[biscuits]

Originally Posted by edowen

PS. Agree with Prof media, heated seats. I also went for a better hi-fi as the standard one is crap. (Logic7 in my case - which is awesome).

Same here... the standard speaker setup is awful, hence my retro-upgrade. I have DAB and it's kind of handy when you can get a signal, but signal strength is always an issue unless your sat in traffic.

Do they now give you an option for non-run flat tyres from new ??? I seem to remember they were going to offer this as an option on the entry level 3-series models.

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by edowen

PS. Agree with Prof media, heated seats. I also went for a better hi-fi as the standard one is crap. (Logic7 in my case - which is awesome).

I very much disagree with the statement that the standard sound system is crap. The latest models with hard drive and 2 sub woofers sounds surprisingly good. Great bass and excellent sense of pace, rhythm and timing. Music really boogies, with a sound akin to Naim hi-fi. As a hi-fi and music fanatic, I was quite amazed by how good the standard system now sounds.

[biscuits]

Originally Posted by SteveC

I very much disagree with the statement that the standard sound system is crap. The latest models with hard drive and 2 sub woofers sounds surprisingly good. Great bass and excellent sense of pace, rhythm and timing. Music really boogies, with a sound akin to Naim hi-fi. As a hi-fi and music fanatic, I was quite amazed by how good the standard system now sounds.

Maybe the standard system in the LCI E90 has been upgraded then, as the standard system previously offered was awful. I've heard it in the E90 & E92 using iPod and CD sources. To not even have tweeters as standard, relying purely on a co-axial midrange in the door driven off the headunit is well below standard. Adding the Logic7 tweeters lifted the whole front sound stage, enabling me to hear far more detail, in fact now I'm hearing parts of the songs I'd not heard before!

If you're into your 2 channel hifi (Naim, etc...), then I can't believe we are talking about the same system Steve.

[crazybones]

The standard system in my new LCI 330D is not as good as my previous 2 E90's which both had the Hifi upgrade. The lack of tweeters together with poorer midrange is really noticeable, hence my thread asking for advise on upgrade paths!

[paulcurtis]

Originally Posted by biscuits

To not even have tweeters as standard, relying purely on a co-axial midrange in the door driven off the headunit is well below standard. .

The mid isn't even co-axial on my e91 basic system, it's just a mid.

Steve, i would assume that you must have a system that is upgraded in someway. If not then you'll be in for a nice surprise if you upgrade yours!

cheers
paul

[biscuits]

Originally Posted by paulcurtis

The mid isn't even co-axial on my e91 basic system, it's just a mid.

Steve, i would assume that you must have a system that is upgraded in someway. If not then you'll be in for a nice surprise if you upgrade yours!

cheers
paul

Paul, your right....... they are only mids, not co-axials.....



Stock on left, Logic7 on right

[Looney Toon]

Originally Posted by edowen

My understanding is you dont need USB if you go prof media as you get a USB socket in the glove box.

BMW have told me that you still need a flashdrive to download audio to the hardrive, via the USB socket in the glove box (aprox 7gig left for audio), whereas the USB Interface under the armrest allows you to play audios direct from your Ipod, without downloading to the hard drive, and still allows track listing.
So if you buy a new download, you would still need to use a flashdrive to download it again to your cars hard drive.. every time. Sounds a bit of a pain to me tbh!

[Looney Toon]

Update

As advised, i took a 330d SE and a 330d Msport for test drives over the weekend. Unfortunately, both were AUTO, as there's no stock available in Manual.

At this stage, I've ruled out the 335d engine, as although it generates an extra 41 hp (286hp v 245hp), and obviously greater torque, 0-62mph in 6.0secs v 6.1secs in the 330d engine isn't enough, for the extra cash, and higher tax bill.

First thing i have to say is... wow.. what an engine. Getting back in my current E90 320d se(chipped to 195hp), was like chatting up the best looking girl in school at the Village hall disco, only to end up with her best mate at the end of the night. Satisfying.. yes, but ultimately frustrating!
She really is a beauty!

