Speaker plug mystery

[Secondtothird]

So I'm looking to replace my footwell speakers on my coupe.

I have read up on the forum for a few months, bought the necessary bits, followed the great advice and guidance, all good, speaker out, aaand... plug wasn't what I was expecting at all.

I'd bought these, thinking they'd bridge the divide from the factory wiring to the terminals on the new speaker:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/401425674980?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=OrXeJxlSSeu&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=-YYlFYYbQ-G&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=WHATS_APP

Anyone have any idea which plug connector I'd need? I should add I've searched for this, but no luck.

Thanks
Owen

 

[Secondtothird]

Here's the shape of the speaker plug on the back of the speaker. Does anyone know if there's a recognised connector cable with one of these used by folk?

Thanks
Owen

 

[Secondtothird]

Okay I think they may be E46 ones, looking at the thousandth page on Google, so I'm going to try them. Will report back, in case it helps others.

Owen

 

[Jakg]

It's not the question you asked, but can't you just shove some male spade crimp terminals in there...?

 

[Secondtothird]

Ahhh Jakg, where were you 11 minutes ago

Owen

 

[Umfaan]

I could cut the plugs off the Loom of a car I’m stripping…if you interested .

 

[Secondtothird]

Don't worry, thank you, l'll wait for the E46 connectors I've ordered to arrive, and in the meantime try and see if male spade terminals fit snugly with no movement.

Owen

 

[Secondtothird]

Just by way of an update, standard 1.5mm male spade terminals do not fit in the plug without trimming them down.

Owen

 

[Jakg]

Just by way of an update, standard 1.5mm male spade terminals do not fit in the plug without trimming them down.

Owen

I'm not sure which dimension you mean by 1.5mm, but you can get narrower ones.

I think the "normal" size is 6.3mm, but the narrower 2.3mm ones are available.

Obviously you'll have to imagine the corresponding spade for these...

 

[Secondtothird]

Right so I've had a shocker in taking the driver's side apart to replace the footwell speaker.

All panels taken off no problem, including unplugging the connectors into the back of the round green dash speaker. HOWEVER I totally neglected to make note of which holes they plugged into!

Could anyone advice which they plug into?! Can't put it all back together without this!

Thanks
Owen

 

[Secondtothird]

Just to add, this is the round green plug, and here are the connectors I disconnected. Can anyone shed any light? Again I have searched, but results keep coming back with a green plug for a multi function steering wheel, which I'm sure this isn't? Maybe I'm wrong.

Owen

 

[Zulu4]

It's only a speaker, so I'd do trial and error.

 

[DMike]

It's only a speaker, so I'd do trial and error.

And BMW’s connectors have shapes the prohibit plugging the wrong way anyway. There’s only one three pin connector on the gong and the one pin connector goes to the left one on your picture, iirc.

 

[Secondtothird]

Thanks fellas, you're absolutely right, as it turned out they couldn't have gone in any other way, just as you said. Learn something new every day.

Also, I can say that E46 speaker connectors are perfect for the Z4 coupe footwell ones, so no need to rig up an alternative solution. They snap in with a reassuring click.

Finally, the Infinity Ref 6532ex 6.5" speakers are absolutely amazing, what a difference. I was very much expecting a negligible improvement over the stock woofers, that I thought were actually really quite good. Thought I'd chance the change and really pleased I did. With the Rockford Fosgate 4"s put in the doors it sounds excellent.

A huge thanks to everyone who's helped me with various questions in the last few weeks, I really appreciate it.

Best
Owen

 

[DMike]

Thanks fellas, you're absolutely right, as it turned out they couldn't have gone in any other way, just as you said. Learn something new every day.

Also, I can say that E46 speaker connectors are perfect for the Z4 coupe footwell ones, so no need to rig up an alternative solution. They snap in with a reassuring click.

Finally, the Infinity Ref 6532ex 6.5" speakers are absolutely amazing, what a difference. I was very much expecting a negligible improvement over the stock woofers, that I thought were actually really quite good. Thought I'd chance the change and really pleased I did. With the Rockford Fosgate 4"s put in the doors it sounds excellent.

A huge thanks to everyone who's helped me with various questions in the last few weeks, I really appreciate it.

Best
Owen

What setup did you have before the upgrade, six or ten, dsp? Any other modifications, apart from the connectors, needed?

