M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS
DISCUSSION => Interior => Topic started by: Cobra Jet on March 25, 2008, 08:10:01 AM
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For those of you who have upgraded your 318's audio system, post up some details as far as what you have done, if you ran into any snags/issues while doing the upgrade and post up any pics (or links to pics) of your install/upgrades!
Are any of you using a sound deadening material?
Have you upgraded to a larger speaker over the stock front & rear sizes?
Did you have to upgrade the stock alternator to a larger higher output unit?
:D
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i have a Sony's CDXGT220 (http://www.sonystyle.ca/commerce/servlet/ProductDetailDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&productId=1004277&navigationPath=32150n32153)
with
JBL GTO527 (http://www.jbl.com/car/products/product_detail.aspx?prod=GTO527&Language=ENG&Country=US&Region=USA&cat=MEL&ser=GTS)
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nothing fancy
Blaupunkt Miami Beach Head Unit. The design and colors complement the interior. I hate head units that look like a wart on the dash.
Sony component speakers in the kick panel and original tweeter housings.
Sony Xplodes in the rear side panels.
Its a cabrio so there isn't any room for big rear speakers and the sound in a cab isn't going to be great anyways so no sense in going high dollar.
Sound is plenty good and plenty loud for a system that cost me less than $200 for all new stuff on ebay.
I had an older Sony CDX unit in my last e30. Great low dollar units and look good in a bmw.
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I hate head units that look like a wart on the dash.
this thread about clashing audio units (http://www.m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1972&highlight=clashing+audio) is also interesting
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Pioneer color head unit, DEH-P7800MP with IPOD adapter.
Pioneer FreeAir 10" mounted under rear deck in trunk.
MB Quarts 5.25 Premium in front with crossover & tweeters
MB Quarts 6.5 Refrence in rear with crossover & tweeters.
MTX Thunker 200watts pushing sub.
About to purchase dynamat for rear deck as its started to vibrate since sub was installed over a year ago.
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Did a full revamp on mine about 5 months ago.
Eclipse CD7100 with iPod adapter
5.25" Polk MOMO Speakers with external crossover - Front and Rear
10" Polk SR Subwoofer
Infinity 7540a 4-channel amp pushing about 100w per speaker
Kicker ZX750.1 pushing about 870w to the subwoofer
Sounds amazing and gets pretty damn loud, though the lights dim slightly when the sub hits really hard.
Overall was a pretty easy install, had to cut some holes in the kick panels so that I could fit the speakers in the front, other than that no real issues.
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what did you guys do about speaker wiring as far as using the factory wiring harnesses or running all separate wires to the new speakers?
what wiring diagrams did you use?
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I ran new speaker wire for all 4 speakers since I put in a 4-channel amp. Only things I had to worry about as far as the deck wiring was concerned was the constant 12v, switched 12v, power antenna, and ground. Those are all pretty easily found with a multimeter.
I didn't have any factory harness left inside the dash so I soldered them inside the dash.
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I ran new monster speaker cabling and just reused the factory tweeter cabling for the doors to the crossover.
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I used a Dual unit that looks great and has HD radio built in as well. Also has USB in front and Ipod control in front. Loads a CD without having to lower the front panel but is still removable for security. Lots of other good things like matching orange lights.
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i can update with model numbers later if needed....
Kenwodd Deck, has USB, Ipod and most importantly 3 preouts (happen to be 4V too)
This drives a Kenwood 800W max 4 channel Amp
running the Kenwood splits in the front (6") and Kenwood Coaxials in the rear (6")
Deck also drives a Kenwood Monoblock (1800W max) running two Alpine type S 12" subs.
I Only needed the power, ground and switched 12+ too. Also hooked up a headlight wire to dim the deck at night. Only downer is the deck has blue backlight, really shits me off at night, with the different colours, but i couldnt get a USB deck with 3 preouts and a Red/Orange backlight.
