[void_]

Hi guys,

First off - new happy owner of 2010 325i e91
The car came pre-installed with Alpine audio retrofit. It sounds alright, though I have expected bit more. The main problem though is left/right channels seems to switch off/on or change the volume drastically. It seem to happen when I drive through uneven roads. I suspect there might be some bad connection issue so it brings me to the question - where should I start looking?

I know that Alpine audio retrofit comes with tweeters/mid range drivers and an amp. Before I go disassembling the front doors - where can I find the Alpine amp? Is it somewhere at the back? Maybe I can find some loose wires there..

Also - I am investigating in upgrading the under-seat sub-woofers. I know that in base they come in form of 6.5 inch driver. Would 8 inch sub fit as well?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks !

Simon

[ctuna]

Usually according to the Alpine Retrofit pdf they put it under the trunk
floor or maybe in the OEM amp position .
The install pdf is available if you search for it.
The 6.5's are glued in but you can put 8 in although from my understanding the
Alpine amp doesn't have that much power to drive better
aftermarket speakers.
You have to pry the 6.5 s out to use those housings.
Even the 8's in the Hi Fi system don't have that much output.

Second link from bottom contains the Alpine install pdf.

Base System Upgrades
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=445266
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=634957
http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1003810
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=822366
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=581379
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=451941
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=540954
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ghlight=Dotech
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=495855
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=494299
http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/...morel-jbl.html
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ht=amp+upgrade
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=550771
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...1#post16679904
http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...1&d=1411521234
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1378833
base system wiring pre/post 3/09
http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...1&d=1411521234
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...tDpLJPcGkw_ui_
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...1#post16679904

[void_]

Thanks!

The 6.5's are glued in but you can put 8 in although from my understanding the
Alpine amp doesn't have that much power to drive better
aftermarket speakers.

So my understanding is that Alpine amp powers only tweeters and mids that come with the package. Subs and back woofers are driven by head unit.
Anyways, thanks for the links - I will take my time to investigate possible options

BTW, I played around with balance and fader controls and found out that front right tweeter and mid-woofer does not play.

[david in germany]

Originally Posted by void_

Thanks!



So my understanding is that Alpine amp powers only tweeters and mids that come with the package. Subs and back woofers are driven by head unit.
Anyways, thanks for the links - I will take my time to investigate possible options

Incorrect, it is a 4 channel amplifier that powers the door speakers with 2 channels and the underseat woofers with the other two. If the entire door is without sound I would pull the panel and check the connections at the crossover.

[void_]

Originally Posted by david in germany

Incorrect, it is a 4 channel amplifier that powers the door speakers with 2 channels and the underseat woofers with the other two. If the entire door is without sound I would pull the panel and check the connections at the crossover.

Thanks David. Found few good videos on how to remove the panel off the door, will try that.
Also - probably good idea to check if the HU was recoded to HiFi mode when the Alpine was installed.

[ctuna]

Install procedures
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showt...9#post24104169
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ght=door+wires
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=911595
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...9&postcount=19
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=571803
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ht=amp+install

http://www.bimmerdiy.com/dir/e90
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...DIY+door+panel
http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...-Panel-Removal
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=553388
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...hlight=speaker
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=635672

Pulling the panel is not to bad on these .
Be sure to use the bavsound trick of detaching the cable
to the handle it makes it easier.
I would get some spare plastic fasteners.

Listed in the following link page 33 also this e91 install may
give you some useful info for removing and working on the car.
https://www.e90post.com/forums/attac...3&d=1329017429

connectors
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...9&postcount=19
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ower+Connector
connectors1
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...9&postcount=19

[david in germany]

Originally Posted by void_

Thanks David. Found few good videos on how to remove the panel off the door, will try that.
Also - probably good idea to check if the HU was recoded to HiFi mode when the Alpine was installed.

Checking the coding can wait, make sure the connections are good first thing. If they are good, try swapping the speakers and crossover from one door to the other to determine if you have a bad speaker or crossover.

[void_]

Originally Posted by david in germany

Checking the coding can wait, make sure the connections are good first thing. If they are good, try swapping the speakers and crossover from one door to the other to determine if you have a bad speaker or crossover.

