Question on BMW 3-Series E36 Radio

I'm trying to install a Pioneer DEH-X6900BT in my 2002 z3. The adapter harness I have has 4 RCA cables to go to the back of the new head unit and red, blue, black, yellow wires. I have the RCA cables connected, and I've hooked in the red, yellow, black with the corresponding wires from the harness that came with the new radio. I wasn't getting any sound. I read online to connect the blue wire from the adapter harness to the red wiring. I now have sound, but it isn't strong. ANything else I need to be connecting up?

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This post was auto-generated based upon a question asked on our tech article page here: BMW E30/E36 Radio Head Unit Installation | 3-Series (1983-1999) | Pelican Parts DIY Maitenance Article

[Nick at Pelican Parts]

I am not sure. Pioneer or the adapter company should have wiring diagram you can use in conjunction with a BMW diagram.

- Nick

[baconred]

I've got wiring diagrams coming out my ears. The 2002 BMW ones don't account for the RCA cables. None of them tell me that I needed to hook the blue wire from the adapter harness to the red wires from the ignition to get any sound at all out of the speakers.
I have an adapter harness that takes the old BMW wiring from the car and translates that into 4 RCA cables and 4 free wires (red, yellow, black, blue). I have the harness that came with the radio, that gives me all the loose wires in all the colors. I think the RCA hookups make most of those colored wires redundant, but from what I read, I need to hook something up to signal the amp in the trunk to turn itself on. I have a blue wire from the adapter harness that is hooked into the red wiring to get minimal sound. I have a blue and white wire coming from the radio wiring harness, I have a blue wire that is part of the adapter for the antenna. And I don't have any sound coming through the speakers until the volume is almost all the way on full.

Do I need a different adapter harness that just gives me loose wires and not the RCA cables? Do I need to splice it all color to color and see what happens?

[Luccia at Pelican Parts]

Hello! If you want Nick to answer your question please post another comment at the bottom of the article you first left a comment on here: BMW E30/E36 Radio Head Unit Installation | 3-Series (1983-1999) | Pelican Parts DIY Maitenance Article. That is where he is able to see and respond to you. Let me know if you have any questions.