JBL MS-8 Installation DIY?

Euro_man · 09-24-2010, 02:22 AM

I know there is a MS-8 intergration thread but has anyone done a DIY with pics of how they installed all the wires to the head deck and amplifiers etc?

I just got mine today and its giving me a headache even contemplating where to start and what needs to be done.

akhter · 09-24-2010, 11:23 AM

Get an installer to do it. I don't recommend messing with the complex wires unless you are confident about what you ar doing.

fdriller9 · 09-24-2010, 01:22 PM

I don't have experience with the MS-8...yet. However I'm guessing you just need to wire a power, ground, and REM lead. Cut the OEM (output) harness and extend those wires to the MS-8 for the speakers. Or rewire the speakers and bring them to the MS-8.

Get the wiring diagram by searching the Audio forum and match the outputs to the inputs on the MS-8.

VP Electricity · 09-24-2010, 01:29 PM

First off, you should usually ignore ahktar totally.

Secondly, no, there is not a DIY guide - too many permutations.

If the thought makes you queasy, you shouldn't do a DIY. DIYs are for people who like figuring this stuff out, man. But many "pro" installers don't do well at it either.

Which system your car have?

What system implementation you planning on?

kmarei · 09-24-2010, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akhter

Get an installer to do it. I don't recommend messing with the complex wires unless you are confident about what you are doing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by VP Electricity

First off, you should usually ignore ahktar totally.
Secondly, no, there is not a DIY guide - too many permutations.

If the thought makes you queasy, you shouldn't do a DIY. DIYs are for people who like figuring this stuff out, man. But many "pro" installers don't do well at it either.

you are giving pretty much the same advice as the guy you told us to ignore

VP Electricity · 09-24-2010, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmarei

you are giving pretty much the same advice as the guy you told us to ignore

1) Why I said "usually"

2) Stopped clock is right twice a day. Read his AV posts.

kaigoss69 · 09-24-2010, 04:44 PM

Get Technic's harness. Perhaps if you send the speaker out and in connector plugs of the MS-8 to Technic, he could even connect them for you!? If not, he can probably give you the color codes for the connections. After that, it would be almost plug-n-play, and just hooking up the power connections.

Technic · 09-24-2010, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Euro_man

I know there is a MS-8 intergration thread but has anyone done a DIY with pics of how they installed all the wires to the head deck and amplifiers etc?

I just got mine today and its giving me a headache even contemplating where to start and what needs to be done.

If you post what system you have I could sell you a complete harness so you can install the MS-8 directly to your sound system without cutting any OEM wires. But that is assuming that you know how to remove the OEM HU/trim from your car.

If not then you should go to a professional, as even with my harnesses I still have to explain some times to installers how to connect it although there's only one way to do it.

808MGuy · 09-25-2010, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Technic

I still have to explain some times to installers how to connect it although there's only one way to do it.

These are pro installers? That's kind of sad. No wonder everyone is scared to do stuff to their car. If there's pros out there that can screw up a simple harness install, that doesn't do much for your confidence as a DIY. Seems like the good guys like VP are few and far in between.

kaishang · 09-25-2010, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VP Electricity

Which system your car have?

He's got the base audio. The base base audio with 6 speakers, no tweeters and everything driven off the head unit.

VP Electricity · 09-25-2010, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 808MGuy

These are pro installers? That's kind of sad. No wonder everyone is scared to do stuff to their car. If there's pros out there that can screw up a simple harness install, that doesn't do much for your confidence as a DIY. Seems like the good guys like VP are few and far in between.

I know of two guys - not dumb guys by any means, but in a hurry and not thinking - who left the MOST cables in the car-side Quadlock and didn't move them to the T-harness Quadlock. Then when ASSIST and Bluetooth and iPod didn't work...

Technic · 09-25-2010, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 808MGuy

These are pro installers? That's kind of sad. No wonder everyone is scared to do stuff to their car. If there's pros out there that can screw up a simple harness install, that doesn't do much for your confidence as a DIY. Seems like the good guys like VP are few and far in between.

I guess that the problem is one of pro-installers education, not of skills. With so much information available on forums, on "pay-per-view" sites (i.e., AllData, BMWTIS) and the proliferation of so many digital OEM audio systems still some installers are doing their jobs like autobots, like their installs in their 80's are still the norm in the 21st century. Very few are really in the business of studying like it is really a profession, just doing IMO.

I'm not a pro-installer, but I really like to know my cars just for the mere fact that even service techs at dealers can't even read their own OEM documents and SIBs, not so much because of audio systems.

Xaero · 06-12-2011, 02:45 PM

I am looking for a DIY also.. At least a wiring diagram would help.

VP Electricity · 06-12-2011, 02:53 PM

The manual is the first step. The JBL online resources with vehicle lookup should be the second.

