I want to upgrade my audio - best path

[blitzkriegoutlaw]

I have 2009 E89 and the sound doesn't get very loud, especially with the top down. Can I just replace the head unit and line up the wiring, or is there more to it? What do I lose if I replace the head unit (e.g., the ability to program the car or some units)?

VIN Decode
S645 BMW US Radio
S663 Radio BMW Professional
S693 Preparation BMW satellite radio
S697 Area-Code 1 for DVD
S6FL USB/audio interface
S639 Preparation f mobile phone cpl. USA/CDN

In the trunk there are two boxes on the left hand side (TCU 1.5 MOST GSM and I assume the phone bluetooth unit). There are no boxes on the right hand side where an amp normally goes. I don't pay for BMW assist or anything like that.

I've searched and BMW has so many combinations that the answer are not very straight forward. Thanks for your help!

[B21]

If you don’t have 676 or 677 in your vin then you don’t have an off board DSP/amp and rely on the onboard amp in the head unit..

There are many options

Simple one is to add an off board amp maybe with DSP and uprate the speakers ..the speakers even in the 677 system are pretty cheap n nasty ..so yours will be really not much good…IMHO.

I think there are now replacement head units that will fit the facade but I’ve no experience of those….

[bigendbob]

Keep roof closed?

[DavesZed]

Originally Posted by blitzkriegoutlaw

I have 2009 E89 and the sound doesn't get very loud, especially with the top down. Can I just replace the head unit and line up the wiring, or is there more to it? What do I lose if I replace the head unit (e.g., the ability to program the car or some units)?

VIN Decode
S645 BMW US Radio
S663 Radio BMW Professional
S693 Preparation BMW satellite radio
S697 Area-Code 1 for DVD
S6FL USB/audio interface
S639 Preparation f mobile phone cpl. USA/CDN

In the trunk there are two boxes on the left hand side (TCU 1.5 MOST GSM and I assume the phone bluetooth unit). There are no boxes on the right hand side where an amp normally goes. I don't pay for BMW assist or anything like that.

I've searched and BMW has so many combinations that the answer are not very straight forward. Thanks for your help!

Presumably if you've got DVD then you've got iDrive, which would mean you've also got codes 6VA and 609. presumption based upon not being able to play a DVD without iDrive screen!

You could fit something like this...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07FRM69...v_ov_lig_dp_it

Which is plug-n-play to your existing wiring for non-amplified systems on the E89. I've not got around to doing this mod yet, but I have upgraded the speakers...

You can spend any amount on upgrades to the audio, and there are a fair few companies out there that would love to relieve you of your hard-earned money in amplifiers and speaker set-ups.

Since I fitted the replacement speakers to mine I have noticed a difference in quality, but I am still considering fitting that Vibe amp just for that bit extra.

[spadman]

I did the full upgrade using Audiotec-Fisher - Sounds awesome now. Also added CarPlay

Amplifier: https://www.audiotec-fischer.de/en/m...fiers/up-10dsp
Speakers: https://www.audiotec-fischer.de/en/m...number=M122432
Woofers: https://www.audiotec-fischer.de/en/m...number=M130802

For the CarPlay module i went with a company called ZZ2 that designs vehicle specific CarPlay adaptors. The module is placed in behind the OEM infotainment and wired inline with that system via a factory T-harness. This means that all your existing BMW systems will continue to work and you will also have the Wireless Apple CarPlay that you can switch back and forth freely between the two.

[B21]

Originally Posted by spadman

I did the full upgrade using Audiotec-Fisher - Sounds awesome now. Also added CarPlay

Amplifier: https://www.audiotec-fischer.de/en/m...fiers/up-10dsp
Speakers: https://www.audiotec-fischer.de/en/m...number=M122432
Woofers: https://www.audiotec-fischer.de/en/m...number=M130802

For the CarPlay module i went with a company called ZZ2 that designs vehicle specific CarPlay adaptors. The module is placed in behind the OEM infotainment and wired inline with that system via a factory T-harness. This means that all your existing BMW systems will continue to work and you will also have the Wireless Apple CarPlay that you can switch back and forth freely between the two.

I’ve used these guys on both my Z4s…with a Match 7 and Match 10 ..fabulous kit but not the cheapest option …

[blitzkriegoutlaw]

Replacing the speakers is a fairly straight forward job so I'm not worried about that. My existing system uses the BMW on-board amp (base system) without a DVD or iDrive system. There are youtube videos on how to replace the BMW amp with a better aftermarket one, but I can't find anything on how to add an amp to my existing base system. Where would I place the amp at? Traditionally the 676/677 system places it in the trunk, but then I would have to add the wiring. What is the best way to route the wiring? Do I have to reprogram the head if I add an off-board amp? Is it better and easier to just replace the head with something that supports the BMW CAN bus? What do you suggest?

