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      03-24-2011, 05:36 PM   #1
Snopy
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Cool Basic Stereo upgrade

Hi all,

I do have my Z4 with basic stereo and Navi - iDrive. The sound is very, very, very poor quality and i'm thinking about to upgrade it. I'm not tech-specialist, and also i would like my car to look like made by BMW (no custom changes, prefere to use original BMW parts).

I also would like not to spend to much money on that.

Do you have any suggestion which speakers i should replace/add? Should i add amp from Hi-Fi (about 300 USD) or from Hi-Fi Proffesional (about 1000 USD). Shoud the speaker be from Hi-Fi or Hi-Fi Proffesional version?

I dont want to make my car sound like home cinema, but just to make it soud just OK. Because with the standard stereo it's even hard to say it's fair sound (my wife MINI does sounds better

BTW in parts catalog i can't find amp which is included in standard stereo, does this configurations has even amp?

Thanks a lot!
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      03-24-2011, 07:31 PM   #2
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This has been discussed in detail in a previous thread. Might want to try a search. It's not going to be easy or cheap to upgrade. Sorry.
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      03-25-2011, 07:22 AM   #3
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Hi,

I did read all the threads regarding audio upgrade, but i couldn't find answer to my questions - in all topics there is about upgradind audio but with third-part supliers. I asked my BMW dealer what would be a cost fo upgrading car to Hi-Fi and to Hi-Fi Pro at delear workshop, when I get response - i will let you know also.

Kind regards!
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      03-25-2011, 12:00 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Snopy View Post
I also would like not to spend to much money on that.
And that is defined as exactly how much?
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      01-12-2012, 06:38 AM   #5
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Did you get any joy with upgrading your sound system? I too have just bought a Z4 fitted with Nav ( and almost every other extra) but with the bass speaker system (6 speakers). I want to keep everything looking stock but would like to get a bit more clarity and volume out of the speakers.

There are lots of threads on this forum with possible suggestions of plug and play amplifiers, however there doesn't seem to be any clarification as to whether that type of system will work in a car fitted with navigation.

Any help or comments would be greatly appreciated
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      01-12-2012, 09:01 AM   #6
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premium sound system is the way to go, if you want to use oem parts.
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      01-12-2012, 09:11 AM   #7
stablearchitecture
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The problem is that everyone tells me retrofitting premium sound incredibly complex thing and to be honest the cost can be prohibitive. I've got premium sound ( or the equivalent to it) in my other cars and in previous rides and it's amazing what you get used to.
I just want to get a bit more out of the system I've got without going over the top, hence the idea of just installing a relatively low end plug and play amp and possibly a couple of extra tweeters just to lift the sound out of the foot well.
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      01-12-2012, 11:35 AM   #8
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I too am interested in hearing your solutions. I am thinkiing of trading in my 23i with professional sound to a 35i with only the stock system. SIGH I was so disappointed to discover that....
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      01-12-2012, 11:47 AM   #9
stablearchitecture
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I found a post on another forum from a guy who installed a blaupunkt plug and play amp into an E89 that is fitted with the standard six speakers and the upgraded navigation. I'm waiting to him to get back to me to confirm that it all worked, and was a relatively simple install. I will post my findings here as soon as I know more.
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      01-12-2012, 09:39 PM   #10
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I also have the "basic" sound system, and would like to upgrade OEM look.

I have the professional radio, so i think i have the CAN BUS cable system.

Also interested in this one.

Can anyone tell, besides from having to cut and paste, to actually fit the rear speakers in place, why will be a problem to order all the cables from the HIFI or PRO Hifi system and make it work?

Not being possible, would it be possible just to upgrade with the front tweeters? I also had in the past an E87, and many people did this, as it made quite a difference.
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      01-15-2012, 09:39 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FON View Post
I also have the "basic" sound system, and would like to upgrade OEM look.

I have the professional radio, so i think i have the CAN BUS cable system.

Also interested in this one.

Can anyone tell, besides from having to cut and paste, to actually fit the rear speakers in place, why will be a problem to order all the cables from the HIFI or PRO Hifi system and make it work?

Not being possible, would it be possible just to upgrade with the front tweeters? I also had in the past an E87, and many people did this, as it made quite a difference.
Anyone?
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      01-16-2012, 10:59 PM   #12
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basic system in my e89 sucks, worst sound system ever, great car, great nav, but whoever signed off on that soundsystem should be canned, my old 09 328i had basic sound which sounded 10x better than what it sounds like now... major disspaointment, when i took it to a few local shops many wanted a minimum of 4K to do anything, not worth it on a lease, live and learn....
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      01-26-2012, 11:18 AM   #13
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Another one here. Have a 2009 with all the bells and whistles, except the premium sound. I am hoping all it is going to take is a plug and play amp and maybe replacing a few of the speakers with more high end models. I read in another forum that this model is a good candidate:
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_500MRPF...00.html?tp=115

If anyone out there has done anything to upgrade their stock system, please let me know.
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      01-26-2012, 11:40 AM   #14
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I haven't got any further with this on my car yet, I have decided to order the Blaupunkt plug and play four channel amplifier with a couple of different options for the wiring loom. I have spoken to accompany in the UK who is willing to sell me a couple of options on the wiring loom side and allow me to return and get a refund on the one I don't end up using.

