amplifier upgrade (HELP)

[m3f_storm31707]

hey can I use factory wiring for after market 500W amp???? if anyone has diagram for after market to fit into factory wiring system. Thank you!!!

[m3f_97BLKM3COUPE]

That is a negative. If the amp is a real 500 watt amp, you want to run power wires to the battery and ground to the car, or to the battery if it is close enough.



You can however, use the factory wiring for the signal and turn on lead. However, the weakest link in the E36 stereo is the factory head unit. So if you are replacing that, then just run some new RCA's for signal as it is the best way.

[m3f_storm31707]

thank you very much!!!! this helped lotz!!! one more question---

can I just use factory wiring then using RCA??? I think all the m3 e36 comes with battery in the back... right? well at least mine is....you mean wiring ground directly to battery?? is it okay to do that???

That is a negative. If the amp is a real 500 watt amp, you want to run power wires to the battery and ground to the car, or to the battery if it is close enough.



You can however, use the factory wiring for the signal and turn on lead. However, the weakest link in the E36 stereo is the factory head unit. So if you are replacing that, then just run some new RCA's for signal as it is the best way.

[m3f_97BLKM3COUPE]

Nor really sure of your question. Yes, most E36's have the battery in the back and if your amp is close to it, you can wire directly into it. However, it is usually easier to just ground to a clean nearby bolt maybe near the factory amp.



RCA's are the cables used to carry the audio signal from the head unit to the amp, do you have the factory head unit or an aftermarket head unit? There are a lot of questions here. If you are using the factory head unit and just want to tap into the signal for some subs, that would work as well.



Feeling generous today. Here you go, use the plug at the bottom of the picture. It will match up with the plug going into the amp in the trunk of your car (assuming that is where it is on your car).



Pins 5 & 6 and 11 & 12 will work for a subwoofer amp signal from the factory headunit.

[m3f_ICE99M3]

thank you very much!!!! this helped lotz!!! one more question---

can I just use factory wiring then using RCA??? I think all the m3 e36 comes with battery in the back... right? well at least mine is....you mean wiring ground directly to battery?? is it okay to do that???

You have to keep your stock amp in its place...to wire in a aftermarket amp along with your stock amp you must first have an aftermarket amp that can use stereo level input instead of RCA input (my kenwood had both and i figured all this out one day just messing around). So all you need to do is wire up your positive and negative cables directly to your battery. Then wire up your remote cable (usually blue to tell your amp when to turn on) to the right stock wire in the harness that turns on your stock amp (the white cable in the harness). After this use the harness that came with your aftermarket amp to connect to the right and left, positive and negative of the rear woofers (shown also in the harness diagram). I would provide pictures of all this but i am at school in dayton and my car is sitting back at home in toledo. Basically if you want to keep the stock headunit look (like I did) you need to get an amp with stereo level inputs. It wont be as good as a new headunit but you can still adjust bass level right with the mode button (just like stock only with more thump). Otherwise the easiest way to accomplish things without trying to find colors in a twisted mess of wires is to go with an aftermarket headunit. Also this was all typed pretty fast and may be hard to follow.

P.S. Stock amp is located on the drivers side behind the rear seat. You must remove the plastic covering the rear light bulbs to pull down the cover over the amp.



The concept of this took awhile and a few headaches but actual work was only like 20 mins. Let me know if you have any questions

[m3f_storm31707]

Hey Thanks to you!!! wow!! I was aware of the stuff little but wasn't sure about the information.

Nor really sure of your question. Yes, most E36's have the battery in the back and if your amp is close to it, you can wire directly into it. However, it is usually easier to just ground to a clean nearby bolt maybe near the factory amp.



RCA's are the cables used to carry the audio signal from the head unit to the amp, do you have the factory head unit or an aftermarket head unit? There are a lot of questions here. If you are using the factory head unit and just want to tap into the signal for some subs, that would work as well.



Feeling generous today. Here you go, use the plug at the bottom of the picture. It will match up with the plug going into the amp in the trunk of your car (assuming that is where it is on your car).



