X5 Audio Upgrade Advice..

[one_happy_canuck]

I just purchased an 03 X5 with Mk IV Nav and Alpine 6 CD changer, and while I'm happy with the X5 I'm completely unhappy with the sound system that came with it.

After perusing the discussions on this site I understand that I do not have the DSP or premium sound options, and I'm looking for advice about how to go about improving what I have.

I'd like to keep things basically stock, so my options in no particular order appear to be:

1. upgrading the speakers
2. upgrading to the DSP amp
3. adding a sub

The existing system has *some* bass but sounds very muddy and lacks detail, and I'd like to get this fixed first before going after monster bass, so I'm thinking that the speaker / DSP upgrade would be my best bet to start with.

I've looked at the BSW stage 1 upgrade for the speakers, but this looks like a lot of effort, and I'm wondering if it would be worthwhile without DSP?

Regarding the DSP upgrade I can pickup the amp on ebay and the installation looks pretty reasonable, but I'm wondering if the non-DSP option speaker configuration is compatible with the DSP amp, or if the DSP expects a different speaker configuration? I'm also wondering if after installing the DSP amp the DSP menus would simply show up in my Nav, or if there is some other configuration required there?

Alternatively is there another upgrade path that I should pursue?

Advice appreciated..

[Quicksilver]

One thing to consider before doing anything is
find a CD that has been recorded properly and
play it on your system before going
out and spending a lot of money.

I have an 05 and what I have found is that some
of the systems installed in BMW's are very unforgiving
with respect to the recorded material which is played.

If you play a CD which has been engineered badly
(which is common place these days) it's really going to
sound bad on your car stereo. But if you play CD that
has been engineered properly it will sound really good.

Case in point? recently my brother in law asked me what kind
of sub I had installed. My answer was "NONE". It just happened
that I was playing a CD that had been recorded properly
and it came through the system sounding ever so good and
the way it sounded had nothing to do with DSP.

You may not have the same system that I have but trying
this first may help you decide what you really need.

[BMW32903]

I want to subscribe to this thread, excellent questions, I'm looking for the same answers as you are!

[alpac]

Originally Posted by one_happy_canuck

I just purchased an 03 X5 with Mk IV Nav and Alpine 6 CD changer, and while I'm happy with the X5 I'm completely unhappy with the sound system that came with it.

After perusing the discussions on this site I understand that I do not have the DSP or premium sound options, and I'm looking for advice about how to go about improving what I have.

I'd like to keep things basically stock, so my options in no particular order appear to be:

1. upgrading the speakers
2. upgrading to the DSP amp
3. adding a sub

The existing system has *some* bass but sounds very muddy and lacks detail, and I'd like to get this fixed first before going after monster bass, so I'm thinking that the speaker / DSP upgrade would be my best bet to start with.

I've looked at the BSW stage 1 upgrade for the speakers, but this looks like a lot of effort, and I'm wondering if it would be worthwhile without DSP?

Regarding the DSP upgrade I can pickup the amp on ebay and the installation looks pretty reasonable, but I'm wondering if the non-DSP option speaker configuration is compatible with the DSP amp, or if the DSP expects a different speaker configuration? I'm also wondering if after installing the DSP amp the DSP menus would simply show up in my Nav, or if there is some other configuration required there?

Alternatively is there another upgrade path that I should pursue?

Advice appreciated..

Upgrading from non DSP to DSP is not worth the effort and money IMO. Start by adding a good sub amp and sub woofer. You will feel a big difference already. You will get profound bass unlike with the stock system (DSP or non DSP) and your listening experience will be greatly improved. It is amazing how deeper cleaner bass can improve the overall listening experience. This is a relatively simple upgrade and you may not need more than that. If you want to improve your sound even more then next step will be to replace the stock speakers. Unfortunately BMW stock audio systems require speakers with specific impedance (8 ohms) and frequency response which prevent you from using most of the after market available speakers unless you also replace the stock amp by an after market one. For speaker upgrade only (without amp replacement) BSW stage 1 speaker upgrade is the best option IMO.

[oztme]

I have similar views on the system in my 05 X5. It is pretty poor, even with a good source CD.

I pulled off all the door trim last weekend, and was surprised at the lack of a tweeter in the door. Hmm. I have a 6 speaker stereo. I also don't appear to have an amplifier (can't find it anyway). I looked under the CD stacker, and all I can see is the bluetooth module.

Anyway, I'm doing some more research. The door speakers have nice mountings for the stock mid-bass speakers that are about 5". I have some decent focal splits, but am unsure how to retain head unit, integrate aftermarket amp, and wire up splits. The wiring I already have is sending mid+high frequencies to the midranges in the top of the dash, so just connecting the splits crossover to the wiring to the 5" in the door means I'm not getting high frequency stuff.

Anyway, I'll let y'all know what I find. I'm going to make a white noise CD, then hook up a CRO/Spectrum analyser to the feeds in the doors, and see WTF is going on.

The missing tweeters might just be that the stealer took them out to put on another car (like they did to find me a cargo blind), but not sure.

I can't even find a decent wiring+ circuit diagram.

For the record, I have a 2005 e53 3.0d, with TV but no NAV, rear CD stacker, and that's about it. 6 speakers only (only 1 each per rear door too).

I will post any info up as I learn. Any advice is most welcome...

Cheers + thanks,
Scott.

