Premium sound or not

[PhillyNate]

Put me in the "regret not getting it" camp. The base system is adequate but one side effect of that as many have said is I find myself listening to this wonderful piece of machinery more than I probably would in another car. 2 points, the base system lost 2 small rear speakers around 2010. I don't know if that makes a lot of difference but putting it out there. I had a 2008 328i with the 10 speaker base and can't remember. Secondly, for the love of god why didn't BMW option in the M3 the $800 Harmon Kardon minus Navi option that was offered on the 3-series? I would've jumped all over that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Agent-GHQ]

Originally Posted by circlek

If I truly want to listen to music I go in the house. E92 M3 is all about engine and exhaust noise.

$1900 well saved, No regrets not getting it at all, and I ordered new.

Originally Posted by TTG

No - Not when a darn $1900 upgrade has pages of pages threads just how to set it up properly and people still can't get it right.....

The Logic 7 that my 335 had was simply amazing and the 1900 upgraded system doesn't even go near it....

Before ordering my car I spent some time in a M3 with and without the upgraded sound system..... and afterwards deleted $1900 waste of money from my order sheet.

If I were to buy used, it is something that I won't care if it there or not, and certainly I would not pass on a clean car if it lacks the optional upgrade....

You are buying a car in here.... not a sound system.

PS: $1900 will get you a much better aftermarket upgrade period!

When I build my E92, I opt out the premium sounds thinking that I could used that $1900 towards other performance parts or just save that $1900. A few days later, I realized the Premium Sound is what BMW claims to be the most powerful sound system in OEM history. Then I thought to myself that its a luxury and would only add value to the car down the road.

I love the sound of the V8 too and I can always turn off the music

[Kong Sheng Han]

Who needs premium audio when you have a V8 that screams.

[MA///M3]

Originally Posted by KJ

I love my premium sound system.

The bass isn't very deep, but it is punchy and accurate.

The mids and highs are great!

I agree with this. How much extra do they charge though? It's all about the Benjamin's.

[alee0729]

Originally Posted by MA///M3

I agree with this. How much extra do they charge though? It's all about the Benjamin's.

$1900.

Upgraded components from BSW would run you about $700 + cost of labor or your time to install. I'd guess that'd be a full day job for a competent shop, so putting you around $1500-$1700 total.

For a solid sound system built by the audio shop, I'd guess you're closer to the 3K-5K range. Of course, the sky is the limit with these systems... add thousands more for custom fabricated enclosures,etc.

[Someone?]

Its probably the only Option i could not do without, when i was lookn for an M if it didn't have Enhanced Premium Sound, i didn't even consider it.

[obn]

Originally Posted by Peahi

I think get it or like everyone else says, you will regret it.
Me, I barely listen to music in the car....I like listening to the engine and the shifts. Long drives, then yes music!

same here

[Disciple7]

The engine is the only sound I need

[Ghetto2315]

Guess I'm the only one who doesn't hear a huge difference and have no regrets not getting it

[MA///M3]

Originally Posted by alee0729

$1900.

Upgraded components from BSW would run you about $700 + cost of labor or your time to install. I'd guess that'd be a full day job for a competent shop, so putting you around $1500-$1700 total.

For a solid sound system built by the audio shop, I'd guess you're closer to the 3K-5K range. Of course, the sky is the limit with these systems... add thousands more for custom fabricated enclosures,etc.

I wouldn't let it keep me from buying a sound used e9x.

[Vic311]

Some decent aftermarket components and a subwoofer, will sound better and come out cheaper than the premium sound option

[aussiem3]

100% worth it ... also eliminates the urge to upgrade. May be lacking in some areas for some, and I am no sound expert, for me it ticks all the right boxes. Louder you listen, you appreciate the system. It doesn't do anything at the low end.

[JulieDriving]

In Canada, the Harmon Kardon sound system became standard in 2012 (I think).

I was thrilled. Although we Canadians had a slightly better standard sound system in the regular series cars ('cause we pay more ++ for the car), my non-enhanced sound 335i was kinda disappointing.

However, I find myself almost never taking advantage of it, because I keep turning it off to hear the M3's engine!

[drvai]

As already said, it's much better than the standard one, but far from a real HIFI car audio system. The issue is that getting an aftermarket system is a PITA and not worth the trouble unless you know an audio installer that's it's pretty good and you are ready to spend 2-3K in equipment and a good installation (appropriate cables, isolation, etc...)
If I were you, get it.

[PhillyNate]

Originally Posted by drvai

As already said, it's much better than the standard one, but far from a real HIFI car audio system. The issue is that getting an aftermarket system is a PITA and not worth the trouble unless you know an audio installer that's it's pretty good and you are ready to spend 2-3K in equipment and a good installation (appropriate cables, isolation, etc...)
If I were you, get it.

Bingo, I wouldn't let anyone short of a BMW engineer touch the electronics on this car. Well, I'd let BSW do it if they were closer.

[vzm3]

Originally Posted by Jch99

Hey guys

Is the premium sound option that much better than the stock BMW system?

Yes it is

[1fastdoc]

Originally Posted by drvai

As already said, it's much better than the standard one, but far from a real HIFI car audio system. The issue is that getting an aftermarket system is a PITA and not worth the trouble unless you know an audio installer that's it's pretty good and you are ready to spend 2-3K in equipment and a good installation (appropriate cables, isolation, etc...)
If I were you, get it.

Exactly. The EPS is a good deal for the money. After reading about it though and turning it up for the first time in my car I was a little disappointed. However, I was comparing it to aftermarket systems that cost 2k plus.

Now in comparing it to the standard system then yes, it's night and day. Honestly I think the standard system is an embarrassment for a premium car. The stereo in my MDX blows it away.

[Atombyte]

I ordered mine with it and if I could do it over again, I'd leave it out. Compared to the (at first included in my '07) and then $800 Logic 7 on my first 2 E92s, this is a real POS. You can fiddle with the EQ and get a song/CD/radio station to sound okay, then switch and its all rubbish again. Between the car sounding so good and EPS sounding like crap, I spend about 80% of the time with the sound system off. Count me in the "regret getting it" camp.

[V8FunNaturally]

back in the days I had a 92 maxima with Bose Sound System. I swear that thing sounded better than anything i have heard since. I believe overall cost cutting (some rare earth materials used for the speakers magnet no longer being economically produced) and profit extracting has since significantly lowered the quality of audio systems. You really can't get anything decent audio wise anymore without paying big bucks. And even then I swear the new materials are not as good. Instead they added a lot of useless digital processing cores but that shit can never make up for good speaker magnets/diaphragm/coil and low noise analog amplifiers.

[Jch99]

I ended up buying a M3 with the premium sound and I have to say that I am quite disappointed. My brother has the logic 7 in his 335i and it is better.

[V8FunNaturally]

Originally Posted by Jch99

I ended up buying a M3 with the premium sound and I have to say that I am quite disappointed. My brother has the logic 7 in his 335i and it is better.

how much better ? a huge difference, significantly better or just better.

[Someone?]

Originally Posted by Jch99

I ended up buying a M3 with the premium sound and I have to say that I am quite disappointed. My brother has the logic 7 in his 335i and it is better.

You must not have it adjusted right, if you really have EPS, 16 speaker, 825 watts, i sold high end home equipment and that system is amazing adjusted right.
Ive also had Bose systems in a couple high end vehicles and every one sucked ass.