ordering 2010 this week, is premium sound / alarm worth it ?

[ukaussi]

I do not mod stereo's in cars so wondering if the Premium sound was worth $1900 ?

If you have actually heard it in a 2009, how much better is it REALLY ?

What does the alarm add to the stock M3 ?

Cheers

[Technic]

Originally Posted by ukaussi

I do not mod stereo's in cars so wondering if the Premium sound was worth $1900 ?

If you have actually heard it in a 2009, how much better is it REALLY ?

What does the alarm add to the stock M3 ?

Cheers

In your case, it is worth it. If you mod car audio then it is not.

Get the alarm if you think that your M3 will need some extra protection against vandalism (breaking a window to rob, for example). If you do not think that that will happen to you then don't get it.

[ukaussi]

forgot to mention that when I bought my previous 2004 545i it had a great sounding system and that was the upgraded audio option, just not sure I want to pay almost $2000 for something if it isn't noticeably better sounding.

If it helps, I listen to a wide spectrum of genre, but mostly classical and electronic (ie Tiesto)

[Technic]

Originally Posted by ukaussi

forgot to mention that when I bought my previous 2004 545i it had a great sounding system and that was the upgraded audio option, just not sure I want to pay almost $2000 for something if it isn't noticeably better sounding.

If it helps, I listen to a wide spectrum of genre, but mostly classical and electronic (ie Tiesto)

It will be better that the standard system, however the issue here is that according to yourself you do not mod your car audio, so you do not have too much of a choice. I do have that Premium System and I don't think that it is worth the $1900 over the standard system, but I got my M3 from the dealer's lot at invoice so basically I did not pay for it.

It took me around the same $1900 to make it sound the way I want it...

[bryanr]

Originally Posted by ukaussi

I do not mod stereo's in cars so wondering if the Premium sound was worth $1900 ?

If you have actually heard it in a 2009, how much better is it REALLY ?

What does the alarm add to the stock M3 ?

Cheers

I haven't listened to the premium system but I can say that the standard audio system is pretty poor. It's nice for radio and quieter music but as soon as you turn it up it sounds exactly like 4 speakers blaring the same thing. Coming from an older car with with an Infinity Gold system (nothing special, similar to the Logic 7 option on non-///m) it kinda blows. Still nice driving in it listening to music but it's not a good audio system.

[Moxie]

I got the premium sound & the alarm in my 2010. Just picked it tonight

It's gonna be a long 1200 miles. Well, 1066.8 mles now.

I listened to both stock & premium sound. There was no comparison.

The alarm is no longer pre-wired in the M3. If you think you may ever want the alarm, get it now.

[isugoo]

Audio depends on you care about sound quality or not.
Alarm, yes since you can't do retrofit like 08 anymore.

[ukaussi]

It was the Logic7 system I had on the 545i and the sound was great, especially the bass from the speakers under the seats.

[Moxie]

I had Logic 7 in my 08. IMHO the stock M3 stereo is a step down.

[bryanr]

Originally Posted by Moxie

I had Logic 7 in my 08. IMHO the stock M3 stereo is a step down.

It's a huge step down.

13 speakers and 7-band equalizer vs 6 speakers and 2-band equalizer

[quality_sound]

More speakers does NOT mean it sounds better. In fact, in a car, more speakers generally makes it sound WORSE.

[///FCB]

hey, 1 quick question, i have the 2009 updated m3 but no alarm, is there any way to get it installed at a bmw dealer??

[quality_sound]

nope

[///FCB]

damn, alright thanks anyways!!

[JohnnyRoaster]

Originally Posted by ///FCB

hey, 1 quick question, i have the 2009 updated m3 but no alarm, is there any way to get it installed at a bmw dealer??

It depends on when it was built. If your car went into production before mid March, the prewiring is there. If it is post mid March, you are screwed.

[bryanr]

Originally Posted by quality_sound

More speakers does NOT mean it sounds better. In fact, in a car, more speakers generally makes it sound WORSE.

That's a good point. The more important difference is the 7-band parametric eq vs bass and treble controls.

Still stand by the Logic 7 system being a much better system than the standard m3 system.

[///FCB]

Originally Posted by JohnnyRoaster

It depends on when it was built. If your car went into production before mid March, the prewiring is there. If it is post mid March, you are screwed.

thanks!!!



it was built towards the end of January if im not wrong..def. before March though!!! wow, Ill try and ask at BMW see what they say, I hope its the same in Europe!!...any clues on how much the alarm would cost??

[quality_sound]

Originally Posted by bryanr

That's a good point. The more important difference is the 7-band parametric eq vs bass and treble controls.

Still stand by the Logic 7 system being a much better system than the standard m3 system.

Oh agreed, L7 is many times over better then Premium. I was just saying that the marketing garbage throwing numbers of drivers around like it's a good thing is just that, garbage.

But I plan on doing something that sound worlds better than L7 and it'll cost me less than the upgrade price to do it.

[bryanr]

Originally Posted by quality_sound

Oh agreed, L7 is many times over better then Premium. I was just saying that the marketing garbage throwing numbers of drivers around like it's a good thing is just that, garbage.

But I plan on doing something that sound worlds better than L7 and it'll cost me less than the upgrade price to do it.

Cool

If I owned rather than leased I'd consider putting some money into it. Who knows. Let me know what end up doing if you don't mind.

[quality_sound]

I already know for the most part. Scan-Speak Illuminator 3/4" ring radiator tweeters in the sail panels, 4" or 4.5" mids (I have some a/d/s/ 344is, Diamond DA4.6, and Dayton RS100 and possibly picking up a set of Oz Audio OZ-100s) to go in either the OEM mid location or custom a-pillar pods, 8s under the seats (I have some JBL 2118Hs, JL Audio ZR800-CWs, and some Diamond Audio DA8.6s but I might have to go with some Hertz Space 8s if the others don't fit), a JL Audio Stealthbox (it has 2 13TW5-3s in it), an Audison Bit One processor and for amps I'll either add a second Arc Audio KS500.1 Mini and use my other two KS125.4s for the tweeters, mids and midbasses or sell them and run a pair of JL 900/5s, then the stock rears will stay powered from iDrive like stock.

Sounds like a lot of stuff but it's basically replacing the OEM speakers, adding more power, processing and subs. Pretty straight forward really.