Standard Audio System: Speakers Suck!

[dszpiro]

This posting is halfway between a request for input from the other members of the board and a chance for me to rant for a moment.

The speakers in the standard audio system in my 2009 35i suck! There's no other way to phrase this. The teeny-weeny speakers behind the seats are not full-range so they provide high frequencies only. The full-range (woofers? hardly.) in the front break-up with the slightest low-level signal. Also, the system cannot properly adjust the volume level to accommodate the rise in ambient sound when the car goes faster (or the top is down) without distorting. I suppose the silver lining to this is that the system seems unable to get loud enough to really have the speakers break-up.

The stock audio system in my 2007 Z4 3.0si Roadster was superior sounding. The head unit was not as sophisticated (e.g., no iPod adapter, no bluetooth cell phone integration), but it just plain played music that sounded better.

There. Rant off. Thanks.

[BlueZ4AZ]

I'd like to add a a 4 letter adjective before the word "sucks" that starts with the letter "F" and ends with an "ing".

I'd also like to walk into the BMW dealership I bought the car from at their most busy time, and yell that phrase at the top of my lungs for about 10 minutes repeatedly, for every potential Z4 customer to hear.

But, I am a professional, have a job, want to keep it, never want to experience jail, or be sued, so......I WON'T.

[dszpiro]

Really, these speakers are so bad that I'd like to believe that they may be subject to a factory recall. Even at low levels the front speakers are breaking up with bass frequencies.

My daughter was with me in the car the other day and she asked me to shut the music off rather than listen to such poor quality sound. As she was slipping on her iPod headphones to listen to her music that way, she pointed out that in almost three years she had never made such a request in my previous Z4.

[mav5125]

your talking about the standard stereo unit right?

I got the hifi professional option. To me it sounded alright. Though i know you can make it better with after market stuff.

[dszpiro]

Originally Posted by mav5125

your talking about the standard stereo unit right?

Yes, that's right.

When I test drove a new Z4 on the dealer's lot before ordering my car that demo had the premium audio system installed and it sounded great. I didn't bother with the premium system in my previous Z4 and I expected that standard system in the 2009 would sound like the standard system in the 2007. Wrong.

[bobbydog]

Think of it this way, use whatever the premium sound cost and get yourselves a custom system. I'm sure for what BMW charge you can do better aftermarket.

[dszpiro]

Originally Posted by bobbydog

Think of it this way, use whatever the premium sound cost and get yourselves a custom system. I'm sure for what BMW charge you can do better aftermarket.

I suppose, but the original idea was to avoid having to spend money on upgrading the audio system. I know this is easy to say after the fact, but if I had bothered to listen to the standard system before ordering the 2009 Z4 I would have spent the extra money on the premium system. I made the mistake of assuming that the standard system would be comparable to the standard system in my 2007 Z4.

Given that this is a leased vehicle, I don't want to start hacking and chopping anything to upgrade speakers. I plan to do some investigating for after-market speakers that can fit into the existing space. I expect that just about any after-market speakers will out-perform the trash that came with the car. I'll be sure to post any news about after-markets speakers to this thread.

[dszpiro]

I know that on the BMW web site it is possible to download a PDF of the main owner's manual for all recent models. Does anyone know if the separate owner's manual for the radio / audio system can also be downloaded from the BMW site or elsewhere? I haven't been able to find a source.

[riccis]

From other threads I've read the problem is more more to do with the fact that standard stereo system does *not* have an amplifier, except the built-in amp on the head unit, and that the head unit's amp is inadequate.

I believe I've read that the speakers themselves are not too bad (although you could do with additional ones such as those you get with the upgraded sound package). I have the Business' sound package (not available in the States) and am very happy with it but I'm also no audiophile.

I know you don't really want to start "hacking and chopping" but perhaps adding an external amp (which you can fit in the boot) and install some speakers behind some of the empty speaker grills (I believe there are some but don't hold me to account if I'm wrong) may solve your issue. And as there are speakers that will fit behind the empty speaker grills without the need to modify anything, this should limit any custom work required (i.e. drilling holes, modifying trim etc).

Just a suggestion.

[lux good]

This issue has been going on for quite a long time on this forum......i've got the standard system and it's ok for me but most of my music is through my i-pod and that seems to be a lot better than radio/cd.
My suggestion would be plug your daughters i-pod in and listen to Beyonce and her friends, or get into the 21st century and buy your own!
If you don't want your ears to bleed with the volume this is fine!!

[Vintage]

i know - that is why I ordered the Premium System at a premium price

[zEdP]

Originally Posted by dszpiro

The stock audio system in my 2007 Z4 3.0si Roadster was superior sounding. The head unit was not as sophisticated (e.g., no iPod adapter, no bluetooth cell phone integration), but it just plain played music that sounded better.

I have owned a new model E85 06. The standard E89 sounds better. BMW got rid of the bad tweeters and used a 4" mid-high speakers mounted in the doors.
If your E85 sounded better than the E89, this can't be the standard system. I guess your E85 must have had the premium system.

