Stock Sound System

[jclaib7]

As I "patiently" wait for my 128i, it dawns on me that i have not heard or read one comment in any thread or review about the stock audio system.

Is this because the car sounds so nice, especially with the performance exhaust, that nobody listens to it? Or is it just not noteworthy? No pun intended.

[JimD]

I went and looked at my wifes 2013 to be sure but you have the mid level system. My 2009 was that way too but there are years where the base in the U. S. was the base in the rest of the world. But then you don't have the tweeters in the A-pillars and you have a 6.5 inch "sub-woofer", less amplification etc.. I think the mid level system is pretty good. It has a 8 inch "sub-woofer" under both front seats and tweeters and 4 inch drivers in the doors. Amplification is more than enough for me. Some people want more bass but I measured the output with test tones and a sound meter and it really has good low bass which is actually a little elevated. It is missing much output above 10K however, so it is more lacking on the high end. A lot of people want boomy bass, however. If that is what you want, it won't have that. If you want flat reproduction at reasonable sound pressure levels you should be good. If you want higher highs or a little more clarity or more power, there are after market solutions.

I do not plan to modify mine, at least for now.

[Dackelone]

It was only on 2010 models - that we got downgraded from the HiFi system(mid level system to the RoW) to the really crappy base system sold in the RoW(Rest of the World).

IF you ordered the HK(Harmon Kardon) system you got the tweeters on the window triangles.

[fastdrivingjr]

On my 2010 stock radio is garbage if you like to turn it up... There are rear speakers in the car but you can't hear them for nothing..

I would rate 6.5 it's something you can deal with until the time comes to upgrade.... But you'll still be able to enjoy music...

I've come from much higher sound systems so this is my biggest down grade.. That's why I rate low

[jclaib7]

I'm coming from a Nissan Maxima SV with a 10 speaker BOSE system. So I guess i'll be disappointed. Unless the BMW PE keeps me from listening altogether.

[IEDEI]

so before i was finalizing my order for my car....i realised i had not even tested the 'stock' stereo system. i actually found a stock one in a 128i coupe and tried it out.

it was...bad. like REALLY bad. sorry man! it sounds like a boom box from the 80s/90s....seriously.

[KellyK]

I have a 2011 128i and i enjoy it. I'm not comparing it to anything else, but it really isn't bad. It's clear and sounds good and when you turn it up, it has a little bass. its nice. if you're trying to blast it...maybe its not for you but just mellow driving I like it.

[brianjk]

I suppose we can remove the stock and put a JBL to suit the car! :P

[Sylon]

I'm not an audiophile, and I prefer to listen to the burbles of my exhaust and the spool of the turbo when I'm driving around with the windows down. But when the windows are up, I think the stock sound system is enough for me. I don't need anything fancy.

[pdisher]

http://www.bavariansoundwerks.com/

May be of some assistance

[owen2001]

Originally Posted by Sylon

I'm not an audiophile, and I prefer to listen to the burbles of my exhaust and the spool of the turbo when I'm driving around with the windows down. But when the windows are up, I think the stock sound system is enough for me. I don't need anything fancy.

I agree completely. I am really surprised at how much I prefer to just listen to the sound of my car.

That being said, the stock sound in my 2013 IS is garbage. It's painful to listen to, IMO. The stock sound system in my 2011 Prius is 10x better than what came w/ this new BMW. If I really wanted to listen to a lot of music in my IS, I'd be pretty disappointed. But the sound of the performance exhaust absolutely makes up for it

[Qunadry]

I have the HK system in my 135i and I am not impressed at all. I have been playing with the equalizer settings for over a year and still find the sound quality lacking. The stock system in my wife's 2011 Buick Regal sounds way better and came with some preset equalizer settings which were easy to adjust to very good sound quality. This being said, I did not buy the car for the audio system, but for the fun of driving it.

[instalher]

the stock system, no matter which one you get is still poo..... a quick fix is to add a jbl ms8. its cheap and will make a world of difference... now if you really want to bump it up a notch... replace all speakers and add the ms8, after that its really going to be expensive! and unless you want to compete in IASCA, I would just due the later..

[AKopp]

Check in the Multimedia/Caraudio forum. There are definitely ways to take the sound quality up a notch (or four)... The mid level system is a good starting point, as the output from the stereo are flat and clean. Next comes the amps, which is where the problem(s) start. Speakers are nothing special. I've never heard the Bavarian Soundwerks stuff, but about every thread or review I've seen, people leave a little disappointed. I can't say enough good things about the MusicarNW stuff. It's a little pricey, but you get what you pay for and the stereo sounds killer.

[TheSt|G]

I have a 2010 and recently order the BMW/Alpine retrofit. Stock sound is awful.

[Bimmer-Bob]

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

I have a 2010 and recently order the BMW/Alpine retrofit. Stock sound is awful.

+1 on the Alpine retrofit. It's a great upgrade w/o muss and fuss of typical aftermarket setups.

[CAVU]

I got the HK upgrade, which provides a level of audio quality that should have been standard with the car. I wasn't pleased to pay an additional $875 for the HK, but for me neither the base system or aftermarket upgrades were an option.

[Kouper]

Originally Posted by rikMsport

I got the HK upgrade, which provides a level of audio quality that should have been standard with the car. I wasn't pleased to pay an additional $875 for the HK, but for me neither the base system or aftermarket upgrades were an option.

The problem with this is that BMW requires you to get the BMW Assist with Bluetooth option ($650) in order to get the HK option (they made this a requirement beginning in late 2012, I believe). So you are really paying $1,525 for the HK sound, which is just insane. I refused to do that since Bluetooth already comes standard as a no cost item, so I'm stuck with the stock sound system. But honestly, it's just OK not great. I prefer listening to the performance exhaust, as others have said, but the radio is ok when you need it.

[1ToBeOn2Wheels]

For 2008, the upgraded sound system (an unbranded Logic 7) was known only as HiFi and was something like $500 extra. I'm not that impressed with it, but I'm glad I got it as I'm sure I would have been really bummed with the stock audio.

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob

+1 on the Alpine retrofit. It's a great upgrade w/o muss and fuss of typical aftermarket setups.

That's my thought. I realize the car isn't the ultimate sound stage so I don't need an absurd system, but the current junk simply doesn't cut it.

[ejm3]

I have a 2012 with the regular (non-HK) unit in my convertible and it blows.
I would have upgraded for $875 except that they forced you to also get another option I can't specifically recall (maybe BMW Assist?) before you could upgrade the stereo.
Total was like $1600 and I wouldn't pay it. Downside is now I have a crappy radio.

[doublevanosrc]

BMW should be ashamed of their stock audio offerings, I remember my E30 325 had a killer sound system for stock. I refused to buy a BMW without the HK upgrade, my previous E46s had it as well. It's not the best but I feel its very good for the $$.