Hi There from ‘Downunder’,
New to the Forum, & probably asking a dumb question, but here goes…
I have a 2009 SDrive23i, 6spd Manual with the woeful basic 6 speaker audio system that I want to upgrade. I don’t have an unlimited budget, but I do have plenty of spare time & replacing speakers, running wiring looms in, splicing into existing wiring etc doesn’t phase me at all, so I intend doing the work myself.
I’ve been ploughing my way through various threads on a couple of forums, & I think I know what I can do based on the very informative descriptions from members who have been down this road previously. I know its quite a ‘can of worms’, & I’d really like to ask the ‘Collective Brains Trust’ out there for their input on what will/won’t or doesn’t work with the limited system I have to start with.
I understand that some guys have replaced the OEM speakers in the doors, side panels & footwells & then hooked up an external 4 channel amp to them. (Either using a T-Harness, or a multi-channel line output controller from the OEM HU to/from the amp) Others have also added a second amp to drive a pair of subs in the existing spaces behind the seats as well.
I can see why both these solutions were used, but the reason I haven’t decided which way to go is because I am also going to install an after market infotainment screen system to give me CarPlay etc. The system I’m waiting on (it should arrive in early April) utilises a T-Harness to interface between the HU & the rest of the cars systems. If I go for an amp that has a vehicle specific T-harness as a plug-&-play option, will I be able to patch this in, in-series, with the infotainment T-Harness? Or should I go with a multi-channel line output controller?
I would also really like to add at least the front centre speaker or both front & rear centre speakers if possible, a-la the S676 Hi-Fi or S677 Top Hi-Fi systems. Would I need a 6/8 channel setup to do this, or is it not at all possible because the inputs simply aren’t available in the OE HU?
I haven’t decided on which particular amp to use as yet. I have a shortlist, but there are many out there, some having DSP as well. (In the end the price will be the overriding factor!) For the speakers, I’m leaning towards Alpine S2-S40C’s for the Doors/Tweeters, & S2-S40’s for the Rears in the side panels. The Footwells I intend to use Hertz C 165’s. Sub’s I’m leaning towards Kicker Comp RT’s. All these are easily procurable here in Aus, a lot of others are ‘gettable’ but shipping is prohibitive.
I apologise if this topic has already been discussed, but I haven’t come across anyone who has actually done what I want to do. The threads I’ve looked at either just upgraded the audio, or the car already had the OEM CIC screen fitted.
Thanking you all in advance
New to the Forum, & probably asking a dumb question, but here goes…
I have a 2009 SDrive23i, 6spd Manual with the woeful basic 6 speaker audio system that I want to upgrade. I don’t have an unlimited budget, but I do have plenty of spare time & replacing speakers, running wiring looms in, splicing into existing wiring etc doesn’t phase me at all, so I intend doing the work myself.
I’ve been ploughing my way through various threads on a couple of forums, & I think I know what I can do based on the very informative descriptions from members who have been down this road previously. I know its quite a ‘can of worms’, & I’d really like to ask the ‘Collective Brains Trust’ out there for their input on what will/won’t or doesn’t work with the limited system I have to start with.
I understand that some guys have replaced the OEM speakers in the doors, side panels & footwells & then hooked up an external 4 channel amp to them. (Either using a T-Harness, or a multi-channel line output controller from the OEM HU to/from the amp) Others have also added a second amp to drive a pair of subs in the existing spaces behind the seats as well.
I can see why both these solutions were used, but the reason I haven’t decided which way to go is because I am also going to install an after market infotainment screen system to give me CarPlay etc. The system I’m waiting on (it should arrive in early April) utilises a T-Harness to interface between the HU & the rest of the cars systems. If I go for an amp that has a vehicle specific T-harness as a plug-&-play option, will I be able to patch this in, in-series, with the infotainment T-Harness? Or should I go with a multi-channel line output controller?
I would also really like to add at least the front centre speaker or both front & rear centre speakers if possible, a-la the S676 Hi-Fi or S677 Top Hi-Fi systems. Would I need a 6/8 channel setup to do this, or is it not at all possible because the inputs simply aren’t available in the OE HU?
I haven’t decided on which particular amp to use as yet. I have a shortlist, but there are many out there, some having DSP as well. (In the end the price will be the overriding factor!) For the speakers, I’m leaning towards Alpine S2-S40C’s for the Doors/Tweeters, & S2-S40’s for the Rears in the side panels. The Footwells I intend to use Hertz C 165’s. Sub’s I’m leaning towards Kicker Comp RT’s. All these are easily procurable here in Aus, a lot of others are ‘gettable’ but shipping is prohibitive.
I apologise if this topic has already been discussed, but I haven’t come across anyone who has actually done what I want to do. The threads I’ve looked at either just upgraded the audio, or the car already had the OEM CIC screen fitted.
Thanking you all in advance
