DSP Wiring

[David D]

Just making sure the OP isn't going to try and connect a typical aftermarket amp or head unit directly to the factory speakers. His "new" stereo setup would be short-lived, particularly the tweeters!

I'm running an 8 channel DSP handling the crossover chores with 8 channels of amplification. I don't care for rear speakers, so I only needed 8 channels. The stock speakers sound REALLY good with this setup, except for the factory subwoofers. I'm using a single 10" sub in place of the factory subwoofers.

[BMWx5e53]

Hi, all the stock speakers are being replaced so the crossover issue will disapear.

On the back of my BMW wide screen SatNav headunit there are two male connectors, which the 2 female connectors fit into (from the wiring loom).
Looking at the headunit from the back, the top one is blue, the bottom one is white. This corresponds to the colours of the male connectors which are also blue and white.
The connectors are slightly different in shape (forcing you to use blue to blue and white to white), however they do have the same number of pins.
In the previous post, it was said both are blue (in the pdf).
In the posts picture, one of the connectors seems to be at the top of the headunut, while the other is towards the bottom.
However, on the back on my headunit, they are positioned one above the other.

So can someone tell me which is the X18801 and which is the X18802?
This will be vital as i need to tap into the correct one to get the power and ground/negative for my aftermarket headunit.

[wpoll]

Originally Posted by BMWx5e53

...
So can someone tell me which is the X18801 and which is the X18802?
This will be vital as i need to tap into the correct one to get the power and ground/negative for my aftermarket headunit.

Further digging in the BMW Tech WDS site indicates that the connectors are colored thus: -

X18801 Component connector (12-pin, blue)

X18802 Component connector (12-pin, natural)

(This is a cut'n'paste from the docs)

The check will be that pin #2 on X18801 is a solid brown wire (no colored tracer) and is an earth connection.

There's a small amount of conflict in the BMW Tech WDS from time to time - not surprising, given the changes in the X5 over the model run. And the sheer amount of wiring!

[BMWx5e53]

Yes there is a solid brown wire on X18001 - Blue Connector.
The only brown wire on X18002 - White connector is a brown with red one.

Many thanks.

[BMWx5e53]

On X18001 - Blue Connector, does it matter which "positive activation" i use? Can i use either pin 3 or pin 10 to power my headunit?
Is there a difference? E.g. is one a permenant live and one a switched live?

[wpoll]

Originally Posted by BMWx5e53

Yes there is a solid brown wire on X18001 - Blue Connector.
The only brown wire on X18002 - White connector is a brown with red one.

Many thanks.

The BR/RT wire on X18802 (pin #7) is a video earth from the nav unit in the trunk.

Originally Posted by BMWx5e53

Can i use either pin 3 or pin 10 to power my headunit?
Is there a difference? E.g. is one a permenant live and one a switched live?

Neither - in this case "positive" refers to the id of a balanced signal - from the radio.

Power is on pin #7 of X18801 - red/white (RT/WS - Rot/Weiss). It's a switched power feed from fuse F75 in the trunk fuse panel.

The same fuse also feeds X18802 on pin #8 (RT/WS).

[BMWx5e53]

Brilliant, im still an amateur in installing car audio...picked a difficult car to start on..lol

But all this info is very good, will help others im sure.

[BMWx5e53]

I cant seem to get the Headunit on. As a test, if i simply connect the GND to the Negative terminal on the cars battery, and the B+ to the Positive terminal, this should mean there should be power going to the Headunit right?
I have tried the above, with the ignition key in Position 2.

Attached is a picture of my Headunits connectors table.

Can someone tell me which ones from the Blue Box I need to connect?
There are no wires present for Pos 1 and Pos 11 in the K box (Blue Box)

As I am powering the speakers via a amp, I will be using the RCA connectors as per Red Box. Although I am unsure what Pos 10 (ANT) is or what it would connect to.

[wpoll]

In addition to GND and B+ you'll also need to connect pin 12 - Acc-IN (red) to a switched power source. B+ should be connected to an unswitched (permanent) power source.

You might not find a switched power source in the OEM wiring to the old Nav display, as it used data signals on the I/K-bus to turn the unit on and off, not switched power.

Pin 10 on connector E (Blue) labelled "Ant" is to power an electric retractable antenna - you can ignore it - or use to to power an active antenna system if you have one.

[BMWx5e53]

Cheers.

I have the headunit working. Steering controls do not work, but that is a minor inconvenience.
I tapped into the Glove Box Torch (Purple wire) for the Switched Live.

Main pain is that the headunits wiring came with 2 iso connectors. Which I cannot use due to the X5 having a wide screen satnav and DSP.
This makes wiring difficult for an amateur like me.

Questions:
For the Illumination, Could I tap into the X18801 (Blue Connector):
Pos 1 - Night light signal Connector?
So when I turn the headlights on, the Headunits buttons should illuminate.
This will connect to the Orange wire going to the H/U.

There are many wires which go from the H/U into a small module titled "CAN BUS Decoder". Unsure what to do with most of these.
The wires are:
Red - Switched Live
White
Green
Orange with white stripe (splits off into a wire to H/U and a wire called BACK-CAR)
Yellow - Permanent Live
Orange (loops into 2x iso connectors)
Pink (splits off into a wire to H/U and a wire called BRAKE CTRL)
Orange (splits into a wire to H/U and a wire called ILL)
Black - Ground

There is also a Yellow RCA type connector called CCD AVIN which cones off the H/U connector. I am assuming this is for a Reversing Camera?
How would the H/U know the Reverse is engaged in order to flip the images being displayed on the screen to that of the Reverse camera?
The Reverse camera I have has the following:
Yellow RCA on the camera module - for Video
Positive power wire - I can tap into the Rear reverse light wiring harness for this
Negative power wire - I can tap into the Rear reverse light wiring harness for this
It then has a long Yellow RCA cable, assuming this is to route to the H/U.
On both sides of this Yellow RCA cable, there is a Red wire. I am assuming this is for a signal to tell the H/U reverse has been engaged? If so, where would the H/U side's Red Wire connect into? Maybe it connects to Pos 6, Blue wire, CAM-LINE in my picture (Blue Box, Section K)


There is a Brown wire called KEY1. I think this is for the steering wheel controls, but cannot be sure. What would I connect this to?
According to the Picture I posted, there are 2 KEYS, K1 (Pos 3, Brown) and K2 (Pos 12, Brown+White). Surely both should be connected?

Sorry, More Questions:
In the Green Box in my picture (H connector), there are 2 Yellow RCA connectors.
Pos 5, Video IN - Assuming this will play anything so long as source is transmitting via Composite out? (Sound will be via the Aux R and Aux L)

Pos 6, DVR-CVBS - Unsure what this is. I am assuming it is the same as VIDEO IN, however this is purely for video, so no sound via Aux R and Aux L?

Pos 3, TV-IR - This seems to be a standard wire with a clear/blueish plastic cap over it. What would this be for? IR suggests infrared?