Avic F90Bt 2005 x5 install question

kashmir · #1 08-26-2009, 09:06 PM

I went to have avic f90bt installed on my 2005 x5 ..the guy told me that they would have to run wires to all the speakers. I dont have DSP and dont believe that i have an amplifier. my research on this site had showed that i just had to connect the new unit to existing harness.

he also said that the radio antenna in my car is in the rear. is that true?

thanks

Weasel · #2 08-26-2009, 10:20 PM

You do indeed have an amplifier and it is in the rear. The antenna is also in the back, it is actually build into one of the rear side windows in the back. There are a couple members here that have installed pioneer double din radios, maybe search around for threads... they might already have the needed info posted, possibly with pics.

BlackE32_SilverE53 · #3 08-27-2009, 02:15 AM

Like Weasel said, all of your speaker connections are ran to the rear wiring harness. Once you find the harness the best way to find which wire pair goes to which speaker is to use a 9v battery, just touch it to the wires and listen for which speaker clicks and label. Although your antenna is located in the rear, the connection for it is up front, you just need a antenna adapter so it will work with the Avic.

Weasel · #4 08-27-2009, 08:01 AM

Also if you become a premier member you have access to the online WDS wiring diagrams and can look up the wire colors and pin #s in the connectors etc. The top of the page would have this drop down.

kashmir · #5 08-27-2009, 09:52 PM

Thanks for great info. unfortunately (fortunately for my X), i dont have skill or time to learn. will have to get it installed.

My understanding ( from extensive reading in this forum ) was that for a non-dsp x5, all one had to do was to remove the oem harness from the oem radio, connect that harness to a 3rd party harness and then connect the wires from this harmess to the wires from the avic. And this is all in the front ? is that correct?

i did get a antenna adapter from the bay.

my installers says he has to run wires to all the speakers and the run the wires from the antenna in the rear. obviously he doesnt know what he is talking about!

by the way , are the wiring diagram better than one can get from this site WDS BMW Wiring Diagram System - X5 E53

Weasel · #6 08-27-2009, 10:38 PM

Same diagrams, the online WDS wiring diagrams is the same thing the dealers get directly from BMW. That's what I have to work with all day. But if the installer doesn't seem to know off hand what to do in a BMW, DO NOT USE HIM!!!

I have seen and had to repair so many butcher hack jobs done by BS installers that think it's ok to cut and splice wires etc. It would really be worth your time to find someone with good BMW experience, access to the right resources like the WDS, and know how to make their own pigtail harnesses if necessary. (like I have done on all my BMW accessory installs) and knows not to cut/splice any wires.

BlackE32_SilverE53 · #7 08-28-2009, 05:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weasel

Same diagrams, the online WDS wiring diagrams is the same thing the dealers get directly from BMW. That's what I have to work with all day. But if the installer doesn't seem to know off hand what to do in a BMW, DO NOT USE HIM!!!

I have seen and had to repair so many butcher hack jobs done by BS installers that think it's ok to cut and splice wires etc. It would really be worth your time to find someone with good BMW experience, access to the right resources like the WDS, and know how to make their own pigtail harnesses if necessary. (like I have done on all my BMW accessory installs) and knows not to cut/splice any wires.

I second that!!!!!!!

fe342185 · #8 08-28-2009, 12:11 PM

I installed a pioneer head unit about 2 weeks ago and you can view my thread here. http://www.xoutpost.com/electronics/...tall-pics.html

The Speaker wires are definitely in the back right off the harness on the factory amp. The OEM Amp has built in crossovers for each speaker. You will send all frequencies to all the speakers and will cause more distortion and eventually may break the speakers.

Your installer may need to find the high input wires for the factory amp to feed it the audio signals OR feed the speaker outputs of the Avic to the speakers wires but you have to install a passive crossover for each door. I did not connect the dash speakers on mine.

I would prefer to remove the OEM amp since the Pioneer headunit is pretty powerful by itself.

A small concern I may have for you when using the Pioneer speaker output is the fuse on the OEM radio. It is only 7.5A. The pioneer uses a 10A fuse so if you listen loud then there is a chance it may blow the OEM fuse.

PM me if you need more information.

TheKingSim0n · #9 08-28-2009, 01:10 PM

Im saving up some cash to have mine installed as well, I figured id go to best buy to install the same F900BT. I purchased it for an old car but now id like to be in my X. Best Buy takes 150 for installation so its a fair decent price. Im going to save up and try and find a cheaper bazel tho :/

Besides all that I cant figure out, What a DSP is? DSP stands for Display? :/ and what differences would it make with the installation of the navigation system?

Weasel · #10 08-28-2009, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheKingSim0n

Im saving up some cash to have mine installed as well, I figured id go to best buy to install the same F900BT. I purchased it for an old car but now id like to be in my X. Best Buy takes 150 for installation so its a fair decent price. Im going to save up and try and find a cheaper bazel tho :/

Besides all that I cant figure out, What a DSP is? DSP stands for Display? :/ and what differences would it make with the installation of the navigation system?

Just get it in writing that best buy holds responsibility for any damage to the vehicle in the case of a bad install, and will cover repair costs in such case. And make sure you don't sign any papers of the opposite releasing them from the potential of damage to the vehicles electronics.

And DSP stands for digital sound processing. It gives the vehicle a whole different sound including factory subs etc. The differences for audio install would be different vehicle wiring.