[BlackE32_SilverE53]

First off, be prepared to open your wallet... Any upgrades you decide will cost. Probably the cheapest and best upgrade you can do will be the BSW speaker upgrade, or JL Audio sub, or both. The speaker upgrade will be something u can easily do on your own, but the sub you may want to consider having someone else do since you have to install a amp to power the sub. It can get complicated depending on your experience. Replacing the DSP amp is a real challenge and if you decide to go this route you may be best replacing the entire system, the route I went, but still you are faced with the same challenges as the factory system.

The factory system in my opinion has the clarity which should please most, low end is lacking but not the worst. Here is where I see improvement could be made, so depending on what you are searching for in a sound system you can add the sub or change speakers or both. If that is not good enough then consider a complete system change and you would probably want a larger sub system to give you the sound you are looking for...

[Beezztie]

Originally Posted by oztme

I have similar views on the system in my 05 X5. It is pretty poor, even with a good source CD.

I pulled off all the door trim last weekend, and was surprised at the lack of a tweeter in the door. Hmm. I have a 6 speaker stereo. I also don't appear to have an amplifier (can't find it anyway). I looked under the CD stacker, and all I can see is the bluetooth module.

Anyway, I'm doing some more research. The door speakers have nice mountings for the stock mid-bass speakers that are about 5". I have some decent focal splits, but am unsure how to retain head unit, integrate aftermarket amp, and wire up splits. The wiring I already have is sending mid+high frequencies to the midranges in the top of the dash, so just connecting the splits crossover to the wiring to the 5" in the door means I'm not getting high frequency stuff.

Anyway, I'll let y'all know what I find. I'm going to make a white noise CD, then hook up a CRO/Spectrum analyser to the feeds in the doors, and see WTF is going on.

The missing tweeters might just be that the stealer took them out to put on another car (like they did to find me a cargo blind), but not sure.

I can't even find a decent wiring+ circuit diagram.

For the record, I have a 2005 e53 3.0d, with TV but no NAV, rear CD stacker, and that's about it. 6 speakers only (only 1 each per rear door too).

I will post any info up as I learn. Any advice is most welcome...

Cheers + thanks,
Scott.

Funny, I just posted in another topic regarding the Audio (thread was non working rear door speakers) and now I read your post, which seems to be indentical to my situation. I also appear to have a 6 speaker systeem, no sound from front door speaker location, both left and right, so probably no tweeters there. Can't imagine someone took them out, maybe there was a "simple / standard" 6 speaker system. In the rear doors there is only one speaker mount, not the two that U read in most other topics. I was considering the BSW speaker upgrade, but than I would have two speakers too many, can't put two in each rear door. Also wonder if the tweeter location is pre-wired / pre-amped.

[Essam Khafagi]

Guys, try this thread http://www.xoutpost.com/electronics/...-included.html

I have added a sub/amp and replaced all the speakers (except 4 midranges) for a very reasonable cost ... a lot of other members did the same and they are very satisfied ... make sure you read all the posts, a lot of valuable contributions

Good Luck!

[oztme]

Thanks for your help mate.

I just read all 35 pages, but unfortunately, I didn't really find the information I need. It might've been mixed in there, but there's a lot of stuff.I think my problem/goal is a bit different.

I will describe my problem below, and if I solve it, I'll do a summary writeup. Unlike most people who have a decent foundation to build on, I think I have a really crappy low end system, and it's not worth keeping. I just don't want to lose the TV screen + radio + steering integration.

I don't need/want a subwoofer at all at this stage.

If I can connect the head unit to a 4 channel amp, then go to all 4 doors where I can install my splits (with their own crossovers), I'll be golden.

-------------
What I have:
My stereo is 6 speakers. There's no tweeters in the doors. The rear doors just have one speaker each. All speakers in the doors are 5". There's no subwoofer. No Nav. No DSP. Head unit has a cassette player behind the TV screen. There's no CD up front. I have a 6 CD OEM stacker in the back.

What I want:
I want to get line level outputs out of my head unit, feed them into a 4 channel alpine amp I have, then take each output of the alpine amp and drive each door. I don't want to use speaker level inputs to the amp, as I don't believe they are much good for mid+high frequencies (long story).

I have focal splits (6.5", and separate tweeter), with their own crossovers that I want to put in each door. The crossover mounts in the door. I don't want to have to run new wires from the alpine amp through to the doors. Because the factory head unit is only sending low frequency to the door speakers, I can't hook my crossover there. I can unplug the midranges in the dash, but there's still no mid+high frequency going to the door.
---------------
I would really appreciate if someone can help me out by answering the following:

I don't have this plug


But this plug is in the back compartment (where some of you have nav). What is this plug for? Is it where y'all have the OEM amps installed?




This is the back of the bordmonitor (head unit with 16:9 screen). It has blue + white plugs that go in the back. What does each wire on the plugs that go into here do? (circuit diagram with wire colours would be great)


Also, there's this plug hanging off the loom near where the bordmonitor plugs in. This connector isn't used, but I was wondering what it does:


My kingdom for a comprehensive set of circuit diagrams + wire colours

Cheers + thanks,
Scott.

[Essam Khafagi]

Hey Scott, I have seen here somewhere a member with a similar system like yours with no amp ... did u try to search the audio forum?

You can also try this link for wiring diagrams http://www.xoutpost.com/e53wd.php