BMW 430i upgrade

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bvbellomo

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I just bought a 2020 (pre-beaver) BMW 430i convertible. I was NOT impressed with the Harmon system, but after a test drive in a car with it, the standard system sounds even worse! So it is probably worth my time to take this apart and upgrade it. I listen at medium loud levels, and value clarity - I am not looking to shake the neighborhood with bass and I am not looking to damage my battery or electrical components. I want a minimal DIY replacement with higher quality parts for increased clarity.

I had a few questions:

1) It seems like I have 2 tweeters on the top of each door, 2 mids in each door, 2 subs under each front seat and 2 more woofers and tweeters in the back - along with an amp in the trunk. This is just going by what's online - I haven't taken the car apart or even tried to examine it carefully. Is this correct? Going by what's online, upgrading my door speakers is the biggest bang for the buck - is that correct? Taking apart the doors seems like a relatively large risk and large amount of work compared to everything else.

2) For door speakers, I see several stand alone woofers, along with coaxial woofer/tweeters being sold. Are the stock door speakers near the handle just woofers? Are the coaxial speakers meant to eliminate the tweeters higher up? Any advice which configuration works best?

3) If I am looking for increased clarity without increased volume, is there any point to upgrading either the amp or subwoofers?

4) Are there any good sites listing and/or comparing options?

5) Should I add damping material if I do open my doors? What kind and how much?
 
I just bought a 2020 (pre-beaver)
This is what I saw when first laying eyes on the new grilles.
tarantula.jpg


2) For door speakers, I see several stand alone woofers, along with coaxial woofer/tweeters being sold. Are the stock door speakers near the handle just woofers? Are the coaxial speakers meant to eliminate the tweeters higher up? Any advice which configuration works best?
X-overs usually block frequencies below their x-over point, so those mids should be getting the full range.
) If I am looking for increased clarity without increased volume, is there any point to upgrading either the amp or subwoofers?
Maybe not, best to decide after you hear how the new speakers blend with the OEM subs.
4) Are there any good sites listing and/or comparing options?
Crutchfield has plu&play speaker combos along with customer reviews.
5) Should I add damping material if I do open my doors? What kind and how much?
With this I have no clue. The BMWs I have been in have always been very quiet.
 
This is what I saw when first laying eyes on the new grilles.
View attachment 46909


X-overs usually block frequencies below their x-over point, so those mids should be getting the full range.

Maybe not, best to decide after you hear how the new speakers blend with the OEM subs.

Crutchfield has plu&play speaker combos along with customer reviews.

With this I have no clue. The BMWs I have been in have always been very quiet.


Thanks - can you share more about the crossovers? Is this any crossover going to the woofers in the car door with stock parts? Or is just sending a full range signal? If there are crossovers, where are they located? I saw 1 youtube video showing 2 separate wiring connections on a coaxial, which would not be needed if it was getting the full range signal.
 
Thanks - can you share more about the crossovers? Is this any crossover going to the woofers in the car door with stock parts? Or is just sending a full range signal? If there are crossovers, where are they located? I saw 1 youtube video showing 2 separate wiring connections on a coaxial, which would not be needed if it was getting the full range signal.
What I meant with full range is from the cut-off frequency that goes to that 5" midrange. I assume it to be 80 Hz to 20 kHz. So it is protected from anything below 80 Hz. As for the top end, it's natural roll off is what sets that frequency. So if you get a co-axial in there, it should play from 80 to 20,000 Hz.
 
showing 2 separate wiring connections on a coaxial, which would not be needed if it was getting the full range signal
If it was showing separate connections, it means that it comes with an external x-over network.
Tweeters need protection from ~6 to 8 kHz. Some just have a simple inline electrolytic capacitor. Those are the co-axials with a single connection point.
 
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Looking at Spec's, I think Focal is my only option. Infiniti also has not-horrible specs, but not as good fit for my car or budget.

I don't understand how a company like BavSound gets away with simply saying "typical specifications are highly irrelevant to the end user" without any details whatsoever. BMW owners tend to be technical people, people installing speakers are technical people. Most of the other products are almost as bad.
 
I have a pair of IS BMW 100L on order.

The next upgrade will be the center and/or the amplifier.

The Focal center is much cheaper, however many people have disconnected instead of replacing it. Being much cheaper, it won't be perfectly matched to the left and right (unless Focal ripped me off), it will be noticeably inferior. So I might be better disconnecting it entirely, or depending on my choice of amplifier, possibly lowering the volume.

Focal has a very reasonably priced amp - Impulse 4.320, that shows up for my car. However I don't know if this is a plug-and-play drop in for my trunk amp, or meant for another application (I found threads about installing it in the glove compartment). It is 4 channel, which I believe is what the stock amp is, but I can't find this information anywhere, so I am not certain. I am not looking for high volume, and while adjustability of frequency output is desirable, I'd bet Focal's amp balances nicely with their speakers even if it isn't adjustable.

The most popular options seems to be the UP 7BMW, which is not an easy install, and almost $1000.

Subs do not seem a very worthwhile upgrade for me. Rear should probably be replaced, either with another pair of IS BMW 100L's or their cheaper alternative.
 
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U have to ignore that idiot !...thats the next thing i would do is check wires.i would run new beings how the wiring is old.
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Sounds like you already have a plan. Hook it up and let us know how it worked. Good luck.
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