Basic 'Hifi Speaker System' Upgrade

[AnubisZed]

An option for the woofers, yours will be the standard basic versions (pt No/ 9181819), you could just fit the original upgraded versions as fitted to the 676/677 (pt No/ 9192367). They fit straight in, no adaptors or wiring mods to do There is quite a substantial weight difference between them!

Great advice as always, Dave, thanks! I’ll keep an eye out for a pair going cheap… I might also take a quick look to see how easy it might be to design and print an adapter for an aftermarket woofer. My 3D design skills are low, but I can do basic shapes etc. so it’s probably possible.

A couple here, £85 for the pair Saves searching for the correct type of woofer and then the design and print of an adaptor. Ebay have been running a fair few "special discounts" recently, as all I paid was £43 for the pair a couple of months ago, probably a good idea to keep them in your watch list and wait for an offer to pop up (you do have to keep checking regularly though, otherwise you'll miss them)...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/166247848465?_skw=bmw+9192367&epid=9043174943&itmmeta=01JS6MDFT7MSFSM9010W52Q0AS&hash=item26b524da11:g:GOcAAOSwdQhkwRJ-&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA0FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1dJyGH8llwX2O5EWf1s6KIGbn%2BzISHP4xuEvlKXjnzODtOZQi7LXU9HW3fm970ncftpYoiN4VtV76JIroBUMvYIjy%2FFwrFmfu5692wqcEYJKq%2FohyhTGg8X%2BmoTEQy2RXvJIdFrtNdM1Xj2cNIKoqiRn0RiXPcOX%2B62wAV%2BKuJinsSZGeTStzu%2Fo9S%2BokPssoJzUm%2FT3X0Nlnn%2F9eVOcMPueDAbtKCGOCHdEIzg9hU34nwXhZW2jxsT0ysvQ7hgyOU%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR579tdTJZQ

Hope that helps

 

[TBDL]

A couple here, £85 for the pair

Tempting, but I’ll get the mid-ranges and amp in first, then see how I feel. I’m a bass fan, the kind that used to have big subs in my boot when I was younger, so it’s highly likely I’ll be upgrading the subs too in the near future…

 

[sakamoto]

Door speakers need to be careful, be sure to check the part number or specifications, but the position of the screw hole is different for E89 only if it is only 10cm for BMW

 

[TBDL]

Door speakers need to be careful, be sure to check the part number or specifications, but the position of the screw hole is different for E89 only if it is only 10cm for BMW

Screw holes may mess me up, I’ve printed some adapters, but not actually checked yet that they fit as been busy. Should be easy enough to move the holes and print some more if needs be… my biggest concern is the mounting height and depth. Adapter allows more depth, but adds more height!

I’ll report back here once I’ve got all the parts and given it a go.

 

[B21]

Remember to re-code the head unit to hi-fi..the default setting is to address the crap original speakers

 

[TBDL]

Remember to re-code the head unit to hi-fi..the default setting is to address the crap original speakers

I was not aware of this, thanks for pointing it out! I have Bimmercode, so hopefully I can re-code the CIC unit with that? I’ll search for a how to guide, but if you know some easy steps that would also be appreciated!

 

[AnubisZed]

Remember to re-code the head unit to hi-fi..the default setting is to address the crap original speakers

I was not aware of this, thanks for pointing it out! I have Bimmercode, so hopefully I can re-code the CIC unit with that? I’ll search for a how to guide, but if you know some easy steps that would also be appreciated!

Sorry but I've got to disagree with B21 on this, I found it sounded crap when I did that to mine, so I put it back to standard. It was standard for a long time prior and it was fine, but i wanted to see if doing so would "improve" it :thumbsdown: nope, terrible. The Vibe amp is designed specifically for non-amplified systems. Saying that though I was talking to someone the other day on this (adding the tweeters, not the amp though) and he preferred the sound with the VO coded with 676, personally to me it sounded awful, I suppose it's personal preference (you can code it to see and you could always code it back!).
Don't get too stuck on the coding it side though, after all 676 is coded differently for 7 channel output with centre channel, subwoofers and equalled out sound for the rear speakers (ie; you can actually hear the rears better, but this is through the OE amp).

 

[TBDL]

OK, if it is optional then that's good - I can go without, then try coding it in and see if the change is +ve/-ve then take it from there. I'll dig through bimmercode and see if there is an obvious option, but I presume it is an advanced feature I need to read up on.

 

[B21]

Remember to re-code the head unit to hi-fi..the default setting is to address the crap original speakers

I was not aware of this, thanks for pointing it out! I have Bimmercode, so hopefully I can re-code the CIC unit with that? I’ll search for a how to guide, but if you know some easy steps that would also be appreciated!

