Rear speakers very quiet - is this a fault?

[TurboLozza]

Hi all - first post coming up...

I am loving my new car - a 59 plate 35i, but it just has the standard stereo, and I noticed while fiddling with the F/R fader, that the rear speakers hardly make a noise at all compared to the fronts - is this normal, or do I have a fault?

Hopefully someone with the standard stereo can confirm...

Thanks folks.

[Redzedfour]

Hi and welcome to the forum can't help you with your question but i'm sure someone will be along shortly,

P.s we need pics please or this happens

[TurboLozza]

Pics of my new toy as requested - I hope.......




[Edit Wondermike - links fixed]

[ksher]

People complain about the standard speaker system is not good enough especially when the roof is down. But I think your car may have problem. My car has Loudspeaker System BMW Business, so the sound quality is not bad (only picked it up on Thursday, so hardly really tried it).

[JohnT]

Yep, have standard speakers and the rears are very low. I found the best way to set them up was to fade down the fronts (in doors) then adjust bass and treble, then fade up the fronts. Speakers are very poor. Still worth going to dealer and complain if you not happy, you never know!
John

[TurboLozza]

Thanks for that John - I think I will mention it, but I bought the car down in Solihull, and I live in the North east, so i'll have to visit my local dealer and try them. I wonder if it's possible to fit some better quality aftermarket speakers.....

Laurie.

[mcbeee]

Nice choice of colour ....it looks shorter than mine, must have been the camera angle ... or the lack of a stubby and mudflaps

Very sweet

[shambolic]

Is the standard stereo called BMW Profesional??

Thats the one I have, I tend to turn it off though when roof and windows down as i love the engine note. Also my missus doesn't like the radio on when we are both in the car as I like it louder and can't hear it at all at the level she likes. (too many loud concerts in my youth)

[sars]

Thought I would resurrect this one as I had the same problem. BMW have just evaluated the stereo and deemed that there is no fault with the system. So basically the maximum volume of the stereo is 87 db, the roadside noise of a lorry is 84 db so basically if you want to drive down a busy road or motorway at any kind of speed the stereo does not produce enough power to significantly overcome the surrounding traffic noise.

The most galling part is that I specifically asked the question when I started the options list and was advised that the professional radio was very good, I would suggest that it is barely acceptable in a saloon car let alone a convertible.

The dealer has offered to upgrade the stereo at a cost as yet to be determined, my thoughts are that if they skimp on the radio, where else do they try and save money.... paint for sure

[Wondermike]

You might be better off going the aftermarket route by adding an amp and subs/additional speakers behind the seats, 'cos I'd would reckon on the dealer price being a complete joke.

[sars]

Had a long chat with the service manager last night, was quite sympathetic and understood my concerns, however there is no dealer fit upgrade kit available at present for the E89 Z4, only the factory fitted options. So yes I will have to go after market if I want to improve things, which means an amp and new speakers.

I have to say that I am really disappointed in BMW, they must be aware of the audio performance of the standard system and simply decided to shaft it customers for the sake of profit, did not have this problem with Audi

[davidmbell]

Have a read of this:

http://e89.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=310508

I also think the stereo is simply too quiet, especially on fm, so will be upgrading to an external amp. Will keep oem speakers first and see how they cope.

David