Author Topic: Post up your audio upgrades (speakers, amps, head units, etc)! (Read 23874 times)

Cobra Jet · « **on:** March 25, 2008, 08:10:01 AM »

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?

hoevesruperd · « **Reply #1 on:** March 25, 2008, 08:45:07 AM »

i have a Sony's CDXGT220
with
JBL GTO527

tony92ic · « **Reply #2 on:** March 25, 2008, 09:58:00 AM »

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.

hoevesruperd · « **Reply #3 on:** March 25, 2008, 11:18:38 AM »

Quote from: tony92ic;45427

I hate head units that look like a wart on the dash.

this thread about clashing audio units is also interesting

monty23psk · « **Reply #4 on:** April 04, 2008, 11:43:22 AM »

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.

Classicholy · « **Reply #5 on:** April 06, 2008, 12:24:12 PM »

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.

Cobra Jet · « **Reply #6 on:** April 08, 2008, 09:36:39 AM »

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?

Classicholy · « **Reply #7 on:** April 08, 2008, 10:05:29 AM »

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.

monty23psk · « **Reply #8 on:** April 08, 2008, 10:39:57 AM »

I ran new monster speaker cabling and just reused the factory tweeter cabling for the doors to the crossover.

Poooobaa · « **Reply #9 on:** May 09, 2008, 11:41:43 AM »

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.

e30guydownunder · « **Reply #10 on:** May 11, 2008, 11:19:36 PM »

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

KenC · « **Reply #11 on:** May 11, 2008, 11:44:25 PM »

Clarion 745mp deck
a/d/s/ PQ10 amp running bi-wired to some Exile components up front.

bmwpower · « **Reply #12 on:** May 12, 2008, 12:00:15 AM »

PPI 2150
PPI 2050
Custom mounts for E30 vert (gonna sell mounts...interested?)
Center space is for sub box

Ruger · « **Reply #13 on:** May 16, 2008, 10:07:47 AM »

Ah you guys are putting too much weight into the little cars

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.

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.

takumei86 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 25, 2008, 08:40:53 PM »

i got a nice sony xplod headunit and im rocking the original speakers whaich still sound nice btw!!