Procedure
1. Removal of the Rear Storage Compartment and CoverPlace the top in the down position.
Remove the cupholder or cassette storage bin from the center console. Remove the 4.8 x 24 mm self tapping screw from the center console.
Remove the LH and RH rear center a console 4.2 x 12 mm self tapping screws (see arrows).
Pull up on rear area of center console. Grasp storage bin retainer piece (from behind center console) and pull up retainer piece to release it from the storage bin.
Remove the two 4.2 x 14 mm self tapping screws that secure the forward part of the rear storage compartment.
Remove the three 4.8 x 16 mm self tapping screws with large flat washers from the bottom rear edge of the rear storage compartment. (Some vehicles may have plastic caps over these screws which must be removed to gain access).
Note:
These plastic trim covers are position specific, i.e. there are LH, Center and RH trim cover pieces.
Open the storage compartment cover and remove the two 4.8 x 26 mm self tapping screws from the LH and RH inner storage bin area. Pull up on the rear storage compartment and carefully remove it from the vehicle. (On vehicles with factory installed subwoofer, remove subwoofer compartment leaving subwoofer box in the vehicle).
2. Installing the Pair of Rear Mid Range Speakers
Remove the caps and the three (see item 1) 4.2 x 14 mm self tapping screws from the LH upper rear trim panel.
Remove the LH upper rear trim panel to gain access into the LH lower rear trim panel area. Following the same procedure, remove the RH upper rear trim panel to gain access into the RH lower rear trim panel area.
Starting at the step edge (point 1) measure 2-1/4" down (dimension B) and draw a horizontal line. Starting from the same point (1) measure 3 3/4" across (dimension A) and draw a vertical line. Mark the crossing of these two lines (point 2) with a center punch. Drill a 7/32" pilot hole at this location.
Using a 3 " diameter hole saw, cut a hole as indicated in the LH and RH lower rear trim panels.
Using a Dremel Moto-Tool (or equivalent high speed hand drill) fitted with a drum sander bit and a coarse 60 grit band, remove the plastic reinforcing ribs within a 3/8" wide circular area around the 3" diameter speaker holes on the inside of the speaker box.
Important:
Removal of the inner plastic reinforcing ribs is necessary so that the speakers can be mounted flush with the panel.
Using a vacuum cleaner remove all debris that was created by the drilling and grinding of the mid range speaker holes.
Cut and remove the cable tie from each speaker. Unplug the 14" green and green/black wire harness connected to each speaker. You may discard this wire harness since it will not be used in this installation.
Install a speaker (item 1) in the LH lower rear trim panel with the speaker connector (item 3) facing the center of the vehicle and secure in place with a loudspeaker threaded ring (item 2).
Do the same on the RH side.
3. Routing the Rear Mid Range Speaker Wire Harness
Before proceeding, remove fuse # 33 (trunk light) from the main distribution box.
With roof partially open, from the passenger compartment side temporarily move back the lining material located behind the LH roll bar tube and locate the grommet (item 1). Attach the 2 harness cable ends to a snake wire and push approx. 12" of harness through the grommet into the trunk.
Use only the left side grommet to route the harness. On the right side the wire would interfere with the battery cable.
Route the RH speaker wire pair (item 1, blue and black wires) and LH speaker wire pair (item 2, yellow and green wires) and connect them to the mid range speakers.
VERY IMPORTANT:
Make sure the wire harness does not interfere with the seat belt reel. Use cable ties to secure the speaker harness.
Later on pull all excess speaker wire harness through the grommet (see item 3) into the LH forward corner trunk area.
Z3 produced through 5/96 only
Remove the four trunk trim retainer plugs (see arrows). Remove the two trunk plugs from the trunk trim panel located below the four previously removed trim retainer plugs. Pull down slightly on the LH corner area of the trunk trim panel to expose the grommet.
Remove the center M6 bolt and loosen the two M6 bolts that secure the audio amplifier mounting bracket to the upper trunk panel.
Disconnect the two cable connectors, (item 1, item 2) from the LH side of the audio amplifier and remove the audio amplifier/mounting bracket assembly from the trunk.
Locate the speaker wire pairs (item 3) that were previously positioned into the LH forward corner of the trunk.
Z3 produced after 5/96 only
Remove the seven trunk trim retainer plugs, the forward trunk trim panel to expose the audio wire harness and the amplifier mounted on the right hand side.
Route the speaker harness from the grommet (item 1) parallel to the existing harness (item 2) so that the female terminal ends are positioned by the 26-pin Siemens connector (item 5). Secure the speaker harness along the existing harness with cable ties (see arrows) as shown.
Disconnect the two cable connectors (item 4, item 5) from the amplifier (item 3).
Remove the two M6 hex nuts to remove the audio amplifier/bracket assembly from the trunk.
4. Modification of the Audio Amplifier Connector
Locate the 26 pin SIEMENS connector (item 5 on the previous illustration).
Depending which connector you will find:
- either remove the lid
(Hold the connector cover with one hand while slightly pulling the wires out of the cover with the other hand to remove the female housing.)
- or use a small screw driver to unfasten the housing.
(Hold the connector cover with one hand while slightly pulling the wires out of the cover with the other hand to remove the female housing.)
Modify the 26 pin SIEMENS connector:
Position the desired wire color SIEMENS female terminal as indicated and push it into the SIEMENS connector housing.
Make sure the female terminal is positioned in the connector housing so that the locking tab is facing outward enabling it to lock in the rectangular shaped opening.
Note:
If for any reason, the female terminals have to be removed from the SIEMENS connector housing, push down on the female terminal locking tab (with a small blunt object like the open end of a paper clip) while at the same time pull out the wire.
Position the female housing into the connector cover and secure in place with the lid.
Position the female housing into the connector cover until the latch locks.
Secure the two speaker wire sets to the other wires of the 26 pin SIEMENS connector with cable ties. Any excess length of the two speaker wire sets should be positioned behind the trunk partition trim panel.
5. Replacing the Audio Amplifier
Remove the original audio amplifier from the mounting bracket by removing the three M6 bolts.
Replace the amplifier.
Reinstall audio amplifier/mounting bracket assembly in its trunk position.
6. Reinstallation
Test the audio system to verify that the retrofit pair of mid range speakers and replacement audio amplifier function properly.
Reinstall all previously removed trunk items.
Reinstall all previously removed parts of the storage compartment.
Pull up on the rear area of center console and position storage bin retainer piece (from behind center console) while positioning storage bin until it locks into place.
Install the LH and RH rear most center console 4.2 x 12 mm self taping screws with flat washers.
Install the 4.8 x 24 mm self taping screw with flat washer in the center console. Reinstall fuse # 33 in the main distribution box.