[beanbaguk]

Following the HiFi thread for the Bimmer-Tech, I'd like to start one for the base stereo users such as myself.

I've just placed an order for the Bimmer-Tech Premium Audio kit and I'm very excited to receive it and I'll be working very closely with Bimmer-Tech to set-up an optimal installation in my base stereo car.

While you pay a little more than the standard kit, you also receive everything necessary to install the amplifier to your F3x series including the longer harness, cradle and more.

Keep in mind however, I do have a Bavsound Stage 1, and Bimmer-Tech also recommend upgrading the speakers if you decide to choose a Premium Audio kit.

If you too have a base stereo car and have chosen to install this kit, it would be great to hear about your experiences, hints and tips installing it (especially in an F31 like mine), and it would be great to share DSP set-up files. (Especially if you have a Bavsound Stage 1 kit installed).

[GeertB]

I have a F36 and I also have base stereo. I'm waiting on a few parts from BMW to have all the goodies to start the upgrade: bimmertech amp+harness, BAV stage 1 speakers + underseat subs.
Is it ok if I post my pictures of the install in this thread?

[beanbaguk]

Originally Posted by GeertB

I have a F36 and I also have base stereo. I'm waiting on a few parts from BMW to have all the goodies to start the upgrade: bimmertech amp+harness, BAV stage 1 speakers + underseat subs.
Is it ok if I post my pictures of the install in this thread?

Absolutely. This thread is for all to contribute so the more we have on here to share, the better.

Looking forward to your updates. I'm anxiously waiting for my amp and kit to turn up....

[Lancelot]

Hey I've just completed the upgrade from Base Stereo last weekend with the bimmertech kit, let me know if I can be of help

Be prepared for a few hours of work

On my side I have the Focal 100KRS set for front speakers, and Focal IFBMW-Sub for underseat subs.

Good place to start:

But they only cover the trunk part for those who have Hifi.

Another useful thread on another forum:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=692688

[evobda2]

Ill be doing the same for my base stereo F31 soon too..
Have the Bimmertech amp & additional harness. Tweeter door trims on order.
Speakers will be using Focal 100krs & the Focal IF under seat subs. All run active to the amp.

Be interested any links to where the harness to the boot usually lies.

[jrod33084]

Originally Posted by Lancelot

Hey I've just completed the upgrade from Base Stereo last weekend with the bimmertech kit, let me know if I can be of help

Be prepared for a few hours of work

On my side I have the Focal 100KRS set for front speakers, and Focal IFBMW-Sub for underseat subs.

Good place to start:

But they only cover the trunk part for those who have Hifi.

Another useful thread on another forum:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=692688

I'll be installing my bimmertech amp with a Morel setup. Morel virtus 402 components in front and morel tempo ultra integra 402 in the rears. Did you use the crossover that came with your Focals or did you go active with only the amp? I'm undecided on what to do since mine also come with crossovers. Can you even run a bimmertech amp with crossovers and still power all the speakers?

[Lancelot]

Originally Posted by jrod33084

I'll be installing my bimmertech amp with a Morel setup. Morel virtus 402 components in front and morel tempo ultra integra 402 in the rears. Did you use the crossover that came with your Focals or did you go active with only the amp? I'm undecided on what to do since mine also come with crossovers. Can you even run a bimmertech amp with crossovers and still power all the speakers?

I kept the focal crossover, using something else would require additional wires that the harness doesn't have:

Basically the bimmertech amp takes the 4 channels from the head unit, amplifies them and sends them back into the original BMW wiring going to the subs first then to the doors. This uses the first four A, B, C, D channels.

It then has 4 more channels available (E, F, G, H), the harness provides additional dedicated wiring for the subswoofers (E,F) + 1 center channel (G); Channel H is not wired. Technically you could probably run G and H channels to the front tweeters and setup the DSP to do the crossover internally, but it's going to require additional work from you, not sure the result is worth it.

[beanbaguk]

Originally Posted by Lancelot

I kept the focal crossover, using something else would require additional wires that the harness doesn't have:

Basically the bimmertech amp takes the 4 channels from the head unit, amplifies them and sends them back into the original BMW wiring going to the subs first then to the doors. This uses the first four A, B, C, D channels.

It then has 4 more channels available (E, F, G, H), the harness provides additional dedicated wiring for the subswoofers (E,F) + 1 center channel (G); Channel H is not wired. Technically you could probably run G and H channels to the front tweeters and setup the DSP to do the crossover internally, but it's going to require additional work from you, not sure the result is worth it.

I thought it was 6 channels with the base stereo?

2x Front mid-range + tweeters
2x Rear mid-range
2x Under-seat subs

[jrod33084]

Originally Posted by Lancelot

I kept the focal crossover, using something else would require additional wires that the harness doesn't have:

Basically the bimmertech amp takes the 4 channels from the head unit, amplifies them and sends them back into the original BMW wiring going to the subs first then to the doors. This uses the first four A, B, C, D channels.

It then has 4 more channels available (E, F, G, H), the harness provides additional dedicated wiring for the subswoofers (E,F) + 1 center channel (G); Channel H is not wired. Technically you could probably run G and H channels to the front tweeters and setup the DSP to do the crossover internally, but it's going to require additional work from you, not sure the result is worth it.

You didn't have run extra wiring from the amp to the crossover and then more wiring from the crossover to the tweeter and mid in the front door?

[jrod33084]

Originally Posted by beanbaguk

I thought it was 6 channels with the base stereo?

2x Front mid-range + tweeters
2x Rear mid-range
2x Under-seat subs

He's probably taking about the hifi stereo which has the center speaker also. That's what I have.

[Lancelot]

In the attached picture you see the harness I got from bimmertech:

It's got a 4x2 connector going to the amp for outputs E,F,G,H, and only E,F,G are wired.

