[sk1939]

Has anyone upgraded their speakers? I've seen the ads for BAVSound, but they seem pricey for what they are. I also saw Crutchfield carries vehicle specific Focal's, and Bimmer-Tech has their own upgrades as well. Is it worth it, how hard was it, what's the general experience?

[ctuna]

To correctly upgrade a BMW sound system you need to know
which of the three common system you are starting with.
This does not mean which Head Unit you have it means
which sound system you are starting with.
Upgrade difficulty is dependent on what you start with the
middle system Hi FI option 676 is the easiest to upgrade.
To find out what you have put your vin in mdecoder.com
676 option is Hi FI 677 or 688 is Top Hi Fi often called Logic 7
neither option is stereo with no amp and no tweeters.

There is a whole stereo sub forum here.
which is where the next links come from.

BMW stereo types
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=352586
http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...2&d=1266451970
http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...2&d=1260829447
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=138949
http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...1&d=1209780865
http://bmwcoders.com/forum/3-er-8/bm...1-e92-e93-291/
http://technicpnp.com/menuDiagrams/d...e90_92_93.html
http://www.musicarnw.com/page-2/
http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...3&d=1169133185
http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...1&d=1209780605
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=641323
http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...4&d=1278871872
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=343673

You can put it something much better than any of the stock system but
a medium low price would be around 1500 plus in parts.
Depends on how deep your pockets are and how much you value your car tunes.

You are right I think Bavsound is rather expensive for the price .
I believe the Bavsound speakers are made by diamond audio, at least
that was the old rumor. Both the Bimmertech and Bavsound DSP/Amps
are remarketed Audiotech-Fisher Helix units.

[sk1939]

Originally Posted by ctuna

To correctly upgrade a BMW sound system you need to know
which of the three common system you are starting with.
This does not mean which Head Unit you have it means
which sound system you are starting with.
Upgrade difficulty is dependent on what you start with the
middle system Hi FI option 676 is the easiest to upgrade.
To find out what you have put your vin in mdecoder.com
676 option is Hi FI 677 or 688 is Top Hi Fi often calle Logic 7
neither option is stereo with no amp and no tweeters.

There is a whole stereo sub forum here.

BMW stereo types
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=352586
http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...2&d=1266451970
http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...2&d=1260829447
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=138949
http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...1&d=1209780865
http://bmwcoders.com/forum/3-er-8/bm...1-e92-e93-291/
http://technicpnp.com/menuDiagrams/d...e90_92_93.html
http://www.musicarnw.com/page-2/
http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...3&d=1169133185
http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...1&d=1209780605
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=641323
http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...4&d=1278871872
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=343673

You can put it something much better than any of the stock system but
a medium low price would be around 1500 plus in parts.
Depends on how deep your pockets are and how much you value your car tunes.

You are right I think Bavsound is rather expensive for the price .
I believe the Bavsound speakers are made by diamond audio, at least
that was the old rumor. Both the Bimmertech and Bavsound DSP/Amps
are remarketed Audiotech-Fisher Helix units.

It’s the HIFi (676) system. Any opinions on the drop in replacements (Bavsound/Bimmertech)?

[ctuna]

Both there amp's are from Audiotec fisher.
One is 86dsp the other is a 7BMW.
https://www.audiotec-fischer.de/en/match/amplifiers/

BMW7 has more power. You probably get a tune and some support
hardware with them if you buy them from Bimmertech or Bavsound.

There are many drop in kits for the Front's both door and floors .

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=343673

from

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=641323

Hi fi upgrades

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ighlight=level
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=540446
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...hlight=technic
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=532585
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=833581
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=443043
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=324214
https://www.bimmer-tech.net/blog/ite...-audio-for-bmw
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...hlight=level+3

[sk1939]

Thanks ctuna, appreciate the help. I'm thinking about going with the Match 7BMW unit (https://www.crutchfield.com/S-vhsMqB...H-UP-7BMW.html) because it's plug and play before I start down the speaker upgrade path. Any disadvantages to doing it that way versus going with the JL Audio and custom harness route?

[ctuna]

The Hi Fi system is super easy as far as wiring goes .
Most people would just buy a Technic Harness which is
a plug that goes into the factory amp plug(dissconected
by a single lever) and breaks out the signal.(Technic Link supplied)
I don't know exactly what the Amps come with as far as
and adapter for the stock amp connector.
If you buy the DSP/Amp be aware you will have to determine
where to route the channels and you will have to tune it yourself.
You will definatly want better speaker to handle the power for
at least everything in the front.

Looks like the 7bmw comes with a harness.
I would download the manuals from crutch field or audiotec fisher to
get familiar with it.
You will need better speakers to handle the power especially for the under seats.
I don't have anything bad to say about JL I have one of there amps myself.
I think audio tech fisher is ahead on the DSP. they have been doing these types
of DSP/AMPs with decent to great power longer than anybody else.

Also Hi Fi system in the e9x has no center channel you can put one in if you want
you would have to run another wire though.

