the XM receiver in the trunk to the headunit. The XM receiver has another AI-Net input that will run from the XM receiver to the IPOD interface that I will install under the front passenger seat. The XM Antennae will be placed on the middle of the inside rear deck just in the front of the rear window. The XM Antennae wire will run to the XM receiver in the trunk.

Since the Alpine Headunit will be controlling the IPOD, I want the IPOD to be invisible from theft, so the IPOD will be placed in the covered shelf under the Climate Control. The wire supplied by the Alpine Interface Unit will connect from IPOD (hidden in the shelf) to the IPOD interface under the front passenger seat.

I bought the harness and antenna adapter from Circuit City. The adapter from circuit city was better than the one Tweeter was selling. You will also need a trim piece for the aftermarket headunit.
I also bought some Industrial Strength Velcro (Walmart Fabric Dept)


To pull out the trim, I pried out the trim starting at the far right. I used a glove to protect from scratching the trim.



Pull out the screws on the side of the Headunit, and pull out the headunit
Pull out the antennae plug and the harness


Connect the Alpine Harness to the car’s harness. Note, I had to switch the two blue wires because they weren’t properly wired. Otherwise you won’t get sound


Now, I need to run the AI-Net cable from the trunk to the headunit
So, the plastic piece on the driverside trunk will be removed and the grey trunk siding will be removed


Pull out the two black tabs on the side and pull out the grey side piece
On the plastic try undo the two screws and pull out the tray


In the passenger rear seat, pull out the seat by pulling up on each side of the seat. It should easily pull out without difficulty. The side leather piece will need to be removed as well to run the AI-Net cable. Pull from the top of the piece and remove


Run the AI-Net cable to the trunk from the rear seat through this soft foam grommet


The AI-Net cable on the other side (in the trunk)


Next, I’ll be running the XM antennae from inside the rear window to the trunk.
The XM Antennae wire will run to the XM receiver in the trunk following the same path as the AI-Net cable through the foam grommet to the trunk. The antennae wires will be hidden between the rear window and the rear deck panel as it runs to the driver’s side heading to the foam grommet.


Next the AI-Net cable will run down the side panel heading to the front of the car ultimately connecting to the headunit. It can easily be slipped up against the plastic panels without having to remove the panels.

Remove these screws and take out this panel by disconnecting the connectors. under the steering wheel.


Continue to run the AI-Net cable


The AI-Net cable will need to be pulled from the gas pedal to the Headunit . I used a flexible Plastic piece that I attached to the AI-Net cable then pulled it to the headunit area without difficulty


work the AI-Net cable from the gas pedal area to the headunit


Pull up and out on the vents above the headunit area with some zeal to remove them


Anchor the vent away from the headunit area, and move the headunit connector to the inside left of the vent area.


Attached the alpine harness to the factory harness and attach the antennae adaptor


Connect the Headunit and slide it into the bay
This is the tricky and frustrating part because the area is extremely tight. Notice how I have the factory harness piece on the left side of the vent to provide more room. The possibility exists to place the factore harness piece under the headunit instead on the top vent area as I did.


Replace the screws, trim, vents


I installed the XM receiver in the trunk to the side of the amplifier. I used Velcro and some new filter piece from my home AC unit and tightly fit it in the available space. I used some plastic wire protectors around the thin XM antennae wire.

The AI-net wire attached to XM receiver and there are separate ground wire and battery wire which i connected as well.


So far the XM receiver has been connected to the new Alpine Headunit

Now for the IPOD….

Remove the stick shifter trim device by pressing the two sides together and lift up. Two screws will be revealed and remove the screws and pull up on the center console where the windows buttons are. Remove the connectors underneath the trim pieces. Now you’ll see the lower ashtray screws which need to be removed. Next pull up on the compartment above the Heated Seats/DSC/Stereo button by opening the compartment and applying upward pressure while pulling out. The tray compartment will pop out.


