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#1. RE: [E36M3] head units and connections - from m3rb@comcast.net
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Date: Fri, 17 Dec 2004 18:53:49 +0000 From: m3rb@comcast.net Subject: RE: [E36M3] head units and connections I thought the HK system was great, when I first got the car. I still think it's pretty good, with the bass down about 1 notch and the treble up a couple. However, the system I put in my wife's car, a VW Corrado, is better. I decided that point source was best for soundstage, and so selected coaxial speakers for the front. I also reasoned that the farther speaker being more on-axis, and the nearer one off-axis, would tend to balance the soundstage for both driver and passenger. The stock lower door locations served well for this. For the rear, I went with a modest, inexpensive, bridgeable amp, to combine channels to drive a single 8-inch subwoofer in the hatch. Saving scarce hatch space was a concern. I made a carbon-fiber enclosure that allowed the sub to fit in the cavity at the rear right of the hatch. That worked out really well. The front CF panel didn't come off the glass very nicely--didn't use a proper mold release, I suppose, so it's not as "bling" as it might have been, but is functionally ideal. I had the shop install the Pioneer Premier headunit, the JL Audio front speakers (selected after a listening test), and the CD changer, & I hooked up the amp and sub myself. Very pleased with the result. Upgrading the M3's system is pretty far down on the priority list, but I would go with a similar approach if I did. For more economy, skip the rear amp, and drive a dual voice coil sub with the rear outputs of the headunit. > Date: Fri, 17 Dec 2004 17:22:51 +0000 > From: jakeadavis@comcast.net > Subject: RE: [E36M3] head units and connections > > Alpine makes fine speakers. Check > http://www.autotoys.com/New_Tech/DIY_2000/BMW_ALPINE_RADIO/bmwalpineradiospeaker > .html > > There are probably more speakers on the market than any other piece of auto > audio gear and they arguably make the biggest difference in the final sound of > the system. Biggest recommendation is listen to them! While we can make > audiophile arguments all day about which sound the best, the one that you like > is, in the final argument, the right one. > > Specifically for the E36, I'd make some recommendations, based in part on > installation ease. Two approaches, use the stock locations as much as possible > (for stealth) or buy a set of speaker 'pods' like the Q-logics that replace the > kick panel (http://www.qlogic.ws/2003/home/). Stock location pretty much means a > 3 way system. Speaker pods allow easy installation and use of a 2 way system. > > My bias is toward a really good set up front...to my tastes the rears are just > for fill (if even that). That said, there are some 3 way systems that are easy > to install and make. I also preferred the stock locations as the soundstage is > higher. I felt the kick panel installs I listened to had the soundstage down > around my waist and knees. > > My own choice was the Dynaudio System 340 (not a cheap choice!) > http://www.dynaudio.com/ . The mid and tweeter replaced the factory bits with > just a little trimming. The 7" midbass went in the kick panel and did require a > little metal work. Stock rear speakers are there, but rarely used. A > 'bass-ackwards' sub is in the trunk, possibly to be replaced with the > stealthboxes. > > Boston Acoustics makes a mid and high end 3 way system which should work. > > Enough rambling.... > > Jake > > -------------- Original message -------------- > > > > > Does anyone have any informed opinions on Alpine's speakers? > > > > Reed > > > > > > > Buy the Alpine 9835, use its internal amp and spring for a > > > front set of Boston, Infinity, or similar midpriced separates > > > and it'll kill the stock system. > > > > > > ************************************************* > Please help support the E36M3 list by visiting our sponsors: > > Bimmerworld http://www.bimmerworld.com > Turner Motorsport http://www.turnermotorsport.com > Eurosport High Performance http://www.eurosporthighperformance.com > Rogue Engineering http://www.rogueengineering.com > > DIGEST INFORMATION: > http://www.bmw-m.net/resources/digest_info.htm > ************************************************* > >
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#2. Re: Stupid Human Tricks - from Jason Olin
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Date: Fri, 17 Dec 2004 11:07:17 -0800 (PST) From: Jason Olin <jtolin64@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: Stupid Human Tricks Thanks folks for all the advice-- I think I'm going to add to my collection a longer armed driver (and maybe add a 75m pipe to give it that extra oomph). Oh, and I will definitely tell the shop to ease up on the torque. Who knows...maybe they use a giant to hand tighten those nuts. Jason --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Send holiday email and support a worthy cause. Do good.
