[gte460z]

They are in! The IFBMW-S speakers sound so much better that its rediculous. My system was the stock Hifi with an XD600/6 amp added. I have the gain turned up to a little under 50% for the fronts, a little under 40% for the stock subs and the crossovers set to 150Hz for fronts/rears/subs. The tweeters are in no way harsh. The did make me realize how bad the stock tweeters are in the hifi setup.

[ctuna]

Suggest you do the underseats next

[gte460z]

I have been trying to figure out which underseats I should get, QMW200 or SWS-8XI.

[jsl1419]

Japanese Sonic Design and Italian Ciare speakers. Just want to show couple of brands and models were missing from OP's list.

[BMW3DK]

Originally Posted by jsl1419

Japanese Sonic Design and Italian Ciare speakers. Just want to show couple of brands and models were missing from OP's list.

The spacer used for the Sonic Design speakers look very interesting! Where did you find that?

[Tossi]

First of all great tread with a ton of useful info 👍
But I'm left wondering if any one has any experience with upgrading the speakers in a logic7/top hifi system but keeping the stock amp. Because I'm not overly found of the tweeters and woofers, maybe because I'm used to my +40000$ Audio system in my old car 😉.

The plan is right now either Focal IFBMW-S/ focal 100krs combined with a set of German Maestro woofer or maybe go with the Helix Match 3 way system?

Any thoughts on that? Or do I need to go all in MOST converter, processor, amps?

[snaimpally]

Does anyone have any comments on the MB Quart QM200.3 BMW? Comes with drop-in replacements for the 8" under-seat woofer, the 4" mid, and the tweeter. Price is a little better than the Gladen (formerly Audio System) and Jehnert kits.

[tonynguyen]

Hi
Is it ok to put the SWS 8" in to Base Stereo and use power directly for HU?

[snaimpally]

Rockford has a new set of speakers for the BMW 3 series:
http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/products/details/t3-bmw3

They replace the 4" mid and tweeter while leaving the OEM under seat woofers unchanged. Made in Germany.

[BCS13]

Originally Posted by snaimpally

Rockford has a new set of speakers for the BMW 3 series:
http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/products/details/t3-bmw3

They replace the 4" mid and tweeter while leaving the OEM under seat woofers unchanged. Made in Germany.

In addition to any feedback anyone has on the RFs above, also curious as to any experience with the JBL series of MS-A... amps that include "DSP." I put DSP in quotes because from what I can tell, they have a robust EQ functionality, but no mic and therefore no auto-tune capability, though they can detect input levels...

Didn't want to be cliche' with my install, defaulting to the MS-8, XD600/6, Focals, SWS 8", et cetera... but clearly that's consensus set-up, affordable and DIY-able for the base stereo e90s.

Can't believe how great VP Electricity, Technic, ctuna, taibanl and others are YEAR AFTER YEAR for little to no personal gain... I haven't touched my car yet and already feel like I've benefited from their advice!

Thanks Guys, Cheers!

[Cabrio330]

Originally Posted by snaimpally

Rockford has a new set of speakers for the BMW 3 series:
http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/products/details/t3-bmw3

They replace the 4" mid and tweeter while leaving the OEM under seat woofers unchanged. Made in Germany.

Are you sure these fit E9x 3-series BMWs? Your link goes to a product named T3-BMW3 but then their description text refers to T3-BMW1 and the list of compatible vehicles under the Specifications tab towards the bottom of their page does not list the 3-series. I cannot find a fitment guide anywhere else on their site.

I emailed their product support to ask specifically about fitment for my car (E93 with HiFi) and will report back with what they say.

Fingers crossed!

[BCS13]

Yeah, saw that too, however the YouTube video of them being installed is in a '07 e93.

Would be curious/good to have another brand in the mix for drop-in speaker replacements.

[Cabrio330]

Originally Posted by BCS13

Yeah, saw that too, however the YouTube video of them being installed is in a '07 e93.

Would be curious/good to have another brand in the mix for drop-in speaker replacements.

Aha! Encouraging! I noticed these are listed as either "frame style" 1, 2 or 3 on crutchfield.com, and the video you posted says they used frame style 2 on the E93. I may wait and see if Rockford responds before ordering, or if I get antsy (!) I may order and take a chance.

Pretty excited because I already have a JL XD600/6 amp, just bought SWS-8xi's from a member on here (after onlinecarstereo.com sent me 8's instead of 8xi's and took 2 weeks to set up a return ), and a Technic harness on its way! I am hopeful these Rockford's will be the last piece to my audio system upgrade!

[Cabrio330]

http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/products/details/t3-bmw2

^^^ This link goes to the product page for the "frame style 2" (aka T3-BMW2) speakers, and the Specifications tab near the bottom confirms it is for E9x 3-series as follows:

3-SERIES 2005-2011
Coupe (E92) Front
Sedan (E90) Front, Rear
Touring (E91) Front, Rear
Cabrio (E93) Front


Use this link rather than the one snaimpally posted, which was to "frame style 3" that does not fit E9x cars.

