M3 Needs a System

[Tom.F.1]

A friend of mine has a 2005 BMW M3 (E46). He wants a stereo. SQ with lots of features. He asked me if I could do it for him since i have a little install experience. I said sure i could.

But I'm not at all familiar with BMW. I expect it to be a tight fit.

Anybody know anything about these things?

Do I need an Interface? Does it have Steering wheel controls? Are there premade boxes that will fit? Do I need a dash kit and antenna adaptor?

The plan is for compnents up front and 2 or 3 ways in the back, maybe a 100x4 amp? Not sure on one or 2 subs or what size, but i suspect i'll need 5-600 wrms?

Any answers, suggestions or guidance would be appreciated.

Thanx in advance,

Tom

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[AVSTANG02]

A friend of mine has a 2005 BMW M3 (E46). He wants a stereo. SQ with lots of features. He asked me if I could do it for him since i have a little install experience. I said sure i could.But I'm not at all familiar with BMW. I expect it to be a tight fit.

Anybody know anything about these things?

Do I need an Interface? Does it have Steering wheel controls? Are there premade boxes that will fit? Do I need a dash kit and antenna adaptor?

The plan is for compnents up front and 2 or 3 ways in the back, maybe a 100x4 amp? Not sure on one or 2 subs or what size, but i suspect i'll need 5-600 wrms?

Any answers, suggestions or guidance would be appreciated.

Thanx in advance,

Tom

You have "little" experience?

Here's my advice to you.. WALK AWAY before you damage parts of his car that are very expensive to replace.

You are in over your head.

He can afford a 2005 M3 he can afford a professional with much more than a "little" experience.. The last thing he needs is someone butchering up his car and new stereo..

 

[bigaudiofanati2 10+ year member]

Let me start by saying very politely if you have some install experience. Your going to bite off more than you can chew with a bmw. If i remember correctly you can not remove the head unit because its integrated with everything else. So you will have to use something like a JL clean sweep to take the amplified signal from the factory amp down to low level for the amps. That is a pain especially in a beemer. I am not saying that you cant do it. I am just saying that if you dont know a lot about this car don't touch it. This is not something that crutchfield is going to rely come to the rescue with all the info about it. I almost did a bmw X5 and I have done plenty of installs and have taken on huge jobs But after researching the vehicle and the wiring and all I backed out of the install. You can IM me to talk about it at reimermatt

Also not to mention the factory crossovers installed into the doors.

One question which version is the car is it a convertible dose it have the hardon and kardon with or without nav or dose it not have the hardon and kardon with or without nav?

 

[Worlddre 5,000+ posts]

Factory HU can be removed without any adverse affects and is actually pretty easy to remove. If the vehicle does have the harmon kardon system then removing the factory head will make the install much easier. Off the top the non-hk system will have a 6.5 and tweeter in each door and the hk system will have a 6.5 midbass a 3" mid and tweeter per door. Doors are pretty easy to get however they are afixed with t20 torx screws. The factory amplifier is in the drivers side of the trunk on the quarter panel. Battery is in the trunk. Overall the car is not hard at all to install anything in. If you are installing an in dash tv with separate navigation or brain pull the glove box down and there is space to fit **** near anything back there. If adding an alarm all alarm wiring is behind there as well except the parking lights and starter wire and don't let the parking light interface scare you it's not anywhere near as hard as it looks.

The x5 stated above is no different aside from speaker size.

 

[forbidden 10+ year member]

Tom, sent you a message on CCA. I will find some info on this vehicle, I know I did one for one of the air force guys here in town. It is a challenge for sure if you are unfamiliar with how BMW's come apart. They are not like any typical north american car that is for sure. Take your time and if you are having issues stop and ask questions. Nothing wrong with taking on a good job and learning from it as you go provided you do it a step at a time and are prepared for that time to pile up.

 

[Tom.F.1]

Thank you for all the advice. I need a closer look at how it comes apart, and i'll figure out what fits.

 

[blackdragonaudi 10+ year member]

I still want to know what model it is weather it has or dosnet have the nav and dose or dose not have the hardon and kardon. If you give me this info I can help you out. But I would still be careful this is a 60,000 dollar car.

 

[Tom.F.1]

like i said at first, its a 2005 BMW M3 (E46).

no harmon kardo, or he wouldn't need a system?

Looks like a single din to me.

 

[Worlddre 5,000+ posts]

It is a single din for which there exists a dash kit. 6.5 in each door with a one piece mid/tweeter by the door handle. Five torx hold the door on. Behind the door handle, three under the armrest and one behind the plastic piece that says airbag on it...pull those and the doors will pull off. 5.25s on the reardeck. See my previous post for everything else.

 

[Tom.F.1]

Thank you again for the advice.

BSW was recommended by one member. Has anybody ever bought from http://bavariansoundwerks.com/

They sell HU's, Nav, Speakers and subs for BMW's. What about amps?

Are they any good or is it just like the facory stuff?

 

[Worlddre 5,000+ posts]

its rainbow drivers set up to work with OEM amplification which doesnt seem to be the route you are headed in

 

[Fiercetimbo17 10+ year member]

no harmon kardo, or he wouldn't need a system?

Looks like a single din to me.

After that comment I know you have no knowledge of car audio. Dont even try to install anything or you are going to have a pissed off friend when you **** his car up.

 

[Savstyle 10+ year member]

Not a fan of working on BMW's

If its your first time its gonna take alot longer than you plan.

But its doable, just be very careful

 

[ChanzSafari 10+ year member]

A friend of mine has a 2005 BMW M3 (E46). Anybody know anything about these things?

Do I need an Interface? Does it have Steering wheel controls? Are there premade boxes that will fit? Do I need a dash kit and antenna adaptor?

Tom

Not to sound like a smarta$$, but you have a little experience and are doing the install and you come on here asking these questions? Since your doing the install shouldn't you know, or have you taken a job and not even looked it over? Just don't mess up his car and have a pissed off friend at the end.

 

[Tom.F.1]

After that comment I know you have no knowledge of car audio. Dont even try to install anything or you are going to have a pissed off friend when you **** his car up.

LOL, I was kidding.

I had a factory premium system, ripped out the whole thing.

My car has the 9887 with HD radio tuner, 2 cd changers, active components front, 6x9's back, 15" subs and all the chimes, RAP, onstar and steering controls work just perfect. 3 install shops turned down the job because they thought it too difficult. interface wasn't made yet. I have one of the first LanStars made.