As for the ride, to be honest, at low speed over uneven Lincolnshire lanes, I honestly didn't detect that much difference in feel between the SE and MSport models. At higher speeds on better roads, the lower/harder suspension of the Msport was significantly noticeable, and i felt planted to the road, and ultimately more confident in my driving style. I also felt extremely comfortable throughout. The sports seats were absolutely fantastic too.

While the lower suspension and sports seats are available as an option, I've made the decision to tick the box for the Msport

Originally Posted by SteveC

[. Add an auto transmission and I feel further isolated from the pure driving experience,

I do have to also add my personal view on the automatic transmission.
I'm sure with hours more practice, i'd enjoy it more, but as SteveC quite eloquently puts it, i really did feel somewhat isolated from the engine.

It's a BIG tick in the Manual box also !

Thanks to everybody for all your help!

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by SteveC

I very much disagree with the statement that the standard sound system is crap. The latest models with hard drive and 2 sub woofers sounds surprisingly good. Great bass and excellent sense of pace, rhythm and timing. Music really boogies, with a sound akin to Naim hi-fi. As a hi-fi and music fanatic, I was quite amazed by how good the standard system now sounds.

Music quality akin to Naim??

I have the std system fitted in mine and IMO it is DIRE!!!!

The door speakers lack clarity, no tweeters in the door mirror caps and the underseat subs break up with any bass or volume applied.

I came out of an Audi A4 with Bose and was VERY disappointed with the system that BMW chuck into £40k cars.

I have now spec'd logic 7 on my next car - that will give me 13 speakers including bigger subs, tweeters in all four doors and a centre dash speaker, all fed by an amplifier rather than the stock head unit.

I am hoping that will be spot on

[Budgie]

It will be spot on...Logic 7 sounds great,plus remember your in a enclosed car so sounds are radically different.

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by redE93cab

Music quality akin to Naim??

I have the std system fitted in mine and IMO it is DIRE!!!!

The door speakers lack clarity, no tweeters in the door mirror caps and the underseat subs break up with any bass or volume applied.

I came out of an Audi A4 with Bose and was VERY disappointed with the system that BMW chuck into £40k cars.

I have now spec'd logic 7 on my next car - that will give me 13 speakers including bigger subs, tweeters in all four doors and a centre dash speaker, all fed by an amplifier rather than the stock head unit.

I am hoping that will be spot on

I must say I'm a little confused by these posts.

At home I use a differentially balanced, all tube system with Sonus Faber's Homage line speakers and top of the line cabling and power conditioning from Shunyata. It replaced a top of the range 4-pack active Naim system. In addition to the BMW, I also have an Audi with Bose system, which I consider to be substantially inferior to what's in the BMW. Certainly a lot more coloured, with poorer sense of rhythm and timing. The Bose system goes loud but certainly does not boogy.
When I picked up the BMW I was truly expecting to be underwhelmed by the sound system, especially one based on compressed digital. My previous BMW had the standard sound system and it sounded very poor (perhaps the above poster is talking about standard systems fitted to older cars). With the new hard-drive based system I was very pleasantly surprised by how well balanced it sounds and how enjoyable the music. I spent several hours in the car loading and arranging music onto the hard drive, and was repeatedly amazed at how much I enjoyed the sound. My home system is obviously way better in every respect but the car system is not chopped liver either.

Bear in mind that I do not use excessively high volume. I like realistic sound levels but don't want to make myself deaf with constant exposure to high dBs.

Perhaps one of the things I appreciate is the fact that there is no seperate tweeter. In home audio you'd need to sit several feet back from a speaker where the tweeter was so distant from the midrange in order for the sound to integrate properly. Most high-end in-car systems sound spectacular but not musical. Huge amounts of one note bass and diamond hard treble is not my idea of audio paradise. Warm, articulate bass, natural mids and breathy sparkling tops are more my cuppa tea. Less bass is preferable to too much and a rolled treble preferable to the digital hardness usually encountered.

[paulcurtis]

Steve,

I have no idea what you've got in your car but it cannot be the same as mine!

Whilst no audiophile i'm also not a bass head. At home i have a nice Linn system and i also do a lot of post production work with studio based systems.

