DIY: Bypass Amp for $0

[mrathell]

OK, this was my solution for an annoyingly loud buzz coming from the amp 24/7 when the radio was on or off.

This solution works for me because I had zero plans of investing money into the stock radio system. When I'm ready to switch over to an aftermarket system, all of my funds will go towards that.

After doing this, I finally can listen to my radio and it sounds great.

MY ISSUE: Whenever the radio was on or off the radio made a loud buzz sound that could not be turned off or down. The only solution was to unplug the amp with the result being no sound, no music....nothing.

Condition of amp: The bay the amp was in was completely dry and had no signs of ever taking in water. The connections on the amp itself didn't show any signs of corrosion or water damage.

FUSES: Checked and cleaned all radio related fuses before starting the venture. I also pulled the cassette player to check the fuse behind the main cassette plug.

This DIY will show you how I:
- removed the amp
- troubleshooted the origin of the buzz
- and how I worked around the amp for $0

TOOL NEEDED:
- ratchet
- extension
- 9mm socket
- 10mm socket
- T9 star
- Philips screw driver


MY SYSTEM: factory AM/FM cassette with 6 cd changer and phone in the arm rest.



You will find the amp in the rear of the X5 on the left hand side.


remove the floor of the trunk.


remove the access panel to reveal the 6cd changer.


remove this black plastic panel on the floor of the trunk in front of the CD changer. There will be 2 black plastic 10mm nuts to remove.


remove the cd changer. There will be 4 9mm bolts to remove.


I believe this unit is for the phone in the armrest. Remove the two screw-on plugs on each end and remove the 2 Phillip head screws.


Remove this greenish/gold looking bracket by remove only one bolt.


This is how the bracket looks removed.


Unplug the 3 plugs from the amp and one black wire (assumption is it's a ground). Now you can remove the entire bracket with the attached amp.


Now remove the bracket from the amp by removing each of the 4 bolts (one in each corner)


This is a bottom view of the amp with the bracket removed.


This is the end of the amp where you unplugged the 3 plugs earlier.

*** To be continued on next page ****