How to connect aftermarket amp to basic stereo

carl_t · 12-27-2017, 07:17 AM

Hi all
I want to connect an aftermarket amp to my 2014 bmw f30 with basic stereo.

Can anyone tell me the best way to do this? And are there any harnesses for the job?

Cheers

drivethrurecfan · 01-09-2018, 01:52 PM

I used a custom F30 AMP harness from eBay that had pre-built RCA's. I believe in the UK your base stereo may be wired differently than the US. In the UK, I believe the base model stereo does not have an external amplifier, the speakers are powered directly by the head unit. Can you confirm if you have an amp in your trunk?

If you have an amp in the trunk, the harness with the prebuilt RCA's is extremely helpful.

if you DO NOT have an amp in the trunk, you will need to buy line converters, or use an amp with one built in to convert the speaker output of 30~watts into an RCA line (not the cleanest sounding method, but still works)

JneneJ · 02-14-2018, 10:07 PM

Why is there only 2 sets of rcas? I want to hook up an amp with that same harness but if I have 6 channel amp we're would I hook up the third rca pair?

THE_AVIATOR · 02-15-2018, 07:56 PM

The headunit outputs sound in four lines! 2 to the front speakers (via the underseat subs) and 2 to the rear speakers. You need to take that and depending on your amp, channel it into the speakers.

12-27-2017, 07:17 AM	#1
carl_t New Member 0 Rep 8 Posts Drives: F30 320d Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Staffordshire uk iTrader: (0)	How to connect aftermarket amp to basic stereo Hi all I want to connect an aftermarket amp to my 2014 bmw f30 with basic stereo. Can anyone tell me the best way to do this? And are there any harnesses for the job? Cheers
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01-09-2018, 01:52 PM	#2
drivethrurecfan Private 64 Rep 85 Posts Drives: G30 540i Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: San Diego, CA iTrader: (0)	I used a custom F30 AMP harness from eBay that had pre-built RCA's. I believe in the UK your base stereo may be wired differently than the US. In the UK, I believe the base model stereo does not have an external amplifier, the speakers are powered directly by the head unit. Can you confirm if you have an amp in your trunk? If you have an amp in the trunk, the harness with the prebuilt RCA's is extremely helpful. if you DO NOT have an amp in the trunk, you will need to buy line converters, or use an amp with one built in to convert the speaker output of 30~watts into an RCA line (not the cleanest sounding method, but still works)
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02-14-2018, 10:07 PM	#3
JneneJ Private 8 Rep 61 Posts Drives: 2018 320i Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Newark ca iTrader: (0)	Why is there only 2 sets of rcas? I want to hook up an amp with that same harness but if I have 6 channel amp we're would I hook up the third rca pair? __________________ Jb
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02-15-2018, 07:56 PM	#4
THE_AVIATOR Private First Class 15 Rep 106 Posts Drives: F30 320i LCI M-Sport Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Egypt iTrader: (0)	The headunit outputs sound in four lines! 2 to the front speakers (via the underseat subs) and 2 to the rear speakers. You need to take that and depending on your amp, channel it into the speakers.
	Appreciate 0 Quote