Aftermarket Amp to Factory Sub Hookup, Please Help!

SeanIngstrum · #1 03-13-2017, 04:08 PM

Alright, this is very confusing. All the vehicle had in it when I got it was the radio up front and amp in the back. No subs and alot of loose, unhooked wires around the factory amp in the back. I found a stock sub unit for real cheap so I bought it and put it in thinking I could plug in a few wires and bam. The hell was I thinking? Anyways I dont know if I have the dsp or not. By looking at it, it seems I was cleaned out before purchasing. I bought an after market amp and kit to hook up the factory subs I installed, but I have not idea where to start. I got an quick connect adapter kit to splice into the signal, but the adapter ends look too big. Should I just give up on this? Seems like a complete headache. Thanks for any help

SeanIngstrum · #2 03-13-2017, 04:12 PM

Also, I don't know where this quick adapter for the signal would go. Would it hook up to the factory amp in the back?

Doru · #3 03-13-2017, 04:34 PM

Here is a link on some discussions concerning speakers in the e39, which have almost identical setup with e53. For further questions, you might want to contact Jim Lev who is a moderator on Bimmerforums e39 subsection - very good and knowledgeable guy. Here is a link with some wiring concerning these sound systems.
Additional wiring info

GL

P.S.: what I had prepared for my ex-e39 to wire a aftermarket amp was the following setup: I took the OEM connector (male) off an amp wiring (in the trunk) from a BMW in the junkyard to use as connectors. Once you have figured out the wiring for the aftermarket unit, there is no need to splice wires - it's just plug & play.
You can take off both" male & female connectors if you want (the pins are hard to solder and keep in place - you will see what it's about, once you take one of those amps apart for the connector) and just splice the wires, so you don't have to solder the connectors. Much easier and almost factory look.