[SackOHammers]

Hello,
I have a 2010 335i E92 N54. In other words, an LCI 335i Coupe.
I have the base stereo (I verified no tweeters near the A pillar and no amp under the panel in the trunk).
It is a non-iDrive system. No Nav system. The faceplate on the stereo reads "Professional" and I looked up the VIN. VIN shows Option 663, which is the "Radio BMW Professional".

I'm looking for an "easy" solution rather than homebrewing a system of various components and custom building a solution. I read a little about things like Dynavin, Bimmer-Tech, and MusicarNW on here.

I am looking for a solution that provides better sound. I don't necessarily need an interface overhaul. I have a great dashmount for my iPhone that looks OEM and I use the iPhone for everything. It does bluetooth calls through the stereo, NAV with Waze, music with MP3s and Spotify, Audible for audiobooks, gauge panel for my JB4, etc. So I don't necessarily think I need a full on Dynavin, but would consider that route if it would give me the best sound upgrade for the dollar given that I'm coming from the base system.

I'm hoping that you guys with more familiarity with the systems could provide the best recommendation to improve sound quality. I'm not a bass thumper junky, I listen to music in all ranges. That doesn't mean I want to ignore bass, just saying it's not my sole motivation.

If possible maybe suggest a couple different upgrade levels. Like, upgrade the DSP to X and then if you want to spend more, go with Y speakers.

I really appreciate your help in finding the best solution for my specific situation.

Thanks

[SackOHammers]

Whoa ho ho. I just read through this:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...1&d=1411521234

I didn't realize none of the wiring would be there because no amp in the trunk with base system. This is far more involved than I imagined. It's a great writeup, but not something I could take on myself.

And I feel taking it to the local car stereo installer shop that they might fall short of being able to take care of all the specifics as outlined in that how to.

Kind of starting to think maybe it's not something I can achieve with reasonable money.

[shnaggs]

The go to combo is the helix/match 82dsp which is an amp/dsp combo. That coupled with jehnert flat lines is the cats meow apparently.
I'm going with the 82dsp but doing the mb quart bmw kit for the speakers. Not as good, but a 1/3 the price of the jehnert's. If I had unlimited funds I would have gone with the jehnert's. But I do feel that a good dsp tuned right will do wonders, even with mediocre speakers.

[ctuna]

You are right about local stereo shops
most of them don't know the system .
Talk to 6spdeed coupe or bimmertech about known solutions.
They can get you all the pieces you need.
As mentioned before get the Jehnert three way kit
for the front if you can afford it.

[All_In_BMW]

When I bought my 07 328xi a couple of months ago the first thing I replaced was the speakers. The speakers came from Bavsound. They post on youtube DIY videos for seems like every BMW made in the last 20 years replacing speakers and amp. I paid around $550 for replacing front and rear speakers. That included the tweeters. I think you should have the grill where the tweets go even if they are empty wholes. I looked around they were in pace with most others in price, although I recently received an email that they were raising their price $100. I still would have bought them. Between the how to videos and a google search that didn't bring up any bad reviews, all were...at worst, so-so to wondering if the owners mother posted a review for her son because it sounded to good to be true. But again if you wonder what it would take to put them in just youtube-bavsound-your car and if nothing else it's cool to see the insides of the car, and if email them a question they get right back to you. Ohh they include a tool kit, I thought that was kinda cool

[ctuna]

If you have never listened to a 2010 base system
you have know idea of how bad it is.
It has no amp or tweeters and just changing speakers
won't move it very far if at all.
If you have the Hi Fi or L7 system it might make some difference
but the even the Hi Fi system is pretty weak.

there are some reviews on bavsound on this forum.
It's generally the first thing people see and though they
are better than stock they are neither the best nor the most
cost effective.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...light=bavsound

Base System Upgrades
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=445266
http://www.monsteraudiodesign.co.uk/
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=634957
http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1003810
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=822366
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=581379
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=451941
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=540954
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ghlight=Dotech
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=495855
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=494299
http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/...morel-jbl.html
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ht=amp+upgrade
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=550771
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...1#post16679904
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...1#post16679904

[SackOHammers]

Thanks guys, so much good information here.
I read through all those links that ctuna posted. I read some more closely than others. But I get the general idea, now.
I had emailed bimmer-tech the other day. When I got a reply last night I facepalmed. They said,
"According to your VIN you have Base stereo installed. My only question is what is this professional head unit exactly? "

So evidently they don't know about the Business head unit versus the Professional head unit. Option 662 vs 663. It probably doesn't enter into the equation regarding what parts I need, but it tells me maybe they're not as familiar with the stereos in these cars as I'd hoped.

The majority of the posts ctuna linked (some of which I had already read) seem to focus around either a musicar nw solution, or a solution involving hand-selected parts. Like buying the cleansweep, the helix, the speakers, harness, trim pieces, wires, etc separately.

