E90Post
 


TNT Racewerks
 
BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Technical Forums > AUDIO/VIDEO + BLUETOOTH + Electronics/Alarm/Software > Problem with Alpine retrofit



Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      01-10-2016, 01:37 PM   #1
anees
Second Lieutenant
anees's Avatar
United Kingdom
61
Rep
208
Posts

Drives: E90 330i Sport
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Woking, England

iTrader: (0)

Problem with Alpine retrofit

Hi,

I've posted this in the UK forum, but thought I'd do so here as well in case someone has an idea:

I installed the Alpine kit, however, I only get sound from the driver side door and sub.

There is no sound at all from the left side of the car ( except for parcel shelf speaker which is powered directly by the head unit )

Is it possible that the amplifier could be faulty ?

Thanks...
Appreciate 0
      01-10-2016, 07:58 PM   #2
tdgesq
Private First Class
4
Rep
145
Posts

Drives: 335xi
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Pacific N.W.

iTrader: (0)

I really don't know that much about the Alpine retrofit, but when you lack the entire signal from the amp to the left side of the car it suggests there is a connection problem between the head unit and the amp. There should be at least two low-level inputs from the head unit to the amp; one for the left channel and one for the right channel. If you can figure out on the wiring harness to your amp which connectors these are, you can use the probes on a digital multi-meter to see if you are receiving the signal from the head unit to the amp on the left side.
Appreciate 0
      01-11-2016, 03:04 PM   #3
anees
Second Lieutenant
anees's Avatar
United Kingdom
61
Rep
208
Posts

Drives: E90 330i Sport
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Woking, England

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by tdgesq View Post
I really don't know that much about the Alpine retrofit, but when you lack the entire signal from the amp to the left side of the car it suggests there is a connection problem between the head unit and the amp. There should be at least two low-level inputs from the head unit to the amp; one for the left channel and one for the right channel. If you can figure out on the wiring harness to your amp which connectors these are, you can use the probes on a digital multi-meter to see if you are receiving the signal from the head unit to the amp on the left side.
Thanks, I will give this a try.

However, what kind of signal am I measuring here ? Electrical in between a certain volt range 9 - 12 V as I have the professional head unit.

or ohms ?
Appreciate 0
      01-11-2016, 04:05 PM   #4
ctuna
Lieutenant General
1911
Rep
13,101
Posts

Drives: 325xi 06 wagon MT
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Santa Cruz, Ca

iTrader: (0)

You could use a speaker to check for audio

You could use a speaker to check for audio.
especially if you haven't reprogrammed the head unit
The normal output from the base system is speaker level
head unit but since music will varry a lot in amplitude
it will be hard to measure with out a pure sign wave input.
It's AC Volts.
. Are you sure all the switches on your amp are correct.
Also I would measure resistance at the output of the amp.
You can compare the working channels to the non working
channel to see if there the same. (while the radio is off)

If you are near London this guy
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=704363
can help
Appreciate 0
      01-11-2016, 07:45 PM   #5
tdgesq
Private First Class
4
Rep
145
Posts

Drives: 335xi
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Pacific N.W.

iTrader: (0)

ctuna is correct in the essentials here. It's AC Volts, and you should just start on the highest setting and work your way down. I can't tell what setting to use without knowing whether these are speaker level inputs or something else. You should be able to tell even at the highest setting whether you are receiving any voltage from the inputs.

I generally hesitate to use the "hook up the speaker" method to see if you have output from the head unit. If it's preamplifier level, you will barely be able to hear it. On the other hand, if it's 30 watts full signal you can smoke the test speaker.
Appreciate 0
      01-11-2016, 07:56 PM   #6
ctuna
Lieutenant General
1911
Rep
13,101
Posts

Drives: 325xi 06 wagon MT
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Santa Cruz, Ca

iTrader: (0)

If its the base unit it barely has 25 watts

If its the base unit it barely has 25 watts on a good day
and the voltage out is likely to be 10 to 15 ac.
on a loud music passage.And that would be with the volume all the
way up.
Appreciate 0
      01-11-2016, 08:01 PM   #7
tdgesq
Private First Class
4
Rep
145
Posts

Drives: 335xi
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Pacific N.W.

iTrader: (0)

