From digest.v6.n753 Tue Jun 10 06:53:12 1997
From: KTM300_at_aol.com
Date: Tue, 10 Jun 1997 02:08:06 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: E36 Radio pin-out

Massimiliano wrote: From: Massimiliano Lehmann <lsd_at_starlink.it>
Date: Mon, 09 Jun 1997 21:43:14 +0200
Subject: <E36> Stereo cabling pin layout.

Hi All,

this is my first post to the list.

I'm from Italy (Milano) and I've just got a new '97 318is coupe'.

I'm trying at first to install my old stereo head unit (an Alpine 7294R) + CD changer (5952Z) on the new car.
I'm facing against the factory cable setting and the 16-pin multipolar connector found behind the plastic plate on the dashboard. The cables are only numbered from 1 to 16 without more info about their connections.

Has anyone the pin layout with a description of each cable function? Or can you tell me where i can fountd this information on the net? Sorry if it's a FAQ.

Thanks in advance.

Dave writes:
Here's the Pin Assignments for the E36 radio. This is from the factory Electrical Manual and is valid for E36 cars from '95 to the present. It also MUST be noted, for all the people who want to upgrade their radios, the factory radio is only a tuner, (ie. it has no power to operate speakers.) You must pick up the individual speaker wires from the amp which is located in the sidewall panel on the left side of the trunk. The radio connector only has the left and right, front and rear speaker power supply wires to the amp.

Pin #1- Left front speaker output (+)---- color: yellow/red Pin#2- Right front speaker output (+)----color: blue/red Pin#3- Left rear speaker output (+)----color: yellow/black Pin#4- "Mute" for the telephone color: white/brown Pin#5- Power (Hot in ACC and RUN) from fuse # 44----color: violet/white Pin#6- Right rear speaker output (+)----color: blue/black Pin#7- CD Changer (I-Bus)----color: yellow Pin#8- Left front speaker output (-)----color: brown/orange Pin#9- Radio Memory Power (stations etc.) (HOT at all times)(from fuse #9)----color: red/white
Pin#10- Variable road noise volume adjustment input (from the tach)----color: black/white (with HK system, this is only on with Hi-Fi switch on) Pin#11- Right front speaker output (-)----color: brown/orange Pin#12- Left rear speaker output (-)----color: brown/orange Pin#13- Radio lights (from dimmer and headlight switch)----color: gray/red Pin#14- Right rear speaker output (-)----color: brown/orange Pin#15- Ground
Pin#16- Antenna amplifier output----color: white

For any other digesters with 95-97 E36 cars, just write me for the amp pin-out, or any other electrical diagram question. Hope this helps,
Dave Schultz
BMW CCA / Pittsburgh #67486
'96 M3