How to tell visually if the car has Premium Sound?

bren335i · 04-19-2010, 10:30 AM

Going to look at a used M3 car, want to see if it indeed does have this option

Any telltale signs?

Technic · 04-19-2010, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bren335i

Going to look at a used M3 car, want to see if it indeed does have this option

Any telltale signs?

Silver speaker grilles...

mylydiamy · 04-19-2010, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bren335i

Going to look at a used M3 car, want to see if it indeed does have this option

Any telltale signs?

If I ma not mistaken the only visual diff is the speaker covers on premium sound has silver/metal looking frame

bren335i · 04-19-2010, 10:39 AM

thanks !

bren335i · 04-19-2010, 10:42 AM

like this?

1MOREMOD · 04-19-2010, 10:44 AM

arent there quite a few more speakers as well?

BMW-NC · 04-19-2010, 10:51 AM

if you have the equalizer, you have the prem audio.

ersin · 04-19-2010, 11:19 AM

Aren't there speakers in the rear shelf? I know the base US audio system does not have speakers back there. Well, at least the coupe doesn't.

Technic · 04-19-2010, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bren335i

like this?

Yes... unless the previous owner just replaced the black grilles with silver grilles.

The Premium speakers themselves have yellow cones, the non-Premium system (HiFi) has black cones.

elp_jc · 04-19-2010, 12:52 PM

Telltales: silver-surround 'see-thru' speaker grilles with yellowish cones, and most importantly, an equalizer, since that cannot be added on.

In addition, I think standard system doesn't have tweeters on the rear panels, but am not sure. I also think you need iDrive to get the enhanced audio, but am not sure either.

Krozi · 04-19-2010, 12:57 PM

The Premium sound has different looking speakers, most noticeable on the speakers in door, the normal ones have a black covering, while the Premium are more see-through with a different design..

ersin · 04-19-2010, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elp_jc

Telltales: silver-surround 'see-thru' speaker grilles with yellowish cones, and most importantly, an equalizer, since that cannot be added on.

In addition, I think standard system doesn't have tweeters on the rear panels, but am not sure. I also think you need iDrive to get the enhanced audio, but am not sure either.

The HiFi system (standard M3 audio) does have separate tweeters on the rear panels. Mine does ('08 coupe). I do not have rear deck speakers, just a flat rear deck (other than the baby seat tether mounts). I believe the enhanced premium cars have speakers in the deck.

The equalizer is only part of the iDrive so if the equalizer were the only way to tell then someone just looking in couldn't figure it out without firing up the stereo.

Yes, you do need Navigation (iDrive) to order enhanced premium sound.

Cheers.

elp_jc · 04-19-2010, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ersin

I believe the enhanced premium cars have speakers in the deck.

Yep, mine does. That's weird, even Civics have deck speakers

. Well, now we know.

Summarizing: enhanced audio has rear deck speakers, silver-surround 'see-thru' grilles with yellow-cone speakers, and iDrive

. Thanks.

Technic · 04-19-2010, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ersin

The HiFi system (standard M3 audio) does have separate tweeters on the rear panels. Mine does ('08 coupe). I do not have rear deck speakers, just a flat rear deck (other than the baby seat tether mounts). I believe the enhanced premium cars have speakers in the deck.

The equalizer is only part of the iDrive so if the equalizer were the only way to tell then someone just looking in couldn't figure it out without firing up the stereo.

Yes, you do need Navigation (iDrive) to order enhanced premium sound.

Cheers.

The rear tweeters in the HiFi system seem to have been removed from MY2010-on.

ersin · 04-19-2010, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Technic

The rear tweeters in the HiFi system seem to have been removed from MY2010-on.

Cheapskates! Oh well, no big loss really. I don't think the tweeters they use are all that great. I suppose the 4" now is a wide range speaker, or maybe coax.

BTW, I can only see the yellow in the enhance premium speakers when the sunlight hits them just right so if you're looking for this then YMMV.

Cheers.

Chill72 · 04-20-2010, 02:33 AM

I found that both audio systems sound the same

04-19-2010, 10:30 AM	#1
bren335i Banned 8 Rep 203 Posts Drives: E60 M5 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: BOSTON iTrader: (0)	How to tell visually if the car has Premium Sound? Going to look at a used M3 car, want to see if it indeed does have this option Any telltale signs?
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04-19-2010, 10:39 AM	#4
bren335i Banned 8 Rep 203 Posts Drives: E60 M5 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: BOSTON iTrader: (0)	thanks !
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04-19-2010, 10:42 AM	#5
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04-19-2010, 10:44 AM	#6
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04-19-2010, 11:19 AM	#8
ersin Brigadier General 73 Rep 4,150 Posts Drives: 08 IB E92 M3 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Maryland iTrader: (1)	Aren't there speakers in the rear shelf? I know the base US audio system does not have speakers back there. Well, at least the coupe doesn't. __________________ I've been assimilated. 6MT/ZPP/18"/PS extended.
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04-19-2010, 12:52 PM	#10
elp_jc Brigadier General 122 Rep 4,910 Posts Drives: . Join Date: May 2008 Location: . iTrader: (0)	Telltales: silver-surround 'see-thru' speaker grilles with yellowish cones, and most importantly, an equalizer, since that cannot be added on. In addition, I think standard system doesn't have tweeters on the rear panels, but am not sure. I also think you need iDrive to get the enhanced audio, but am not sure either.
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04-19-2010, 12:57 PM	#11
Krozi Colonel 80 Rep 2,730 Posts Drives: 2008 E92 ///M3 Alpine White Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: SoFla - Bonita Springs iTrader: (24)	The Premium sound has different looking speakers, most noticeable on the speakers in door, the normal ones have a black covering, while the Premium are more see-through with a different design.. __________________ 2008 E92 ///M3 Alpine White//Fox Red//6MT// Florida Bimmer - Join us on FaceBook!
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04-20-2010, 02:33 AM	#16
Chill72 Banned 60 Rep 896 Posts Drives: 10 E92 M3 (RIP) Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Germany iTrader: (0)	I found that both audio systems sound the same
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