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OEM head unit retained even though aftermarket unit fitted

2003 - 2009, roadster, coupe, facelift
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Collectingbrass
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OEM head unit retained even though aftermarket unit fitted

Post by Collectingbrass » Mon Sep 21, 2020 9:11 am

I've just bought a 2004 3.0. It has a Pioneer head unit fitted, but the OEM unit has been retained and must be on for any sound to be heard. I haven't ripped it all apart, sorry, carefully disassembled it, to trace the wiring and work out what goes where but does anyone know why it would be done this way? If the car sounds familiar, as I can't think there will be many like this, PM me and I will confirm the reg.

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Armscarf
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OEM head unit retained even though aftermarket unit fitted

Post by Armscarf » Mon Sep 21, 2020 9:40 am

Sounds mad and unnecessary, can you post a couple of pics?

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Z4C_er
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OEM head unit retained even though aftermarket unit fitted

Post by Z4C_er » Mon Sep 21, 2020 9:57 am

Collectingbrass wrote: Mon Sep 21, 2020 9:11 am I've just bought a 2004 3.0. It has a Pioneer head unit fitted, but the OEM unit has been retained and must be on for any sound to be heard. I haven't ripped it all apart, sorry, carefully disassembled it, to trace the wiring and work out what goes where but does anyone know why it would be done this way? If the car sounds familiar, as I can't think there will be many like this, PM me and I will confirm the reg.
That hurts my head just thinking about it. Yes, some pictures would be good.
2006.5 E86 Z4C si SE Phoenix Yellow

Collectingbrass
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OEM head unit retained even though aftermarket unit fitted

Post by Collectingbrass » Tue Sep 22, 2020 8:02 am

OEM head unit in boot. (The bag it is in is supposed to be velcro'ed to the back wall of the boot but the adhesive is failing)
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Collectingbrass
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OEM head unit retained even though aftermarket unit fitted

Post by Collectingbrass » Tue Sep 22, 2020 8:09 am

Aftermarket head unit. It uses a Pioneer power lead to connect to what I think is the OEM ISO block, though I can feel another one block deep in the dash. The photos show this lead coming out below the HVAC controls, this is temporary for these pictures as the wiring was very tight but normally it is up behind the head unit as you would expect.
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Z4C_er
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OEM head unit retained even though aftermarket unit fitted

Post by Z4C_er » Tue Sep 22, 2020 8:45 am

Hi, I made this to explain to myself what went on. If you buy the correct harness adapter, this should all work fine. Disregard my amp and substitute your head unit.
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2006.5 E86 Z4C si SE Phoenix Yellow

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OEM head unit retained even though aftermarket unit fitted

Post by Collectingbrass » Tue Sep 22, 2020 8:55 am

Thanks @Z4C_er. Is that for a normal car or what you think has occurred in mine? Sorry if that's a daft question, it's too early :coffee:

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Z4C_er
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OEM head unit retained even though aftermarket unit fitted

Post by Z4C_er » Tue Sep 22, 2020 9:02 am

Collectingbrass wrote: Tue Sep 22, 2020 8:55 am Thanks @Z4C_er. Is that for a normal car or what you think has occurred in mine? Sorry if that's a daft question, it's too early :coffee:
That's the diagram I made for my Z4. I have an E86. 'I think' you should be able to disconnect the looms in your car, buy a new adapter harness and plug and play. I don't see any reason why the head unit is in the trunk. My only caveat here is if you have the full-on sound system, which is digital, and that changes things. That's when I hand over to the pros. Is it a 6 speaker system? Is any sound coming from the door speaker adjacent to the handle?
2006.5 E86 Z4C si SE Phoenix Yellow

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ph001
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OEM head unit retained even though aftermarket unit fitted

Post by ph001 » Tue Sep 22, 2020 9:27 am

That head unit in the boot is the most bizarre ICE integration I have ever seen!!!!!
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dhobbs
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OEM head unit retained even though aftermarket unit fitted

Post by dhobbs » Tue Sep 22, 2020 11:19 am

I recently replaced my OEM head unit with an aftermarket one and used an adapter cable. No problem at all.

What's the wiring like behind you HU?
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OEM head unit retained even though aftermarket unit fitted

Post by Armscarf » Tue Sep 22, 2020 3:59 pm

As I suspected, mad. Using Z4C_er's diagram my advice is strip all the after market rubbish out all the way back to the OEM connector behind the dash. Source a good stereo and install in the normal way. I've done 4 now so happy to help anyway I can.

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OEM head unit retained even though aftermarket unit fitted

Post by Collectingbrass » Tue Sep 22, 2020 4:21 pm

Thanks Armscarf, that's what I was thinking. The existing head unit is pretty good and up to date so I'm going to aim to keep that and remove the OEM unit from the Network.

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OEM head unit retained even though aftermarket unit fitted

Post by Armscarf » Tue Sep 22, 2020 7:56 pm

Collectingbrass wrote: Tue Sep 22, 2020 4:21 pm Thanks Armscarf, that's what I was thinking. The existing head unit is pretty good and up to date so I'm going to aim to keep that and remove the OEM unit from the Network
That should work well, the only reason I added and after market unit was to get hands-free phone function.

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OEM head unit retained even though aftermarket unit fitted

Post by Collectingbrass » Wed Sep 23, 2020 2:33 pm

Any ideas what the White / Red wire would be for? It's spliced into the red wire behind the ISO block but I couldn't trace it once it went behind the glove box, even though I had the glove box out.

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