[213e90n51]

BavSound yoooo best upgrade!!!! Underseat subs. Everyone who sits in my e90 says my sound system is so clear and is the best. Any music even Jazz plays well. Ghost underseat subs and if u write a review u get 35$ refunded back hahahhahaha. And they have discounts alot. Plus warranty.

[thormessiah]

Originally Posted by 213e90n51

BavSound yoooo best upgrade!!!! Underseat subs. Everyone who sits in my e90 says my sound system is so clear and is the best. Any music even Jazz plays well. Ghost underseat subs and if u write a review u get 35$ refunded back hahahhahaha. And they have discounts alot. Plus warranty.

Did you get just the speakers or the whole
Set?

[213e90n51]

Originally Posted by thormessiah

Did you get just the speakers or the whole
Set?

Whole set but they sell the subs by itself if you want, my subs were blown so i just got that ahhaha

[mweisdorfer]

You need to figure out your budget and from there decide on :

1) head unit
2) amp or amps
3) DSP or amp w/ built in DSP
4) speakers
5) subs (underseat)
6) sub woofer - trunk w/ ski pass

It would very easy to spend $1500.00 on just speakers & a DSP w/ an AMP built in.

I would highly suggest getting a center channel speaker and hardwire it into the OEM harness.

[sk1939]

Originally Posted by mweisdorfer

You need to figure out your budget and from there decide on :

1) head unit
2) amp or amps
3) DSP or amp w/ built in DSP
4) speakers
5) subs (underseat)
6) sub woofer - trunk w/ ski pass

It would very easy to spend $1500.00 on just speakers & a DSP w/ an AMP built in.

I would highly suggest getting a center channel speaker and hardwire it into the OEM harness.

I'd like to keep things as stock/mint as possible, so any cosmetic modifications are out. The car itself is showroom-fresh, the paint is nearly perfect and the interior is likewise unblemished so not looking to rip a bunch of things apart if I don't have to. I don't have a reason to upgrade the iDrive so the head-unit will stay. The only things I'm really considering are the amp/DSP and speakers (in their existing places). My budget is fairly irrelevant, but not looking to spend a ton of money either as this is not my daily driver (daily has a Kenwood Excelon head-unit, Infinity Kappa (door)/Kenwood Excelon(tweeter) speakers, no separate amp).

[ctuna]

One of those Audio Tech fisher DSP/AMPs or one from the major
brands and some decent speakers for the fronts will put you
in a different world . The OEM Head Units are good enough for sound
quality though if you want modern features BMW is kind of behind
on that at least for the E9x series.

There are a lot of stereo purists that think rear speakers and center speakers
are a communist plot.

[flgfish]

I'd do the Audiotec-Fisher 7BMW. It's got a great DSP & comes with a tune for your car. Do that amp & then figure out if you need to change anything else. It's really good and a really easy install. Also has sub out if you want to add a real sub without issue.

[sk1939]

Originally Posted by ctuna

One of those Audio Tech fisher DSP/AMPs or one from the major
brands and some decent speakers for the fronts will put you
in a different world . The OEM Head Units are good enough for sound
quality though if you want modern features BMW is kind of behind
on that at least for the E9x series.

There are a lot of stereo purists that think rear speakers and center speakers
are a communist plot.

Noted. Will have to see what the speaker options are. I don’t really need CarPlay and such and the iDrive supports MP3 and Bluetooth streaming. Not looking for a backup camera and such either (silly on a car this size).

[ctuna]

https://unexpectedcreations.com/mobile-audio/

You might want to talk to Don at unexpected creations for
a package.

I have seen the 7bmw a little cheaper sometimes.
(than the crutch field price)

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by sk1939

I'd like to keep things as stock/mint as possible, so any cosmetic modifications are out. The car itself is showroom-fresh, the paint is nearly perfect and the interior is likewise unblemished so not looking to rip a bunch of things apart if I don't have to. I don't have a reason to upgrade the iDrive so the head-unit will stay. The only things I'm really considering are the amp/DSP and speakers (in their existing places). My budget is fairly irrelevant, but not looking to spend a ton of money either as this is not my daily driver (daily has a Kenwood Excelon head-unit, Infinity Kappa (door)/Kenwood Excelon(tweeter) speakers, no separate amp).

Ok. It sounds like a head unit is out of the question. That's not really an issue.

I would absolutely encourage you to get a center channel speaker & hard wire it into the OEM harness.

It sounds like you are leaning on getting one of the two after mkt DSP/amps & speakers to match. The center channel speaker will help the DSP/amp sound that much better.

The only thing I don't like about the BAV sound speakers is that they don't publish their specs. Sort of silly, really. 99.9% of companies do.

Most people like how they sound. The only thing is, if you want the complete package (underseat subs included), you are spending $1200.00 on speakers...
😣

For almost literally 1/2 that, you can get a used set, in very good condition, of BMW Individual Audio speakers that includes the underseat subs. The M3 guys prefer either BMW IA subs or the BAV sound subs. Just something to consider is all.