harmony to symphony wiring question

jon75v6 · 1st June 2009, 18:43

right i currently have the harmony stereo but want to get the symphony upgrade, however a lot of people say you need an adaptor lead.
my question is i have the bmw connection also have the adapter lead for my factory fit cd changer . Am i wrong in thinking that surely all i need is a bmw to iso adaptor and it will work

StevenWilliams · 1st June 2009, 19:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by jon75v6

Am i wrong in thinking that surely all i need is a bmw to iso adaptor and it will work

You are indeed correct. The Symphony unit has a standard ISO connector.

jon75v6 · 1st June 2009, 19:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by StevenWilliams

You are indeed correct. The Symphony unit has a standard ISO connector.

And the cd changer will still work?

raykay · 1st June 2009, 19:46

The Symphony will work with just a BMW to ISO adapter lead, but if you want to connect the CD changer you will need the adapter lead VUL100330.

The normal aftermarket BMW to ISO adapter leads usually only have 13 (of the 17 pins in the BMW plug) connected through, the missing ones are: Steering wheel controls (2), Phone Mute and K-Bus.

The Symphony does not have the K-Bus connection in the main ISO plugs, it is in the mini ISO plug in the adapter lead used for the CD Changer, and it needs the K-Bus to communicate with the changer.

slimsi · 1st June 2009, 20:51

Les at SMC has the leads in stock that do the Harmony - Symphony upgrade, I picked up a brand new Symphony this weekend and just need the lead. Here is the link: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=200343592073 it is the VUL100320 not the VUL100330 but I have been reading about this alot today and appears they both work one just has an extra accessories link. Les sold the ones above with the Symphony head units he had and so far as I could read on here no complaints.

Should be here soon, I will post how I get on.

My one question is will the CD changer lead go into the one that fitted the Harmony or will I have to run the new one to the back of the changer?

raykay · 1st June 2009, 22:00

The Symphony lead replaces the one from the Harmony.
As I understand it, the VUL100330 lead has the 3 part (Green, Yellow & Blue)20 pin mini ISO plug on it, the VUL100320 only has the Blue 8 pin part, which is all you need for the changer.

slimsi · 2nd June 2009, 09:21

Just been checking and the VUL100320 will work with steering wheel controls etc but possible issue with cd changers if it is not an Alpine as detailed here:

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...d.php?p=253006

raykay · 2nd June 2009, 10:17

The Symphony and Harmony will work 'Plug and Play' with the MG Rover CD changers designed for them, (both use the same ones) although they are made by Alpine, they are modified to work using the K-Bus.

To use a different changer (even Alpine) you will need an interface that converts the Symphony or Harmony output to a suitable input for the changer.

jon75v6 · 3rd June 2009, 21:06

i am collecting a symphony stereo next tuesday and the seller is kindly throwing the adapter lead in for free, however i have a question the car it came from had the symphony from new and cd changer,
were the 75,s that came with the symphony wired seperately for the cd changer or was it only included on the adapter lead

raykay · 3rd June 2009, 21:16

All 75's that were fitted with the Symphony have the 17 pin BMW plug in the car loom and an adapter lead with ISO plugs for the Symphony, they would normally have the CD changer loom as well as the Symphony is connected to the K-Bus using the changer mini ISO plug.

1st June 2009, 18:43	#1
jon75v6 Loves to post mgzt-t Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: swanley kent Posts: 362 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	harmony to symphony wiring question right i currently have the harmony stereo but want to get the symphony upgrade, however a lot of people say you need an adaptor lead. my question is i have the bmw connection also have the adapter lead for my factory fit cd changer . Am i wrong in thinking that surely all i need is a bmw to iso adaptor and it will work

1st June 2009, 20:51	#5
slimsi Loves to post 2005 Ignition Blue ZT 190 + Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Whitstable Posts: 315 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Les at SMC has the leads in stock that do the Harmony - Symphony upgrade, I picked up a brand new Symphony this weekend and just need the lead. Here is the link: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=200343592073 it is the VUL100320 not the VUL100330 but I have been reading about this alot today and appears they both work one just has an extra accessories link. Les sold the ones above with the Symphony head units he had and so far as I could read on here no complaints. Should be here soon, I will post how I get on. My one question is will the CD changer lead go into the one that fitted the Harmony or will I have to run the new one to the back of the changer? Last edited by slimsi; 1st June 2009 at 20:55.. Reason: mistake

1st June 2009, 19:46	#4
raykay I really should get out more....... Now Other Manufacturer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Co. Kerry Posts: 2,786 Thanks: 16 Thanked 310 Times in 283 Posts	The Symphony will work with just a BMW to ISO adapter lead, but if you want to connect the CD changer you will need the adapter lead VUL100330. The normal aftermarket BMW to ISO adapter leads usually only have 13 (of the 17 pins in the BMW plug) connected through, the missing ones are: Steering wheel controls (2), Phone Mute and K-Bus. The Symphony does not have the K-Bus connection in the main ISO plugs, it is in the mini ISO plug in the adapter lead used for the CD Changer, and it needs the K-Bus to communicate with the changer.

1st June 2009, 22:00	#6
raykay I really should get out more....... Now Other Manufacturer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Co. Kerry Posts: 2,786 Thanks: 16 Thanked 310 Times in 283 Posts	The Symphony lead replaces the one from the Harmony. As I understand it, the VUL100330 lead has the 3 part (Green, Yellow & Blue)20 pin mini ISO plug on it, the VUL100320 only has the Blue 8 pin part, which is all you need for the changer.

2nd June 2009, 09:21	#7
slimsi Loves to post 2005 Ignition Blue ZT 190 + Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Whitstable Posts: 315 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Just been checking and the VUL100320 will work with steering wheel controls etc but possible issue with cd changers if it is not an Alpine as detailed here: http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...d.php?p=253006

2nd June 2009, 10:17	#8
raykay I really should get out more....... Now Other Manufacturer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Co. Kerry Posts: 2,786 Thanks: 16 Thanked 310 Times in 283 Posts	The Symphony and Harmony will work 'Plug and Play' with the MG Rover CD changers designed for them, (both use the same ones) although they are made by Alpine, they are modified to work using the K-Bus. To use a different changer (even Alpine) you will need an interface that converts the Symphony or Harmony output to a suitable input for the changer.

3rd June 2009, 21:06	#9
jon75v6 Loves to post mgzt-t Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: swanley kent Posts: 362 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	i am collecting a symphony stereo next tuesday and the seller is kindly throwing the adapter lead in for free, however i have a question the car it came from had the symphony from new and cd changer, were the 75,s that came with the symphony wired seperately for the cd changer or was it only included on the adapter lead

3rd June 2009, 21:16	#10
raykay I really should get out more....... Now Other Manufacturer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Co. Kerry Posts: 2,786 Thanks: 16 Thanked 310 Times in 283 Posts	All 75's that were fitted with the Symphony have the 17 pin BMW plug in the car loom and an adapter lead with ISO plugs for the Symphony, they would normally have the CD changer loom as well as the Symphony is connected to the K-Bus using the changer mini ISO plug.