Radio Harness Extension

M

markalp

Member
Would this be the correct harness extension for the radio in a 2004 Z4

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/QUADLOCK-...730826&hash=item3ad8a2cfef:g:BFAAAOSww5hZLX5G

I want to tap into the audio power lines without touching the fuse box or hacking the original harness. Want to install a bluetooth receiver that is plugged into a 12v to 5v dual direct wire USB charger, and plugged into the AUX cable.

Parts used (apart from the above harness.)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00GXXFBC0/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=AONS7HEF348I5&psc=1
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00NEKAJCC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z4-E8...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
 
Magicarcher said:
Why not just buy:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01HXKU4YQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

With this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/XCSOURCE-B...d=1503887106&sr=8-1&keywords=bmw+z4+aux+cable

Save you a lot of money and give extra features such as bluetooth handsfree and the ability to change tracks from the device. Performs fine, it is what I use.
Click to expand...

Car already has satnav and bluetooth (for calls), plus I dont like having wires showing inside my cars, or extra buttons that don't look stock, what I will be installing will be hiding behind the dash.

I did see that cheap AUX cable on amazon but went for the ebay one because it comes with the correct pins pre-crimped, and if you had ever seen my crimping skills on those small little pins you would understand why i paid the extra to avoid an afternoon of swearing and throwinf things.
 
markalp said:
I did see that cheap AUX cable on amazon but went for the ebay one because it comes with the correct pins pre-crimped, and if you had ever seen my crimping skills on those small little pins you would understand why i paid the extra to avoid an afternoon of swearing and throwinf things.
Click to expand...

The one on amazon is already pre-wired, no need for crimping. I recommended it to a friend at work with a 2003 Z4 and it worked fine, took less than 10 mins to install.
 
markalp said:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00NEKAJCC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Click to expand...

Personally I would think carefully about using this device particularly if you are hiding it away. It is no doubt made in the far east to a far east design. There is a good chance they will have little appreciation of european vehicle electrical safety standards. The device does not appear to be CE approved so hasn't been tested to any european standards.

The two concerns I would have are:

  • Its conducted and radiated emissions, which have the potential to not only cause radio interference, but worst case interfere with body electronics on the vehicle.
  • Its heat dissipation. The listing itself states: "..Operating Temperature: Industrial (-40°c to +85°c) (If ambient temperature exceeds 40°c, please lower power use, or enhance heat dissipation) .." If you are mounting it behind the dash, be aware that temperatures can be high depending upon where you mount it. Near radios and aircon you will have heat dissipation, near the top of the facia you will have solar loading in bright sunlight. Some vehicle manufacturers consider the dash area to be a temperature zone of between 110 deg.C and 125 deg.C (which would be in an assumed 45 deg.C ambient with worse case electrical loading

If you do go ahead I would recommend thermocoupling it up for a month or so and capturing what temperatures it gets up to (I did this with a two channel thermocouple when I installed focal 3 way crossovers above the transmission tunnel)
 
Magicarcher said:
markalp said:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00NEKAJCC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Click to expand...

Personally I would think carefully about using this device particularly if you are hiding it away. It is no doubt made in the far east to a far east design. There is a good chance they will have little appreciation of european vehicle electrical safety standards. The device does not appear to be CE approved so hasn't been tested to any european standards.

The two concerns I would have are:

  • Its conducted and radiated emissions, which have the potential to not only cause radio interference, but worst case interfere with body electronics on the vehicle.
  • Its heat dissipation. The listing itself states: "..Operating Temperature: Industrial (-40°c to +85°c) (If ambient temperature exceeds 40°c, please lower power use, or enhance heat dissipation) .." If you are mounting it behind the dash, be aware that temperatures can be high depending upon where you mount it. Near radios and aircon you will have heat dissipation, near the top of the facia you will have solar loading in bright sunlight. Some vehicle manufacturers consider the dash area to be a temperature zone of between 110 deg.C and 125 deg.C (which would be in an assumed 45 deg.C ambient with worse case electrical loading

If you do go ahead I would recommend thermocoupling it up for a month or so and capturing what temperatures it gets up to (I did this with a two channel thermocouple when I installed focal 3 way crossovers above the transmission tunnel)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the warning.

It will litterally be just behind the ashtray so should be ok, this is the only one i could find that didnt have a battery (just USB powered) and where you dont need to press a button to get it into pairing mode (as it will live behind the ashtray).

I have been testing it at home, stuck it to a south facing window (outside temp ~25 deg C) and streamed 3.5 hours of music to it without issue, I know the automotive environment is harsher but thats the limit of my stress testing skills lol.
 
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