How to replace your speakers with something better ! - Page 3

SMD · 01-02-2009, 11:34 PM

Looks good!

I have full Harmon Speakers fitted and custom Harmon Ipod unit! Works great and nothing is seen apart from an Ipod lead in the glove box! Great sound now!

1cosmicboy · 02-02-2009, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E46ACS

I have done something similar in mine. Like Rich, I have got Rainbow speakers up front, but went for JL's in the rear. (although unlike Rich, I paid a man to fit them!!!!)

I am very impressed with the speakers, they give a great sound. I wasn't looking for mega sounds, and wanted everything to fit within the existing speaker pods.

just need the illuminating skull gear knob and neons now then tim

SMD · 02-02-2009, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1cosmicboy

Quote:

Originally Posted by E46ACS

I have done something similar in mine. Like Rich, I have got Rainbow speakers up front, but went for JL's in the rear. (although unlike Rich, I paid a man to fit them!!!!)

I am very impressed with the speakers, they give a great sound. I wasn't looking for mega sounds, and wanted everything to fit within the existing speaker pods.

just need the illuminating skull gear knob and neons now then tim

Its defo a great mod for the CSL!

E46ACS · 02-02-2009, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1cosmicboy

Quote:

Originally Posted by E46ACS

I have done something similar in mine. Like Rich, I have got Rainbow speakers up front, but went for JL's in the rear. (although unlike Rich, I paid a man to fit them!!!!)

I am very impressed with the speakers, they give a great sound. I wasn't looking for mega sounds, and wanted everything to fit within the existing speaker pods.

just need the illuminating skull gear knob and neons now then tim

Easy Michael, or the next time I see your car I will some greasy finger marks on it!!!!!!

1cosmicboy · 02-02-2009, 09:15 PM

sorry

rs32 · 11-02-2009, 11:31 PM

glad to see that others are having success with this upgrade

the Rockford Fosgate speakers would have worked better with a small amp - the Rainbow units are designed to work with your stock BMW head unit.

Shame the previous owner hadn't taken the time to sort the wiring routing and general tidyness - it looks so much better now you've redone the work

enjoy !

spanner · 18-02-2009, 06:08 PM

Excellent - cheers

rs32 · 24-02-2009, 10:18 PM

just caught up with this again, another tip for interested owners

using the foam inserts/covers for the rear speakers, turn them upside down, mark holes using your old speakers then sandwich them between the new speaker surrounds and the rear parcel shelf fixings. This will remove some vibration from the rear parcel shelf.

also you can improve the front setup by adding Dynaliner (Dynamat foam sandwich product that weighs next to nothing) - it completely deadens the whole door assembly and stops rattles.

The added bonus of the dynaliner is that you get more exhaust sound inside the car as you are hearing less road noise through the door metal

With my new Becker head unit and the speaker setup as documented I've ended up with exactly what was hoped for - a decent sounding, clear, punchy system with no real custom build work, no cutting of anything and no significant extra weight. Plus I have Nav, GSM with built-in SIM and an SD card for 4GB of music.

Perfect for the 1500 mile trip to Scotland in 3 weeks

Bealo · 16-03-2009, 06:18 AM

Great write up guys

This something i have been meaning to do for sometime now.

I have a Genesis 4 channel amp that i plan to fit to use with the four speakers

rs32

Which speakers should i be looking at to use with this amp. I think i might get a new head unit at the same time but not sure what spec to get.

rs32 · 17-03-2009, 11:28 AM

my recommendation would be to first consider how much effort you want to put into the speaker mounts if you are going to use an amp.

I've stuck with head unit + speakers only because if you up the power to the next level you are asking an awful lot of the OEM mounting points to give you good sound.

e.g. mounting the front drivers onto the door cards has its limits, it really needs proper mdf door pods, which means cutting the door skin (something I wasn't prepared to do).

If you're not to bothered about all this then I would say the Rainbow kit (as per my install) will be fine (don't set the amplifier gains at their highest though) or if you want even better sound then go for the JL Audio XR 650 drivers.

01-02-2009, 11:34 PM	#21
SMD S6, Sport On, Traction Off Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Shropshire Posts: 1,505 Casino cash: $10726	Looks good! I have full Harmon Speakers fitted and custom Harmon Ipod unit! Works great and nothing is seen apart from an Ipod lead in the glove box! Great sound now!

02-02-2009, 09:15 PM	#25
1cosmicboy S5 - Full Throttle Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: northumberland Posts: 289 Casino cash: $1196	sorry

11-02-2009, 11:31 PM	#26
rs32 S3 - On the open road Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 87 Casino cash: $250	glad to see that others are having success with this upgrade the Rockford Fosgate speakers would have worked better with a small amp - the Rainbow units are designed to work with your stock BMW head unit. Shame the previous owner hadn't taken the time to sort the wiring routing and general tidyness - it looks so much better now you've redone the work enjoy !

18-02-2009, 06:08 PM	#27
spanner S3 - On the open road Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: LANCS Posts: 116 Casino cash: $559	Excellent - cheers

24-02-2009, 10:18 PM	#28
rs32 S3 - On the open road Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 87 Casino cash: $250	just caught up with this again, another tip for interested owners using the foam inserts/covers for the rear speakers, turn them upside down, mark holes using your old speakers then sandwich them between the new speaker surrounds and the rear parcel shelf fixings. This will remove some vibration from the rear parcel shelf. also you can improve the front setup by adding Dynaliner (Dynamat foam sandwich product that weighs next to nothing) - it completely deadens the whole door assembly and stops rattles. The added bonus of the dynaliner is that you get more exhaust sound inside the car as you are hearing less road noise through the door metal With my new Becker head unit and the speaker setup as documented I've ended up with exactly what was hoped for - a decent sounding, clear, punchy system with no real custom build work, no cutting of anything and no significant extra weight. Plus I have Nav, GSM with built-in SIM and an SD card for 4GB of music. Perfect for the 1500 mile trip to Scotland in 3 weeks

16-03-2009, 06:18 AM	#29
Bealo Driving it like I nicked it Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Everywhere. Posts: 2,540 Casino cash: $12738	Great write up guys This something i have been meaning to do for sometime now. I have a Genesis 4 channel amp that i plan to fit to use with the four speakers rs32 Which speakers should i be looking at to use with this amp. I think i might get a new head unit at the same time but not sure what spec to get.

17-03-2009, 11:28 AM	#30
rs32 S3 - On the open road Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 87 Casino cash: $250	my recommendation would be to first consider how much effort you want to put into the speaker mounts if you are going to use an amp. I've stuck with head unit + speakers only because if you up the power to the next level you are asking an awful lot of the OEM mounting points to give you good sound. e.g. mounting the front drivers onto the door cards has its limits, it really needs proper mdf door pods, which means cutting the door skin (something I wasn't prepared to do). If you're not to bothered about all this then I would say the Rainbow kit (as per my install) will be fine (don't set the amplifier gains at their highest though) or if you want even better sound then go for the JL Audio XR 650 drivers.