Base Stereo Suggestions

[Kdemers]

Hello, new to Xoutpost, and recently bought a 2009 X5. I wish I had researched the audio equipment before getting the X5, as I am not happy with the Base system as it sits.

I would like to know what my options are for upgrade. I read about the BSW kits, and that sounds great, but I have other questions too;

1. Can I add an amp, without causing problems with the car? Subwoofer (s)? Tweeters? I don't want any kind of super system, just something decent, without spending a bajillion dollars.

2. Can anyone recommend a good shop in the SF Bay Area that will install sound systems without hacking up the vehicle?

3. What are my options for adding XM radio? DO I have to change the head unit out for that?

4. Ipod. I have an aux input in the glove box, no USB. Is there a way to integrate the Ipod?

Thank you in advance for any replies, I really appreciate the guidance.

[dirtbag]

Sounds almost exact to the same questions I had after the purchase of my 09. I'll be watching with interest on any answers you may get. I'm thinking I will forego the Sat radio due to the expense with the minimal use it gets in day to day use - it is nice for long trips tho.

[alpine300zhp]

I have not looked into upgrading the base stereo in the E70 x5, but I did try it on a 3 series a few years back and I can tell you that these cars do NOT like the electrical system tampered with. You should have found a car equipped with premium sound, but it is too late for that now. My suggestion is to forget adding amps. You will run into battery and alternator problems. The best thing you can do is contact bimmerfest sponsor BSW (bavarian soundworks) and look for "drop in" stage one replacement speakers that are designed to run off of the stock radio and amp. That will make your sound quality better and as good as it will get without running the risk of problems later. Also, if you do an aftermarket system and you have any electrical problems whatsoever expect the dealer to blame the aftermarket system and try to deny warranty coverage. Not worth it in my book. Here is the link to the bimmerfest forum for people looking to do stereo upgrades. [BSW] E90/E92 Sedan and Coupe Base Audio Stage 1 Availiable - Bimmerfest - BMW Forums

[Kdemers]

Believe me, alpine300zhp, if I knew then, what I have since learned, I would have waited for the right vehicle. Thanks for your input.

I will go for the BSW upgrade for sure, but I was wondering about adding the sub woofers and tweeters for a more dynamic sound. It may not be possible, but I was hoping someone in the forum had a solution.

[jlam86]

You can add as many amps and speakers as you want. You need a good high level input (such as the JL Audio cleansweep or audiocontrol LC2i to name a couple), so you can take the signal from the existing factory amp and then run it through to your new amps and speakers. Many people have added subs into the e70, me included, and it's not that bad. There are a couple of DIY's floating around that show you how to do this step by step so it shouldn't be too far out of one's comfort zone if you're somewhat mechanically inclined.

[jlam86]

oh ya, and before you do any wire snipping or splicing, make sure you disconnect the car battery for merry measures! good luck!

[x3oiler]

Originally Posted by alpine300zhp

. . . . I can tell you that these cars do NOT like the electrical system tampered with.

+1

if you play you are treading a fine line. But then I speak from X3 experience. Any issue with the car will be blamed on the after market audio (amp etc) install. The stealer technicians will not even try to debug any problem - that is the worst side of it. They will pont to aftermarket and say that is the cause. It is the debug side that is the killer if you expect stealer help for almost anything.

I should add that I have extensive audio mods.

[ALPINE_X5]

Originally Posted by x3oiler

+1

if you play you are treading a fine line. But then I speak from X3 experience. Any issue with the car will be blamed on the after market audio (amp etc) install. The stealer technicians will not even try to debug any problem - that is the worst side of it. They will pont to aftermarket and say that is the cause. It is the debug side that is the killer if you expect stealer help for almost anything.

I should add that I have extensive audio mods.

Pretty broad stroke of the "generalization" brush don't you think?

