[ll71]

I didn't know Zippy and Bungle made speakers! You learn something new every day...

[Hprice1099]

Am I reading into this wrong?? It saying its available for the F31, so surly it must be available for the F30. Found it on the BMW accessories website



ALPINE HiFi system

Transform your BMW into your very own concert hall. The Alpine hi-fi system significantly improves audio performance, ensuring natural, homogenous sound imaging with flawless highs and expressive depth.
The six-channel DSP amplifier has output of 420W and a class D chip for powerful bass. The system includes modified and powerful mid-range/treble speakers with aluminium membranes in the upper sections of the front doors. They are driven by two channels; two more drive the bass speakers under the front seats.
[1]
Fitting time: 2 h
Available for: BMW 3 Series Saloon (from 2011), BMW 3 Series Touring (from 2012)

[clinton.white]

Yes, I see what you are saying and the text does say that the upgrade is available for saloon cars from 2001!!

There is no pic however, not sure if that is definitive or not - maybe it is just an error on the way that the website has been configured!!

I have just been onto realoem.com and it shows it for non UK based cars!!

Note sure what to make of it but it is frustrating, is it not.

I might just go and get some speakers from bavsound.com and a JL audio amplifier but it is the warranty implications!!

[Hprice1099]

Originally Posted by clinton.white

Yes, I see what you are saying and the text does say that the upgrade is available for saloon cars from 2001!!

There is no pic however, not sure if that is definitive or not - maybe it is just an error on the way that the website has been configured!!

I have just been onto realoem.com and it shows it for non UK based cars!!

Note sure what to make of it but it is frustrating, is it not.

I might just go and get some speakers from bavsound.com and a JL audio amplifier but it is the warranty implications!!

Bummer, thought they finally sorted it On the positive my new car has HK, made sure of it otherwise who knows how long everyone will be waiting for this.

[jakeb1]

not sure what the warranty implications would be of just changing the speakers - adding an amp and messing with wiring I can see.

If you get a door rattle, put the original speaker back in and then down to the dealer?

[clinton.white]

I will check with the parts guy at my local dealership, but I am not hopeful!!

Lucky you getting HK on the car - it will be interesting to see how it compares!!

[clinton.white]

Originally Posted by jakeb1

not sure what the warranty implications would be of just changing the speakers - adding an amp and messing with wiring I can see.

If you get a door rattle, put the original speaker back in and then down to the dealer?

Yes, just replacing the speakers was my initial thought actually and as you say, you can just put the old speaker back if an issue develops in the door. I am no car audio expert but from reading various forums, people seem to suggest that just replacing the speakers will have very little effect and an amplifier is really required.

I like the look / theory of the BSW kit as it is just speakers and they say it will make a bit difference!! As I have said, I am no audiofile but the base 6 speaker system in my car just sounds so tinny and harsh and there is just no bass!!

Maybe it is my old ears!!

I took the door card off yesterday, just to have a look and see if I was capable and it was quite easy to be honest and it has all gone back on ok without any rattles or scratches!!

[jakeb1]

well, my experience of just changing the stock speakers has always been positive. Various Golfs, Audis etc over the years, I have just gone down to halfords and bought £100 worth of pioneer (or whatever looks half decent) speakers and it has transformed the system.

Now, we are obviously talking about £600ish now which is a bit more of a risk. The £250 focal kit I would have had a bash with.

Its a shame they dont have a dealer in the UK where you could go and have a listen........

[clinton.white]

Originally Posted by jakeb1

well, my experience of just changing the stock speakers has always been positive. Various Golfs, Audis etc over the years, I have just gone down to halfords and bought £100 worth of pioneer (or whatever looks half decent) speakers and it has transformed the system.

Now, we are obviously talking about £600ish now which is a bit more of a risk. The £250 focal kit I would have had a bash with.

Its a shame they dont have a dealer in the UK where you could go and have a listen........

Yes, I am currently looking at a Rainbow set of mids and tweeters for about £250 all in and plug and play apparently.

Yes, it is a shame about BSW - maybe I should setup a distribution channel for them LOL !!

[MRPoisson]

Any non HK 'ers gone for the Alpine upgrade?

http://www.bmw.co.uk/en_GB/topics/ow...ryId=8917.html

[ewanmac]

I upgraded my E90 335d from the standard to the Alpine. Made a big difference but not a patch on the logic 7 I had in my 335i or the HK I have in my current F30

[jakeb1]

hows about

Front

http://caraudiosecurity.com/il-c4-2-...part-no-231242

Rear

http://caraudiosecurity.com/il-x4-bm...part-no-231244

Not sure what the centre speaker is but the above is £360 to do the doors for what looks like the same speakers as Bavsounds?

http://www.rainbow-audio.de/en/speak...lligence-line/

http://www.rainbow-audio.de/wp-conte...ity-131022.pdf

[clinton.white]

Originally Posted by jakeb1

hows about

Front

http://caraudiosecurity.com/il-c4-2-...part-no-231242

Rear

http://caraudiosecurity.com/il-x4-bm...part-no-231244

Not sure what the centre speaker is but the above is £360 to do the doors for what looks like the same speakers as Bavsounds?

http://www.rainbow-audio.de/en/speak...lligence-line/

http://www.rainbow-audio.de/wp-conte...ity-131022.pdf

The centre speaker is not installed on the standard audio systems - it resides on the dash behind the nav / idrive screen. The U.S. Hi-Fi systems and H.K. systems have it installed.

I have brought the Rainbow front door speakers for my 2012 F30 and just need to get the time to fit them. They look easy enough but they have 2 quite large sets of crossovers per side (1 for the tweeter and 1 for the mid-bass).
I need to use a hot glue gun to fix these to the inside of the door - I emailed rainbow about the best location to affix them and they were not very helpful saying that they are supposed to be installed by a professional!!

I will post back when I have them installed. If they are ok, I will probably get the co-axial ones for the back doors.

[coolboy007]

I recently bought a F30 320D and here in India, the base system is the crappy 6 speaker system with no amplifier. The sound output is really pathetic, my Ford Fiesta has a better sounding audio and it came with tweeters. I have read a lot and only 2 plug n play options are there and am unable to decide on which option to go for.

I can either go for Bavsound stage 1 upgrade which costs $ 650 and i would have to pay some customs as well, so it would cost around $ 750. This gives me 2 tweeters and changes all door speakers. Have no clue on how good the improvement would be without an amplifier.

Other option is the Alpine upgrade kit. Called my local BMW dealer and they are quoting 1050 $ for the kit and another 150 $ for installation. Takes the kit to an astronomical 1200 usd which feels a lot for just a amplifier and 2 front components with tweeters.

Have killed all my savings in buying this car, so am on a tight budget right now. Have bought the 5 year warranty plan and i do not want to void the warranty by using external amplifiers etc.
What would be the best bet? Need better clarity and a bit more bass from the stock system.