METRA
METRA 70-8590 BMW 1990-2002 17-pin wiring harness
17-pin harness connects an aftermarket radio to select 1990-2002 BMW factory wiring without cutting
- TypeInstallation Tools
- Plug-and-play install with 17-pin factory connector
- No wire cutting needed for BMW 1990-2002 models
- Direct power and four-speaker hookup via colour-coded leads
- Designed for non-amplified BMW systems only
- Matches Metra 70-8590 specification exactly
17-pin BMW harness
This 17-pin wiring harness connects an aftermarket radio to the factory wiring in select BMW models from 1990 through 2002. It is designed for non-amplified vehicles and carries power plus four speaker channels. No cutting of the original harness is required.
Sustained load behaviour
The harness passes constant 12 V, accessory 12 V, ground and dimmer signals alongside four pairs of speaker wires. Because it simply routes factory circuits, performance under sustained load depends entirely on the vehicle’s original wiring and the aftermarket radio’s current draw.
Installation and common issues
The plug mates with the factory connector at the radio location and colour-coded leads match the supplied pin-out list. Installation fails if the vehicle has a factory amplifier, because this harness only supports non-amplified systems. Verify the car is in the supported range before starting.
Highlights
- Plug-and-play install with 17-pin factory connector
- No wire cutting needed for BMW 1990-2002 models
- Direct power and four-speaker hookup via colour-coded leads
- Designed for non-amplified BMW systems only
- Matches Metra 70-8590 specification exactly
Specifications
| Brand | Metra |
|---|---|
| Type | Installation Tools |
Questions about this item
Does the 17-pin harness draw any parasitic current that could drain the battery when the car sits for weeks?
The harness itself is passive wiring; only the aftermarket radio you connect will draw standby current, so any drain depends on that radio's spec, not the harness.
My BMW has the factory amplifier — will the 17-pin plug still give me speaker outputs?
This harness is for non-amplified vehicles only; it provides four speaker wires but does not interface with a factory amp, so you would need a different adapter.
I'm keeping the original steering-wheel controls — does the 17-pin connector include the CAN-Bus or resistive wires they need?
The 17-pin plug carries only constant power, accessory power, ground, illumination dimmer and four speaker pairs; steering-wheel control signals are not included.
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