Pins 5 & 6 and 11 & 12 will work for a subwoofer amp signal from the factory headunit.

[m3f_storm31707]

I have sony cdx-f7000 mp3 HU and new 4 channel 500W amp. I prefer to use factory wire for outlet for speakers, input of 4 channel and remote turn on. So I should have 8 gauge wires with 60a fuse for powers and ground directly to battery??(wasn't really sure about wiring ground directly to battery, and thanks for the tip) Is this right for the power? and continue with connecting RCA or factory 4ch input to amplifier. remote turn on for white color wire, and wire output to these following wires Front Right Tweets attach to (blue/black +) and (blue/brown -), Front Left Tweets attach to (yellow/black +) and (yellow/brown -), Front Right Woofers attach to (blue/red +) and (blue/brown -), Front Left Woofers attach to (blue/white +) and (blue/brown -), Rear Right Tweets attach to (blue/black +) and (blue/brown -), Rear Left Tweets attach to (yellow/black +) and (yellow/brown -),Rear Right Woofers attach to (blue/violet +) and (blue/grey -), Rear Left Woofers attach to (yellow/gray +) and (yellow/black -). Then this should work perfectly? or is there things you want add?

Also Do I need to keep my factory wire if I do this like this? And which would you prefer RCA cable or Audio input? Thank you very much for helping and reading my stuff!!! Thanks!!!

You have to keep your stock amp in its place...to wire in a aftermarket amp along with your stock amp you must first have an aftermarket amp that can use stereo level input instead of RCA input (my kenwood had both and i figured all this out one day just messing around). So all you need to do is wire up your positive and negative cables directly to your battery. Then wire up your remote cable (usually blue to tell your amp when to turn on) to the right stock wire in the harness that turns on your stock amp (the white cable in the harness). After this use the harness that came with your aftermarket amp to connect to the right and left, positive and negative of the rear woofers (shown also in the harness diagram). I would provide pictures of all this but i am at school in dayton and my car is sitting back at home in toledo. Basically if you want to keep the stock headunit look (like I did) you need to get an amp with stereo level inputs. It wont be as good as a new headunit but you can still adjust bass level right with the mode button (just like stock only with more thump). Otherwise the easiest way to accomplish things without trying to find colors in a twisted mess of wires is to go with an aftermarket headunit. Also this was all typed pretty fast and may be hard to follow.

P.S. Stock amp is located on the drivers side behind the rear seat. You must remove the plastic covering the rear light bulbs to pull down the cover over the amp.



The concept of this took awhile and a few headaches but actual work was only like 20 mins. Let me know if you have any questions

[m3f_Purple99M3]

in all honesty.. i think its best if you just rewire the car.. its really not that bad.. i rewired from front to rear with new wires and rca's and it seems that if i wouldn't have it probably wouldn't have been as clean.. just rip up the center console and the rear seat and send it through there... then there is a hole behind the bolster to send all wires through which is located right near the factory amp location.. i would just do it right if your going to do it.. no sense doing a half a$$ job.. oh and do you already have aftermarket speakers? if not.. prepair to blow them.. lol

[m3f_ICE99M3]

Yea you can wire directly to the battery because its so close to your amp...usually they say to ground to a bare metal body place but this is because you shouldnt have a really long ground cable. Alex, this really isnt a half a$$ job no extra power is sent through the stock amp...it just uses the signals from it. Nothing would be hurt by doing a setup this way...



Now I used this method to wire in two subs for a while (ended up sliding around so i took em out) I wouldnt use this if your looking to add more power to your stock speakers...



I would prefer using RCA with the cleaner sound and easier hookup (amps with stereo level input are few to be found). And now that I see you have a aftermarket headunit i would probably go with the RCA hookup....



Just my input....

[m3f_M-avant]

you should invest in a wiring harness for your head unit install. IIRC Metra makes one for our cars. you can wire the amp outputs into the harness - instead of the HU speaker outputs. with the use of the harness - you can go back to stock w/o issues, just unplug.