Thanks!

[B21]

You can adjust the head parameter to ‘hi fi’ which then sets it flat so yiu can use your new DSP / amp equalisation..

As DavesZed suggested there are a few options depending on budget to add an off board amp..the one David suggested goes behind the dash trim..

I’m aware of two suppliers at least doing integrated systems for the base unit

If you just keep with the 6 speakers than no re routing required…decent woofers plus good mid range units should transform listening and cope with much higher power ..

[Drummer$Dude]

I’m in the same situation and will get it sorted out eventually. I’ll start by replacing the speakers and adding a powered sub. The factory stereo in my 2005 Mazda 3 was 10 times better than the “Professional” unit in my Z4. 🤷*♂️

[Drummer$Dude]

As a follow-up to this thread I ordered some Alpine component speakers for the doors. https://www.crutchfield.com/p_500S2S...e-S2-S40C.html

Looking at the mounting points on the mids it looks like they will be a good fit. If they do fit and sound good I’ll order the same series in a coaxial configuration for the rear corners and also the center of the dash and between the seats. I’ll wire the center speakers in a bridged mode and use an L-pad volume control for each.

Of course I’ll be experimenting with an Alpine head unit and have ordered a mounting kit and an interface adapter as well. I decided to go this route rather than installing one of the Android displays. https://www.crutchfield.com/p_500UTE...-UTE-73BT.html

Not sure about the amp yet.

[B21]

Originally Posted by Drummer$Dude

As a follow-up to this thread I ordered some Alpine component speakers for the doors. https://www.crutchfield.com/p_500S2S...e-S2-S40C.html

Looking at the mounting points on the mids it looks like they will be a good fit. If they do fit and sound good I’ll order the same series in a coaxial configuration for the rear corners and also the center of the dash and between the seats. I’ll wire the center speakers in a bridged mode and use an L-pad volume control for each.

Of course I’ll be experimenting with an Alpine head unit and have ordered a mounting kit and an interface adapter as well. I decided to go this route rather than installing one of the Android displays. https://www.crutchfield.com/p_500UTE...-UTE-73BT.html

Not sure about the amp yet.

What existing head unit do you have?

Why do you want to swap it out?

[Drummer$Dude]

Originally Posted by B21

What existing head unit do you have?

Why do you want to swap it out?

The existing head unit is the S663, no I-drive, no USB input in the center console, just a 12v socket and line-in jack.

I have read the S663 Professional only outputs 12watts per channel into 4ohms at 1% distortion. There seems to be a lot of published mis-information about the US configurations as even Bimmer-Tech.net says the base stereo in the US has woofers under the seats in addition to the mids in the doors and in the rear corners. No underseat speakers in my car.

So, I’ll be replacing the existing speakers, adding the component speakers with tweeters in the doors, add a speaker in the middle dash location and between the seats, and the same Alpine speakers in the rear corners. A powered compact sub will go behind the passenger seat.

That’s my plan, and will document the install in a new thread here and on my YouTube channel.

[DavesZed]

Originally Posted by Drummer$Dude

The existing head unit is the S663, no I-drive, no USB input in the center console, just a 12v socket and line-in jack.

I have read the S663 Professional only outputs 12watts per channel into 4ohms at 1% distortion. There seems to be a lot of published mis-information about the US configurations as even Bimmer-Tech.net says the base stereo in the US has woofers under the seats in addition to the mids in the doors and in the rear corners. No underseat speakers in my car.

So, I’ll be replacing the existing speakers, adding the component speakers with tweeters in the doors, add a speaker in the middle dash location and between the seats, and the same Alpine speakers in the rear corners. A powered compact sub will go behind the passenger seat.

That’s my plan, and will document the install in a new thread here and on my YouTube channel.

Well for starters, as you rightly say, Bimmer-tech are completely wrong, as NO E89 has under seat woofers, there are Woofers in the footwells of all models and there are sub-woofers behind the seats in the amplified models.

As for the non-iDrive headunit, there is an upgrade to the later version that looks identical (they all do from the outside) that has built-in Bluetooth (calls only) and USB control. This can be identified by the Bluetooth symbol on the label as well as the word "Combox" and also has the extra white socket on the rear (USB input). As well as these extra features it also came with a much better internal amplifier, producing much better sound than the 'strangled' original base version. Not many people talk about the better amplification of this unit but it's definitely there as I did this as my very first mod on my own E89 and was very, happily, surprised by it.