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04-17-2026LAST POST
The general consensus seems to be to change out the amp first. The Bimmertech is expensive, but if you buy a Match 8, the cable and the mounting bracket, you are within a couple hundred dollars and you still have to code it.
Coercion Shaman wrotedoes the bimmertech require any coding?There are a lot of threads on this. Search Alpha One or amplifilier or speakers.
The general consensus seems to be to change out the amp first. The Bimmertech is expensive, but if you buy a Match 8, the cable and the mounting bracket, you are within a couple hundred dollars and you still have to code it.
newbiebmwx5 wroteThey code it based on your preferences.does the bimmertech require any coding?
I prefered to buy it all from them and save myself a lot of time coding and tunning it, I will be installing it maybe next week, along with the speakers.
You could buy only the AMP for now, try it with their tune for the OME speakers, and if you so decide, add their speakers in the future. Or contact them and ask for their recommendation. https://www.bimmer-tech.net/
JoeAyalaM wroteIt's actually pretty easy to program it if you need some tweeks. They will do it remotely with you / for you if you have a device like a laptop or tablet.It turns out that the BimmerTech Alpha One is just a re-branded Match 10DSP amp, that is maybe 20 - 30 % le$$. But you would need to code it and tune it, or equalize it, yourself, in order to make it sound right. That is no easy task, even with modern DSP equalization. You need sound measuring equipment and a lot of experience. BimmerTech has already done that TUNING for our cars, using the OME and another tune for their Alpha One speakers.
I prefered to buy it all from them and save myself a lot of time coding and tunning it, I will be installing it maybe next week, along with the speakers.
You could buy only the AMP for now, try it with their tune for the OME speakers, and if you so decide, add their speakers in the future. Or contact them and ask for their recommendation. https://www.bimmer-tech.net/
1Mors wroteI agree about programming, but I beg to differ about tunning, I've been down the Digital Audio Tunning road before and it takes a lot of work and time. Remote tunning or setting up will hardly get it adjusted well enough, for me that is.It's actually pretty easy to program it if you need some tweeks. They will do it remotely with you / for you if you have a device like a laptop or tablet.
It's best to go for the AMP first, or AMP +Subs, and maybe the speakers later on.
+1 vote for Amp first.
If the Amp is set up correctly, you should hear a big improvement. If that is not enough, you can still upgrade the speakers, and then get the system adjusted.
dombi wroteCan you tell the amp you did use on yours? Thank you.I've just finished going through a similar route. You definitely need to do the Amp first.
+1 vote for Amp first.
If the Amp is set up correctly, you should hear a big improvement. If that is not enough, you can still upgrade the speakers, and then get the system adjusted.
Bl4ck Ace wroteCan you tell the amp you did use on yours? Thank you.
Bl4ck AceMy setup is:
- Match UP 10DSP/Amp
- Focal IS 100Ls (Front + Rear)
- MATCH UP W8BMW-S (underseat Woofers)
- Audison APBX 10DS AS2 (Sub under the trunk floor)
WildYeti wroteDepends on what you are after. Bavsound and Bimmertech will probably give you the easier route. They have decent DIY videos and provide some after sales support. You can find many happy customer stories online. But this route has some limitations. Tuning is one of them.Question as someone new to BMWs, is it worth going with Bavsound or Bimmertech, over say other mainstream brands, like a decent set of generic Infinity Reference speakers?
Then there is the custom route. The installation can still be done by you, following the DIY videos mentioned above, just using different components.
You can decide how deep you want to go down the rabbit hole.
- you can get just the Amp/DSP - probably the best first step, and then see if it is enough.
- then you can start swapping the various components: underseat Woofers, Front Speakers, Rear Sepakers, add in a Sub.
- you can so sound deadening...
- change the location of the speakers, add in custom speaker mounts...
Tuning is critical.
You can buy the best components, and have a system still sound bad.
And vice-versa... you can can cheaper components, and with a good tune, have it sound pretty good.
Which sound system do you have to start with?
How much are you willing to spend?
Do you want to do it yourself?
Or would you rather pay someone to do it for you?
These are questions you should be asking/answering.