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#3. Das Radio? - from Steve Klein
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Date: Fri, 17 Dec 2004 13:17:57 -0600 From: Steve Klein <klein@robinsonad.com> Subject: Das Radio? All this talk of new head units has me considering another winter project: Installing my Alpine 7525 head unit that I've had sitting in a box ever since I pulled it out of my Saab 900s four years ago (on which the transmission died, prompting me to get the M3!) It's a radio/tape deck/CD shuttle controller, which is fine since I mostly listen to NPR. 4 channels @ 30 watts each also gives me more than enough power to overcome road noise. Is it safe to assume I'll need both a wiring harness and antenna adapters for this? Also, will I be able to use the stock speakers (for now) since the unit has the amp built in? My 'Business' radio has become prone to cutting out for periods of time (seconds to hours), leaving the unit powered and illuminated but silent. As I've only been skimming the audio posts in digest mode, can someone recap the links or locations I can peruse to find the said adapters? Thanks, All- Steve Post Scriptum: I'd love to get an iPod eventually, but aside from a cassette adapter, I don't have many options to get its inputs into the head unit, do I? The CD changer connection looks like it's an older, device-specific plug.
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#4. RE: [E36M3] head units and connections - from Mel Silva
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Date: Fri, 17 Dec 2004 13:21:39 -0600 From: "Mel Silva" <melsilva@mindspring.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] head units and connections If you have the HK setup, I have done this a made a how-to page at my website www.melsilva.net Navigate to the M3, Penny's upgrades and HK speaker swap. Mel -----Original Message----- From: Greg Cagle [mailto:gregc@gregcagle.com] Sent: Friday, December 17, 2004 11:35 AM To: E36M3 Subject: Re: [E36M3] head units and connections Second, about the rear deck being "mostly fill." It's possible to put good 6x9s back there, and with a good amp you can get fairly strong bass, although not much else 8^). - Greg
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#5. Audio - from Shane Kleinpeter
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Date: Fri, 17 Dec 2004 11:21:47 -0800 (PST) From: Shane Kleinpeter <sak335@yahoo.com> Subject: Audio All this talk about audio has piqued my interest given the situation with my M3. I bought the car CPO back in '00. It had some aftermarket stereo equipment and I really didn't think about it much at the time I bought it, given that it was a CPO car. From what I can tell, the PO bought the car with the HK system, and had left the head unit and speakers alone. He had two amps added, and had been running a subwoofer, but had apparently kept that (or the tech who did the CPO liked it...) because there was just speaker wire with a banana plug left. Both the amps were plumbed into the stock amp in the rear left, and go through some capacitor-looking devices before tapping into the wires for that amp. I'm not sure why they did this, but that's the way it is. About a year and a half ago, I stopped getting sound out of the subwoofer and found out that the one amp (Pioneer), that fed the amp for the subwoofer (Rockford Fosgate) had some contacts break, and I guess it had shorted out the subwoofer. I replaced both amps with similar units from Alpine, and replaced the subwoofer. It seems to work fine. I'm not audiophile but it's good enough for me. My problem stems from the fact that I have always gotten a bit of alternator whine from the system. It's not terrible, but enough to know it's there. The big issue is that if I turn on the rear defroster, the whine is so bad that it almost drowns out the music. Absolutely unbearable. So I'm wondering what the diagnostic for this is, and also if any of the audiophiles on the list can tell me why the PO plumbed this system the way he did. I have installed plug and play systems from Crutchfield into other cars, but that is really the extent of my car audio knowledge... Shane K. '96 M3 '94 325i #335JP/#76ITS <--- No stereo __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Take Yahoo! Mail with you! Get it on your mobile phone. http://mobile.yahoo.com/maildemo
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#6. Re: Mini - from Neil Maller
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Date: Fri, 17 Dec 2004 14:31:27 -0500 From: Neil Maller <neil.maller@gte.net> Subject: Re: Mini on 12/17/04 12:27 PM, docwyte@comcast.net at docwyte@comcast.net wrote: > Damn, $27k? That's a pretty good chunk of change. Awfully close to a Mitsu > Evo/WRX STi at that point... Well, an Evo VIII with premium sound, leather and sunroof lists for $33.8K, which is $6,400 more than the fully loaded Mini. I don't call that "awfully close." In fact for $30K or so I could go and pick up a nice low mileage E46 330i. Although it's an impressive track car in some ways (a friend had one, and I've been out in it at Road America), the Evo is also not a car I'd consider owning for a bunch of reasons, especially as a daily driver. And then there's that bling factor... We chose the Mini because it's fun, stylish, very solid and well put together, reasonably economical to own, and a blast to drive. I'm not looking for an M3 competitor - I already have an M3. The Mini lists for $20,950 including destination fees. The major options I selected are metallic paint ($420), cold weather pack ($300), premium pack ($1350: DSC, fogs, xenons, 17" wheels), limited slip ($500), leather ($1300), gauges ($300), H-K sound ($550), plus a couple of odds and ends. Funny how that all adds up... Neil 96 M3 - Bastard child MB 300E - 235K miles and on its way out 525iT - Looking for a nice example with low miles and all options 77 MGB - Original owner, need to sell Mini - Cooper S on order
