[chumhill]

Originally Posted by MIKEYBMW1

I am going to fit my kit soon hope its not too hard to fit as don't have a lot of time or should I gat the dealers to fit it ?

Hi Mike,

I have done loads of DIY jobs on other cars, mainly VW but I installed this kit as my first DIY project on the BMW.

As mentioned above the tricky bit is the wiring, this took me a few hours alone. Just make sure you fully read the document provided on this thread and convert the short colour coding key into the actual colours and write this down to help you so your not flitting back and to to the index. Make sure when you crimp the wires you apply a lot of pressure so they dont slip out.

Take your time and before you snip anything double check and you should be fine. If in doubt ask again on here before you commit even if you think its a really dumb question.

[illingworth22]

I would deffo get the dealer to fit! I have now got 2 poxy rattles from the rear and they are driving me nuts!

[MIKEYBMW1]

Originally Posted by illingworth22

I would deffo get the dealer to fit! I have now got 2 poxy rattles from the rear and they are driving me nuts!

but will they do the job any better?

[MIKEYBMW1]

Originally Posted by chumhill

Hi Mike,

I have done loads of DIY jobs on other cars, mainly VW but I installed this kit as my first DIY project on the BMW.

As mentioned above the tricky bit is the wiring, this took me a few hours alone. Just make sure you fully read the document provided on this thread and convert the short colour coding key into the actual colours and write this down to help you so your not flitting back and to to the index. Make sure when you crimp the wires you apply a lot of pressure so they dont slip out.

Take your time and before you snip anything double check and you should be fine. If in doubt ask again on here before you commit even if you think its a really dumb question.

Thanks for that Buddy.

[davemand]

How does this upgrade compare to the Blaupunkt one in terms of sound quality ? - I suspect the speakers rather than amp have a greater influence.

thanks

[gIzzE]

The amp will have more influence, you can make £50 speakers sound awesome with a £5k amp, however, £5k speakers will only ever sound crap with a £50 amp, same for car audio.


I don't know how it compares, just seems like a lot more hassle install wise compared with the blaupunkt upgrade.
I think that the 2 channel blaupunkt along with some L7 tweeters would give similar results and a much easier install.

[Steve748]

The standard speakers are just cheap crappy paper cones with a tiny magnet while the Alpine ones have a bigger magnet and better cone.

[Em135eye]

So what does the standard system consist of? While certainly no audiophile either, I have had decent systems (Alpine every time) fitted to a couple of cars I used to own - both were hatches so it was an accoustic shelf, decent 6x9s, a proper head unit and upgraded front speakers in each. Nothing earth shattering but both made good sound.

My intial instinct was the go for this upgrade too but I honestly don't think the standard system is bad at all. I play a lot of dubstep and so bass is critical - I reckon that while my home system (Teac, Bose, etc) is a lot better, the system in the car isn't bad at all.

My dad is a stereo bore (ex pro bass player with a penchant for serious ICE installs and home hifi) and thought the system sounded okay too. Nothing gob smacking but certainly no need to rush out and upgrade.

Where does the amp go? I might just check that the dealer didn't miss a hifi upgrade in the options list (a couple of others options weren't listed either)!!

[Steve748]

all your questions are answered in the thread and peoples opinions on the upgrade too.

I think it is an excellent VFM upgrade but if your happy with the standard don't upgrade it

[Em135eye]

Steve - I have read it - all 15 pages. Opinions seem a bit mixed that's all.

[Steve748]

OK All I can say is I am very happy with the upgrade and I think it's well worth the money. I listened to the standard system in a new car recently and it's still crap.

[Em135eye]

Wife has the car today but I'm going to do some investigating later to see if it has been upgraded...!

[gIzzE]

I nearly ordered this yeserday, however I think I am going to go with the Blaupunkt upgrade again, I just prefer being able to control the gains and cuttoffs for the mids and subs seperately.

The Blaupunkt system is a step up from the Logic7 in dynamincs and smoothness, where as I think most people would agree the L7 has a slight edge over the Alpine upgrade??

The Blaupunkt system is £370 including the L7 tweeters, so a bit more money, but at least you can add the Earthquake subs to it which turns it into something pretty special at a later date.

[AlanQS]

gIzzE, I think there is no question that the Logic 7 is better than the Alpine upgrade - more speakers and higher power outputs as well.

I think it should be compared to the HiFi or BMW Business option instead and I suspect that the BMW business version spreads the power to front and rear whilst the Alpine is only for a front seat sound stage - something I always previously thought I would dislike.

As for comparing the Alpine upgrade with the standard system, it is way better as a lot more power goes to the under utilised subs and there is more meat from the front door speakers whilst the addition of the front tweeters is absolutely essential.

[Steve748]

Originally Posted by 335diesel

Wife has the car today but I'm going to do some investigating later to see if it has been upgraded...!

If you phone/call in to your local dealer they will have the car spec on the computer system

[Em135eye]

I might just check myself. Maybe I just have cr4p hearing?!

[gIzzE]

Originally Posted by AlanQS

I think it should be compared to the HiFi option instead ........ Alpine is only for a front seat sound stage - something I always previously thought I would dislike.

I only ever put front speakers in anyway, along with a sub, you only need rears if the fronts are not good enough.
If I do have rears I like to be able to cut everything but the mid range so it doesn't drag the soundstage backwards.


The DLS CA31 amp is also a good 'un, will take the speakers level from the head unit and drive the front speakers and subs seperately, meaning you could upgrade the subs too at some point.

That is £240 online, so could be a real contender.

2 x 65 Watts into 4 ohm + 1 x 280 Watts in 2 ohm, so perfect for the Earthquake subs.

http://www.dls.se/en/car/prod.html?produkt=en_102

Would be a really easy install too.

[Steve748]

Has anybody upgraded the speakers in the rear yet? if so was it a worthwhile upgrade?

[gIzzE]

I just can't see the point, you want to fade the rears to the point where you can't really hear them anyway.

[illingworth22]

Originally Posted by Steve748

Has anybody upgraded the speakers in the rear yet? if so was it a worthwhile upgrade?

WARNING!!!!!!

Avoid trying to upgrade the rear speakers or remove the rear panel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I removed the rear passenger panel to add the wiring for my Blaupunkt Amp and I have created 2 (FU*^ing) rattles which are proving almost impossible to locate or remove

[Steve748]

Thank you! I can cope with crap speakers in the back more than rattles

[JLR1969]

Originally Posted by 335diesel

I might just check myself. Maybe I just have cr4p hearing?!

You What