Aftermarket Head Unit install question

[m3f_ggabriele3]

I'm about to wire up an aftermarket Pioneer head unit. I have read the threads about the blue/blue-white wire, but i'm a little confused.


The car has the Hi-Fi Harman Kardon system.


I have the Metra 70-8590 wiring harness adapter.


The wire colors match up one-for-one except:


(1) The Metra has a Dash/Illumination light, and the Pioneer does not.


(2) There is no blue/white wire on the Metra - only a solid blue (Power Antenna). The Pioneer only has a blue/white "System Remote" (no solid blue).


What do I do here?

Do I have the wrong adapter?

[m3f_scoobiedoo_9bf48826bc]

I'm about to wire up an aftermarket Pioneer head unit. I have read the threads about the blue/blue-white wire, but i'm a little confused.


The car has the Hi-Fi Harman Kardon system.


I have the Metra 70-8590 wiring harness adapter.


The wire colors match up one-for-one except:


(1) The Metra has a Dash/Illumination light, and the Pioneer does not.


(2) There is no blue/white wire on the Metra - only a solid blue (Power Antenna). The Pioneer only has a blue/white "System Remote" (no solid blue).


What do I do here?

Do I have the wrong adapter?


i remember running into these kinda of issues years ago. blue or blue/white is usually the remote for antenna power works the same wither way. and i never got illumination control to work in older bmw's, e36's and modern headunits might be different, but from a 1990's perspective id forget about it.


just make sure there isnt exposed wires. tape is your friend

[m3f_Bmw3fan_868b8144bf]

I hooked up a kenwood recently to my HK using a metra adaptor. Mine didn't have a match either for the Orange dash wire so I didn't wire it, but just run the power antennae wire of the adaptor to the power blue white wire or you won't pick up fm radio.

[m3f_ggabriele3]

You need to run power wire to the power antennae wire or you won't pick up fm radio.



thing is, the Metra adapter doesn't have an antenna wire. The only blue wire is the Amp Remote.



Using this diagram - http://www.dtmpower.net/forum/attachments/e36-3-series/36029d1224853950-wiring-diagram-e36-325is-e36stereo.gif



The metra adapter has a wire in slot 16, which is the Remote Turn-On.

I connected that to my Pioneer's Remote Turn-On wire.

[m3f_Bmw3fan_868b8144bf]

thing is, the Metra adapter doesn't have an antenna wire. The only blue wire is the Amp Remote.



Using this diagram - http://www.dtmpower.net/forum/attachments/e36-3-series/36029d1224853950-wiring-diagram-e36-325is-e36stereo.gif



The metra adapter has a wire in slot 16, which is the Remote Turn-On.

I connected that to my Pioneer's Remote Turn-On wire.



you stated in the OP :



(2) There is no blue/white wire on the Metra - only a solid blue (Power Antenna).



connect the solid blue wire from Metra to whatever wire you have left from the unit, hopefully a blue or white wire.

[m3f_Bmw3fan_868b8144bf]

OP, did you get it working?

[m3f_M3_Tiag_2785d1aad3]

We don't have a power antenna in the e36 to worry about...come on guys common sense. Don't read "power antenna" as "powered antenna"


Nothing to be done about dimming if the HU does not have support.

[m3f_Richardspe_ff9fba485e]

Eh..wrong. It does indeed have a power antenna. Well at least a powered antenna. The diversity antenna amplifies lives in the drivers side C pillar. It is pin 16 on the radio harness. You have to connect the remote amp turn on lead from the HU to pin 16, not the "Power antenna" lead.