To Bose or not to Bose
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
To Bose or not to Bose
I just purchased a ’91 convertible with only 13,300 miles on it. It has the Bose Gold system which I knew didn’t work before I bought it. I had learned on this forum that they fail with age not use, so it’s not surprising despite the low mileage. I also learned that even after they’re repaired, they’re still prone to failure, although opinions seem to be split on that.
While I’d like to keep the car stock since it’s still virtually like a brand new car, I’m not sure I want to sink as much or more money into repairing the Bose than it would cost for a nice new modern replacement system. I still need to diagnose which components need to be repaired, but even if it’s only one of the three components (speakers, head unit, receiver box), I would have to assume that one or both of the others will go out sooner or later. So I’m leaning towards replacing the whole thing and just keeping the original parts for possible future use or inclusion with the car if/when I sell it, but I need to give it some thought.
I’ve read a lot of posts, but there’s so much out there it’s hard to sort it all out, and I’m still wondering a few things I hope someone can help me with:
If I install a new head unit and speakers,
1) I assume that I would need to wire the speakers directly from the new head unit since the current speaker wires actually come out of the CDM, correct?
I read the following post from about a decade ago:
"Some people have claimed you have to completely rewire the sound system in a C4 to replace the Bose system. Not really, unless you're putting something in that's running a lot more juice through the wires. You can get a new head unit in there with common adapter kits. At the speaker end, you will need to cut the wires leading to the Bose amps and run the wires straight to the speakers. I cut mine downstream of the connector to the Bose amp so that the stock wiring harness itself is completely unmolested."
If this guy did it, I suppose it works, but others have said you have to run separate speaker wires. Do the speaker wires come out of the head unit or the CDM? Event if they go THROUGH the CDM I would have thought that wouldn't work.
2) Do I need to disconnect the CDM in some way? I’m wondering if it will still be powered up if I don’t.
3) I assume I can use a harness adapter kit to connect everything else on the new head unit (power, ground, antenna power, etc.) to the factory harness even if I don’t use the speaker wires in the factory harness. Would that be correct?
Considering how difficult it seems to be to get the CDM out, I’d rather leave it in there if I’m going the system replacement route.
While I’d like to keep the car stock since it’s still virtually like a brand new car, I’m not sure I want to sink as much or more money into repairing the Bose than it would cost for a nice new modern replacement system. I still need to diagnose which components need to be repaired, but even if it’s only one of the three components (speakers, head unit, receiver box), I would have to assume that one or both of the others will go out sooner or later. So I’m leaning towards replacing the whole thing and just keeping the original parts for possible future use or inclusion with the car if/when I sell it, but I need to give it some thought.
I’ve read a lot of posts, but there’s so much out there it’s hard to sort it all out, and I’m still wondering a few things I hope someone can help me with:
If I install a new head unit and speakers,
1) I assume that I would need to wire the speakers directly from the new head unit since the current speaker wires actually come out of the CDM, correct?
I read the following post from about a decade ago:
"Some people have claimed you have to completely rewire the sound system in a C4 to replace the Bose system. Not really, unless you're putting something in that's running a lot more juice through the wires. You can get a new head unit in there with common adapter kits. At the speaker end, you will need to cut the wires leading to the Bose amps and run the wires straight to the speakers. I cut mine downstream of the connector to the Bose amp so that the stock wiring harness itself is completely unmolested."
If this guy did it, I suppose it works, but others have said you have to run separate speaker wires. Do the speaker wires come out of the head unit or the CDM? Event if they go THROUGH the CDM I would have thought that wouldn't work.
2) Do I need to disconnect the CDM in some way? I’m wondering if it will still be powered up if I don’t.
3) I assume I can use a harness adapter kit to connect everything else on the new head unit (power, ground, antenna power, etc.) to the factory harness even if I don’t use the speaker wires in the factory harness. Would that be correct?
Considering how difficult it seems to be to get the CDM out, I’d rather leave it in there if I’m going the system replacement route.
#2
Melting Slicks
Not to Bose.. if you are going to spend money, do it on quality after market components. Rewire, do not cut factory harness in case you change your mind later on..