 

[Secondtothird]

Nope just the six, with the two blank grilles in the doors. Followed the advice and guidance on the forum in fitting the extra 4"s in the doors a month or so ago, then did the Infinitys this week. The difference from 6 to 8 was great, but the step up with these woofers is considerable. I'm no audiophile but do quite a few motorway miles, so having a good sound system I class as a need!

Owen

 

[Secondtothird]

This is a link to the connectors you need.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262493857126?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=1BgpbkHsQPK&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=-YYlFYYbQ-G&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=WHATS_APP

For the footwell speakers you'll also need an offcut of 9mm ply to cut to shape and fix to the body's mounting holes, so you can mount the speaker to the outer face. The original bolts / screws which hold the speakers in are long enough to not be replaced if you countersink the new holes by 4 or 5mm.

Best
Owen

 

[SonnyA85]

Thanks fellas, you're absolutely right, as it turned out they couldn't have gone in any other way, just as you said. Learn something new every day.

Also, I can say that E46 speaker connectors are perfect for the Z4 coupe footwell ones, so no need to rig up an alternative solution. They snap in with a reassuring click.

Finally, the Infinity Ref 6532ex 6.5" speakers are absolutely amazing, what a difference. I was very much expecting a negligible improvement over the stock woofers, that I thought were actually really quite good. Thought I'd chance the change and really pleased I did. With the Rockford Fosgate 4"s put in the doors it sounds excellent.

A huge thanks to everyone who's helped me with various questions in the last few weeks, I really appreciate it.

Best
Owen

Thanks fellas, you're absolutely right, as it turned out they couldn't have gone in any other way, just as you said. Learn something new every day.

Also, I can say that E46 speaker connectors are perfect for the Z4 coupe footwell ones, so no need to rig up an alternative solution. They snap in with a reassuring click.

Finally, the Infinity Ref 6532ex 6.5" speakers are absolutely amazing, what a difference. I was very much expecting a negligible improvement over the stock woofers, that I thought were actually really quite good. Thought I'd chance the change and really pleased I did. With the Rockford Fosgate 4"s put in the doors it sounds excellent.

A huge thanks to everyone who's helped me with various questions in the last few weeks, I really appreciate it.

Best
Owen

What setup did you have before the upgrade, six or ten, dsp? Any other modifications, apart from the connectors, needed?

Same questions am DMike

I had the DSP carver system and completely overhauled the sound system bar the speakers. New amp, new wiring, new crossovers, new pioneer head unit. Which made a massive difference.

Could you link everything that you used for the speaker upgrade? I may have a go at this next. But I would need 4 new woofers (behind the seats too) and then 6 other speakers to upgrade unless I leave the 2 tweeters.

 

[Secondtothird]

Sorry yes, literally just upgraded the speakers, and left everything else standard. I'm not into massive stereos or anything, just thought there might be a slight increase in sound quality by fitting the following:

Rockford Fosgate speakers:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161558475259?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=ZFs_IM_WQmS&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=-YYlFYYbQ-G&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=WHATS_APP

Infinity footwell speakers:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/164233375545?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=i6tYCE4OS0y&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=-YYlFYYbQ-G&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=WHATS_APP

Connectors for these so you don't have to damage the original ones:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262493857126 ... =WHATS_APP

I didn't replace anything else, it has the same original mid ranges behind the seats, and the original tweeters.

Owen

 

[SonnyA85]

Sorry yes, literally just upgraded the speakers, and left everything else standard. I'm not into massive stereos or anything, just thought there might be a slight increase in sound quality by fitting the following:

Rockford Fosgate speakers:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161558475259?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=ZFs_IM_WQmS&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=-YYlFYYbQ-G&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=WHATS_APP

Infinity footwell speakers:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/164233375545?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=i6tYCE4OS0y&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=-YYlFYYbQ-G&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=WHATS_APP

Connectors for these so you don't have to damage the original ones:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262493857126 ... =WHATS_APP

I didn't replace anything else, it has the same original mid ranges behind the seats, and the original tweeters.

Owen

I thought you may have swapped them out on the DSP carver system.

I think it might be worthwhile me speaking to an audio specialist. Tbh my system sounds amazing and speaker tech hasn't really improved in the last 40 years or so never mind 20 years. I don't know if it would be worth upgrading the dsp carver system will need to get an experts opinion. Thanks for the links. At least those woofers are much easier to drive. The CARVER system is horrific.