Help! Install of Pioneer head into BMW 316 1987

HI all,

I've just bought a BMW 316 1987 - great car, but no stereo as yet.  Bought a Pioneer head (DEH 1400R) and attempted install today - to no avail.....

Basically my problem is this - in order to get the thing to work i reckon i need:

1) A permanent power source

2) An ignition controlled power source

3) A ground (earth)

4) Aerial lead

Speakers not a problem.  When I open up the dash I have the following:

1 x thick brown wire

2 x thin red wires

1 x thin green wire

plus speaker and aerial cable.  How do i know which wire is which, without causing a short - and why is there no earth wire??

please help - driving without music sucks

adam UK

You have to test all the wires with a test light or multimeter.  I've only seen US-spec 3-Series; not sure if your UK car will be much different.

How thick is the thick brown wire?  If it's as thick as a pencil or a cigarette, this is the antenna cable, and someone has cut the plug off (maybe a theft?)......you'll have to buy and attach a replacement plug......and if the thief cut off a lot of the cable, you'll have to extend it too.

As far as the other wires, just grab a light and test them.......here is what you'll most likely find:

Constant:  has power all the time

Accessory:  has power when the key is on

Illumination:  has power when the parking lights are on; may or may not be affected by the dimmer knob as well.  (NOTE:  Aftermarket radios typically don't use the illumination wire........but you should still test and identify your BMW's illumination wire..........as it looks like a ground with the headlights off, and you might use it by accident.)

Ground/earth:  Shows a ground all the time, regardless of the position of the ignition or headlight switches.

If the car has a power antenna, there will probably be another wire there; this raises the antenna when it sees positive power.

Also, I'm pretty sure there were a few recently-made European cars that allow the radio to operate at all times; therefore there is no accessory wire.  You can allow your new radio to run all the time, or find an accessory connection somewhere at the ignition switch or fuse box.

I take it this car has no radio now?  Did you just buy it that way?  If the old radio was removed by a thief, or even just by someone not familiar with installation.......I'll almost gaurantee that the constant wire's fuse was blown by the person's wire cutters.  Use your test light to check all the fuses in the car, including the fuse box under the hood, before you begin your installation.