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The definitive guide to E89 audio systems..updated!

How-To articles are in here.
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The definitive guide to E89 audio systems..updated!

Post by B21 » Wed Nov 27, 2024 3:50 pm

Zed44me wrote: Wed Nov 27, 2024 2:42 pm Not sure whether you have already thought of/already done this......but if you type the subject of this thread into ChatGPT it will give you about 650 words of headings and ideas content to provide a framework for this section of the guide. Obviously this can be repeated for other sections and it can then be fleshed out with other content as you wish......just a thought.
Thnx for that ..will take a look.. :tumbleweed: :thumbsup:
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The definitive guide to E89 audio systems..updated!

Post by Sebdk » Sat Dec 14, 2024 7:22 pm

This is a really useful guide, thank you. It has motivated me to take my plans a step further.

I have an e89 with the base audio system (6 speakers) on a CIC headunit with navigation (though the navigation is unusable for reasons I won't go into - I've added Mr12Volt already so doesn't bother me).

My plan was to keep things simple and only replace the existing speakers + add tweeters, as per Dave's youtube channel. But I don't think I can resist adding an amplifier now... Will the Vibe 65.4 make a decent difference? If yes - is that a much easier option (without compromising too much on sound quality) than trying to upgrade the headunit to 677? Would the Vibe still give me the option to add sub-woofers later in a sensible way?

I understand the concepts, but a little stuck on the details on what's actually involved practically with each option, so any pointers really appreciated! Thanks!

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The definitive guide to E89 audio systems..updated!

Post by B21 » Sat Dec 14, 2024 9:58 pm

Sebdk wrote: Sat Dec 14, 2024 7:22 pm This is a really useful guide, thank you. It has motivated me to take my plans a step further.

I have an e89 with the base audio system (6 speakers) on a CIC headunit with navigation (though the navigation is unusable for reasons I won't go into - I've added Mr12Volt already so doesn't bother me).

My plan was to keep things simple and only replace the existing speakers + add tweeters, as per Dave's youtube channel. But I don't think I can resist adding an amplifier now... Will the Vibe 65.4 make a decent difference? If yes - is that a much easier option (without compromising too much on sound quality) than trying to upgrade the headunit to 677? Would the Vibe still give me the option to add sub-woofers later in a sensible way?

I understand the concepts, but a little stuck on the details on what's actually involved practically with each option, so any pointers really appreciated! Thanks!
Personally..having had 676 and 677 in my E89s I think you can do a lot better these days…

The Vibe type solutions seem to work well..with some decent speakers they should perform well….the jump to a DSP solution is a major technical one…some folks…me..can perceive the extra performance …but it’s a bigger jump than a simple amp and a few speakers..

You can always easily hang off subs..but..imho a good power feed to some decent woofers in the footwells would give very good results…

Lots of different options..
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The definitive guide to E89 audio systems..updated!

Post by Sebdk » Sun Dec 15, 2024 10:49 am

Personally..having had 676 and 677 in my E89s I think you can do a lot better these days…
Thanks - I have sensitive ears and lots of long drives to do, so this rules out 677 for me.
the jump to a DSP solution is a major technical one
And the Vibe 65.4 does not provide DSP, right? The model they have that looks like it does is 3 times the price - which I'm happy to pay if it makes a big difference. Is this likely to be a good option or have people found good results with something else at around this price point?
https://vibeaudio.co.uk/product/powerbo ... -amplifier
imho a good power feed to some decent woofers in the footwells would give very good results…
Which sounds like it would be true of either a basic amp and a DSP amp (assuming my headunit is coded to HiFi), leaving both options open. But, if I've understood your guide correctly, a DSP will do a better job of getting an optimised signal to the woofers. Even better than adjusting the EQ on the Mr12Volt, which will be providing 99% of my audio input?

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The definitive guide to E89 audio systems..updated!

Post by B21 » Sun Dec 15, 2024 12:10 pm

Sebdk wrote: Sun Dec 15, 2024 10:49 am
Personally..having had 676 and 677 in my E89s I think you can do a lot better these days…
Thanks - I have sensitive ears and lots of long drives to do, so this rules out 677 for me.
the jump to a DSP solution is a major technical one
And the Vibe 65.4 does not provide DSP, right? The model they have that looks like it does is 3 times the price - which I'm happy to pay if it makes a big difference. Is this likely to be a good option or have people found good results with something else at around this price point?
https://vibeaudio.co.uk/product/powerbo ... -amplifier
imho a good power feed to some decent woofers in the footwells would give very good results…
Which sounds like it would be true of either a basic amp and a DSP amp (assuming my headunit is coded to HiFi), leaving both options open. But, if I've understood your guide correctly, a DSP will do a better job of getting an optimised signal to the woofers. Even better than adjusting the EQ on the Mr12Volt, which will be providing 99% of my audio input?
I’ve no experience of the vibe with DSP…but I assume it does at least an ok job in a competitive market..the user s/w is the thing that makes it easy / hard to setup..

With a decent DSP setup all your other controls should be set flat..especially any speed/ volume related tone controls..

I found the 677 very disappointing..but..most of BMWs audio systems are a triumph of cost effective engineering over quality…DSP processing power and techniques have moved on massively since the 677 amp and speakers were designed..
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The definitive guide to E89 audio systems..updated!

