[Kemmish]

Yes - I've searched and i cant work it out! Also a lot of the info im finding is 7 or 8 years old. Sureley prices/ technology has changed since then. So here goes...

What i have:

Base package with the underseat subs removed. (I can only assume the under seat subs were removed by a previous owner.)

What i want:

To upgrade to a good system that has good quality audio and some decent bass.

What i dont want:

I dont want to spend thousands as there is lots more planned to do to the car. The audio upgrade will be done in stages due to time/ money.

Where do i start...

Head Unit
My current "professinal" OEM HU is utter rubbish - Bluetooth doesnt work (i have the USB box in the boot and also the shark fin aerial) and has no USB function.

I have a mid range Pioneer (i think) single DIN HU from 2011. It has bluetooth and all the outputs etc that are good. However I'm in 2 minds if i fit this or buy something different but "better". I have seen these touch screen DoubleDIN units that people are fitting. Are these any good? or are they "all talk" and the money would be better spent elsewhere?

Something like this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Octa-Core-...YAAOSwLEtYiBLl

Door speakers

I have no idea what my current door speakers are - i can only assume they are standard ones. They have no tweeters.

I have been seeing people recommending the MTX speaker upgrade, which includes Doors/ Tweeters and Underseat Subs Ebay Link to speakers and also the MB Quart kit Amazon link to MB Quart.

Are these worth getting - i dont want to go mad and get ones that i need to make brackets / modify the car for them to fit. My DIY skills are more Dont Involve Yourself than Do It Yourself. Happy to run cables/ take trim off etc but not to be making big parts fit where they cant.

Underseat Sub

Currently have none as i can only assume a previous owner has upgraded and removed when selling the car on.

In the kits above they all include the underseat sub. So do i get the kits above and use the included sub then eventually add a amp to it all?

Or is it better to go for something like the earthquake subs?

AMP
I am happy to run a amp to power all this but the amp would be the last thing to go in. Or would you say otherwise?

BUDGET

I haven't got the budget to go all out straight away. My thinking...

Good idea or bad idea?

1. Get the MB quarts first and fit them keeping original HU (or even fit my current pioneer one)
2. IF the HU in the link above is better than what i have then it will be the next thing on the list
3. ELSE get a Amp and amp up the MB quarts connected with the Pioneer HU?

Sorry for the long post - its a very specific set of questions that i am hoping someone will help me with.

[ctuna]

1
Get the MB quarts first and fit them keeping original HU (or even fit my current pioneer one)stock head unit does not have enough power to run the floors and doors there wired in parallel part of the reason for the horrible sound

IF the HU in the link above is better than what i have then it will be the next thing on the list

Most of the cheaper screen Nav units are feature rich but quality poor.


ELSE get a Amp and amp up the MB quarts connected with the Pioneer HU?
If you want quality sound you will need a multi channel amp no matter what you get.
You will need 6 channels .

Putting in a new head unit comes with side effects.
However it
does solve the eq problem described in the Base System upgrade link without coding or a dsp/frequency flattening device.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1378833

If you want some quality 1000 to 2000 us for
hardware is ballpark.

bimmerfest stereo
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...ighlight=ctuna
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...ighlight=audio
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...ighlight=audio
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...ighlight=audio

The solutions for fixing the base system are the same as they ever were . Now there are more aftermarket speaker kits that fit. Currently popular
is the Helix DSP/amps . Bimmertech makes a somewhat plug and play kit using the helix 82dsp.

Partial solutions produce partial results .

[Kemmish]

Thanks for the reply - very helpful links.

Since I asked the questions ive also been told about the Focal speakers

Are these better than the MB Quarts? / Eathquakes?

[Ali-E90]

I think focals are better but also more expensive.

[ctuna]

Jehnerts and Morels are better than those .
IMHOP.

There is a speaker list in
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=641323

[Kemmish]

Originally Posted by ctuna

Jehnerts and Morels are better than those .
IMHOP.

There is a speaker list in
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=641323

Thank you - this will come in handy

[BMW3DK]

Or if you want to go high-end, then you look at Scan Speak 10F + #004 tweet with a 8" of your choice.
Jehnert is one, but AuraSound or Mosconi also offer good performance. Alternative is a 7" Scan Speak.

In any case, high-end also mean DSP amplifier and a Subwoofer

// Chris

Originally Posted by ctuna

Jehnerts and Morels are better than those .
IMHOP.

There is a speaker list in
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=641323

[ptpending]

the cheapest upgrade will be bmw alpine hifi kit and basic midbasses from jank yard

[BMW3DK]

sorry to say - it is the best plase for this kit to be...



Go for a bmw specific 3 way system, a good DSP based amp (Match PP62 is a very good choice).

Get it installed & tuned properly.

sit back and enjoy..

Next step could be a sub, but then you can add this to the pre-out from the PP62 and buy a custom box for your car + 'any' strong amplifier from ebay or yard sales to frive it.

