OEM Seperates Upgrade Help

[M42boy]

Okay, so I picked up some OEM seperates for the E30.  I got front speakers and the tweeter pods (with tweeters).  

I originally thought that all the E30's were pre-wired for them, so I didn't get any of the wires, but that's easy enough to find at the yard.  I just gotta feed it through and up to where the mirrors mount up.  

I know the cross-overs are on the speakers, but I've heard there may have been an amp with the "premium" audio system.  Was there an external amp of some sort used with the OE seperates?  If so, where was it located?  

Any input from those that have done the upgrade would be appreciated!

[e9nine]

Perhaps it might be the time of day but your post is a little confusing. Are you intending to use the factory amp or an aftermarket amp? What deck are you going to be using?

318iS with factory premium sound systems aren't too common as far as I have seen, all the ones I have seen were people simply adding the premium speakers sans factory amplifiers. That's what I did in the past myself.

The wiring for the tweeters is located behind the panel. You don't need to run fresh wires. It's a plug and play deal

The factory amp was located in the trunk behind the mouse fur cover on the driver's side. You don't want to add a factory amp, it's a PITA and it's pretty useless in this era of modern sound technology.

Hope this answers some of your questions.

[D. Clay]

The OEM "premium" is not. I also think it's waste to put that in as a new installation. You have to run wires to the amp in the trunk and then back to all the speakers. These days you can get a better in-dash CD unit with an MP3 player plug in on the faceplate for about $150. Also forget about putting good speakers in the kick panels. They won't sound any better ther than the stock ones.

[M42boy]

Perhaps it might be the time of day but your post is a little confusing. Are you intending to use the factory amp or an aftermarket amp? What deck are you going to be using?

318iS with factory premium sound systems aren't too common as far as I have seen, all the ones I have seen were people simply adding the premium speakers sans factory amplifiers. That's what I did in the past myself.

The wiring for the tweeters is located behind the panel. You don't need to run fresh wires. It's a plug and play deal

The factory amp was located in the trunk behind the mouse fur cover on the driver's side. You don't want to add a factory amp, it's a PITA and it's pretty useless in this era of modern sound technology.

Hope this answers some of your questions.

Okay, that's what I thought.  I just have the seperates, and wanted to know I could add them WITHOUT the hassle of wiring in an amp.  

I know some people have said all the wiring is there behind the door or kicker panel, but not in my case.  I have to wire it up and rig the wire up to where the tweeter pods mount (by the mirrors).

[kowalski]

The OEM "premium" is not. I also think it's waste to put that in as a new installation. You have to run wires to the amp in the trunk and then back to all the speakers. These days you can get a better in-dash CD unit with an MP3 player plug in on the faceplate for about $150. Also forget about putting good speakers in the kick panels. They won't sound any better ther than the stock ones.

i beg to differ, i have 6.5's in my kick panels and they sound 100x better then the oem ones. they're loud as hell, and they don't fuzz out, not until its too loud for my ears to handle it atleast...

[dude8383]

The OEM "premium" is not. I also think it's waste to put that in as a new installation. You have to run wires to the amp in the trunk and then back to all the speakers. These days you can get a better in-dash CD unit with an MP3 player plug in on the faceplate for about $150. Also forget about putting good speakers in the kick panels. They won't sound any better ther than the stock ones.

i also don't agree with you. i have a set of Polk Audio 5 1/4" components up front, and after amping them, WOW what a difference. I also have a 10inch sub in the trunk thats amp'ed as well.

the first step would be, to buy a new headunit (older Alpine units are great) and then getting better speakers, and amping everything.

[D. Clay]

"and after amping them, WOW what a difference. I also have a 10inch sub in the trunk thats amp'ed as well."
"i have 6.5's in my kick panels and they sound 100x better" (sic)
Amping, subs, and going to a bigger speaker size will improve the sound. I was referring to upgrading the 5-1/4" speakers with better 5-1/4" ones, which doesn't really make a significant difference. The driver and passenger's legs are right in the way and the location and orientation of anything in the kick panels is less than optimal. The area doesn't function well as an enclosure either. 6.5" speakers need to be thin and require modification to the mount area to have an effective "enclosure" If you have it, enjoy it. I just don't think it's worth upgrading 5-1/4" speakers like I did and end up thinking how I could have better spent the money.

[dude8383]

i did exactly what you are talking about. I replaced the stock 5 1/4" speakers with BETTER 5 1/4" Component Speakers. I mounted tweets in the stock locations and it was money well spent man.

 Did you just get coaxial speakers?

[D. Clay]

Did you just get coaxial speakers?

Unfortunately! Live and learn. At least they were acquired at almost no cost. I got them from a friend who had them (Infinity) high in the front doors of a Civic. They sounded a lot better until I put them in my kick panels. They are powered straight from the in dash Sony 40X4 watt unit. There are two things I now consider best left to others. Car audio and upholstery.

[kowalski]

i put in my 6.5's without modification and they pound pretty good... i also have 2 10's and a 400 watt amp (for speakers, seperate amp for subs) and 6x9's in the rear, i also put new tweeters in so it gets pretty loud pretty quick:D, i also got the speakers for 50% off, so i'm not complaining, i sold the originals and paid another 20$ to get these... worth at that price.

[M42boy]

Unfortunately! Live and learn. At least they were acquired at almost no cost. I got them from a friend who had them (Infinity) high in the front doors of a Civic. They sounded a lot better until I put them in my kick panels. They are powered straight from the in dash Sony 40X4 watt unit. There are two things I now consider best left to others. Car audio and upholstery.

I don't know why people say this...  Plugging up a car sterio really ain't rocket science.  Just look at the guys who do installations; most of them are high school dropouts (no offense if anyone on the list is an installer)..  

I'm no "expert", but I've hooked up enough head units and amps to know enough to do it myself and NOT trust most so called "professionals".  

You should have seen the "professional" installation I found in my previous Porsche 944.  Ugh... that was scary!!!  :eek:

[D. Clay]

What I was referring to was not the nuts and bolts (or wire and plugs) aspect. I had in mind being knowledgable about how all the new stuff works. Different amps, enclosures, speaker combinations, and the rest within the environment of specific autos.
There are several really good seller/installers in the Austin area that are no more expensive apples to apples than the discount chains with some guys in the back that "can put it in for ya"
I have never really learned anything in this area since you bought a cassette deck and the most powerful speakers you could get. You're talking to a guy here that had 8-tracks and remembers the advent of FM radio, color TV AND TV itself. I would have to learn all about this stuff. At age 62, I am getting my first system with a separate amp.

[e9nine]

Okay, that's what I thought.  I just have the seperates, and wanted to know I could add them WITHOUT the hassle of wiring in an amp.  

I know some people have said all the wiring is there behind the door or kicker panel, but not in my case.  I have to wire it up and rig the wire up to where the tweeter pods mount (by the mirrors).

What are the specs on your car? Every e30 including my current ones have the pre-wired hook up for the tweeters in the door behind the mirrors. I even have a pic to prove it (I was trying to fix a power mirror issue...)

[Eurospec]

What are the specs on your car? Every e30 including my current ones have the pre-wired hook up for the tweeters in the door behind the mirrors. I even have a pic to prove it (I was trying to fix a power mirror issue...)

Can anyone confirm this? I'm revamping my audio soon and wanted to know if the wiring is in place.

[Eurospec]

^^ anyone?