SF Bay Are Shop Recommendation Wanted

[smudgemo]

Anybody have a recommendation for a good stereo shop that is capable of working with my '03 3.0? I'm in the San Francisco Bay area, but the East Bay would be closest for me.

I've got nav, no dsp, 10 speakers, but no subs. The stock system is nothing to brag about, but I don't want to go crazy with a fancy install all at once. I'd like to work with someone who is able to take progressive steps working with the stock components and adding moderate-level components as we go.

I insist that the install be clean, stealthy and done correctly. Other than that, I'd be open to professional suggestions.

Thanks,
Ryan

[el_duderino]

I'd contact Rick at Peter's Auto Radio on Lombard. Knows BMWs well based on my conversations with him. Tell him you were referred by Ken at Avincar in Portland - the former Jack's guy...

[smudgemo]

Thanks, Ken.

My wife would never turn down an opportunity to take a trip into the City, and I think I know right about where they are located. I assume this is the place:

Peter's Auto Radio
2106 Lombard St
San Francisco, CA 94123-2713
(415) 567-4678

I've noted that a number of shops listed in the book indicate how long they've been in business, and I've seen places come and go. Besides looking for a business that has been around for the last number of years, any suggestions for a few good questions I should ask any prospective installer?

[el_duderino]

I think that's it and his web site is petersautoradio.com.

I don't know a good litmus test. You hope that they've done your car before, and in a metro area like SF that's probably acceptable (but every good installer has to do every car for a first time). You want him to understand the OEM interface rather than just wanting to throw a piece of gear at it. You want him to approach noise in a system as an intellectual challenge, not as something that can't be figured out (X5s often require some noise t-shooting as a standard part of the OEM interface).

When I spoke to Rick a few weeks ago I was helping someone else find a good installer for an OEM interface with a G35 in the bay area. I talked to Rick and it turns out he already knew the DSP bypass trick that I got clued in on here, so I'd say he is more familiar with BMWs than I am.

A policy that I follow is to make sure the customer isn't stuck with whatever he buys. If the customer returns within 30 days and expresses any desires for changes, there's a stated policy for exchanges or returns as needed (not applicable to certain custom jobs). I doubt most shops have this as stated, but make sure that you'll get some post-install support if there are things that you want to change about the sound or tune differently.