upgrading speakers, subs, amps etc in e46 330d

[torqueofthedevil]

has anyone upgraded the ICE in their e46? i dont want to replace the head unit as dont like the aftermarket look but would this prevent me from installing a good sound system? would like much better bass, hoping to achieve that without the weight and space-loss of an amp if poss? just some quality speakers and a good amp.......maybe could be convinced to get an amp! i miss my old JL audio W7 and 500/1 amp

[Sods Law]

You can add anything with the range of High Low converters these days, JL Clean Sweep, Alpine are good,

Ive just put a Double Din Screen in and it looks almost OE.

A good chat with a Audio company should sort it, where are you?

[torqueofthedevil]

Sods Law said:

You can add anything with the range of High Low converters these days, JL Clean Sweep, Alpine are good,

Ive just put a Double Din Screen in and it looks almost OE.

A good chat with a Audio company should sort it, where are you?

near leeds

[a_bloke]

torqueofthedevil said:

has anyone upgraded the ICE in their e46? i dont want to replace the head unit as dont like the aftermarket look but would this prevent me from installing a good sound system? would like much better bass, hoping to achieve that without the weight and space-loss of an amp if poss? just some quality speakers and a good amp.......maybe could be convinced to get an amp! i miss my old JL audio W7 and 500/1 amp

You'll need an amp (or two) and a bass box in the boot, and a speaker upgrade, plus the box mentioned above. Oh and tapping out the metal through the ski hatch will help get the sound in from the boot as its well insulated.

Expect to pay several thousand to make it sound decent.

[john_p]

I had free air subs mounted under the rear parcel shelf (which was modified and recarpeted) and it worked very well with amps bolted against the folding seats.

This was on a coupe, I'd imagine it will work with saloon too.

What head unit and sound option does it currently have?

Edited by john_p on Monday 17th August 12:48

[torqueofthedevil]

john_p said:

I had free air subs mounted under the rear parcel shelf (which was modified and recarpeted) and it worked very well with amps bolted against the folding seats.

This was on a coupe, I'd imagine it will work with saloon too.

What head unit and sound option does it currently have?

Edited by john_p on Monday 17th August 12:48

its all oem at the moment - my plan would be along the lines of (based on my knowledge of ICE from about 8 years ago) 4/1000 amp, bridge 2 to power a 500 amp JL audio W7 10'' sub, some high quality front speakers and medium standard rear speakers. maybe a capacitor or something to stop the lights dimming. wouldnt mind a tv head unit with sat nav aswell. any experience with tv's? on a long journey how often do you have to re-tune into a channel?

[a_bloke]

torqueofthedevil said:

john_p said:

I had free air subs mounted under the rear parcel shelf (which was modified and recarpeted) and it worked very well with amps bolted against the folding seats.

This was on a coupe, I'd imagine it will work with saloon too.

What head unit and sound option does it currently have?

Edited by john_p on Monday 17th August 12:48

its all oem at the moment - my plan would be along the lines of (based on my knowledge of ICE from about 8 years ago) 4/1000 amp, bridge 2 to power a 500 amp JL audio W7 10'' sub, some high quality front speakers and medium standard rear speakers. maybe a capacitor or something to stop the lights dimming. wouldnt mind a tv head unit with sat nav aswell. any experience with tv's? on a long journey how often do you have to re-tune into a channel?

You've moved on a bit from your original post!

Thats a similar setup to what i had. I'd a Kenwood DVD head unit, but didnt go for the TV / NAV options as they cost a packet at the time - though they're probably cheaper now.

I could never get it all to sound 'right' in the e46. Something to do with not much space / air behind the speakers and the way the car is pretty much noise sealed. The same system was fantastic in the 147 Ti Alfa i had before it, but the e46 acoustics never did it for me.

Maybe you'll have better luck.

[boobles]

I have the Harmon/Kardon hifi system upgrade which is very good when it works!

[john_p]

torqueofthedevil said:

its all oem at the moment

Sure, but what OEM kit you have fitted makes a difference to how you wire it in. Do you know if you have standard, hi-fi sound or Harman Kardon? From memory, hi-fi sound gives you extra speakers near the rear seats, and Harman Kardon has little silver logos on the doors.

[jcas]

You might want to reconsider the head unit - its the only thing I have replaced so far and it made quite a difference to the sound.

I got a Becker Grand Prix, which has the same colour lighting as the dials etc so blends in very well. Its got bluetooth as well so acts as a phone kit (one of the main reasons I swapped it).



James

[boobles]

I want to take out my harman kardon system & replace it with something better. How difficult would it actually be to get this done?

[Sods Law]

If you near leeds the I reccomend Paul at Source Sounds and Security in Chappeltown Nr Sheffield

[boobles]

Couldnt be further away im affraid. Found somebody local who is going to take my harman kardon amp+sub & replace it with something better.

[bazking69]

Sods Law said:

Ive just put a Double Din Screen in and it looks almost OE.

Any chance of a pic?