Sorry but I've got to disagree with B21 on this, I found it sounded crap when I did that to mine, so I put it back to standard. It was standard for a long time prior and it was fine, but i wanted to see if doing so would "improve" it :thumbsdown: nope, terrible. The Vibe amp is designed specifically for non-amplified systems. Saying that though I was talking to someone the other day on this (adding the tweeters, not the amp though) and he preferred the sound with the VO coded with 676, personally to me it sounded awful, I suppose it's personal preference (you can code it to see and you could always code it back!).
Don't get too stuck on the coding it side though, after all 676 is coded differently for 7 channel output with centre channel, subwoofers and equalled out sound for the rear speakers (ie; you can actually hear the rears better, but this is through the OE amp).

Interesting..maybe the amp has some sort of filter as part of its trickery..others using maybe I think different amps perceived that hi-fi mode was better in their cases..no harm in twiddling

 

[flybobbie]

I mounted Vibe amp in passenger foot well, but recently had trim off around the head lights switches.
Without extended storage looks like amp could fit there.
Vibe bass amp i fitted next to battery going to 2nd hand BMW bass speakers.
I used those cheap BO speaker from Alibaba in the doors. Already fitted some Maplin tweeters.
All sounds great.

 

[flybobbie]

The conversion cable from Vibe to car was a bit chunky, i cut off the connectors and joined wires with solder.

 

[AnubisZed]

Interesting..maybe the amp has some sort of filter as part of its trickery..others using maybe I think different amps perceived that hi-fi mode was better in their cases..no harm in twiddling

I agree, no harm in twiddling

 

[TBDL]

Amp arrived from Amazon, got a warehouse ‘good’ one as I’m cheap. Looks to have had a connector stripped off the power cable, but apart from that condition appears to be as new for the Amp itself. Amazon gave me a partial refund for that, so <£100 for the Amp = I’m happy as long as it works when fitted. Might fit it ahead of the speakers arriving, spread the job out, should I find time tomorrow to tinker.

 

[TBDL]

Buy cheap, buy twice. It transpires the ‘Amazon Warehouse’ amp was brown bread on arrival. A lot of self doubt, grazed knuckles, and testing the power to the unit with a multimeter led me to this conclusion yesterday. Arrival of a new one today, and subsequent easy fitting, confirmed it.

All that hassle I created myself to save a few quid, can confirm it was not worth my time.

Anyway, new amp in and working with the factory speakers. New speakers arriving tomorrow, so then I can start the faff of seeing if they fit etc.

 

[AnubisZed]

That's a bit of a p155er. I was worried though when you said about the power cable connector.
Anyway, onwards and upwards

 

[TBDL]

That's a bit of a p155er. I was worried though when you said about the power cable connector.
Anyway, onwards and upwards

Turns out the power lead was actually just a spare remote power cable that isn’t needed, unless you want to daisy chain another amp/accessory and need a remote power tap. On the new amp the cable isn’t even crimped with any connector, but also isn’t clearly used/stripped.

At least the new amp worked and was an easy install, so great suggestion by you, Dave. The only fiddle was getting all the cabling and connectors to tuck nicely behind the head unit, which already has my MMI box and cables tucked behind it too!

 

[AnubisZed]

...
At least the new amp worked and was an easy install, so great suggestion by you, Dave. The only fiddle was getting all the cabling and connectors to tuck nicely behind the head unit, which already has my MMI box and cables tucked behind it too!

Oh I can imagine that was a lot of fun to do!!

 

[ARCS]

Following this post as I too have the vibe amp fitted along with new mids and footwell woofers. The sound is a vast improvement on the basic system, but I find myself wanting a bit more bass, so im considering installing another amp in the boot to run a couple of subs. Couple of questions to the wise: 1) Would a second-hand set of original subwoofers be ok, as they'd fit straight in, or am I better to get aftermarket ones? 2) would I then need it coded to hi-fi if secondary amp and subs are fitted?

Andy.

 

[B21]

The original subwoofers are ok ish..the format is such that many other subs from the bmw / mini range will fit..maybe they are better quality,,,

Need quite a bit of power to drive them so another off board amp is a good idea..

Depending on the amp providing you’ve taken the feed from the front speaker feeds the audio curve is ok ish..

Different folks have different views..

The OE headunit response curve was designed to adjust the shite OE speakers and piss poor amplification..

Once you’ve changed those variables it’s a personal choice as you’re off piste then..

Purists would off course use real time analysis with appropriate DSP techniques like time alignment , phase adjustment and frequency tailoring..

But..the OE installation is the neatest by far..

 

[TBDL]

I can confirm the rear speakers, at a minimum, are going to be an absolute pain in the arse to fit

There isn’t much room at all to use an adapter, I’ve modified one and printed this afternoon, so I can make the speakers fit, but no way at all the grill would then fit over them. Need to do some good thinking about how to tackle it without making an ugly mess.

I’ve not even taken the door cards off yet to see what nightmare I face there.