Aftermarket audio upgrade PLAN 1

[Arnold]

Where did you order your car?

[EdP]

Where did you order your car?

A BMW dealer in the Netherlands.

[EdP]

Next week Wednesday time has come to pickup my new 30i and to start upgrading the audio system.

I have a new candidate to replace the 4" rear speakers. The Omnes Audio BB3.01, a very popular and affordable speaker in the full range scene. It can easy compete with the more expensive Pioneers.



This 3” speaker requireres a coversion ring to fit into the E89’s 4” opening.
Next week more details when the real work start!!

Edp

[Arnold]

Keep me posted, i wll get mine on the 24th.

are you sure these speakers will fit? And will you use an amplifier?

[EdP]

Keep me posted, i wll get mine on the 24th.

are you sure these speakers will fit? And will you use an amplifier?

The Omnes will fit when using an adapter ring.

It looks like I have to upgrade not only the rear speakers, but also the door speakers.

The rear speaker are edgeways behind the seats. This will be bad for the reproduction of high frequencies (caused by position of speakers and ears of listener).
So upgrading the door speakers is a must!!

About the amplifiers, I will use the amps of the Pioneer. Because of a high pass filter, starting at 125hz, the 4x50 watt will be sufficient to drive the front and rear speakers. Frequencies below this cut off frequency of 125hz I will use an external >500 watt amp to drive a custom build sob woofer.

About my future Z4…
It looks like we have a new delay again...and it is unclear when I can take delivery of my 30i…almost 3 weeks delay

EdP


UPDATE My car has arrived at the dealer 2 days and counting to take delivery

[EdP]

Yesterday I have picked up my 30i. After driving 150km, I can only say one thing; this is a great car. In the sport+ mode with the adaptive suspension, the 30i feel more communicative then my previous E85. In my opinion of course.

Now about my audio update plan. The radio frame fits, that a good start! Removing the standard radio is easy. Just pull of the cover plate below the radio unit and remove 2 screws of the radio unit; ready.



I also removed one of the rear speakers to measure its dimension. Also very easy, click of the front plate and the speaker can be removed after removing 3 screws.

Now some more good news. The standard audio system sounds much better than the standard E85 system. The front footwell speakers are great to fill up the frequency range between my future build subwoofer and new mid-high range front rear speakers.

So next I will order a Pioneer DEH-P5100UB radio unit and route the RCA audio cable for the subwoofer amplifier to the truck. I have still to make a decision which mid-high speaker I want to buy.

That’s it for now…

[EdP]

I have some pictures of removing the standard radio.
First the cover plate below the radio. A click system is used on all 4 edges.



Only 2 screws below the radio mounts the unit to the dashboard.



And yes, the radio frame fits, now it's time to buy a decent radio! Another thing about removing the standard radio is that your car warning sounds won’t be hearable anymore. The E89 sends these warning sound via the CAN bus system, so the radio system can generate the ‘beep’ sound. I guess this is one of the down sides of changing to a non BMW radio. There are car radio brands that sell also CAN bus interfaces, so the volume, channel and playback navigation can still be controlled by the steering wheel buttons.



Yesterday I have spent some time designing a 'small' subwoofer to add in the trunk. I estimate a box size of 60cm (W) x 28cm (H) x 35cm (D). Focus is not to design a >500watt earth quake machine but a woofer that has enough power to reproduce low frequencies starting at ~25hz up to 125hz to reproduce decent sound level for open driving of cource.

That’s it for today, more to come.

EdP

[Arnold]

Hi,

I picked up my Z yesterday … wow what an amazing car.

To be honest I am satisfied with the sound of the professional audio system, so no upgrade for me at this moment. The dealer told me that there is a shorter version of the antenna available; I will order this coming week.

[Wondermike]

Yesterday I have picked up my 30i.

I picked up my Z yesterday … wow what an amazing car.

Back on topic, it will be interesting to see the final install. I think the pro hifi would be enough for me too, I'm not into hifi enough to get anything else.

[EdP]

Ok,one picture:

[Arnold]

Very Nice!!!

[gannet]

That looks a lot better than an aftermarket install in the e85 car

[srhutch]

That looks a lot better than an aftermarket install in the e85 car

I agree, but to loose MFSW functions and so on is a real no no IMO

Guessing you dont have NAv in this car then EDP

[EdP]

Guessing you dont have NAv in this car then EDP

No, why spent more than 3700 euro on a navigation system that is outdate within 3 years (navigation features, not the maps). I seldom need one and if I do, I own a portable navigation system to be used in all of my cars. And than you need to spend again more money to get rid of the standard speaker.

[EdP]

I agree, but to loose MFSW functions and so on is a real no no IMO

I you have a problem losing the steering wheel function, there are can bus interfaces (also for pioneer). These interfaces not only assign the basic buttons to the radio but can also be reconfigured and give these button even more functionality.