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#7. RE: [E36M3] Re: Mini - from Wayne Miller
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Date: Fri, 17 Dec 2004 14:39:36 -0500 From: "Wayne Miller" <m3@waynemiller.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Re: Mini ....limited slip ($500)... I wish that was available back when we ordered ours - it sure can use it. -Wayne
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#8. Re: [E36M3] Das Radio? - from jwhud@budget.net
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Date: Fri, 17 Dec 2004 13:08:44 -0800 (PST) From: jwhud@budget.net Subject: Re: [E36M3] Das Radio? > Date: Fri, 17 Dec 2004 13:17:57 -0600 > From: Steve Klein <klein@robinsonad.com> > Subject: Das Radio? > > All this talk of new head units has me considering another winter > project: Installing my Alpine 7525 head unit that I've had sitting in a > box ever since I pulled it out of my Saab 900s four years ago (on which > the transmission died, prompting me to get the M3!) > > It's a radio/tape deck/CD shuttle controller, which is fine since I > mostly listen to NPR. 4 channels @ 30 watts each also gives me more > than enough power to overcome road noise. > > Is it safe to assume I'll need both a wiring harness and antenna > adapters for this? Also, will I be able to use the stock speakers (for > now) since the unit has the amp built in? Yes and yes. > > My 'Business' radio has become prone to cutting out for periods of > time (seconds to hours), leaving the unit powered and illuminated but > silent. > > As I've only been skimming the audio posts in digest mode, can someone > recap the links or locations I can peruse to find the said adapters? Crutchfield.com will work > > Thanks, All- > Steve > > > Post Scriptum: I'd love to get an iPod eventually, but aside from a > cassette adapter, I don't have many options to get its inputs into the > head unit, do I? The CD changer connection looks like it's an older, > device-specific plug. Buy an '04 Alpine Ai-net deck and you can get an Alpine adapter that will allow you to control the iPod thru the deck. Your welcome - Jay
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#9. Re[2]: [E36M3] head units and connections - from Andy Radin
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Date: Fri, 17 Dec 2004 18:16:19 -0800 From: "Andy Radin" <fourfa@hotmail.com> Subject: Re[2]: [E36M3] head units and connections >> using the stock locations on the E36 doesn't >> necessarily force a 3 way system installation. I installed a >> fine set of Polk Audio separates in the stock location and just >> didn't use the midrange location - I left it filled with the >> original speaker but it's not wired to anything. > Ditto, mine is set up the same way. Only mine are Boston speakers. same here, with the Dynaudio 240mkIIs. sounds great to my ears. I mounted two free-air 10" subs where the rear speakers go. Never missed the "rear fill," although a nitpicker might complain about a bit of directional bass from the back unmasked by rear fill. But they play tight and deep and I didn't lose a milliliter of trunk space. andy r.
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#10. Re: [E36M3] Audio - from Jay W. Hudson
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Date: Fri, 17 Dec 2004 21:03:14 -0800 From: "Jay W. Hudson" <jwhud@budget.net> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Audio Engine noise can be caused by a few things. 1) Induced noise because power wires are run along side of RCAs from the deck to the amp(s). 2) Poor grounding or a difference of ground potential between components in a system. 3) Cheesy components, usually amps. If you have Alpine amps, I'd guess either #1 or #2. Find a good audio shop and have them take a look at it. Jay > Date: Fri, 17 Dec 2004 11:21:47 -0800 (PST) > From: Shane Kleinpeter <sak335@yahoo.com> > Subject: Audio > > > All this talk about audio has piqued my interest given > the situation with my M3. > > I bought the car CPO back in '00. It had some > aftermarket stereo equipment and I really didn't think > about it much at the time I bought it, given that it > was a CPO car. > > >From what I can tell, the PO bought the car with the > HK system, and had left the head unit and speakers > alone. He had two amps added, and had been running a > subwoofer, but had apparently kept that (or the tech > who did the CPO liked it...) because there was just > speaker wire with a banana plug left. Both the amps > were plumbed into the stock amp in the rear left, and > go through some capacitor-looking devices before > tapping into the wires for that amp. I'm not sure why > they did this, but that's the way it is. > > About a year and a half ago, I stopped getting sound > out of the subwoofer and found out that the one amp > (Pioneer), that fed the amp for the subwoofer > (Rockford Fosgate) had some contacts break, and I > guess it had shorted out the subwoofer. I replaced > both amps with similar units from Alpine, and replaced > the subwoofer. It seems to work fine. I'm not > audiophile but it's good enough for me. > > My problem stems from the fact that I have always > gotten a bit of alternator whine from the system. > It's not terrible, but enough to know it's there. The > big issue is that if I turn on the rear defroster, the > whine is so bad that it almost drowns out the music. > Absolutely unbearable. > > So I'm wondering what the diagnostic for this is, and > also if any of the audiophiles on the list can tell me > why the PO plumbed this system the way he did. I have > installed plug and play systems from Crutchfield into > other cars, but that is really the extent of my car > audio knowledge... > > Shane K. > '96 M3 > '94 325i #335JP/#76ITS <--- No stereo >