Xaero · 06-13-2011, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VP Electricity

The manual is the first step. The JBL online resources with vehicle lookup should be the second.

Manual is a given.. I was looking for wiring diagram of the BMW side of things.. I don't see where a vehicle lookup is on the JBL site.

kaigoss69 · 06-13-2011, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xaero

Manual is a given.. I was looking for wiring diagram of the BMW side of things.. I don't see where a vehicle lookup is on the JBL site.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=138949

Get Technic's harness for the connections, you'll thank me later!

HellsBells · 06-13-2011, 02:40 PM

I had "professionals" install my MS-8 and when it sounded like crap when they were done I had to end up correcting their mistakes myself. Start by reading the install instructions from the MS-8, look at the disk and read the main JBL MS-8 install thread and you will do fine. BTW it sounds fantastic now, except that I have found that my center channel is blown now that it is configured correctly...

09-24-2010, 02:22 AM	#1
Euro_man Private 12 Rep 90 Posts Drives: 06 320i M Sport Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Gold Coast iTrader: (0)	JBL MS-8 Installation DIY? I know there is a MS-8 intergration thread but has anyone done a DIY with pics of how they installed all the wires to the head deck and amplifiers etc? I just got mine today and its giving me a headache even contemplating where to start and what needs to be done.
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09-24-2010, 11:23 AM	#2
akhter Lieutenant Colonel 437 Rep 1,694 Posts Drives: 911 992 C2S Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hong Kong iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW X5 M Sport ... [0.00] 2007 335i M Sport E90 [10.00]	Get an installer to do it. I don't recommend messing with the complex wires unless you are confident about what you ar doing. __________________ Current 2021 Porsche 911 992 C2S Sold 2021 X7/2018 X5/2014 X5 Sold 2013 520i/2010 325i Sold E90 335i M Sport Alpine White\|Tokyo Sold E36 328i Jet Black\|NYC
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09-24-2010, 01:22 PM	#3
fdriller9 Banned 260 Rep 7,089 Posts Drives: '06 AW 330xi Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North Jersey/Philly/NYC iTrader: (4) Garage List 2006 330xi [6.44]	I don't have experience with the MS-8...yet. However I'm guessing you just need to wire a power, ground, and REM lead. Cut the OEM (output) harness and extend those wires to the MS-8 for the speakers. Or rewire the speakers and bring them to the MS-8. Get the wiring diagram by searching the Audio forum and match the outputs to the inputs on the MS-8.
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09-24-2010, 01:29 PM	#4
VP Electricity Brigadier General 294 Rep 3,201 Posts Drives: F34 xDrive Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: portland oregon iTrader: (3)	First off, you should usually ignore ahktar totally. Secondly, no, there is not a DIY guide - too many permutations. If the thought makes you queasy, you shouldn't do a DIY. DIYs are for people who like figuring this stuff out, man. But many "pro" installers don't do well at it either. Which system your car have? What system implementation you planning on?
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09-24-2010, 04:44 PM	#7
kaigoss69 Brigadier General 301 Rep 3,969 Posts Drives: '08 335i Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: JAX iTrader: (6)	Get Technic's harness. Perhaps if you send the speaker out and in connector plugs of the MS-8 to Technic, he could even connect them for you!? If not, he can probably give you the color codes for the connections. After that, it would be almost plug-n-play, and just hooking up the power connections.
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06-12-2011, 02:45 PM	#13
Xaero Private First Class 9 Rep 184 Posts Drives: Black 335i e92 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Louisiana iTrader: (0)	I am looking for a DIY also.. At least a wiring diagram would help. __________________ 2009 e92 335i 6spd :: Black Sapphire Metallic :: Coral Red :: Work Gnosis GS4 Wheels (20x8.5+32/20x9.5+35) :: Bronze Rays Lug Nuts :: AngeliBright v3 :: PROcede v4 :: Injen DCI :: Clutch Stop :: B&G S2 Sport Springs :: Matte Black Kidney Grilles :: Tinted Taillights :: Escort Passport 9500ix :: Samsung S1 160GB HDD
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06-12-2011, 02:53 PM	#14
VP Electricity Brigadier General 294 Rep 3,201 Posts Drives: F34 xDrive Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: portland oregon iTrader: (3)	The manual is the first step. The JBL online resources with vehicle lookup should be the second.
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06-13-2011, 02:40 PM	#17
HellsBells Private First Class 5 Rep 185 Posts Drives: 335xi Join Date: May 2011 Location: Maryland iTrader: (1)	I had "professionals" install my MS-8 and when it sounded like crap when they were done I had to end up correcting their mistakes myself. Start by reading the install instructions from the MS-8, look at the disk and read the main JBL MS-8 install thread and you will do fine. BTW it sounds fantastic now, except that I have found that my center channel is blown now that it is configured correctly...
	Appreciate 0 Quote