Post by Sebdk » Tue Jan 07, 2025 11:19 am

Thanks. Do you know if the front left speakers (woofer and mid) are wired in series?

I have installed new speakers and the amp but the front left channel isn't working. I suspect I have a loose connection to the new Focal woofer in left footwell, but that only makes sense if losing that one connection would affect the left midrange as well.

The 3 channels that are working now sound great though! Amazing for £350 total. That new woofer (the working front right one) with the amp made the biggest different, as you suggested. I also added tweeters on all 4 mids and this has made a difference even at the rear once the amp was added. For an extra £20 and 3 minutes of drilling it was worth it.

Thanks again.

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The definitive guide to E89 audio systems..updated!

Post by B21 » Tue Jan 07, 2025 12:21 pm

Sebdk wrote: Tue Jan 07, 2025 11:19 am Thanks. Do you know if the front left speakers (woofer and mid) are wired in series?

I have installed new speakers and the amp but the front left channel isn't working. I suspect I have a loose connection to the new Focal woofer in left footwell, but that only makes sense if losing that one connection would affect the left midrange as well.

The 3 channels that are working now sound great though! Amazing for £350 total. That new woofer (the working front right one) with the amp made the biggest different, as you suggested. I also added tweeters on all 4 mids and this has made a difference even at the rear once the amp was added. For an extra £20 and 3 minutes of drilling it was worth it.

Thanks again.
They are wired in parallel..therefore if you’ve lost both speakers it’s near the amp end.. :thumbsup:
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The definitive guide to E89 audio systems..updated!

Post by Sebdk » Tue Jan 07, 2025 2:05 pm

Oh dear. I better do some more fiddling then!

In case helpful to anyone, attached are photos of the holes I drilled to add tweeters to the rear mids on the base system - it was super easy using the circular drill bit at a slow speed and holds it quite snugly.
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The definitive guide to E89 audio systems..updated!

Post by Allstars » Sat Jun 14, 2025 12:08 pm

Appreciate the document thank you.

I’ve just recently bought my e89 35i. Bizarrely I have the cutouts and cover for the subs behind the seats but they are missing. Also the rear mid range are also missing.

Everything I’ve read and watched I should at least have basic 6 speaker system as standard but I think a previous owner may have been a devious and removed some.

I’m going to have a proper look tomorrow to check if the wiring is still in place to prove/disprove my theory.
Unless the wiring is installed for all speakers as standard regardless of which option is selected when the car was purchased brand new? Does anyone know this?

If not and wiring doesn’t exist is anyone aware of any guides to install speakers plus wiring. I’ve not been able to find anything.

Appreciate any help.

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The definitive guide to E89 audio systems..updated!

Post by Chippie » Sat Jun 14, 2025 1:40 pm

Peter explains everything pretty well in the link in his 1st post, I suspect a previous owner has at some point upgraded the speakers and then removed them without re fitting the factory ones, if you run your VIN number through a decoding site it should tell you which system was fitted from new.
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The definitive guide to E89 audio systems..updated!

Post by Allstars » Sat Jun 14, 2025 4:03 pm

Thanks, any suggestions for a decoding site?

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The definitive guide to E89 audio systems..updated!

Post by B21 » Sat Jun 14, 2025 4:15 pm

Allstars wrote: Sat Jun 14, 2025 12:08 pm Appreciate the document thank you.

I’ve just recently bought my e89 35i. Bizarrely I have the cutouts and cover for the subs behind the seats but they are missing. Also the rear mid range are also missing.

Everything I’ve read and watched I should at least have basic 6 speaker system as standard but I think a previous owner may have been a devious and removed some.

I’m going to have a proper look tomorrow to check if the wiring is still in place to prove/disprove my theory.
Unless the wiring is installed for all speakers as standard regardless of which option is selected when the car was purchased brand new? Does anyone know this?

If not and wiring doesn’t exist is anyone aware of any guides to install speakers plus wiring. I’ve not been able to find anything.

Appreciate any help.
The wiring is different for each of the three audio systems..there may be some redundant parts in the wiring loom but overall the wiring is system specific
“We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard”….
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The definitive guide to E89 audio systems..updated!

Post by B21 » Sat Jun 14, 2025 4:17 pm

Allstars wrote: Sat Jun 14, 2025 4:03 pm Thanks, any suggestions for a decoding site?


https://www.mdecoder.com/
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The definitive guide to E89 audio systems..updated!

Post by Allstars » Sat Jun 14, 2025 4:25 pm

:thumbsup:

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The definitive guide to E89 audio systems..updated!

Post by Allstars » Sat Jun 14, 2025 4:44 pm

Thank you for the link. I’ve decoded on that site but can’t tell which system I have. Presumably it is S609 and base then?

S609 Navigation System Professional
S612 BMW Assist
S615 Extended BMW Online Information
S616 BMW Online
S633 Business Mobile Phone Preparation With Bluetooth Interface
S694 Provisions For BMW 6 CD Changer
S698 Area-Code 2 For DVD
S6AA BMW TeleServices
S6AB Control, Teleservices
S6FL USB/Audio Interface

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