I bought the standard system because the hifi and hifi professional system is too expensive and still not good (my personal opinion). So I have upgraded it with aftermarket components:

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewto...11335&start=30

Because you lease you could install these (not visible if from the outside):


A nice sub woofer amplifier and to get BASS


This one could be mounted behind the seats. If the lease ends, the amp and sub can be easily removed.


EdP

[mikeinaustin]

the basic system has 6 speakers. 2 ~6" in the foot wells, 2 4" in the door, and 2 4" behind the seats by your ear. the tweeter mount in the upper door is actually empty. i was looking at the following:

http://signature.crutchfield.com/S-R...s-165-VR3.html

basically a 6.5" for the foot well, a 4" for the door and a tweeter for the door with a crossover for them that also will present a 4ohm load to the head unit. to me the best thing about this particular focal speaker setup is its 93db sensitivity level. I believe the stock speakers are 90db so the stock head unit has to deliver twice the wattage to drive the stock speakers than these focals to produce the same db level. if the sensitivity level is not important to you, there are some rainbow 3-ways that are also nice.

i am not too sure i would bother switching out the speaker behind the seat, not much sound comes out of those things.

[Memphis1]

ZEDP, is the car pre-wired?

mike, i'm not kidding you, check this out... i have all those six speakers you mentioned, but i have another one on the dashboard (which you told me had a tweeter in it) and tweeters on the doors... but no woofer in the center behind the seats (2,3,6,7) or under the seats... how crazy is that???

that's why i ask if it's prewired, cuz if it is, i'll cut a whole thru to my trunk and attach a woofer there. i think that will complete my system, oh and a bigger amp

[zEdP]

Originally Posted by memphis2012

ZEDP, is the car pre-wired?

No, my car is not pre-wired. The hifi and hifi professional uses an external digital amplifier that is mounted in the trunk. I could not find any unused wires in the trunk. Also the rear center and sub-woofer speaker positions did not had any unused wires.

EdP

[zEdP]

Originally Posted by memphis2012

i have all those six speakers you mentioned, but i have another one on the dashboard (which you told me had a tweeter in it) and tweeters on the doors... but no woofer in the center behind the seats (2,3,6,7) or under the seats... how crazy is that???

Are you sure there are no woofers behind the carper. There is a post on a German forum of a guy that ordered the hifi system and got the car without the woofers. After some investigations by the dealer it turned out that the woofers were present but the factory installed the wrong carpet stuff, the one without the woofer grills. So it looked like they forgot to install them.

EdP

[Memphis1]

Originally Posted by zEdP

Are you sure there are no woofers behind the carper. There is a post on a German forum of a guy that ordered the hifi system and got the car without the woofers. After some investigations by the dealer it turned out that the woofers were present but the factory installed the wrong carpet stuff, the one without the woofer grills. So it looked like they forgot to install them.

EdP

really? i'll have to get in the trunk and check it out...

[tiborakos]

Apart from speakers, does anybody know if the CD can be replaced by a DVD without great fuss? (bit off topic) This would be to increase capacity only...

[Vintage]

the DVD changer came with the Premium System - at least it did in our US spec car

[E89Tardis]

I love this car but the standard sound system is very poor.

I have the 6 speaker standard but I believe I also have a separate amp since I have the Navigation system which includes the CIC (Car Infotainment Computer). This means I have a premium head unit with a mediocre separate amp and less than mediocre speaker set.

Note the difference in standard speakers to premium speakers in weight alone. http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E8...speaker_front/
Midrange is .353lbs to .485lbs. About 37% heavier... and the woofers .882lbs to 2.055lbs. About 133% heavier.

I opened a thread a while back to discuss the upgrade from standard to premium potential but there was not a lot of interest so I guessed that my option configuration must be fairly uncommon.

I would really like upgrade but I think the only practical way might be to find a junkyard total with the premium sound or trade in the car. For now I just turn off the radio and focus on the shear pleasure of driving this gorgeous beast. ......and pray that no one starts a boxster radio vs a z4 radio thread !!!

[teagueAMX]

Originally Posted by E89Tardis

I love this car but the standard sound system is very poor.

I have the 6 speaker standard but I believe I also have a separate amp since I have the Navigation system which includes the CIC (Car Infotainment Computer). This means I have a premium head unit with a mediocre separate amp and less than mediocre speaker set.

Note the difference in standard speakers to premium speakers in weight alone. http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E8...speaker_front/
Midrange is .353lbs to .485lbs. About 37% heavier... and the woofers .882lbs to 2.055lbs. About 133% heavier.

I opened a thread a while back to discuss the upgrade from standard to premium potential but there was not a lot of interest so I guessed that my option configuration must be fairly uncommon.

I would really like upgrade but I think the only practical way might be to find a junkyard total with the premium sound or trade in the car. For now I just turn off the radio and focus on the shear pleasure of driving this gorgeous beast. ......and pray that no one starts a boxster radio vs a z4 radio thread !!!

I remember your thread. . . . and BTW, when I test drove that Boxster. . . the sound coming from the stereo felt lighter and had a mid-engine feel to it - very precise.Be careful what say around here.

[E89Tardis]

Oh @#$%....!