Upgrade Sound?

[GaryRudolph]

Just pulled off the lot in which was told it was a "loaded" 3.5is to find out it's missing the premium sound. Is this retrofitable? Trying to sort it out with the dealer.

Or I guess 3rd party amp is an option?

I'm not too happy with the quality of the sound on a 09/11 build. Mostly as the sound stage is too far forward and it's tinny. Wish I had a Premium to compare.

[GaryRudolph]

Sorry, iPhone app errors out yet kept posting

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by GaryRudolph

Sorry, iPhone app errors out yet kept posting

You can delete the extra posts ... or the Moderator will do it for you.

As for upgrade sure you can ... anything for money my friend ... well almost anything

[teagueAMX]

You can get the components but the wiring is going to be an issue for you. BMW uses their proprietary component communication tek called CiC in the premium systems.

Here's a website for a guy that's on the 3 series side of this forum who might be able to shed some light on what it takes to retrofit upgrade a stock system. He's in Canada but I've read an number of threads over there and it seems he's quite knowledgeable. At one time we exchanged a few PM's because I asked him to do some posts for the e89. For some reason he declined - not sure why. Maybe he's got his hands with 3 series retrofits and the e89 is a slightly different animal. Regardless drop an email to see if he could help.

http://www.bimmerretrofit.com/
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[GaryRudolph]

So, went and counted speakers in the 2012 non-premium speakers and it looks like I have all the speakers that the premium sound has. I'm wondering if BMW is playing games now and building them all wired/connected and it's simply becoming a software update.

An example is I spoke to the dealer about the Satellite and that's purely software now.

[pltan75]

Originally Posted by GaryRudolph

So, went and counted speakers in the 2012 non-premium speakers and it looks like I have all the speakers that the premium sound has. I'm wondering if BMW is playing games now and building them all wired/connected and it's simply becoming a software update.

Not 100% sure about the 2012 model, but in previous versions if you didn't have premium sound, you'd still have the visible speaker grills of for example the A-pillar tweeters, but there are no physical speakers inside.

On a related note, I do believe if you have premium sound in your car you will have 2 round speakers, one behind each chair, which is separate from the standard shoulder speakers to the rear and door side of each seat.

[RichysBlk35i]

Originally Posted by pltan75

Not 100% sure about the 2012 model, but in previous versions if you didn't have premium sound, you'd still have the visible speaker grills of for example the A-pillar tweeters, but there are no physical speakers inside.

On a related note, I do believe if you have premium sound in your car you will have 2 round speakers, one behind each chair, which is separate from the standard shoulder speakers to the rear and door side of each seat.

I have premium sound in my 35i and yes, there will be two round woofers, or subwoofers on the back wall behind each sport seat. Also there will be a center speaker in the middle between the two seats, where the pass through would be. You will also have a surround mode on your audio settings. If you do have sat capability the antenna will show as a small fin sticking up above the rear brake light. On non sat cars that panel is flat. Just a few things to show the difference.

[GaryRudolph]

Yah, that's what's strange is that I specifically, do not have Premium Audio listed on the options. I do not have the "Surround" feature in the iDrive Settings.

Know where the amp mounted for the premium sound?

I do have the large speaker behind each seat (not just the one by the shoulder of each seat) with sound coming out of them. The A-Pillar tweeters also have sound coming out. Every grill has sound coming out.

[GaryRudolph]

Also, on the 2012 I do not have sat as an option (nor the option in the iDrive) but I do have the small fin bump over the rear light on the trunk.

Otherwise, the car was loaded with Atacama Yellow, etc. I suspect it was built fully loaded now and just wasn't activated in software.

[pltan75]

Originally Posted by GaryRudolph

I do have the large speaker behind each seat (not just the one by the shoulder of each seat) with sound coming out of them. The A-Pillar tweeters also have sound coming out. Every grill has sound coming out.

Then you are a proud owner of a Z4 with premium sound.

Not sure why 'surround' wouldn't be coming up though.

[Jayda]

Does your car have navigation? I was actually told the fin was for navigation.....I never thought twice about it so I didn't investigate further.

[GaryRudolph]

I do have navigation (which brings BMW Assist, so could explain the fin). Also, the sticker now says it includes "Satellite Prep". That might be a part of that.