[VF154]

http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/products/details/t3-bmw2

^^^ This link goes to the product page for the "frame style 2" (aka T3-BMW2) speakers, and the Specifications tab near the bottom confirms it is for E9x 3-series as follows:

3-SERIES 2005-2011
Coupe (E92) Front
Sedan (E90) Front, Rear
Touring (E91) Front, Rear
Cabrio (E93) Front


Use this link rather than the one snaimpally posted, which was to "frame style 3" that does not fit E9x cars.

I have a the basic system with six speakers and no amp. I want to get the JL 600/6 amp and cleansweep to improve my front stage. Please let's us know how it sounds. Thanks

[snaimpally]

Originally Posted by BCS13

Didn't want to be cliche' with my install, defaulting to the MS-8, XD600/6, Focals, SWS 8", et cetera... but clearly that's consensus set-up, affordable and DIY-able for the base stereo e90s.

Can't believe how great VP Electricity, Technic, ctuna, taibanl and others are YEAR AFTER YEAR for little to no personal gain... I haven't touched my car yet and already feel like I've benefited from their advice!

The BMWs have very specific requirements so its best to stick with a proven solution. Technic's harness is designed for the 600/6 so it makes sense to use that amp.

In terms of speakers though, I think there are plenty of choices. I for one am not a big fan of metal dome tweeters in general, and Focal's lower-end metal domes in particular. (I have run the Focal Be No. 6 kit but the Be tweeter is more expensive and so in a different class.) I think a silk dome tweeter, as used in many of the other sets (Jehnert, MB Quart, Gladen, etc.), is a better choice. Best Buy currently has the MB Quart kit, which features drop in replacements for all 3 drivers, on sale at a very good price. I think the SWS-8 is a good choice if you don't plan to run a dedicated subwoofer (check out VP Eelectricty's stealth sub enclosures - I highly recommend a 10" or 12" Morel Ultimo SC). However, the Jehnert 8" is a better choice as replacement woofer. I'm planning Jehnert 8", HAT L4SE carbons 4" mid, and Morel MT22 tweeters (I have the MT22s and everything else is in transit).

Same goes for the processor. The MS-8 is good but there are many more DSP products available these days - Mosconi 6to8, Helix DSP (this is the one VP Electriicty uses I think), Arc Audio PS8, Zapco Z8, etc. Also, the MS-8 has a reputation for randomly emitting white noise at a very high decibel level and blowing all the drivers in the car. I personally know someone to whom this happened and I have read of many others who had this happen. This may have been fixed in a firmware update, but I don't hold the MS-8 in very high regard for this reason alone.

I agree that VP Electricity, Technic, ctuna, taibanl, Kaigoss and others have done an invaluable service making their knowledge and experience available to us.

[snaimpally]

Originally Posted by Cabrio330

Are you sure these fit E9x 3-series BMWs? Your link goes to a product named T3-BMW3 but then their description text refers to T3-BMW1 and the list of compatible vehicles under the Specifications tab towards the bottom of their page does not list the 3-series. I cannot find a fitment guide anywhere else on their site.

I emailed their product support to ask specifically about fitment for my car (E93 with HiFi) and will report back with what they say.

Fingers crossed!

Yes - please read the product page.

[snaimpally]

http://www.highdesertme.com/?p=1307

Jacob in Albuquerque has been installing the Gladen BMW set with very good results.

[ashmostro]

Does the MBQ kit *have* to be driven by an external amplifier based on sensitivity and impedance? So, not drop-in in the sense that the focal is, for example?

Thanks

[kaigoss69]

Originally Posted by ashmostro

Does the MBQ kit *have* to be driven by an external amplifier based on sensitivity and impedance? So, not drop-in in the sense that the focal is, for example?

Thanks

If you have HiFi or L7, the answer I believ is no, but it will sound much better with the added power. The base system cannot drive anything aftermarket, especially not 8" woofers.

[VP Electricity]

There is no consensus setup.

And ANYTHING that uses the stock amp is going to suck. It might suck less than stock, it probably would, but it will still suck compared to performance solutions.

Almost every aftermarket amp - 99.9% of them - have a switching power supply in them to take battery voltage (a nominal 12V) and step it up. Why? Because Ohm's Law says that with a given load, and a given voltage, you have a given current you can deliver, and the math works out to be around 18 watts into a 4-ohm speaker with a 12-volt source. Don't take my word for it - check the CEA output ratings of every head unit available.

The HK, the L7, and the HiFi "amps" ALL lack that power supply. So does the MS-8. None of them power 8" woofers acceptably. Coincidence? Nope. The Individual/EPS amps are the only ones reaching voltages above 12V, and that's because they have true switching power supplies. Everything else is deck power, and deck power sucks.

[ashmostro]

I have the HK system. It seems from this thread that the deck uses line level to a shitty amp in the trunk that just needs to be replaced with the JL option. True, or no?