// Chris

Originally Posted by ptpending

the cheapest upgrade will be bmw alpine hifi kit and basic midbasses from jank yard

[Thorin]

Where would you secure a sub in the E91?

[ctuna]

Pretty much the same place you would in anything else except maybe
the ski pass if you want the space for your stuff when the seats are down.
Also it has the advantage of no physical barrier to the sound.

Side mount or maybe in the rear under floor storage.
See MusicarNW Side mount.

[triax37]

I'm putting a 10" in the back of my E91, under floor storage area. My understanding is that location was less popular with the E90 people because the trunk was well sealed and so the bass didn't come through to the cabin - but for the wagon, I'm hoping it will be a great solution. There is enough room for a 0.6-0.7 cu/ft MDF enclosure, or up to a 0.85 cu/ft fiberglass enclosure. Enough for my JL 10w3, at least...

ctuna, any comments, given your vast knowledge and wagon?

Here are a few posts with pictures, just to be clear on location:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=868884
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1099968

Will take some pictures and provide more details when I get this done next week.

[Ali-E90]

You probably saw my posts in the first thread you've linked...

I am very happy with my setup, using the same sub as you (JL 10w3v3).

I have a sedan, so as you mentioned, I ended up cutting a ski pass in my rear seat to help get bass into the cabin. I also cut out an opening on the trunk floor, to avoid it from rattling (it will rattle like a MOFO if you don't do something to remedy that). I also put a speaker grill on the woofer to keep it protected given the floor is now cut out exposing the woofer.

Very happy with how it sounds. The enclosure itself, in my case, is just the OEM storage bin, fiberglassed, and with an MDF baffle on the top.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by triax37

I'm putting a 10" in the back of my E91, under floor storage area. My understanding is that location was less popular with the E90 people because the trunk was well sealed and so the bass didn't come through to the cabin - but for the wagon, I'm hoping it will be a great solution. There is enough room for a 0.6-0.7 cu/ft MDF enclosure, or up to a 0.85 cu/ft fiberglass enclosure. Enough for my JL 10w3, at least...

ctuna, any comments, given your vast knowledge and wagon?

Here are a few posts with pictures, just to be clear on location:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=868884
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1099968

Will take some pictures and provide more details when I get this done next week.

[triax37]

Originally Posted by Ali-323i

You probably saw my posts in the first thread you've linked...

I am very happy with my setup, using the same sub as you (JL 10w3v3).

I have a sedan, so as you mentioned, I ended up cutting a ski pass in my rear seat to help get bass into the cabin. I also cut out an opening on the trunk floor, to avoid it from rattling (it will rattle like a MOFO if you don't do something to remedy that). I also put a speaker grill on the woofer to keep it protected given the floor is now cut out exposing the woofer.

Very happy with how it sounds. The enclosure itself, in my case, is just the OEM storage bin, fiberglassed, and with an MDF baffle on the top.

Good luck!

Thanks for the update! My MDF sub enclosure will be suspended about 1" from the bottom of the floor to hopefully prevent the rattling you mentioned. Glad to know you're enjoying the sound in the sedan. Very curious how this will fill (or not fill) the wagon...

[Ali-E90]

Originally Posted by triax37

Thanks for the update! My MDF sub enclosure will be suspended about 1" from the bottom of the floor to hopefully prevent the rattling you mentioned. Glad to know you're enjoying the sound in the sedan. Very curious how this will fill (or not fill) the wagon...

I'm confident the sound will fill the wagon cabin well, assuming it's getting powered well (mine is from the sub channel of a JL 700/5 - works well).

The trunk floor will still rattle, even if the baffle is recessed a bit lower. The rattle from the floor isn't from the sub hitting the floor physically, but from the air displacement caused by the sub... so even with a recessed MDF, you'll still get rattle unless you cut out the floor to let the air pass through, or use foam etc. to minimize the rattling noise.

My vote would be to cut out the floor (and then use a speaker grill to protect the sub) as it will not interfere with the bass from the sub.

[ctuna]

I don't do subs.(old school) So you will have to rely on the sub experts
Taibanl specifically. I collected the sub info and sometimes will put it up.

[BMW3DK]

good soluteion - did it in my old 320, will do it in the 325 as well!




works fine in a e90 also.

/Chris

Originally Posted by triax37

I'm putting a 10" in the back of my E91, under floor storage area. My understanding is that location was less popular with the E90 people because the trunk was well sealed and so the bass didn't come through to the cabin - but for the wagon, I'm hoping it will be a great solution. There is enough room for a 0.6-0.7 cu/ft MDF enclosure, or up to a 0.85 cu/ft fiberglass enclosure. Enough for my JL 10w3, at least...

ctuna, any comments, given your vast knowledge and wagon?

Here are a few posts with pictures, just to be clear on location:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=868884
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1099968

Will take some pictures and provide more details when I get this done next week.