Haven't had a chance to disassemble the doors yet, but I noticed one more thing this week when driving. Seems like both sides are sometimes on or off. Depending on if the car shakes, on acceleration or breaking as well. Not only doors (tweeters/mid-woofers) are out but underseat subs as well. The sound just moves from right to left, sometimes both sides are playing The only speakers that are always on are the ones in the back.
Since back speakers are powered by HU, this leads me to believe that the issue is in the AMP or some connections there. What do you think?

Thanks BTW for the support!

[david in germany]

Originally Posted by void_

Haven't had a chance to disassemble the doors yet, but I noticed one more thing this week when driving. Seems like both sides are sometimes on or off. Depending on if the car shakes, on acceleration or breaking as well. Not only doors (tweeters/mid-woofers) are out but underseat subs as well. The sound just moves from right to left, sometimes both sides are playing The only speakers that are always on are the ones in the back.
Since back speakers are powered by HU, this leads me to believe that the issue is in the AMP or some connections there. What do you think?

Thanks BTW for the support!

Yes, it sounds like an amp issue or a loose connection at the amp.

[void_]

Originally Posted by david in germany

Yes, it sounds like an amp issue or a loose connection at the amp.

Got to the amp in the trunk. Changed balance/fading settings to right/front. Shook around the input wires and amp itself and was able to reproduce the disappearing audio signal.
Doesn't look like wires itself are broken, seems like the issue is on the input terminal or inside the amp. I wasn't able to get the amp out though because I didn't find any screws connecting it to the base of the trunk.
Can someone explain how it is attached? Is it just glued in? How do I get it out?

See attached pictures.

[void_]

Nevermind, found it in installation PDF: Glue amplifier C into the bootspace well (1).
Guess I'll need to just pull it out

[david in germany]

Velcro strip, just pill it up.

[ctuna]

http://www.backoffice.be/prod_uk/Alp...-channel_7.asp

although the above is an mrp not a pda

You might try more Velcro to cushion and tie down the amp
and connector better.

[void_]

Took the amp out from trunk and opened it at home (attached). I can hardly believe any of the components are broken because it plays (sometimes right, left or both). There are no parts as far as I can see where connection might be off. It looks quite solid actually. I guess I could check with MM if all capacitors are OK, but again, it would probably not play at all.

I am leaning towards the (white) connector to the AMP itself that might cause the problem. Maybe there is some bad connection there or the wire is broken. Any thoughts on this and or ideas how to further check the issue?

BTW, after I took it out and put back again - seems like it got worse and right side is not playing at all now

[david in germany]

get some electric contact cleaning spray and hit both connectors and the connections on the amp. I can only imagine it has a dirty set of pins or something.

Edit, forgot to say, check the connections at the underseat woofers as well (pull back the carpet and you should be able to see the connection without disassembling anything). It could just not be getting the signal to the amp.

[void_]

Originally Posted by david in germany

get some electric contact cleaning spray and hit both connectors and the connections on the amp. I can only imagine it has a dirty set of pins or something.

Edit, forgot to say, check the connections at the underseat woofers as well (pull back the carpet and you should be able to see the connection without disassembling anything). It could just not be getting the signal to the amp.

Finally found what was causing the issue, it was that secondary board with the switch. Had to spray the contact cleaner inside and move the switch back and forth for quite a few times. Now the audio seems to function correctly.

Thanks for the help

Getting back to the coding of HIFI from the base stereo. I found a way of entering the hidden menu in the radio, is there a way to figure out if the current system is re-coded to HiFi?

[david in germany]

As far as I know there are no options for coding the business radio (base radio) or options to change the output.

[void_]

Originally Posted by david in germany

As far as I know there are no options for coding the business radio (base radio) or options to change the output.

Hm, weird, I read that bear85 was able to recode in following thread.

Unless I am missing something. I will try posting there.. Thanks in any case.

[david in germany]

Originally Posted by bear85

Hello, I do not have idrive, i have got professional hu base stereo with bluetooth and bmw assist. So thats why those modules arent listed, duh what an idiot I am.

Professional radio