I am also going to order the OEM tweeters to go behind the grills in the front doors.

I'm very lucky in that a friend of a friend is a BMW technician at my local dealership, he is going to do the fitment for me of the amp and the tweeters. I will be posting my results on here and intend to try and take pictures as well and it seems that there is a lack of information on this subject.

It might take me another month or so, the weather is horrible here in the UK and therefore are not using the car anyway at the moment.

By the way I don't find the stock sound system "horrible" as a lot of people have described it, I think he just needs a better Amp and to get the sound up out of the footwell.
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      02-11-2012, 05:10 PM   #15
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Blaupunkt amp installed

Ive now installed the lauplunkt plug and play amp into my 35is.
Just to clarify it had stock speakers (only 6 speakers in total), but is fitted with factory navigation.
The install works a treat, it keep the totally stock look to the car, but bost the output to a decent level. I've got a few tweaks to make, but it' a decent improvement already.

I'll be posting full details and photos soon.
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      04-22-2012, 02:13 AM   #16
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I'm keen to know more about how you did this.
I note that your mate (the BMW technician) carried out the work - would you say it's something that you could have done yourself?
What parts (other than the amp and tweeters) were required, and where did you get them?
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      04-22-2012, 03:25 AM   #17
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I must have a different base system altogether because I'm picky about sound but think the stock system is ok. It's not Bose but then I didn't pay extra to get it either. I did add the hifi system tweeters to mine to lift the sound a bit and it's now absolutely fine, certainly not worth spending much more on. OEM tweeters plug directly into existing speakers, dead easy upgrade and cheap.
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      04-23-2012, 01:57 AM   #18
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To answer the question by "smudger", the fitting seemed relatively easy to me, but it does depend how brave you want to be. You have two completely remove the head unit, as long as you got the right tools and this should be relatively straightforward, then you need to run the wiring ( purchased along with the amp) from the head unit to the boot, I guess that's going to be the trickiest piece to get right. Once you've got the boot space, it's a matter of stripping out the boot to reveal the metal panel that separates the boot space from the front of the car, this is where the amplifier is fitted and where it can remain completely invisible once you've refitted the boot space.

The kit that I purchased is all listed in my detailed post about the installation. I literally had to just buy the amplifier and the longer cable option.
I haven't fitted the tweeters yet, but they are in stock so should be in the car relatively soon, they do plug directly in and are very easy upgrade (as maniacGT has already noted), it's a simple case of pulling the door pants off so that you can get into the speaker location, then putting the new tweeters and plugging them straight into the existing wiring loom before putting it all back together again.

Now that I have the amplifier install for a few weeks but one thing I've noticed is that it does give you some static interference in the rear speakers when either there is no sound coming through at all, or stereos turnoff, this is really starting to get on my nerves, but I understand I can turn the game down on the amplifier to eliminate this - hoping to tweak this when I get the tweeters installed.
I would suggest ordering and installing the tweeters and see would you think before going for the entire amplifier install just to save you £600 or so.

ManicGT - I agree the sound system isn't anywhere near as bad as I've read on this forum, I guess it depends what you're used to. I wish I'd gone for the tweeter install only to start with as it does sound like it does make a big difference.
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      05-18-2012, 06:53 AM   #19
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Blaupunkt kit Compatibility with E89

Hey,

I was following this thread and also have the same problem, so contacted BlueSpot audio who stock this amp and kit. However they told me that the E89 isnt compatible with the leads used!

Can you guys tell me if they are wrong and it does work?

http://www.bluespot.co.uk/pnp-cables.aspx?id=30

thanks
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      05-18-2012, 07:02 AM   #20
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Mr Magoo - I had the same issue with whether it was compatible not, I can tell you now that the Leads they supplied that I listed in my original posting didn't need to be altered and were compatible with this car.
I have now also installed tweeters and the sound is now very good through the whole car.
The only negative point is that there is definitely some sort of interference in the background of the speakers, however with some careful adjustment of the amplifier this can be dialled out fairly effectively. I still personally think it's a worthwhile upgrade. I've been driving the car this morning with the roof down and it sounds great.
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      05-18-2012, 07:59 AM   #21
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Perfecto,

Thanks, will order then and give it a go myself.

cheers
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      05-18-2012, 08:19 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ManiacGT View Post
It's not Bose
well that's certainly a good thing
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