I ran RCAs to boot, to amps, and then new wires thru to Speakers and Crossovers/Speakers
Boot by Day
(http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/1893/dscf1646jc3.th.jpg) (http://img117.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf1646jc3.jpg)
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Clarion 745mp deck
a/d/s/ PQ10 amp running bi-wired to some Exile components up front.
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PPI 2150
PPI 2050
Custom mounts for E30 vert (gonna sell mounts...interested?)
Center space is for sub box
(http://home.comcast.net/~bmwpower/IMG_5636.jpg)
(http://home.comcast.net/~bmwpower/IMG_5637.jpg)
(http://home.comcast.net/~bmwpower/IMG_5638.jpg)
(http://home.comcast.net/~bmwpower/IMG_5639.jpg)
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Ah you guys are putting too much weight into the little cars :P
All i did for mine was a new pioneer headunit with aux in for the ipod and new 5 1/4 speakers all round (soundstream) - I bought that whilst having a 4x100wrms amp, 4x50wrms amp, Peerless HDS 7", Peerless Tweeters, Electronic crossover, 2x hertz 12" and a clarion monoblock all in the shed from the prev car. I refuse to put any of that in as its all too heavy and will need fibreglass to make it fit. Considered just putting the peerless up front running active with the 4x100 but 7" speakers in an e30 is a tight squeeze and im not chopping my door trims up lol.
(http://members.optusnet.com.au/quantum3/DCP_3572.JPG)
From old car
http://members.optusnet.com.au/quantum3/DCP_3557.JPG
and these were the amps controlling the speakers. (also had DD 6.5 Splits in the shelf - subs and sub amp out of pic) planned to compete in SQ competition never quite made it though.
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i got a nice sony xplod headunit and im rocking the original speakers whaich still sound nice btw!!
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My simple system:
headunit:Alpine cde-9846rm
(http://www.automachado.com/images/alpine%20cde-9846rm-Lo.jpg)
Front speakers: Dls B5A
(http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/images/shop/medium/dls/b5a.jpg)
Rear speakers: none
:)
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I have a Clarion HX-D2 (Drz9255 for you guys)
Vifa Tweeters, Boston Mid Range, Peerless Midwoofers, a single Alpine 12 inch Sub, and 2 Alpine V12 amps ;)
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pioneer 6000UB, needed the features, not fond of the color, but i can deal with it
cadence cvl6k 6.5" speakers mounted in the doors, with a cadence amp putting 300W to each speaker, crappy alpine type R sub for the moment, but upgrading as soon as i buy some materials for the install.
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I'm just trying to add a little better sound than what I have, no amps etc.
The PO put in a cheap sony CD player and I have what i think are stock front burned out speakers and the PO said he "put new speakers in the rear" but they are still paper whizzer cheap-o.
I have pioneer 5.25 I'll put in the front and then I just picked up some OEM premium rear speakers. Think these would sound ok run off an aftermarket headunit, or do they need more power?
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This is what I am currently running. Have full access to jack, wheel stops, and spare. Bottom door is hinged on the half that houses the spare. Kenwood KDC-X959, 1 12" Alpine Type R, 1 Performance Teknique ICBM-Digital monoblock amp, and 1 Performance Teknique 779 4 channel amp. I know off brand amps... but they've served me very well now for 2 years. I'd recommend them to anyone. Box is ported (1.7ft*3) into the cabin and tuned at about 36hrz. Get good volume out of it, but it is a bit boomy... have to really boost higher sub frequencies to get punch out of it. But it does sound really good. Weighs almost 100lbs though so I want to downsize to a 10 and see if I can get the same kind of bass out of it. Looks good though. Took me about 4 days.
(http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/3239/img0524vq9.jpg)
(http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/9121/img0740rx2.jpg)
(http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/5606/img0514ys7.jpg)
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just saw your sig, I gotta see more pics. have a homepage?