It still looks a bit time consuming for me to take on. I feel like this is something I'd get 3/4 the way through and find some thing I couldn't figure out that would screw me up. Or I'd get it all installed and something wouldn't work right and I'd have to spend a lot of time troubleshooting. And then there's tuning the DSP, etc. I'm waffling on whether I could DIY this.
I've been in my garage so much lately with replacing the intercooler, charge pipe, air intakes, and just put in downpipes. Now my OCD has been firmly exerting control over me as I've been sanding the casting marks off my calipers in preparation for using a G2 paint kit on them. So, I guess I have enough on my plate.

Bimmer-tech says they have an installer in my town, Austin.
http://activemotorwerks.com/
But I don't know if anyone has used them and whether or not they could pull off this install without shortcuts.

[hdmark]

first decide what your budget is. becuase theres options to mildly upgrade your speakers for as little as 200$ or do a full overhaul for thousands.
but w.o a budget number its hard to tell you what to do

[GATORB8]

How are you listening to your non-call iPhone audio on bluetooth?

Check out hdmark's recent thread: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1261853

Several of us thoroughly explore cost effective options for the base system.

General consensus was MB Quart QM200.3BMW + a 4-channel amp. HDMark recoded to Hifi, I'm still in the install process, but I'll be using an amp with a built in DSP/EQ.

[ctuna]

Some of these posts are dated so the solutions that are out there
now offer more flexibility and there are many more plug and play speakers
or close to it. I think there are close to 10 companys that offer so
called plug and play speakers now.
I don't think they offer the business head unit or nav idrive in the US
it is basically a less of a unit than the pro units. And they are both just
head units in the traditional sense though the pro units are programmable
to enable vasious sound systems and audio amplifers to work with them.
The newer pro radio and nav units have more functions built in that used
to be handled by external modules for Bluetooth phone , satellite radio
and BMW SOS.

The standard base solution used to be upgraded front speakers ,
and aftermarket amp and some way to flatten the eq curve for the head
unit or idrive . There are three solutions for the eq correction that
have proven results.
Use a Cleansweep. its a frequency flattening device
Use a DSP adjust the eq plus time delay
Reprogramm the head unit to Hi Fi output. Changes the signal from
the head unit to a flat 5 volt differential signal for preamp
level inputs. The rear seats are also changed to that has to be
amped to.

Kits
from MuscarNW
Bimmertech
and Unexpected creations = 6spdcoupe
generally have all the pieces necessary to modify the system
an come tuned for the car.
This means speakers , amplifier or dsp/amplifier, recoding (Bimmertech)
and wire Harness and connectors,power kit.

the basics and explanation is in the following thread
http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...1&d=1411521234
Level one system see above.
Level two add helix82dsp/amp and better speakers.
Level three add helix 6 dsp power at 110 per channel
versus 55 for 82 dsp also with better speakers.

Talk to Nelson@BimmerTech for clarification on what they
can do for you.

[SackOHammers]

You guys are great. Thanks for sticking with me.
hdmark, I originally thought a budget around $1,000 would be ample, but I'm getting the idea that after buying all the bits and bobs, it's going to be higher than that to do it right. I've never imagined spending $1,000 for a car sound system. I've done head unit, speakers, etc in other cars for the "hundreds" range. But that was before I was making enough money to decide I needed a BMW Coupe in my life. So now I have to adjust my expectations. I definitely need to keep it south of $2,000 and I'm thinking $1,500 is the absolute max my mind can think is acceptable for better sound in my car.

Gator. My head unit lets me pair my phone to it via Bluetooth. That works for calls. You were asking about non-call. Well, in my center console under the arm rest is a plug that uses both a 3.5mm stereo jack and a USB jack. It goes into a little black box and exits into a USB pigtail. I then use a really long Apple cable that I routed through the center console and up into the dash. Inside the dash that cable ends with a 40 pin Apple connector. I have a cable that uses 40 pin Apple at one end and the newer small cable at the other end. I guess this is called a "lightning to thunderbolt" adapter or something like that. I'm not really an Apple guy. Then I have the cable coming out of the trim right under my phone mount. I use a proclip mount where the end of the thunderbolt snaps into the under side of the mount. So as I slide my phone into the cradle, it automatically engages the thunderbolt plug. To mount the proclip cradle to the dash, I use a KUDA USA leather mount. It is a custom piece that matches the contours and the OEM leather of our cars.
When I want to listen to my phone, I hit the "input" button my stereo a few times until it says "IPOD" and anything coming out of my phone plays through my car audio system.
I did this about 3-4 years ago and I don't really have any how to photos. One tip, inside your dash where you have the end of the lighting cable connecting to the lightning to thunderbolt adapter, make that secure. You do NOT want to have to dig in there to fix it. It was a pain. For things like that, I like to plug them in, wrap dental floss around the connectors to mate them, and put a little tape on there. It's a trick we use to secure servo connectors in model aircraft.