E,F have terminals for subs, G wire is bare (red/black wire at the top of the picture)

But there is no wiring for channel H at all : if you were to use G, H outputs for tweeters you'd need the H channel to be wired as well, and I don't know how to do that properly.

On my side I actually installed the Focal 100KRS 3 months ago, so there was no question of getting a signal from the amp to the tweeters directly at this point.

[jrod33084]

Originally Posted by Lancelot

In the attached picture you see the harness I got from bimmertech:

It's got a 4x2 connector going to the amp for outputs E,F,G,H, and only E,F,G are wired.

E,F have terminals for subs, G wire is bare (red/black wire at the top of the picture)

But there is no wiring for channel H at all : if you were to use G, H outputs for tweeters you'd need the H channel to be wired as well, and I don't know how to do that properly.

On my side I actually installed the Focal 100KRS 3 months ago, so there was no question of getting a signal from the amp to the tweeters directly at this point.

So how did you wire up the crossover? Where did you hide it in the vehicle?

[Lancelot]

Something very close to this:


Taken from this page:
http://www.audiofile-incar.co.uk/ind...=80&Itemid=118

Not my own car but I did the same

[jrod33084]

Originally Posted by Lancelot

Something very close to this:


Taken from this page:
http://www.audiofile-incar.co.uk/ind...=80&Itemid=118

Not my own car but I did the same

Ok that helps a lot. As far as the "amp input" that goes to the crossover... Is that the main oem wiring in the door that originally would go to the mids and then the crossover outputs go to the mids and tweeters? I'm sorry if my explanation is confusing.

[Lancelot]

Originally Posted by jrod33084

Ok that helps a lot. As far as the "amp input" that goes to the crossover... Is that the main oem wiring in the door that originally would go to the mids and then the crossover outputs go to the mids and tweeters? I'm sorry if my explanation is confusing.

Yes exactly, take the wire that went to the oem mid as input to the crossover, then from crossover to new mid and tweeters.

You have a wiring diagram here (figure J) http://www.manualslib.com/manual/457...?page=5#manual

[Lancelot]

Originally Posted by evobda2

Ill be doing the same for my base stereo F31 soon too..
Have the Bimmertech amp & additional harness. Tweeter door trims on order.
Speakers will be using Focal 100krs & the Focal IF under seat subs. All run active to the amp.

Be interested any links to where the harness to the boot usually lies.

This is good to begin with:

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=692688


So starting from the back of the car, to easily run the wires, remove the part number 9 in the diagram by pulling the upper part towards you, then slide upwards

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/fr/showpa...diagId=52_3785

Then run the wires under the plastic trims
from there all the way to the front
remove piece #3, #4 in first diagram

and #3 in second diagram (arrow indicates front of the car):


Then running next to the hood lever (that you need to unscrew), under piece #1 here:


going up under the steering column removing screws that hold piece #5 in next diagram, then all the way behind the iDrive


When you're at the point of running cables behind the idrive head unit, this tutorial is useful:

[jrod33084]

Originally Posted by Lancelot

Yes exactly, take the wire that went to the oem mid as input to the crossover, then from crossover to new mid and tweeters.

You have a wiring diagram here (figure J) http://www.manualslib.com/manual/457...?page=5#manual

Awesome man. That's what I needed to know! Thanks a lot for your help. Now I'm a little more comfortable doing the install myself.

[beanbaguk]

Killing me softly!

My Bimmer-Tech amp is currently stuck in customs.

I guess I have to wait for them to finish picking their noses before I can go and collect it.

So close, yet so far!!!

[GeertB]

Originally Posted by Lancelot

In the attached picture you see the harness I got from bimmertech:

It's got a 4x2 connector going to the amp for outputs E,F,G,H, and only E,F,G are wired.

E,F have terminals for subs, G wire is bare (red/black wire at the top of the picture)

But there is no wiring for channel H at all : if you were to use G, H outputs for tweeters you'd need the H channel to be wired as well, and I don't know how to do that properly.

On my side I actually installed the Focal 100KRS 3 months ago, so there was no question of getting a signal from the amp to the tweeters directly at this point.

I looked at the F30 bavsound afp file (soundtune file for bimmertech amp), and channel E seems to be the center channel, F and G the underseat subs and H is for an additional trunk sub.

[beanbaguk]

It's arrived....

Looks like this weekend should be entertaining

[GeertB]

Originally Posted by beanbaguk

It's arrived....

Looks like this weekend should be entertaining

Great!

I also gathered the most parts I needed. I still need to find some time. I want to do the upgrade in one go.

[GeertB]

Some pictures from what I gathered until now:

Bimmertech package (for base stereo upgrade):


Screws for the center channel:


Connector for center channel. The bimmertech harness is completely P&P except for the center channel wiring. It is also better to get the wire where you want it without the connector attached.


Center channel cover




This is the Hifi cover. HK cover looks different. This cover is the new version (from 2014). It has other clips in other places than the former one. I will post a digital cut-out template when I finish it. (I scanned the cover and am making a digital autocad drawing of it so I can 100% match the cut out template for the dash)



BAVsound stage one:
Midrange driver (for center channel):


You can see the adaptor ring that is needed



The green connector goes to the bimmertech harness. The black can be used for an extra tweeter for a HK upgrade

You see the connector of the BAVsound speaker fits the BMW connector:



Tweeters:




In the new OEM housings:




The included capacitor harness (much smaller as the crossover pictured above, I hope it does the same )




Ready to be installed:


Midrange driver pair (front or rear speakers)




Also here you can see the black wire that goes to the tweeter. In the rear doors you can add a tweeter if you want (HK setup)





My second hand hifi subs:



And last but not least:
BAVsound Ghost subs





Oh, I forgot: some insulation: