Telltale signs a car has Premium Sound

Skyline · #1 03-10-2015, 09:07 AM

I'm looking to upgrade my E53 to an E70. While shopping for cars, I'm finding many sellers have no clue what option packages their cars have. I'm looking at one that's pretty far away, and remotely looking for clues as to what options the car has with a somewhat naïve owner is tricky.

I know what the premium sound consists of, but what, if any, are the visible clues that a car has this option? What's the easiest way to tell for sure so I can email this seller and ask him to check for me?

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TinyRK · #2 03-10-2015, 10:30 AM

Get the VIN and run it through a BMW VIN Decoder: http://www.bmwarchive.org/vin/bmw-vin-decoder.html
It lists all the factory options... Safest bet!

Peteygasp · #3 03-10-2015, 11:34 AM

Two speakers in each rear door instead of only one. Also speakers in the D pillar

BGM · #4 03-10-2015, 12:05 PM

And there are 2 subs under the front seats.

Skyline · #5 03-10-2015, 02:28 PM

Thanks guys! Since I had the VIN, that VIN Decoder that Tiny posted did the trick.

Xbimmer9 · #6 03-12-2015, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skyline

I'm looking to upgrade my E53 to an E70. While shopping for cars, I'm finding many sellers have no clue what option packages their cars have. I'm looking at one that's pretty far away, and remotely looking for clues as to what options the car has with a somewhat naïve owner is tricky.

I know what the premium sound consists of, but what, if any, are the visible clues that a car has this option? What's the easiest way to tell for sure so I can email this seller and ask him to check for me?

The easiest way to tell visually that the X5 has the premium sound package is the inclusion of an equalizer located in the iDrive "sound" settings.

brian5 · #7 03-12-2015, 07:16 PM

I think that the easiest way to tell is to look for the (now defunct) DVD Changer in the glove box.

Xbimmer9 · #8 03-12-2015, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brian5

I think that the easiest way to tell is to look for the (now defunct) DVD Changer in the glove box.

Not sure what year e70 the OP is looking at, but my 2012 (LCI) with the Premium Sound Package does not have a DVD Changer in the glove box, but rather a hard drive that is hidden from view...so looking in the glovebox would not be a good indicator (at least in the LCI models). I am pretty sure that the equalizer ONLY came with with the optional premium sound package and was not included with the base sound for all years of the e70. So, a quick look in the iDrive for the equalizer settings can effectively rule in/out whether the car has premium sound.

Cheers!

JGard · #9 03-13-2015, 09:58 AM

Or like someone else said, look at the rear doors. If you see two speaker grills, it's the premium sound. You don't need to turn on the car or mess with idrive options that way

brian5 · #10 03-13-2015, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xbimmer9

Not sure what year e70 the OP is looking at, but my 2012 (LCI) with the Premium Sound Package does not have a DVD Changer in the glove box, but rather a hard drive that is hidden from view...so looking in the glovebox would not be a good indicator (at least in the LCI models). I am pretty sure that the equalizer ONLY came with with the optional premium sound package and was not included with the base sound for all years of the e70. So, a quick look in the iDrive for the equalizer settings can effectively rule in/out whether the car has premium sound.

Cheers!

Yes, you're right on LCI models. I had seen, in another post, that the OP was looking at pre-LCI models. I should have specified that.

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