This compartment is where I want to hide my IPOD, so I’ll need the IPOD wire that connects to the IPOD interface to connect to my IPOD here.

With a screwdriver, I can pull up on the compartment and allow the IPOD wire to slip under through an opening as pictured.


This IPOD wire needs to run behind the dash and under the shifter and then needs to come out from the side passenger front (near the shifter) and under along the carpet and then under the passenger seat to where the IPOD interface unit will be installed. The wire will be tucked and hidden as its run. The trim can be worked so that an opening is created for the wire to get through the side trim near the shifter.


Run the wire along side the carpet and under the seat rail.


I’ve placed heavy duty Velcro under the IPOD interface and on the carpet and positioned the Alpine IPOD interface under the front passenger seat. The IPOD wire will connect here. On the opposite side an AI-net Connector wire will run from the IPOD interface to the XM receiver input in the trunk.


From the trunk run the AI-Net cable which will connect to the red Velcro strapped XM receiver. The other end of the AI-Net cable will run to the underneath of the front passenger seat by going through the grommet, under the rear seats, and then tucking under the trim, the wire runs to underneath the front passenger seat where the Alpine IPOD interface will reside.



Continue running the AI-Net wire to the passenger front seat


Put back together the front trim pieces and connect the AI-net/IPOD cables
 

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Click on the thumbnails to see larger images.

 

References

  • http://www.e46fanatics.com
    •  


    Stereo - Radio Alone
    Model : BMW, 5 - Series (E34) 1989-96 Category : Electrical - Radio
    ... lock. Then connect the Head unit harness from Circuit City to the head unit. Then connect the antenna adapter to the antenna and the head unit. Slide it in, connect the battery; you should now be able to enjoy your new head unit. Method 2 only: 4. Please do not cut off the BMW’s original wiring to splice in the connections, its much better to just buy the harness and leave BMW’s wiring ... (more)
    Posted : 9 December 2004 Author : Anton Ch.
     
    BMW Stereo
    Model : BMW, 5 - Series (E34) 1989-96 Category : Electrical - Radio
    ... the amp and then 10 crossed over signals come out of the amp for the speakers. Antenna system (from antennaworld.com) All newer BMWs have the in-glass electronic systems by Fuba. The following information applies to these cars as follows: E31 - E32 - E34 - E36 and up These cars have 2 or 3 antennas in the rear glass, including one which is the defroster wires, all embedded or printed on the ... (more)
    Posted : 9 December 2004 Author : Tim T.& Peter W.
     
    Stereo - Subwoofer
    Model : BMW, 5 - Series (E34) 1989-96, M5 Category : Electrical - Radio
    ... Blue/Violet (Blue/Black) Rear Right (-): Blue/Grey (Blue or Brn/Orange) 5. You might need to strip some of the factory harness tape to allow enough play in the factory wiring to attach the big wire taps (or the splice). 6. You can use a short piece (around 8") of Left/Right RCA wire (RCA cable with individually insulated +/- wires as opposed to an RCA with the ground shield woven around the ... (more)
    Posted : 9 December 2004 Author : Derek I.
     
    BMW Radio Head Unit Installation
    Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Electrical - Radio
    ... break it. In order to install your new radio, you will need a BMW cable adapter (Figure 9). This adapter plugs into the factory connector and has leads on it that you can then connect to the leads or connector on your new radio (Figure 10). You can cut the OEM connector off and tap directly into the factory harness, but I strongly caution against this - it's best to use the adapter cable (cost ... (more)
    Posted : 18 May 2005  
     
    Headunit Replacement
    Model : BMW, 3 - Series (E36) 1991-99 Category : Electrical - Radio
    ... it. The wiring harness was a little difficult on mine, couldn't figure how to get it off. There is a small diagram etched into the end of the wiring harness (on the black plastic, you will be able to tell when you get the HU out). It shows that you should simply pull up on the black plastic and you're done. Mine wasn't just like that... You do pull up on the black plastic, but the top ... (more)
    Posted : 18 May 2005  
     
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