Understood, but plenty to smoke a tweeter in no time.
Appreciate 0
      01-11-2016, 08:28 PM   #8
ctuna
Lieutenant General
1911
Rep
13,101
Posts

Drives: 325xi 06 wagon MT
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Santa Cruz, Ca

iTrader: (0)

Well I I don't think you need to use a tweeter

Well I I don't think you need to use a tweeter
any cheap 4 or 8 ohm speaker will do.
If you want to do it right you get a o scope but most
people don't have one.
I am betting this is a connection problem most likely inside
the doors. Easily checked by measuring speaker resistance at
the amp.
Appreciate 0
      01-11-2016, 08:42 PM   #9
anees
Second Lieutenant
anees's Avatar
United Kingdom
61
Rep
208
Posts

Drives: E90 330i Sport
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Woking, England

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by ctuna View Post
You could use a speaker to check for audio.
especially if you haven't reprogrammed the head unit
The normal output from the base system is speaker level
head unit but since music will varry a lot in amplitude
it will be hard to measure with out a pure sign wave input.
It's AC Volts.
. Are you sure all the switches on your amp are correct.
Also I would measure resistance at the output of the amp.
You can compare the working channels to the non working
channel to see if there the same. (while the radio is off)

If you are near London this guy
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=704363
can help
There is only one switch on the amp... Either a 1 or 2 position.
I have this set to 2

I do have the original speaker to use as a test, but do I simply just hook it up
to the wires from the head unit? As the mid bass is under the seat and gets its feed from
the head unit, will this be fine?

I live in Woking but commute to Luton everyday
Appreciate 0
      01-11-2016, 08:46 PM   #10
anees
Second Lieutenant
anees's Avatar
United Kingdom
61
Rep
208
Posts

Drives: E90 330i Sport
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Woking, England

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by ctuna View Post
Well I I don't think you need to use a tweeter
any cheap 4 or 8 ohm speaker will do.
If you want to do it right you get a o scope but most
people don't have one.
I am betting this is a connection problem most likely inside
the doors. Easily checked by measuring speaker resistance at
the amp.
I'm hoping this is a connection problem and not a faulty amp.
However, even before I installed the door mids and tweeters, I noticed the problem with the left side getting no sound.

I initially thought that as they're wired in series, I would have to wire everything up first, before getting full sound?
Appreciate 0
      01-11-2016, 10:32 PM   #11
ctuna
Lieutenant General
1911
Rep
13,101
Posts

Drives: 325xi 06 wagon MT
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Santa Cruz, Ca

iTrader: (0)

Base system = the doors are wired in parallel with

Base system = the doors are wired in parallel with the floors.
I think the Alpine system changes that.
There is a DIY in the DIY section I think . There are two versions
of the kit also.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ghlight=Alpine

Last edited by ctuna; 01-11-2016 at 10:37 PM..
Appreciate 0
      01-12-2016, 04:52 PM   #12
anees
Second Lieutenant
anees's Avatar
United Kingdom
61
Rep
208
Posts

Drives: E90 330i Sport
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Woking, England

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by ctuna View Post
Base system = the doors are wired in parallel with the floors.
I think the Alpine system changes that.
There is a DIY in the DIY section I think . There are two versions
of the kit also.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ghlight=Alpine
I looked at the amp and the wiring harness again, and then I double checked the splices. They're all fine.

But for some strange reason, my harness does not have this filter on the power supply ( i'm stealing this pic from the UK monster thread ):

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...&postcount=590

Then look at the picture in post 591. This guy is querying the extra points on the harness.

Maybe I have the wrong harness as i seem to have extra wires?? My picture is the second one.
Attached Images
  
Appreciate 0
      01-12-2016, 07:35 PM   #13
ctuna
Lieutenant General
1911
Rep
13,101
Posts

Drives: 325xi 06 wagon MT
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Santa Cruz, Ca

iTrader: (0)

Better get in touch with Sam

Better get in touch with Sam aka Makkan00

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=704363
Appreciate 0
      01-13-2016, 12:41 AM   #14
anees
Second Lieutenant
anees's Avatar
United Kingdom
61
Rep
208
Posts

Drives: E90 330i Sport
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Woking, England

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by ctuna View Post
Better get in touch with Sam aka Makkan00

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=704363
Cheers, I will post a message in the UK coders thread.