The MB Quart speakers look pretty affordable. The Jenhert speakers are about twice as much. Sounds like people are finding the sweet spot for cost performance at the MB Quart system. I don't have a golden ear, but I'm wondering if I would regret not spending the money for the better speakers. I have no idea.

ctuna,
You had provided so much information. I was trying to pay attention to the timestamp on the original posts in those threads to get an idea of vintage. Because as you say, things change over time, new products are introduced, and people find better solutions. Also, some of those threads are for cars not exactly like mine and there are differences. BUT, it was good to learn.
I had read Rocky's PDF the other day and had been wondering if that was still current information.... if that was still a good way to solve the problem or if people had found better. I also remember reading hdmark's thread. I read the first page and the last page, but didn't go through all 11 pages of the thread.
I'll give those two another read through this weekend.

I'm finding that the MB Quart speakers are discontinued on the manuf site, but I find them on Amazon. But for the JL CleanSweep, I see it discontinued on JL's site and not available at Crutchfield, etc. anymore.

ctuna, you mentioned there are three ways to clean up the signal from the base unit.
I haven't looked at recoding the head unit, but it seems like that would be cheapest. Why is the CleanSweep, which costs hundreds of dollars, is the chosen solution for some? I'm not trying to load the question. Maybe it's better in some way I don't know. Or is recoding the HU a serious pain in the butt?

I continued my email chain with bimmer tech and I didn't really get the response I was looking for. He listed what was included with their DSP/AMP and that was it. Nothing else. No wiring kits, fuses, etc. Just a brief description about having to run wires to the trunk. No tweeters, no trim. About speakers, they said this:
About speakers:
We don't recommend any specific speakers so this package doesn't include them.
There are many different speakers on the market and I am sure any of them will perform better than your stock speakers.
Even when using factory speakers your audio will be much better.

So I'm thinking if I wanted a complete turnkey solution, that MiscarNW might be a better choice. But with hdmark and Rocky's build threads, I might be able to buy exactly what they bought and work from there.

[ctuna]

Yeah I get the part about it being expensive
I had to anguish over that for awhile as about I had
only tossed aftermarket head units and speakers at my previous
cars and the most I ever spent was about 800 with install which I thought was a lot. finally I decided I only wanted to do it once I would let some
extra money go to accomplish that. I ended up with a musicarnw system
consisting of a Jl xd600/6 some morel dotechs for the doors and some
Jehnerts for the floors and its outstanding. At the time it was around
1500. Now costs have gone up. I have got to say the Jehnert xe 200's
are exquisite for mid bass and mid range .
I had a Hi Fi system so I didn't need the wiring just a simple Technic Harness.
I would be tempted to get the Helix 82dsp now.
If go to the Bimmertech site and select the base system they show you that
parts. I would also talk to the other two sources mentioned above for kits
before deciding.
The bimmertech 82dsp thread shows the base kit and harness towards the
end.

You should email Nelson@bimmertech and 6spdcoupe (forum member name)
at Unexpected Creations or MusicarNw

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...mertech&page=7

see entry 141 in the above thread.

[hdmark]

As an update (and ill update my thread later), i installed the mb quarts with a jl 400/4v2 (probsbly would habe done the mb quart instead for the bandpass filter) using technics harnessn (and the recode). Everything sounded wayyyyy yu clearer and that part of the upgrade was 790 I believe for everything including Dynamat and velcro. I then added a sub (yesterday using a box from a guy visual-ice (from England on ebay) for 490 (alpine amp and sub).
When I installed the underseat quart on the passenger side , it was rattlING when the bass kicked on, so last night I turned off the underseats and let it just be the front speakers and the subs and honestly it sounds really good. I will fix the rattle and toss a high pass 50hz filter on the underseat and turn them back on eventually but for now I think I'm happy w9th fronts and a sub

[stylin20]

Just recently upgraded my 2011 328xi with Stage 1 speakers, Bavsound subs and now Bimmertech amp. Not sure what tune it came with but when I ordered from shop they knew what speakers and car I had so hope that helped. I have the HI FI audio system so everything was plug and play. Literally. Installed everything myself (though bought items at different times) it probably would have been a total install of about just over 2 hours total. I used to install stereos back in the day so had some knowledge there.

Now as for sound, speakers were a good upgrade. Disappointed with the plastic baskets on the door speakers tho but sound was good. Tweeters very nice sounding . Not harsh.

Staging WITHOUT the Bimmertech amp sounded like the music was still in each door. After amp install, soundstage lifted to the middle of the dash just like the band was right in front of you. Just like having a center channel. With this amp and speakers. I can say I'm totally happy with the sound. Mid bass punch is awesome. Highs are smooth as silk. Bass is there, just not the rumbling boomy. Depends on the music you listen to. I'm mostly 80's and some classical/jazz. This system rocks with some jazz from FLIM AND THE BB'S

This music is digitally mastered and is super clean. If you can find a copy it is a great way to tune your system.

Sure there may be some speakers a bit better, but I find the Bavsound Stage 1 sound pretty good as the Subs (or more like 8" mid bass drivers).

The amp with less than .02% THD as stated and the DSP function. Thats some pretty clean power and adjustability.

Sure pricey, but plug and play. And as stated, if I had purchased all at the same time. Would've taken about 2.5 hours to re and re the speakers and amp.

Just my 2 cents worth.

But I'm pretty happy right now!!