ISO connectors or not?

hogweed · 22nd March 2023, 19:55

Having finally let the old girl go, I'm selling its stereo (Sony MEX-5100BT, brilliant unit) complete with ISO harness and patch lead for the steering wheel controls.

There's a local guy interested, but he knows nothing about these matters, except that he wants a decent unit for his 75. I told him it was a 10 minute job to fit (was for me), but have just learned that not all 75s have ISO connectors behind the dash, and I don't want to mislead him - he's paying somebody to install it.

Is there any way of knowing in advance which kind of harness he's likely to have?

Cheers

suzublu · 22nd March 2023, 20:05

Early cars had the BMW round pin connector, later had the ISO.

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hogweed · 22nd March 2023, 20:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by suzublu

Early cars had the BMW round pin connector, later had the ISO

Thanks, Ronnie

When you say early and late, do you mean pre-facelift and facelift?

Or is it (probably

) not that simple?

suzublu · 22nd March 2023, 20:12

Mine, late 01 has BMW connection, so probably changed 2002 on. Hope that helps

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Popcorn · 22nd March 2023, 20:14

Think it's pot luck, mine is a 55 plate and i have iso, I suppose it could depend on what he has installed at the moment, what i gleaned from various threads was that it may have BMW 17 pin connectors further down the loom, but the chances are that it will be iso

suzublu · 22nd March 2023, 20:16

Easy to fit a BMW to ISO connection if needed 😎

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raykay · 22nd March 2023, 20:51

If the current unit is a Harmony, it will have a BMW connector. If it is a Symphony, it will have ISO connectors.

You can see in the picture of the BMW to ISO adapter lead, there are 3 connections missing in the ISO power connector, two are for the steering wheel controls, (which can be retrofitted) the other is for the phone mute, which would not be needed.

hogweed · 22nd March 2023, 22:37

Thanks guys - his car is a 55 plate apparently, so fingers crossed

Matt_75 · 22nd March 2023, 22:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Popcorn

Think it's pot luck, mine is a 55 plate and i have iso, I suppose it could depend on what he has installed at the moment, what i gleaned from various threads was that it may have BMW 17 pin connectors further down the loom, but the chances are that it will be iso

My '03 car came with an aftermarket radio I didn't like so I fitted a Harmony one I had. The aftermarket had ISO connectors but it appeared to be factory wiring, I seem to remember it had a Rover part number label but don't quote me on that. Anyway, about a foot down the wiring from the radio end, somewhere behind the very bottom of the ash tray, it was connected to a BMW connector. I simply disconnected the BMW connector from the apparent factory BMW to ISO adapter wiring, and plugged it into the Harmony system.

raykay · 23rd March 2023, 08:34

The different stereo systems all connect to the main car loom via the BMW (later ISO) connector behind the ashtray.
Only the Harmony, (which was discontinued in 2002), uses a BMW connector, others would have been be fitted with Rover's BMW to ISO adapter lead.

22nd March 2023, 19:55	#1
hogweed I really should get out more....... Vauxhall Insignia CDTi; MG TF 135 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Norn Iron Posts: 2,958 Thanks: 942 Thanked 378 Times in 297 Posts	ISO connectors or not? Having finally let the old girl go, I'm selling its stereo (Sony MEX-5100BT, brilliant unit) complete with ISO harness and patch lead for the steering wheel controls. There's a local guy interested, but he knows nothing about these matters, except that he wants a decent unit for his 75. I told him it was a 10 minute job to fit (was for me), but have just learned that not all 75s have ISO connectors behind the dash, and I don't want to mislead him - he's paying somebody to install it. Is there any way of knowing in advance which kind of harness he's likely to have? Cheers __________________ Past cars: MGB GT; Escort 1300 Sport; Vauxhall VX4/90; Marina Coupe TC; Celica ST (1972); Montego Turbo; Astra GTE 16V; Astra GSI 16V; Golf GTI 16V (Mk II); Sierra XR4x4 Estate; BMW 325i (E30); BMW M3 3.0; BMW M3 3.2 Evo. Left some of the more embarrassing ones out. And about 30 motorbikes.

22nd March 2023, 20:51	#7
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	If the current unit is a Harmony, it will have a BMW connector. If it is a Symphony, it will have ISO connectors. You can see in the picture of the BMW to ISO adapter lead, there are 3 connections missing in the ISO power connector, two are for the steering wheel controls, (which can be retrofitted) the other is for the phone mute, which would not be needed. Last edited by raykay; 22nd March 2023 at 21:16..

22nd March 2023, 22:37	#8
hogweed I really should get out more....... Vauxhall Insignia CDTi; MG TF 135 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Norn Iron Posts: 2,958 Thanks: 942 Thanked 378 Times in 297 Posts	Thanks guys - his car is a 55 plate apparently, so fingers crossed __________________ Past cars: MGB GT; Escort 1300 Sport; Vauxhall VX4/90; Marina Coupe TC; Celica ST (1972); Montego Turbo; Astra GTE 16V; Astra GSI 16V; Golf GTI 16V (Mk II); Sierra XR4x4 Estate; BMW 325i (E30); BMW M3 3.0; BMW M3 3.2 Evo. Left some of the more embarrassing ones out. And about 30 motorbikes.

22nd March 2023, 20:05	#2
suzublu This is my second home rover 75 1.8 vvc club se wedgwood blue Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Seaton Carew Posts: 26,921 Thanks: 65 Thanked 7,142 Times in 4,642 Posts	Early cars had the BMW round pin connector, later had the ISO. Sent from my SM-A326B using Tapatalk

22nd March 2023, 20:12	#4
suzublu This is my second home rover 75 1.8 vvc club se wedgwood blue Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Seaton Carew Posts: 26,921 Thanks: 65 Thanked 7,142 Times in 4,642 Posts	Mine, late 01 has BMW connection, so probably changed 2002 on. Hope that helps Sent from my SM-A326B using Tapatalk

22nd March 2023, 20:14	#5
Popcorn Loves to post 55 cdti tourer slush box executive grill Join Date: Feb 2022 Location: Sheffield Posts: 380 Thanks: 40 Thanked 85 Times in 72 Posts	Think it's pot luck, mine is a 55 plate and i have iso, I suppose it could depend on what he has installed at the moment, what i gleaned from various threads was that it may have BMW 17 pin connectors further down the loom, but the chances are that it will be iso

22nd March 2023, 20:16	#6
suzublu This is my second home rover 75 1.8 vvc club se wedgwood blue Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Seaton Carew Posts: 26,921 Thanks: 65 Thanked 7,142 Times in 4,642 Posts	Easy to fit a BMW to ISO connection if needed 😎 Sent from my SM-A326B using Tapatalk

23rd March 2023, 08:34	#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	The different stereo systems all connect to the main car loom via the BMW (later ISO) connector behind the ashtray. Only the Harmony, (which was discontinued in 2002), uses a BMW connector, others would have been be fitted with Rover's BMW to ISO adapter lead.