reviews of bsw stage 1 for e90 m3

[abugiacomo]

just picked up a 2009 e90 m3...it's got hifi, but coming from a 2010 s4 with bang and olufsen, it's just not cutting it (about the only thing the s4 had that i miss)...

looking around it seems the bsw stage 1 speaker swap is a quick and easy way to get a significant improvement in sound without tearing up the car (and without spending thousands of dollars)...

does anyone out there have first hand experience with this upgrade?...if so, let me know what you think...thanks in advance!

[abugiacomo]

anyone?

[abugiacomo]

bueller?

[ersin]

Try the e90post forums. I believe that the general consensus is that they are an improvement. However, they may not be a $500 - $600 improvement. Although to some, the easy fitment may be worth the money.

Bear in mind these are made for the OEM amp. If you're going aftermarket amp it may be better to spend the money on another type of speaker but your choices are bit limited because there's not too much space in the BMW. You're a little better with the sedan than an e92/e93, but still make sure if you get aftermarket speakers that they will fit.


Cheers.

[kmarei]

mine are on the way
i paid $570 for the logic 7 setup
7 mid range speakers, and 4 tweeters
that's actually not a bad deal

i gave up looking for speakers that fit easily on the E92
so i thought why not try these
30 day money back gaurantee

[skier]

Originally Posted by kmarei

mine are on the way
i paid $570 for the logic 7 setup
7 mid range speakers, and 4 tweeters
that's actually not a bad deal

i gave up looking for speakers that fit easily on the E92
so i thought why not try these
30 day money back gaurantee

Interesting - looking for feedback.

[baarii]

Originally Posted by kmarei

mine are on the way
i paid $570 for the logic 7 setup
7 mid range speakers, and 4 tweeters
that's actually not a bad deal

i gave up looking for speakers that fit easily on the E92
so i thought why not try these
30 day money back gaurantee

Do you think we can meet up after you install them??

[kmarei]

Originally Posted by baarii

Do you think we can meet up after you install them??

ofcourse
tracking says they should be delivered on tuesday

[ersin]

Hey, let me know if you guys meet. I'd like to audition it myself.


Cheers.

[baarii]

Originally Posted by kmarei

ofcourse
tracking says they should be delivered on tuesday

Originally Posted by ersin

Hey, let me know if you guys meet. I'd like to audition it myself.


Cheers.

Cant wait!

[abugiacomo]

Originally Posted by ersin

Try the e90post forums. I believe that the general consensus is that they are an improvement. However, they may not be a $500 - $600 improvement. Although to some, the easy fitment may be worth the money.

Bear in mind these are made for the OEM amp. If you're going aftermarket amp it may be better to spend the money on another type of speaker but your choices are bit limited because there's not too much space in the BMW. You're a little better with the sedan than an e92/e93, but still make sure if you get aftermarket speakers that they will fit.


Cheers.

thanks ersin...your point about the bsw stage 1 speakers being designed for the factory amp is something i've read before...that begs the question -- will bsw's upcoming pnp amp be coupled with a new/different set of speakers?...i can't imagine they'd shaft all their stage 1 speaker customers like that, but on the other hand, i'm not sure how they can upgrade the amp and while maintaining the same level of coupling with the speakers?...time will tell i guess...

[kmarei]

But the amp they are working on will replace the oem amp
Why is that an issue without their speakers?
The speakers still connect to the car using the oem connectors that were plugged in to the oem speakers?

[abugiacomo]

what i mean is that the current stage 1 speakers have been designed -- acoustically -- to be matched with the factory oem amp (or at least that's my understanding after researching this on various bmw forums...that's also part of bsw's justification for the relatively high price)...so does this to-be-released pnp amp somehow have the same acoustic characteristics as the factory amp?...if so, how is it better than the factory amp?...if not, how would the existing stage 1 speakers still be a match?

i could very well be way off base here as i am by no means a car audio expert (nor do i play one on tv)...and if that's the case, if someone could please explain where/how/what i'm missing -- preferably in laymans terms -- that would be hugley appreciated...

[ersin]

Actually, I doubt there are any issues using the BSW speakers with an aftermarket amp. I think the reason for the price is that they are a direct replacement for the factory speakers -- no fitment issues, same connector, etc. Pure plug and play. Well, sort of. You still have to remove panels.

The real issue is with an aftermarket amp, will other (perhaps cheaper) speakers sound better?

As for waiting for the BSW amp, don't hold your breath. I've seen it advertised on their website for nearly three years now.


Cheers.

[abugiacomo]

hmm...yeah i'm not sure...all i know is i need to do something -- the factory "hifi" system is killing me...

ersin -- i saw in some other threads that you also have hifi and were doing an upgrade using technic's wiring harness...how did that go?...what exactly did you end up installing?

[ersin]

I don't have all my components yet. Besides, it's winter. I'm not working on the car (or even driving it much) right now. BTW, if you're going aftermarket hit up Technic for the harness. Good stuff.

Cheers.

P.S. forgot to add that the hifi is just ok but I really do get a kick out of opening the windows and listening to the exhaust, so upgrading is not so urgent.

[kmarei]

i installed the BSW kit
sounds good
anyone is welcome to come check it out

so i have the BSW kit , JBL MS-8, earthquake SWS-8, and an aftermarket amp,
sounds good

[ersin]

kmarei,

Congrats. Have you "re-tuned" the MS-8 to the new speakers yet?

[kmarei]

Originally Posted by ersin

kmarei,

Congrats. Have you "re-tuned" the MS-8 to the new speakers yet?

yes
i actually managed to lower the crossover points
i had them at 100hz for the doors and 150hz for the center
now its 80 for doors and 100 for center

i prefer a low crossover point, because it makes the bass appear to come from the speakers, not the subs
sounds much tighter

[ersin]

Did you use the MS-8 to do the crossover points, or a filter? Or perhaps at the amp? Just curious. If you do the x-over at say, the amp, you really wouldn't need a filter at the speakers, right?


Cheers.

[abugiacomo]

Originally Posted by kmarei

i installed the BSW kit
sounds good
anyone is welcome to come check it out

so i have the BSW kit , JBL MS-8, earthquake SWS-8, and an aftermarket amp,
sounds good

so the bsw set you got was fronts and center only?...what are you doing in the rears (if anything)?

for some reason i thought you started out with hifi, but that of course doesn't have the center channel...

would def like to check it out sometime...

[ersin]

Originally Posted by abugiacomo

so the bsw set you got was fronts and center only?...what are you doing in the rears (if anything)?

for some reason i thought you started out with hifi, but that of course doesn't have the center channel...

would def like to check it out sometime...

He did start with HiFi but added the center speaker.


Cheers.