You can buy a wide range of speakers for our cars. But you don't necessarily need the most expensive ones. There are several discussions about this here on BP. It seems that the factory HK speakers are not that bad to start with, if you upgrade the system with an Amp/DSP to start with, and then get the system properly tuned.
Be careful. Once you go down the rabbit hole, you may not find your way out it.
dombi wroteI'd be very interested to see how you mounted the Match 10DSP. Care to share photos of the install? This is probably the next modification to my M50i
My setup is:
- Match UP 10DSP/Amp
- Focal IS 100Ls (Front + Rear)
- MATCH UP W8BMW-S (underseat Woofers)
- Audison APBX 10DS AS2 (Sub under the trunk floor)
seabag wroteSorry, not the best photo. But this is what I could find at the moment. Is this enough, or do you want me to take a few better ones?I'd be very interested to see how you mounted the Match 10DSP. Care to share photos of the install? This is probably the next modification to my M50i
dombi wroteThanks! Did you fabricate the mount yourself or purchase something? Kinda looks like it's hanging on by one screw.Sorry, not the best photo. But this is what I could find at the moment. Is this enough, or do you want me to take a few better ones?
Really would prefer to save a few hundred $ and go the MATCH route instead of Bimmertech. It's a tight area so mounting is critical.
seabag wroteHad a chance to run out and take better photos for you. It's been 2 years, I think... and don't remember all the details.Thanks! Did you fabricate the mount yourself or purchase something? Kinda looks like it's hanging on by one screw.
Really would prefer to save a few hundred $ and go the MATCH route instead of Bimmertech. It's a tight area so mounting is critical.
I think the amp did not come with car specific brackets. Nor did the installer had anything planned. He had to improvise.
He tried something, but that did not work out. He ended up bending the factory amp holding bracket, a little. You can see it on the image.
Then used 2 screws to secure the Match UP to the factory bracket, as you can see it. I think the Match came with a smaller bracker. You can kind of see it on the picture. It works great.
The Sub was added later. Which we had no issues connecting in this position. And the USB programming cable is also plugged into the DSP at all times. Which works great.
Won't win any pretty install prizes. But it just works.
dombi wroteI have the "HiFi' 676 system, and I already did the bimmercode "eq" adjustment, to radio 3, sounded much better. Just added a kicker 48trtp102 and Key500.1 last night. It's not as "punchy" as the kicker 8" I had in my Bronco previously, but it definitely moves some air. Probably needs some adjusting.Depends on what you are after. Bavsound and Bimmertech will probably give you the easier route. They have decent DIY videos and provide some after sales support. You can find many happy customer stories online. But this route has some limitations. Tuning is one of them.
Then there is the custom route. The installation can still be done by you, following the DIY videos mentioned above, just using different components.
You can decide how deep you want to go down the rabbit hole.
- you can get just the Amp/DSP - probably the best first step, and then see if it is enough.
- then you can start swapping the various components: underseat Woofers, Front Speakers, Rear Sepakers, add in a Sub.
- you can so sound deadening...
- change the location of the speakers, add in custom speaker mounts...
Tuning is critical.
You can buy the best components, and have a system still sound bad.
And vice-versa... you can can cheaper components, and with a good tune, have it sound pretty good.
Which sound system do you have to start with?
How much are you willing to spend?
Do you want to do it yourself?
Or would you rather pay someone to do it for you?
These are questions you should be asking/answering.
You can buy a wide range of speakers for our cars. But you don't necessarily need the most expensive ones. There are several discussions about this here on BP. It seems that the factory HK speakers are not that bad to start with, if you upgrade the system with an Amp/DSP to start with, and then get the system properly tuned.
Be careful. Once you go down the rabbit hole, you may not find your way out it.
I plan to get the Match 8DSP in the coming weeks, and see how that does. I've always done my own audio installs, and been happy with it. But that has been on Dodges and Fords, nothing import. I just want to rock out. Doesn't need to be concert hall, or audiophile. I also don't want to have everything rattling from the outside. I listen to a wide range of music, Post Malone to Taylor Swift to Texas Hippie Coalition to ..... I just want to rock.
Thanks for some things to think about.
