[sm6g]

Has anyone upgraded their audio system? Any custom installs out there? I looked at Bavsound, but they only replace the mids and highs and have nothing for the subwoofer (stock is a 6x9). If anyone has, post pics and let me know who did the install. Thanks!

[skinrock]

I was just thinking about this. The woofer would be the best thing to replace. I wonder if you can go with any 6x9.

[Amgeater2]

I was also wondering the same thing... Thank you for creating a thread much need it since the audio system IMO is quiet disappointing on the i8

[skinrock]

Originally Posted by Amgeater2

I was also wondering the same thing... Thank you for creating a thread much need it since the audio system IMO is quiet disappointing on the i8

Very disappointing

I shot an email to them to confirm if the amp works as well.

[Amgeater2]

Originally Posted by skinrock

Very disappointing

I shot an email to them to confirm if the amp works as well.

Yeah I will like to know more info about the amp, I am looking at this puppy Rockville RVL69W 6x9" 600w Cast Aluminum Car Subwoofer

[skinrock]

Originally Posted by Amgeater2

Yeah I will like to know more info about the amp, I am looking at this puppy Rockville RVL69W 6x9" 600w Cast Aluminum Car Subwoofer

That seems pretty deep. I'm considering the CDT ES-690CFS Gold. But I'd like to know the power of that channel.

[sm6g]

Interesting choices on the 6x9's. I wonder how deep the stock 6x9 is??

[skinrock]

So good news / bad news. There is actually a decent amount of space. I'd say you can get away with 3.5" mounting depth...not much more. It's about 3.75" to the chassis.

Bad news is, it's of course a proprietary bracket. The woofer seems like it was glued in place. The bracket holds the grill, so it's necessary (unless you want it exposed, but it doesn't look good).

I'm curious if we can buy just the plastic. Otherwise someone may have to get adventurous and see if it can be separated.

[Aye-eight]

That looks like a job for someone with some CAD skills and a 3D printer.

[Amgeater2]

Originally Posted by skinrock

So good news / bad news. There is actually a decent amount of space. I'd say you can get away with 3.5" mounting depth...not much more. It's about 3.75" to the chassis.

Bad news is, it's of course a proprietary bracket. The woofer seems like it was glued in place. The bracket holds the grill, so it's necessary (unless you want it exposed, but it doesn't look good).

I'm curious if we can buy just the plastic. Otherwise someone may have to get adventurous and see if it can be separated.

Thanks for the info and the pictures going shopping today and installing over the weekend, thanks to you now I have a project for the weekend

Now regarding the sub, no wonder we have horrible base quality in our cars look a the baby sub they put in there...

[skinrock]

Curious to see how it all goes. Jason from getbmwparts is looking into the bracket for me - to see if you can purchase it separately.

The rear speakers seem fairly straight forward, looks like it's a relatively small panel that has to be removed. The front doors seem like they will be a pain in the ass - not only do you have to work underneath them, but it seems like a pretty solid panel. And the center speaker...I have no idea how you get to it with the windshield being so angled.

[sm6g]

Thanks to skinrock for the detailed pics. I think a good car audio shop could fabricate the plastic piece out of mdf or even abs plastic to make a custom ring to house the aftermarket 6x9 if it cannot be separated. Definitely a pain in the ass though.

For me, I am wondering if I can maybe fit a shallow mount 8" or 10" sub in that area... Would definitely have to have some custom work done. There has to be someone who has a full custom system done who could post some pics. If not, I may be the guinea pig

[skinrock]

So FYI, Jason from getbmwparts helped figure out it's this part:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=65_2533

Cheapest I found is about $86 from ECS: https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...139194842~oeb/

Might be a potential option if you want a spare to attempt to cut it apart.

FYI, there's like 4 or 6 clips on the grille that snap into the bracket, and two on the bracket that go into the grille.

[skinrock]

Bavsound replied and said the amp doesn't work...in the i3. Not sure if it was a typo, or if the i8 will also have the same issue - apparently the harnesses are different. Now I'm on the fence.

edit: confirmed it doesn't fit.

[sm6g]

Does Bavsound have any intentions of making an amp that works? Or a replacement sub??

[skinrock]

Probably unlikely due to lack of demand.

[Amgeater2]

Originally Posted by skinrock

So good news / bad news. There is actually a decent amount of space. I'd say you can get away with 3.5" mounting depth...not much more. It's about 3.75" to the chassis.

Bad news is, it's of course a proprietary bracket. The woofer seems like it was glued in place. The bracket holds the grill, so it's necessary (unless you want it exposed, but it doesn't look good).

I'm curious if we can buy just the plastic. Otherwise someone may have to get adventurous and see if it can be separated.

Ok I got good news guys the subwoofer does come out of the bracket, so no need on making or customizing anything.

FYI the bracket is has some type of glue so be careful taking the subwoofer out (remember the bracket is made out of plastic) so apply pressure to the base of the sub and it will unglued and come out.

The other good news is that I was able to buy a kicker 6x9 subwoofer and it made a big difference bass/sound, I still believe that the stock system can push a better subwoofer so I am sending this one back and going with something a little better. I'll post the details on what sub and brand after my research..

So long story short of you want better bass quality you can do so.

[Amgeater2]

Originally Posted by Amgeater2

Ok I got good news guys the subwoofer does come out of the bracket, so no need on making or customizing anything.

FYI the bracket is has some type of glue abs you have to be careful taking the subwoofer out so don't bracket it (remember the bracket is made out of plastic) so apply pressure to the sub base and it will unglued and come out.

The other good news is that I was able to buy a kicker 6x9 subwoofer and it made a big difference bass/sound, I still believe that the stock system can push a better subwoofer so I am sending this one back and going with something a little better. I'll post the details on what sub and brand after my research..

So long story short of you want better bass quality you can do so.

Sorry I forgot to attached the picture of the bracket without the subwoofer

[sm6g]

Originally Posted by Amgeater2

Sorry I forgot to attached the picture of the bracket without the subwoofer

Thanks for the pics! Let us know how the new sub sounds

[skinrock]

Nice - I didn't want to be the first, but that's good news!

[Amgeater2]

Ok so updates, we ended up with regular 6x9 Alpine and all I can say is Wow... Very very happy with the results just right amount of bass.

We had to do a little bit of trimming on the outside edges of the 6x9 so it will mount on the factory bracket but other than that it was a very easy installation, IMO a must so do upgrade on the car.

[skinrock]

Which model exactly? I just realized the CDT speakers are pairs...