You know, I have the Parrot CK3100 installed. It came with the car. It doesn't work well and always gives me a memory full error.

I understand that it needs to splice into the head unit wires, etc. . And I'm wondering now....
Appreciate 0
      01-13-2016, 04:28 PM   #15
anees
Second Lieutenant
anees's Avatar
United Kingdom
61
Rep
208
Posts

Drives: E90 330i Sport
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Woking, England

iTrader: (0)

Bloody hell. I solved it or think so.
I removed all the Parrot wiring then reconnected the standard SOT back to the head unit.

Initially, I got no sound again on the left side and was about to resign to a faulty amp. Whilst positioning the head unit back into the frame, I managed to get sound from the left. Whoaaarrr..

As I put the head unit back, sound went off again. Now I knew it was a faulty connection. Turns out that from the SOT wiring, I have a mini- harness that goes into the head unit. A white and blue cable was faulty. I tried to reseat this cable firmly into the mini -harness /SOT connection and I got sound again.

Now I'm positive that before I did the Alpine retrofit, I got sound from the left. I don't know what the purpose of this cable is?

Can we mark this thread as solved please?

Last edited by anees; 01-13-2016 at 04:32 PM.. Reason: Mark thread as solved
Appreciate 0
      01-13-2016, 05:07 PM   #16
CH14SE_E
Private First Class
CH14SE_E's Avatar
United Kingdom
37
Rep
168
Posts

Drives: '11 e91 318d M-Sport Plus LCI
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: London, England

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by anees View Post
Bloody hell. I solved it or think so.
I removed all the Parrot wiring then reconnected the standard SOT back to the head unit.

Initially, I got no sound again on the left side and was about to resign to a faulty amp. Whilst positioning the head unit back into the frame, I managed to get sound from the left. Whoaaarrr..

As I put the head unit back, sound went off again. Now I knew it was a faulty connection. Turns out that from the SOT wiring, I have a mini- harness that goes into the head unit. A white and blue cable was faulty. I tried to reseat this cable firmly into the mini -harness /SOT connection and I got sound again.

Now I'm positive that before I did the Alpine retrofit, I got sound from the left. I don't know what the purpose of this cable is?

Can we mark this thread as solved please?
As it happens, the left side audio in (from HU to AMP and AMP to MID crossover) is a blue & white cable!! The right is Blue & Black. Sounds like you've Sussed it mate.
Appreciate 0
      01-13-2016, 06:07 PM   #17
CH14SE_E
Private First Class
CH14SE_E's Avatar
United Kingdom
37
Rep
168
Posts

Drives: '11 e91 318d M-Sport Plus LCI
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: London, England

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Played the new stereo to my girlfriend tonight. First time she's heard it since I went from Base system to a JL Audio / Focul KRS System...... I faded it all to the rear to fool her into thinking it was a bit shit, then when she showed her unimpressed reaction, sacked it back to front!!.... Thought she'd give me a better reaction still. Here's the link to the video I managed to stealth ;p

Best with headphones!!

Appreciate 0
      01-13-2016, 08:50 PM   #18
tdgesq
Private First Class
4
Rep
145
Posts

Drives: 335xi
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Pacific N.W.

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by anees View Post
Bloody hell. I solved it or think so.
I removed all the Parrot wiring then reconnected the standard SOT back to the head unit.

Initially, I got no sound again on the left side and was about to resign to a faulty amp. Whilst positioning the head unit back into the frame, I managed to get sound from the left. Whoaaarrr..

As I put the head unit back, sound went off again. Now I knew it was a faulty connection. Turns out that from the SOT wiring, I have a mini- harness that goes into the head unit. A white and blue cable was faulty. I tried to reseat this cable firmly into the mini -harness /SOT connection and I got sound again.

Now I'm positive that before I did the Alpine retrofit, I got sound from the left. I don't know what the purpose of this cable is?

Can we mark this thread as solved please?
Yes! I know how badly it sucks to be without sound in a channel after a new install. So happy you figured it out.
Appreciate 0
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
alpine, kit, problem


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:30 PM.




e90post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST