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Reverend 
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Joined: 15-June-2005
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Points: 6
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 Topic: Audio wiring colours
Posted: 15-June-2005 at 13:40 |
I am trying to find the info for my BMW 520I Lux audio wiring. The previous owner didn't leave an attachment so I'm left with a handful of wires with no real clue which is which. Anyone got any ideas please? 
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Reverend
Newbie
Joined: 15-June-2005
Status: Offline
Points: 6
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Posted: 15-June-2005 at 13:40 |
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forgot to say - 1987 model.
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rubberknees50
Really Senior Member II
Does it have chrome bumpers?
Joined: 26-July-2004
Location: Telford, Shropshire
Status: Offline
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Posted: 15-June-2005 at 18:17 |
I have one of these currently off road, will have a look at wire colours next time I go and PM you. In the meantime, if you get a 9v smoke alarm battery and touch the speakers wires to it two at a time (one each terminal) the speaker will "pop" when you get it right and you csan identify which wires go to which corner of car.
Had to do all this on mine as some idiot had removed radio with stanley knife. If you have meter you can find ground, live and ignition live, or just wire fresh supplies. May take me till weekend to get back as next few days busy. Hope it helps!
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IanT
E28 528, E23 735
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Toxic
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 14-October-2003
Location: Ireland
Status: Offline
Points: 841
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Posted: 16-June-2005 at 03:39 |
wire color codes are normally fairly std across all cars..
what combinations do you have?
I have a feeling this is the industry standard
Ground = Black
+12V Ignition = Red
+12V Battery = Yellow
Grey = Front Right Speaker (+)
White = FL Speaker (+)
Grey/Black Stripe = FR Speaker (-)
White/Black Stripe = FL Speaker (-)
Purple = Rear Right Speaker (+)
Green = Rear Left Speaker (+)
Purple/Black Stripe = RR Speaker (-)
Green/Black Stripe = RL Speaker (-)
If you have this bunch of wires, then I'm almost sure the above is correct. You can check the speaker wires using a battery. Pick a color, lets say green and if there is a green with black stripe wire, then these are normally paired to a speaker. Put the wires across a AAA battery and you should hear a crackle in that speaker. Repeat for all the rest.
Failing that, I'd do a google or I could check the E39 Bentley manual for you...BMW will rarely change their color codes for wiring.
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Tom
E39 1997 523i
Oxford Green (Sold)
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Reverend
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Joined: 15-June-2005
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Posted: 16-June-2005 at 05:14 |
Thankyou for the help so far. The 9v battery tip will help sort out the speaker wires, although it is obvious which they are the strange way they have been connected to each other...!!
The other wire colours are certainly not 'standard' - unfortunately. I have a red, a white, a red & white, a red & grey, and a purple and violet!!!!??
Thanks for any further help.
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Reverend
Newbie
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Posted: 16-June-2005 at 07:11 |
I think I'm having a colour blind moment!! Not red, but brown.
Brown seems to be earth.
Red/white seems to be on all the time.
Both the red/grey & the purple/purple come on with the ignition. Why two?
 (Too much of this I think)
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Toxic
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 14-October-2003
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Posted: 16-June-2005 at 07:26 |
Brown is defo earth on BMW's
not sure why you have 2 wires with the ignition.
I'll check ol Bentley tonight and see what color codes BMW use
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Tom
E39 1997 523i
Oxford Green (Sold)
___________________________
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rubberknees50
Really Senior Member II
Does it have chrome bumpers?
Joined: 26-July-2004
Location: Telford, Shropshire
Status: Offline
Points: 1074
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Posted: 16-June-2005 at 07:33 |
No idea why 2 ignition live though one may be for electric aerial power feed/signal lead. You have the basics there to connect it up though. Some idiots connect speaker wires together thinking it'll get more power with a common earth or mono only, just seperate them and do the battery check to make sure which are which, quick and easy
Mr Haynes colours are "w" leccy aerial, power is "br/bk" and "vi/gy", speaker colours all over the place as it shows a balance switch I don't have and some extra speakers, but battery will sort that. Not sure what diagram he used as it didn't match my 525E or the 520. Will have a look on mine as I'm sure it was different to this.
Once you sort them out label them with some tape or something, I used masking tape with " Front Left+" etc on it , so 2 letters covered it, FL+/-, FR+/-,RL+/- etc.
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IanT
E28 528, E23 735
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Toxic
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 14-October-2003
Location: Ireland
Status: Offline
Points: 841
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Posted: 16-June-2005 at 15:05 |
 Reverend wrote:
Thankyou for the help so far. The 9v battery tip will help sort out the speaker wires, |
Don't use a 9V battery, stick with a AAA 1.5V, it will be enough to give you a small crackle. The 9V could damage the speakers.
Had a look in the Bentley and to be honest it's not great for radio wiring codes. If you sort out your 8 wires for the speakers, brown is DEFINITELY ground, then let us know what you are left with.
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Tom
E39 1997 523i
Oxford Green (Sold)
___________________________
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Reverend
Newbie
Joined: 15-June-2005
Status: Offline
Points: 6
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Posted: 17-June-2005 at 03:38 |
We seem to be getting there. 
Brown - earth
white - powered aerial
red/white - constant power
others - ignition power
Speaker wires matching nothing known to anyone!! Two sets of grey/black, white ones not where they should be etc. Worked them out ok.
Thanks very much for the help, gents.
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rubberknees50
Really Senior Member II
Does it have chrome bumpers?
Joined: 26-July-2004
Location: Telford, Shropshire
Status: Offline
Points: 1074
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Posted: 19-June-2005 at 16:59 |
If it's any consolation I had a similar argument with my 1987 528 today for same reasons.
Couple of wires different to yours, no white but I have a violet/ grey or purple/violet depending on what you call them. Brown was earth, had the red/white and red/grey. one permanent live and 2 ignition lives. Got radio up and running but still need to sort aerial.
For reasons unknown previous owner seems to have wired a seperate earth, ignition live and permanent live on a second plug connected apparently through the fan switch, so I need to trace several feet of bright red wire and disconnect it. Got to be easier to use a proper adapter, they're cheap enough!
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IanT
E28 528, E23 735
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Reverend
Newbie
Joined: 15-June-2005
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Points: 6
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Posted: 20-June-2005 at 03:17 |
The simplest thing would be for poeple who have little idea what they are doing to pay someone to fit their radios for them instead of butchering perfectly good wiring and leaving others to clear up the mess later on! I just hope there isn't any other DIY of a similar nature elsewhere on the car.
Thanks again for the help.
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rubberknees50
Really Senior Member II
Does it have chrome bumpers?
Joined: 26-July-2004
Location: Telford, Shropshire
Status: Offline
Points: 1074
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Posted: 20-June-2005 at 09:40 |
I quite agree! Sick of doing this job almost everytime I change cars, I already found some more, viscous fan removed and some dubious wiring connections to wirelocked to radiator electric fan. It's working so I'll deal with that when the stuff that isn't is working, lol.
Also what looks like speaker wires running to high level brake light on rear parcel shelf, they come out from under speaker across and around shelf. Also works but annoying. If you know enough to wire it right why not do it properly and run the wiring the right way.
Hope you don't find any more on yours, cheers, Ian
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IanT
E28 528, E23 735
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Audio wiring colours