I can tell you my dealer/DA/Service Manager would not do that. Remember they get paid to get warranty work done not deny it. They will seek a reason more than an excuse to not warranty something. If it is obvious and they know BMW warranty will not cover they won't risk the repair. Remember when they commit to the warranty repair and if it is questionable and BMW denies them the claim they eat it in full! It happens every month they get denial by BMW.

My dealership tells me how to work with the BMW warranty to not get flagged. They have taken great risks with some warranty work on my cars. More so is because i like to "recondition" the car throughout it's warranty period. I like to replace questionable defects in the materials of wear items. I am cool with it and they are cool with me.

It is a two way street and they have always helped me navigate BMW warranty.

In regards to the upgrades just tell your SA what "gotchas" could result from an upgrade. He will have a good idea of what they will and will not over or what BMW will blame.

BSW doesn't but any wires(plug and play). Also the AMP can be added without cutting any wires.

[adamt]

Here is quick, cheap, and hopefully warranty safe solution - adding stock tweeters.
My 2009 X5 also came with base audio - something I didn't expect with Prof Navi, USB connect and SAT. I have one more year of warranty so we will wait before any major changes and BSW stage one is definitely my first contender.

It was a pure accident that I noticed blue plugs behind the door panels when my car was tinted at the shop. Exactly the same plugs that are used to connect stock tweeters. By adding them you would technically follow the same scheme that BSW uses when connects their front tweeter to mid-range speaker. You can order two tweeters from the dealer, they cost around $30 per piece and installation should take no longer than 30min.

Since I had my treble settings at high to get max out of mid-range, at first I got a lot of noise but after playing with the audio set up for a while I got comfortable sound that I like quite a bit. It certainly is not perfect (my old E53 had top hi-fi) but I like it even better than my wife's hi-fi in 328. In my opinion sub's were already producing good enough low's, what I was missing are highs and hated that feeling that the sound (especially during talk shows) is coming like from a box - adding tweeters for me fixed it and I am quite satisfied with the result taking into account cost and level of efforts.

If anyone is interested BSW has very good video on how to disassemble door panels here (Part 1: X5/X6 (E70/E71) 2007+ Stage I Speaker Upgrade Install - YouTube).

Note that my X5 was manufactured in 08/2009 and according to BMW Product Content Changes document here: (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...,d.cGE&cad=rja) hi-fi should have been standard audio equipment up to 10/2009 so there is no guarantee that all X’s with base audio would have presets for tweeters but even if not, the way the system is set up - mid range speaker had two connectors, one for wire that carriers signal from the head unit and the second one for a cable that runs to the top corner of the door panel where it suppose to connect to the wire from the tweeter (through blue plug) - you can see all this in the BSW video referenced above. So you should have no problems getting the connecting wire from a dealer if it is missing and retrofit the whole thing.

Again this is just marginal improvement in the sound quality but in my opinion well worth 60 bucks.

[x3oiler]

Originally Posted by ALPINE_X5

Pretty broad stroke of the "generalization" brush don't you think?

I can tell you my dealer/DA/Service Manager would not do that. Remember they get paid to get warranty work done not deny it. They will seek a reason more than an excuse to not warranty something. If it is obvious and they know BMW warranty will not cover they won't risk the repair. Remember when they commit to the warranty repair and if it is questionable and BMW denies them the claim they eat it in full! It happens every month they get denial by BMW.

My dealership tells me how to work with the BMW warranty to not get flagged. They have taken great risks with some warranty work on my cars. More so is because i like to "recondition" the car throughout it's warranty period. I like to replace questionable defects in the materials of wear items. I am cool with it and they are cool with me.

It is a two way street and they have always helped me navigate BMW warranty.

In regards to the upgrades just tell your SA what "gotchas" could result from an upgrade. He will have a good idea of what they will and will not over or what BMW will blame.

BSW doesn't but any wires(plug and play). Also the AMP can be added without cutting any wires.

oops, not ignoring you. Different country and admittedly a rash generalisation based on my experience. eg AT issues related to "all that non standard stuff connected to the car" is my history.