[HerrK]

MY 2012 Premium sound is std equip. Pre MY 2012 Premium sound was an option. Premium sound 12 grills & 14 speakers. the trunk lid fin is for Sat radio & Nav. MY 2012 Sat radio is set up but you have to pay for the subscription to activate. Pre 2012 models Sat radio was optional.

[GaryRudolph]

That would explain it, but on the BMW configurator Premium Sound Package still shows as an option. So I guess you get Premium Sound regardless, and the Premium Sound Package just adds Satellite and the "Premium hi-fi system" (which is just the processor)? I guess this would explain how I have the speakers and not the "Surround" option.

Not trying to beat this to death. More just curious these days.

[09cbb]

Originally Posted by GaryRudolph

Yah, that's what's strange is that I specifically, do not have Premium Audio listed on the options. I do not have the "Surround" feature in the iDrive Settings.

Know where the amp mounted for the premium sound?

I do have the large speaker behind each seat (not just the one by the shoulder of each seat) with sound coming out of them. The A-Pillar tweeters also have sound coming out. Every grill has sound coming out.

Unfortunately, you DO NOT have the premium sound. You do have the two large speakers in the upper part behind the seat, but not the large subwoofers in the lower part of the separation wall. Also you don't have the rear center speaker above the through loading system. There's a cover in your picture where there's supposed to be a speaker grill.

[HenryHank]

Are there any other ideas or threads or info about upgrading a non-Premium sound car's sound? I'm looking at several used '09/10/11 Z4s without Premium sound, and we can definitely hear it lacking at higher volumes.

Also, is Sat Radio a software upgrade for all E89 z4s with Nav? If so, how does on go about getting it activated after the fact?

Thanks.

[az34]

Originally Posted by 09cbb

Unfortunately, you DO NOT have the premium sound. You do have the two large speakers in the upper part behind the seat, but not the large subwoofers in the lower part of the separation wall. Also you don't have the rear center speaker above the through loading system. There's a cover in your picture where there's supposed to be a speaker grill.

you are right.

[GaryRudolph]

So, after some research it appears there are 3 sound configurations in the Z4 (for the US market)
1) Base ("Base Sound" 2009-Early 2011)
2) 676 HiFi ("Base Sound" Mid 2011 - Current)
3) 677 Top HiFi ("Premium Sound" in All Years)

The confusion is Mid 2011 build dates the base sound was "upgraded" to the HiFi sound for the US market. The HiFi and Top HiFi both have an amp, albeit different amp. The base does not.

I'm optimistic that I can upgrade the HiFi speakers/components to the Top HiFi including the center subwoofer. The reason is the E70 X5 used the same amp in the HiFi configuration and that had a center subwoofer. I also can't imagine BMW changing the impedance between the HiFi and Top HiFi speakers. I could care less about the DSP/Surround upgrade.

Also, the good news is the HiFi Amp is more easily upgradable as it's a 4 channel analog signal from the HU (supposedly the HiFi Amp creates a 5th channel from the 4 channels). I'm actually thinking of just going this route to upgrade to comparable sized 3rd party speakers and amp with the existing wiring. Should be pretty easy. "In Theory"

[airmel]

I have a 2012 Z4 35i with what I assume is "Hi-Fi" Sound. Would be very interested in hearing your progress in upgrading to Premium Sound.

[bjarne]

Originally Posted by 09cbb

Unfortunately, you DO NOT have the premium sound. You do have the two large speakers in the upper part behind the seat, but not the large subwoofers in the lower part of the separation wall. Also you don't have the rear center speaker above the through loading system. There's a cover in your picture where there's supposed to be a speaker grill.

I agree that he does not have premium sound, but ......
I definitely have premium sound and the upper speaker grill, but I am confused about 'large subwoofers in the lower part of the separation wall'. I don't see anything there (except for a couple of hooks), do you have picture of those subwoofers?

[Mayhem]

I am in Los Angeles, and mine does have premium sound if you would like to compare. Also, you should be able to pull up the build sheet on your car to see what you got. I made sure I had mine built with premium sound.

[bjarne]

Originally Posted by Mayhem

I am in Los Angeles, and mine does have premium sound if you would like to compare. Also, you should be able to pull up the build sheet on your car to see what you got. I made sure I had mine built with premium sound.

I don't know if you were replying to my post, but I KNOW I have premium sound, I just don't see the lower subwoofer speakers he is talking about. I do have the large speakers behind the seats and the center speaker above the load-through. Do you have subwoofers lower on the separation wall?