The 8 speaker hifi system is awful

[deletedelete]

I think my 335 with the base system had subwoofers under the seats. The m3 does not sound like it has subwoofers. I assume its gonna be a huge pain in the ass to add a sub or amp or whatever is missing. I just want a little base, it sounds horrible right now. With the top down im not going to be able to hear anything.

Im searching around now to find a diagram or whatever of what these 8 speakers are and where they are at. I dont want to be cliche and yell that a 80k should have a subwoofer but really, come on now.

[ersin]

Awful? Well ... duh!

I take it you have a post 2009 M3? I believe these lost the tweeters in the back. So, mid and tweets up front -- 4 (two on each door), two mids in the back (4 + 2 = 6) and two subs under each front seat = 8.

You can replace the subs under the seat with Earthquake SWS-8. You'll need an extra amp though and have to tap into the sub wires by either cutting the current ones that run to the subs or using a special harness. Probably need a LOC too depending on amp.


around here and in the e90post forums.


Cheers.

[deletedelete]

Yes I have an '11 and its hard to believe it has the subs under the seat. The subs on the 335 were very noticeable, there is no bass on the m3. Yeah I know you can replace the stock sub with the earthquake, but I honestly thought id have add a sub since I assumed the m3 didnt have one. The earthquake install is too hard, I dont know what to do now.

[ersin]

The SWS install doesn't look too hard to me. There's plenty of information on the forums and I will probably be going with SWS8 myself. I'm awaiting Technic's harness for the HiFi system (seems like forever) and an amp. I'll keep you updated.

If you want to go further, a tweeter replacement would probably be the next logical step. BSW makes a full replacement set of speakers. I don't know how they sound but they are an exact OEM fit and read good things about them. With the right harness we should be able to add amps, etc. without cutting wires. So, there are many of ways to make it better without much work.


Cheers.

[VP Electricity]

If your car has HiFi, it has two 8" - one under each seat.

I don't think you can get a 2011 M3 with Stereo audio (Technic?). Stereo audio systems have 6.5 under the seat (i 8" holes with large plates) and no amp at all, and everyone who gets a car with Stereo audio hates it.

But even with HiFi, two 8" woofers in a vert have a helluva time compressing the air enough to create sound pressure.
________
Kawasaki KE100

[808MGuy]

Originally Posted by VP Electricity

If your car has HiFi, it has two 8" - one under each seat.

I don't think you can get a 2011 M3 with Stereo audio (Technic?). Stereo audio systems have 6.5 under the seat (i 8" holes with large plates) and no amp at all, and everyone who gets a car with Stereo audio hates it.

But even with HiFi, two 8" woofers in a vert have a helluva time compressing the air enough to create sound pressure.

Yes the base system in the M3 is hi-fi. Since we're talking about an e93, is the complaint here with the top up or top down. Top down, its going to be very difficult for anything to give you good bass. Special considerations have to be given even with aftermarket equipment when dealing with an open top environment. The hi-fi system is more than capable of giving decent bass in an enclosed space depending on your definition of decent. My decent would be audible low end extension down to at least 35 Hz. Now if you're looking for some thump that you'll feel and want to be heard at the other end of the block, well, show me an OEM system that will do that and that will be the first I've ever heard of that can.

[deletedelete]

Im not an audiophile by any means. With the top up I dont feel the bass thumping my seat like I did on the 335. Granted they are different seats but it sounds as if the bass is coming from the speakers on the door rather then on the floor. Whereas in the 335 you could feel it coming from the floor. Im at least happy that I actually have subs and an amp unlike the '11 base audio on 335/328 which dont have those. But it sounds less thumpy to me.

I have the speakers next to the side mirrors on the door which should mean I have the hifi system. I have some missing screws near my fuse panel, I have to check and my sure my fuse wasnt taken. Or the dynamics of the car make everything sound differently.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by VP Electricity

If your car has HiFi, it has two 8" - one under each seat.

I don't think you can get a 2011 M3 with Stereo audio (Technic?). Stereo audio systems have 6.5 under the seat (i 8" holes with large plates) and no amp at all, and everyone who gets a car with Stereo audio hates it.

But even with HiFi, two 8" woofers in a vert have a helluva time compressing the air enough to create sound pressure.

There's a forum member here with a USA MY2010 M3 that somehow got a Stereo system installed from factory by mistake.

[deletedelete]

Originally Posted by Technic

There's a forum member here with a USA MY2010 M3 that somehow got a Stereo system installed from factory by mistake.

haha really? Well if I have the speakers on the doors right next to the side mirrors, that means I have the hifh system, correct?

[ersin]

Originally Posted by Prowess Symphony

haha really? Well if I have the speakers on the doors right next to the side mirrors, that means I have the hifh system, correct?

Do you mean the speaker in the "sail"? Even if you have the sail, is there actually a speaker behind it?


Cheers.

[deletedelete]

Originally Posted by ersin

Do you mean the speaker in the "sail"? Even if you have the sail, is there actually a speaker behind it?


Cheers.

haha yeah in the sail. I guess now i gotta check and see if a speaker is actually in there or not.

[deletedelete]

I have the Y-adapter from my 335 which charged my iphone. Now that I dont have the usb in the armrest, is the Y-adapter completely useless? Maybe it will charge my phone from the glovebox usb, i hoping.

[shamoo]

Welcome to my world. Waiting on Technic for his HiFi harness. Then I'll be going all out.

[deletedelete]

Originally Posted by shamoo

Welcome to my world. Waiting on Technic for his HiFi harness. Then I'll be going all out.

haha. i probably wont be doing anything. Turning the bass way up and putting the fade toward the front has increased the bass somewhat. It still doesnt sound as good as my 335 which could be the seats, the loss of rear tweeters or the shape of the car, i dont know.

[jb2thdoc]

Originally Posted by Technic

There's a forum member here with a USA MY2010 M3 that somehow got a Stereo system installed from factory by mistake.

That would be my piece of S#$t stereo. It is pretty pathetic.

[deletedelete]

I think that the speakers are sounding better. Maybe they are broken in, if thats possible, or im getting used to the different cabin layout, but the bass is thumping louder and sounding pretty close to how it did in the 335. It is not as bad as it was and I no longer classify it as awful but still not good enough for a 85k car.