How to put in radio

[rsjet]

I have a 95 325i and I have an Alpine stereo i want to put in...How do I remove the old stereo to put mine in... (i.e. what screws to remove etc. )

Thanks!

[98328i]

There is two screws behind two small covers on the right and left side of the radio you can use a fingernail to open them or a small flathead screw driver. You will need a special tool to remove the screws (a pentagon shaped allen wrench, 5 sides, buy on ebay or ask a local shop if you can borrow thiers). The radio sould pull out. Go to the store (Best Buy or local Car Audio shop) and spend about 5-15 dollars on a wiring harness and the colors will match up to Alpine harness so you dont cut your factory harness Also takes the guess work out of the install, this will make it alot easier to install should take about 30 minutes to do.

[rsjet]

I got a wiring harness for my alpine to fit in my car...but the antenna plug is different and there is also another strange plug i dont know where it goes. It is a thin wire with a metal end that looks like a small circle. What do I do? Will my alpine head unit not work in my beemer?

Also, when I bought the car, the headunit slid in and out of the spot easily (i.e. not bolted in) How do I secure it?

Any help is appreciated. Thanks

[98328i]

Your Alpine will work. For the antenna you need an adapter too... I apologize for not metioning this earlier its been awhile since I was car audio installer... the adapter should run about 2 - 5 bucks very inexpensive, go to the same shop where you bought the harness they should have one. Now securing the Radio to the car, the Alpine should have come w/ a metal sleeve, put the sleeve into the radio cavity then you bend the sleeve tabs back to lock it in place. Next get the radio it should just slide in and when you push it back all the way you should hear a click on each side of the radio this means it is locked into place. Caution, be sure when your pushing the radio into the dash that the wires behind the radio do not get pinched!!! (and yes hook up the harness to the car and the other end to the radio before pushing the radio back into the dash, please make all connections to the harness before anything!!) if you have more questions let me know.

Whats the model nunber of your alpine?

[rsjet]

Thanks so much for your help....but i may need some more!

Umm...I may have left that metal sleeve you are talking about in my last car when i sold it... (a square shaped metal thingy with 2 protruding arms made of gold colored metal?) Is this a problem?

My stereo is the alpine CDA 7893 model. Thanks

Also there are two yellow rca cables stuffed behind the radio...which leads me to believe someone had an aftermarket radio in there? I dont know...Also...what can i do with those wires?

[98328i]

No problem... Did the factory radio or the old radio you pulled out work? (did it have sound?) and was it hooked up to the RCA jacks? Let me know. Now for the metal sleeve, check w/ your local car audio shops that sell and install alpine radios they usually have alot of those sleeves and the brackets that mount on the side of the radio that lock sleeve into place!! (I use to have a drawer full of them when I installed) Do you have the black trim piece for the radio? If you cannot locate these items at a local install shop or if they are charging over 20.00 bucks let me know I will see if I can call some friends still in the business to help me out w/ what you need to get a good looking install!!!!
The 7893 is a solid radio I had one a few years ago I never had problems w/ it, good choice!!! (of coarse I am pro Alpine)

[rsjet]

Yes...the factory radio/casette player is working perfectly and it is hooked up to the car through the standard power/speaker wire thingy (Not the RCA cables) .

I have to find the box to see if i have the rest of those parts!!!

[98328i]

Great ignore the RCA's it seems that some one had an amplifier in there at one time. Let me know if you cant find the sleeve etc...