Standard z4 sub behind seat.

D

Dempsey

New member
I have an 05 z4 3.0 and I want to upgrade the sound system with a sub. Am I right in thinking that the two cavities behind the seat under the small speakers are for BMW OEM subs?
If so, how do I go about buying these and do I need an amp?

The sound system in there at the moment is the professional one I think with sat nav, bluetooth, and a 6 disc multichanger if that helps?
 
The Carver subs went in there for those of us who have them. You need a Carver amp to drive them. I'm sure you can put a different brand in there but I'm not sure if you need another amp-guess it depends on total resistance in the system and how much wattage you want out of it.
 
Anyone got a pic of what this carver amp looks like? I have what looks like an amp in my boot by the battery, not sure if its factory or after-market though. I have the 'business' CD system, but it seems I get alot of bass.
 
Mine is a 58-plate but I think the stereo options are the same. There are 3 options...

1) Standard (6 speakers)
2) Professional / HiFi System (10 speakers, no amp)
3) Carver / DSP / Top HiFi System (10 speakers, 10 channel digital amp)

If there are currently no speakers in the large openings behind the seats, you have system 1. Otherwise...
...if you have DSP options on the head-unit (options like rock, pop, classical etc) then you have system 3 else you have system 2.

Speakers and mounting part numbers for the various systems are on http://www.realoem.com

Presumably, from what your asking, you don't have any large speakers behind the seats so I assume you have option 1.

The question then becomes how the head-unit wiring differs between the 6 and 10 speaker systems. Is the head-unit pre-configured for 10 speakers or would you need to run additional wires etc ? Unfortunately I don't know the answer to that and I'm pretty sure the question has come up on the forum before without being resolved.


UPDATE:

Found this on realoem too...

01 Audio wiring harness Stereo 1 04/2005 01/2006 61126975113
01 Audio wiring harness HiFi 1 04/2005 01/2006 61126975119
01 Audio wiring harness Top-Hifi-System 1 04/2005 01/2006 61126975128

Looks like the harness is different so you would have to run additional wires to the new speakers.
 
well i ended up going to a BMW main dealer to find all the parts and they didn't really know what to do. They did'nt even know that you could have subs in there and ended up showing the guy the pockets behind the seats where they went then going through his computer with him and pointing out the parts......I gave up in the end!!

So my next question is, assuming I can purchase a wiring harness which goes straight into my head unit, an amp, OEM brackets and the speakers to fit, has anyone attempted this in the past?

Cheers guys
 
i too have been trawling the forums for speaker answers and have to say am a bit confused :roll:

does anyone know if you can run a 10 speaker system with a standard buisness stereo (currently with the 6 speaker set up) by changing just the harness?

If so you should be able to use the extra lines to run an amp/subs from the original head unit.
 
I would imagine you could upgrade the 6 speaker system to the 10 speaker with just the additional speakers and harness. You might even be able to add the DSP amp. RealOEM suggests there is only one model of business head-unit so presumably it can cope with the 3 configurations by default.

Not seen anyone say they have actually done any of this though.
 
I havnt looked to much into it but with the amped systems all the speakers are wired to it and the headunit sends a digital signal to the amp. It would be expensive to upgrade from the 6 to 10 speaker system as i believe the amp alone is pushing £1k.

I actually wanted the 6 speaker system as its allowed me to upgrade easier and add more bass :evil:
 
un1eash said:
I actually wanted the 6 speaker system as its allowed me to upgrade easier and add more bass :evil:
Click to expand...

So was that using the standard buisness head unit or did you go all out?

I really want to keep the factory head unit and just put in my old sub and amp that i have laying about, any way of doing that without spending a fortune?

Thats why i was wondering about getting the extra line outs to run through a 'cleansweep' type box, and leave the other 6 as they are.

Or am i barking up the wrong tree? :?
 
You can stick with the standard 6 speaker system and use a cleansweep or LC6/8 to get your line outs to add a amp and subwoofer. I tried using a decent high to low level filter off the rear speakers but want happy with the quality so swapped out the headunit. i'm using....

Alpine 9886R Headunit
Imprint Processor
Vibe Slick A2 Amp
Vibe Slick A7 Amp
Stock Rears
JL Audio TR 650 Components up front
2x 12" Pionner 304C subwoofers
 
Just an opinion about my stock system--------I've got the top of the line Carver I guess since it has the "DSP" and subwoofers.
My personal feeling about the DSP options is pretty unnatural. Kind a cool at first, but after a while it's just "gimmicky." In general I really like the sound system. On certain CDs I think it pretty incredible. But, often I find myself wishing for more EQing options, especially in the midrange areas. Plenty of high end, and plenty of low end, but sometimes seems a little hollow for my tastes. I run the balance in the center and the fader in the center. The treble and the bass depending on the CD are usually at center (give or take an increment). It doesn't take too much to get too crisp or too boomy. A "mid" option would have been nice or even a graphic EQ. :)
 
I'd love to upgrade my sounds with subs in the cubbys behind the seats, can you get the original grills so it looks standard?
 
Well I have a grey ‘business CD’ unit with just juzzclub and 2 other settings on the DSP thingy. But I have subs behind me seats and an amp by the battery in the boot. No satnav, but have autochanger.

NO idea what exactly this set up is, even after reading posts on here.
 
Shabba,

I have the same as you I think, though I haven't spotted an amp in the boot but have the DSP's and no cubby holes behind me just grilles, so I assume subs in there? Where is the amp hidden? I think one of the other DSP settings is Church or something, and the other one might be Concert ??? Mines an 03 plate.
 
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