I've just upgraded to the L7 tweeters in my e91 and frankly it's like night and day. I mean have you *seen* the speaker that is providing your mid and treble? (photo in the thread somewhere, they're £30 philips speakers) Whilst i do agree the soundstage could be better (in terms of tweeter location) it is still like night and day, you can hear breathing, space and a much wider range. Still lacking in the bass but once i get the SWS8s in there that should help.

It does make me wonder whether you have coaxials in your car rather than the basic mid because because the basic system is so poor compared to everything else i've had before.

Is there someone local or a dealership where you can listen to an upgraded system - it would be interesting to find out what's going on here because i don't doubt you for a second in that you find yours pleasing.

cheers
paul

[rogerxp]

My current '06' car has the basic stereo and sounds rubbish.
My previous '56' car had the DSP system (logic) which was amazing.

I'm also amazed how you find the basic system so good Steve

Maybe a can't comment as I've not got a modern motor for comparison.

[SteveC]

Tonight was a beautiful mild evening so went for a nice long drive. Cream was first up on the stereo folowed by some Cat Stevens. At realistic volume what did I notice?
1. Midrange has excellent presence and warmth, vocals are clear and natural, lyrics very easy to follow and vocals have good depth with little coloration.
2. Bass has good body, speed and articulation and is quite musical, although lacking in timbral detail and outright slam. Cello for example is well reproduced but missing the woody resonance that high-end home stereo will reveal
3. Tops lack sparkle and air but also have no digital edge and are therefore pleasant, if not detailed
4. Overall the sound is clear, present, natural, well balanced, cohesive and musical, lacking that digital spit, glare and hardness that often aflicts modern stereos. It is not great sound, lacking in terms of imaging, air and ambience but is pleasing and innoffensive, with excellent rhythmic drive that is really quite entertaining. In terms of home stereo systems it puts me in mind of single speaker systems like Lowther, which are somewhat reticent at the frequency extremes but cohesive and charming in the most important midrange. The system is not particularly detailed or endowed with great finesse or frequency extention, but also does not induce listener fatigue, which can't be said for a great many so-called high-end in-car systems

Played at low volume the system sounds thin and at high volume strained, which is typical for low power systems. In comparison, the Bose system fitted to my Audi sounds quite coloured, with little sense of rhythmical timing, while tops have a digital glare which I find quite irritating and has me constantly reaching for the volume control. The Bose system initially sounds more 'spectacular' but after 20 minutes the volume is usually heading downwards

[rogerxp]

I'd like to permanently swap cars with SteveC

[paulcurtis]

Well Steve,

I think you should upgrade and then that should put an even bigger smile on your face! The underseat bass bins on these cars are really ground breaking for car audio, make sure you take advantage of them!

Even just getting the L7 tweeters in is cheap and a big difference.

cheers
paul

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by paulcurtis

Well Steve,

I think you should upgrade and then that should put an even bigger smile on your face! The underseat bass bins on these cars are really ground breaking for car audio, make sure you take advantage of them!

Even just getting the L7 tweeters in is cheap and a big difference.

cheers
paul

Its something I intend looking into. To my ears at least the basic underlying system is good enough to warrant improvements to speakers and increased power. However its also worth bearing in mind that in matters audio, more doesn't always equal better. Having a single loudpspeaker avoids signal deterioration caused by additional amps, crossovers, cables and connectors. and does not require your brain to integrate several sound sources, with the associated phase anomalies. There are qualities in the standard system that I would be loathed to lose, not least the rhythmic engagement and lack of listener fatigue. There is a certain purity of sound that I admire. I really think that whoever balanced the standard system knows a thing or two about music. If the same person did the enhanced versions then they should indeed sound good. I'll be checking it out

Thanks for the feedback. Appreciated

[Looney Toon]

Ahem.. back on track!

Car ordered :-

E90 330D M Sport LCI (Manual)

Colour : Le Mans Blue

Options :-

Dakota Leather - Oyster
Heated Front Seats
Windscreen with grey shade band
Professional Media Package
Visibility Package
Light Burr walnut trim
DAB Digital Radio
USB Interface
Sunprotection glass

Thanks a plenty for everybody's advice!
Delivery due 3rd July 2009.

[Budgie]

Great spec ...hope you got a rip arse deal.

[tisme]

Good Spec LT, though I'm surprised you didn't go for a sound system upgrade.