Hello everyone,
I just recently bought a 2003 Maxima that has the stock stereo system in it. I have the Bose stereo upgrade bits to use the Bose speakers, but is there any special way I have to install it? The car never had the Bose system in the first place.

 

You are going to have to make yourself some wire harnesses. The non-bose radio system has wires that go from the radio to the speakers. In the Bose system, wires go from the radio to the amplifier in the trunk, then wires go to the speakers. You also need to run a 12 volt power wire to the amplifier. Also from the amplifier, you will need a short wire harness to the sub-woofer. I don't know if you have them, but the speakers you currently have will not work with the Bose. You need special Bose speakers.

 

 

This is a lot of hard work if you are looking to marginally increase the resale value of your vehicle. Most people (including me) would be glad to ditch the stock BOSE® system. I imagine that you want to keep the stock radio look, however.

 

I hate to suggest an alternative route, but I'd ditch plans to add Bose, and just insert a quality aftermarket system. If you are going to do all of that work necessary to add Bose, then you should just upgrade and do the work to add a quality aftermarket system that won't eventually break, and that's compatible with most upgrade options. It just makes things a lot easier! Trust me. I have an '02 GLE and the Bose speakers and sub went out on mine. Instead of having to go in and replace Bose amp and find something to connect to special 1 amp speakers, I just ripped and replaced the entire thing and inserted modern double din stereo with Amp, speakers, DVD, blootooth, navigation, and streaming options. Just a thought...

 

Bose HU sends preamp signals through the wire to each speaker. The amplification happens at speaker location.

So if OP wants to use BoseHU interface in his non-bose audio, he can add amplifier at HU location. OP can still use existing wire to route amped audio signals to his regular speakers. OP needs to mount 4/x-channel amplifier right after BoseHU.

This is theoretical scenario. I haven't done it.

 

 

I apologize. This is not correct. Sorry.

 

You can use the Bose head unit and a LOC or a DSP with high level inputs.

 

You seriously have your work cut out for you with no Bose® system to wrestle with. With all that left over energy you can come and help me grapple with mine. Count your blessings. JL audio makes some very good OEM integration DSP's if you still want to keep the OEM Clarion® made unit.

 

The Bose 6-disk player from 02/03 was the most unreliable piece of crap there ever was. Search "Bose speaker cut out" here and see what you find.

 

fixed it once, came back in less than 2 years.
luckily, the format of music evolved (digitial mp3) during this time beyond what the repair was for (CD audio cut out) and 4 years later no need for CD audio anyway