I really hope I find sideskirts like that too. I'm holding out till I find a good set.
Did you paint all the trim SEM? Are those stock 14s or 15s?
Nice sub box, you did it up right. I don't really want something that big but I bet it's pretty nice for cruising.
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Memphis Car Audio and JL Audio have released their new Shallow woofers. I'm a Memphis fan so when I get around to it, I'm going to run 2 Memphis S-Class(Shallow) 12" woofers with 1 Memphis M-Class 1100W Class-D amp. On the doors I'm going with 6-1/2" Memphis component speakers on the doors where the pockets are and install the tweeters where the factory ones are. I have those components on my Frontier and the tweeters fit perfectly on my E36 stock tweeter holes. The guy who had this car before installed 6x9 kenwood(crappy) speakers on the side panels. I'm going to fiberglass the panel to eliminate the painted on vynil and also go with the 6-1/2" components. All 4 speakers wired to a Memphis Class AB 4X125 amp. (4 channels at 125 watts each @4ohms). The components come with crossovers which in a way makes them 3 way. The shallow woofers run at 4ohms dual voice coil at 750W RMS. Plenty of sound and at 3" thick, Plenty of room for a spare or other miscellaneous items.
http://www.memphiscaraudio.com Check out their products and specs.
http://mobile.jlaudio.com/products_subs_pages.php?page_id=245
If I were to go with JL Audio, I would use the same setup as I stated.
I would go with a Pioneer head unit that has a built in 12 band equilizer and crossover. My old DEH-P7600 or something like that has all of that and I got it in 2004. I really don't care much for the Bluetooth or Ipod connectivity.
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Only thing so far is a Sony CD headunit the previous owner put in (might as well keep it) and then I put BMW premium front speakers and BMW premium rear speakers in their housings. Sounds better than what was in there and sounded better than aftermarket Pioneer coaxials I put in as well. There is a nice warm bass and clear sound so I'm happy. No need to weigh down my car and lighten my wallet. I already did that in my other car.
I just need a passenger side tweeter and I'll be all set.
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Just finished up my install and I am extremely pleased with the way it sounds.
I installed nearly complete set of a/d/s/ components and a C43 radio:
a/d/s/ 300is rear component speakers
a/d/s/ S6.2i subwoofers
a/d/s/ 642CSi crossover
a/d/s/ PH12 amplifier
This was my first attempt at a car audio install, and it took a little longer than expected...but there was a lot of customizing to be done. All in all I am extremely impressed with how great it sounds. For 16 year old components I am absolutely blown away.
Here are some crappy pictures, I'll take some better ones eventually, but I was just too excited and had to snap a couple.
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b142/fantominfinity/e30/IMG_4845.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b142/fantominfinity/e30/IMG_4844.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b142/fantominfinity/e30/IMG_4848.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b142/fantominfinity/e30/IMG_4850.jpg)
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^^That's a hot headunit and clock. Love the look of the dash, so OEM!^^
I just pulled this out of a 5 series. Blaupunkt, cassette, and that nice little "SRC" button and input jack makes it a 100% MP3 player for me!
All black flush face, normal buttons, removeable faceplate should make it blend into the dash much better than the Sony "Xplode!" the PO put in.
(http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/8/web/2588000-2588999/2588092_155_full.jpg)
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Installed it. Love the look. I may pick up the MP3 player that is a cassette and use that.
(http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/attachment.php?attachmentid=13480&stc=1&d=1219127455)
I'm going to get this:
(http://www.thinkgeek.com/images/products/zoom/standalone_or_car_cassette_mp3_player.jpg)
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Some Sony deck that matched the car and had aux out up front
Bazooka 5.25" speaks up front
Infinity 5.25" speaks in rear
Monoblock Kenwood 1000w Amp
Dual 12" JBL 1000w subs
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I don't have my project complete just yet, so pix will come, but.
MB Quart RUA 213 components: 5.25" in factory kick panels, 1" metal dome tweeter retro'd into OE prem door tweeters. Crossovers hidden behind carpet / panels. Rear OE premium enclosures with MB Quart components retro'd. Rear crossovers hidden under speaker tray. This provides a stellar upgrade over factory sound, premium or not.
My car did not come with premium sound, I just used the factory wiring through the front door gromits to the door tweeters.
Powered now by Eclipse 5441 CD (13wx4), being swapped out for a newer unit with a USB port, will add MB Quart RUA amp and possible 10"/12" sealed Phoenix Gold sub/amp for the future!
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OK, so I'm about to start on my budget system.
Premium BMW speakers all around, the Blaupunkt I showed above will stay, and a 4 channel amp will push the fronts with separate crossovers, while the rear channels will be bridged to push a 12" sub in the rear. Hopefully this'll give me a much better soundstage.
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i got a dual headunit with 2 step motorized faceplate, bluetooth reception, and it controols my ipod like a harddrive. i got a 1320 watt jl audio 6 channel amp in the trunk. and i ordered rockford fosgate 5.25/1.1 power series mid and tweeter and rockford 3.5's for the bottom door holes.
dont have enuff money for subs yet but i allready have a custom box drawn up. it perfectly fits 2 rockford 12" p3's in a bandpass mated with 3 rockford p2 10's in a devided ported box. it took me a long time playing with numbers and volumes to get it to fit.im pretty shure that would be overkill but i love loud. i can put the blueprints up if anyone is interested.
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Head unit: Alpine CDA 9886
Speakers: 5 1/4 Infinity References front and rear
Subwoofer: Rockford Fosgate 8" Punch (want to upgrade to a JL Audio W7 8")
Amps: JL Audio 450x4 and Rockford Fosgate 500x2
I wanted something that I could clean the trunk up and disconect real quick. So I made a shelf.
(http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k22/awgy/100_1771.jpg)
As you can tell, I spray painted it all while in the trunk. Just a quick job.
I have a JL Audio 1000x1 for when I get the W7 sub.
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I just pulled this out of a 5 series. Blaupunkt, cassette, and that nice little "SRC" button and input jack makes it a 100% MP3 player for me!
All black flush face, normal buttons, removeable faceplate should make it blend into the dash much better than the Sony "Xplode!" the PO put in.
(http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/8/web/2588000-2588999/2588092_155_full.jpg)
UHG!! One of those was in my car when I got it and could not not have hated it more! Sounded like crap, crappy iPod hookup, and utterly infuriating interface. The aux out just hooks to your headphone jack which is good b/c you can hook whatever you want up to it, but bad b/c it does not charge and in order to get ANY volume, you have turn your aux device almost all the way up which kills the batteries. However, it looks very good in the dash.
Anybody want the one I have? Throw me a few bucks and shipping and its yours.
I ended up getting a Kenwood Excelon KDC-993 for mine. The only other upgrade was to junkyard OEM premium speakers from a 325is. It sounds simply amazing for the around $250 total I have in the system. The head unit does BT phone support (auto pairing and the like), all the satellite stuff, HD radio, iPod control on the screen, and a bunch of color combo options to match OEM colors. I only wanted the iPod, phone, and OEM color.
It doesn't look near as stock as the above, but sounds night and day better and has more toys and options that I can comprehend. I'm now in much more of a hurry to put in some dynamat to make better use of the phone- it is so much safer than using even a headset, and 10 times more convenient. Also the iPod charges and runs from the screen and since it is just a simple USB hookup, I can put any USB device in there for the same. I'm not looking to win any sound shows or the like and recognize that a bunch of the stuff is gimmicky, but I think it's pretty impressive for $200.
As for wiring, the DSPO or whoever did at least run all the wires. The OEM plug was LONG gone so I just soldered in and shrink tubed the connections. Also, as an FYI, the wiring IS in the doors already for the tweeter pod speakers.