audio upgrade sedan

Whats up everyone?
My speakers on my 02 325i (non H/K)are shot. No bass and sound like crap over all. Can't even listen to songs from the radio stations because the sound is unbearable. Thought since black friday is coming i might get a good deal on something and upgrade. I'm pretty big into music, listen to pretty much everything however most is techno and songs where the drop is intense and lots of bass lol

Yes i looked at the BSW but i dont have that kind of money to spend on speakers.

im a dummy on stereo install so be patient with me and yes i did some searching

buying the dash kit
http://www.ebay.com/itm/E46-3-Series...-/300667563716

i can get this Sony CDXGT565UP from a buddy of mine for $40(opinions)

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Sony+-+5...&skuId=3130241

now for the speakers, i was thinking about the alpine sps 610 (2 pairs of course) would they fit in the door? I'm okay to work to make them fit

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Alpine+-...0610&cp=1&lp=2

Now i also have a 12" mtx thunder 6000

http://archive.mtx.com/caraudio/arch...der6000Sub.cfm

I can build a box for it however i'd need some opinions about it and also how big of Amp would i need to use?

am i missing anything that i need to buy?

I know that the connectors are different however i figured i could cut them off from the old ones and solder them to the new ones maybe. Other than that would it be a plug and play set or would i have to do something else?

Thanks in advance

anyone??

no one?? really??

and is there any point of of putting a sub in the trunk if my seats do not fold down and i dont have the skipass??

220 views and nothing???
also do i understand correctly that if i put in a new radio and new speakers i will have to remove the stock amp?? (do i just unplug it and leave the connector just hanging?

I might be able to also get kicker ds62 6.5" for like half the price. I was looking at the earlier and be comparing to stock rear ones (same as front ones) they are a bit shallower (half inch maybe) so they might be good for the front since it would leave more space behind the magnet. Also by dropping the kicker into the rear deck, I think they wouldnt be hard to install. Just would have to make some brackets since the original screws are a bit out of the ring of the speaker.

For my non h/k system I got on crutchfield & bought two Infinity Kappas (4.25") for the front with the brackets they supplied, and for the rears I had an extra set of Kicker DS (don't remember the size) speakers that I just dropped in the basket (no mounts or anything). My head unit is a pioneer double din custom installed, and that's connected to my pioneer 850 watt amp and two 12" MTX subwoofers. As far as I know the factory amp is still connected to run the speakers, but I'm not 100% on that. The subs sound great in mine and I don't have a ski-pass, very good bass with no rattles. Overall the system sounds good in my opinion. Hope this helps you some!

no offense but that sony deck is nothing else but a downgrade...

Originally Posted by bohem4e

no offense but that sony deck is nothing else but a downgrade...

I think anything is an upgrade from my stock unit, my speakers sound like crap, the radio doesnt read mp3 and i cant plug in my phone without buying the DICE or what ever its called for like $100 or however much it is. I would do a double din but i dont have the money for it, im looking to spend maybe $300-400 if not less

BMW head units are high quality. Your problem is obviously your speakers.

Originally Posted by markusmarkus

BMW head units are high quality. Your problem is obviously your speakers.

I plan on changing my speakers. However as i stated before i cant plug in my iphone without buying the DICE kit and i cant listen to any CD's. Also is there a possibility in plugging in an amp to run a sub on a stock radio?

Also am i correct saying that for the component set the 6.5 would go in the rear deck and the bottom of the door. The tweeters would go to the rear door and the middle of the front door. However what are the options for the speakers by the side mirrors?

plugged in the kickers to see if they would sound better. only did one of the 6.5 inch speakers straight into the oem connection. (just used the wire that came with them) noticed that that speaker was noticeably quieter, and I mean by a lot, compared to the old oem one on the other side. IS that just something i would have to get used to and crank up the radio more??

Also found some Pyramid Power 5.25 300w component speakers, forgot the model number, any opinions on these??
Kickers ds62 in the back and these in the front??

Originally Posted by michalt95

plugged in the kickers to see if they would sound better. only did one of the 6.5 inch speakers straight into the oem connection. (just used the wire that came with them) noticed that that speaker was noticeably quieter, and I mean by a lot, compared to the old oem one on the other side. IS that just something i would have to get used to and crank up the radio more??

Also found some Pyramid Power 5.25 300w component speakers, forgot the model number, any opinions on these??
Kickers ds62 in the back and these in the front??

To start with, don't spend any money on the Pyramid stuff. It's not well made and does not sound very good. You'll just be bummed and have to throw good money after bad. I used to sell that junk at a flea market. "1000 watt" amps for $89. (My cost $50) 300 Watts means nothing when it comes to Pyramid.

I would get a decent single DIN head unit first if I were you and on your budget. Most have USB, Bluetooth, AUX connectivity built right in. A solid Kenwood Excelon or Alpine unit would be great. Maybe add some good quality coaxial front speakers at first.

These would not be a bad start:

http://www.amazon.com/DCX-165-COAXIA...pd_sim_sbs_e_4

Components would be better, but you will not be able to drive components properly without an amp.

The factory non-H/K amp does not put out much power. Just run the power for the front channels directly to the speakers from the head unit until you can swing a proper amp.

Save up for a good sub and amplifier combo and add that later when you can. Trust me, its better to get quality stuff and upgrade a little at a time versus trying to make a short budget, getting it all in and feeling like it's not all that great. Done that several times over before. Those front stage speakers are the most important, so get the best you can there and do the rest as you can afford to.

For once in my life I was finally able to do it all at once. If you want to check it out it's here:

http://specializedcaraudioinc.com/?p=487


Something like this could be done in stages though, and you'll be much happier long term with it. Don't rush man.

Originally Posted by RJDaly28

To start with, don't spend any money on the Pyramid stuff. It's not well made and does not sound very good. You'll just be bummed and have to throw good money after bad. I used to sell that junk at a flea market. "1000 watt" amps for $89. (My cost $50) 300 Watts means nothing when it comes to Pyramid.

I would get a decent single DIN head unit first if I were you and on your budget. Most have USB, Bluetooth, AUX connectivity built right in. A solid Kenwood Excelon or Alpine unit would be great. Maybe add some good quality coaxial front speakers at first.

These would not be a bad start:

http://www.amazon.com/DCX-165-COAXIA...pd_sim_sbs_e_4

Components would be better, but you will not be able to drive components properly without an amp.

The factory non-H/K amp does not put out much power. Just run the power for the front channels directly to the speakers from the head unit until you can swing a proper amp.

Save up for a good sub and amplifier combo and add that later when you can. Trust me, its better to get quality stuff and upgrade a little at a time versus trying to make a short budget, getting it all in and feeling like it's not all that great. Done that several times over before. Those front stage speakers are the most important, so get the best you can there and do the rest as you can afford to.

For once in my life I was finally able to do it all at once. If you want to check it out it's here:

http://specializedcaraudioinc.com/?p=487


Something like this could be done in stages though, and you'll be much happier long term with it. Don't rush man.

I wish i could build a very good system. However i cant spend $1k on a head unit. If i had the money i would however i want a system that could work for a year or 2 until i find a job again and save money.

and also wouldnt it be pointless installing 2 way speakers since the connection is for bass/mid only? i think the tweeter at that point is useless

Originally Posted by michalt95

I wish i could build a very good system. However i cant spend $1k on a head unit. If i had the money i would however i want a system that could work for a year or 2 until i find a job again and save money.

and also wouldnt it be pointless installing 2 way speakers since the connection is for bass/mid only? i think the tweeter at that point is useless

I wasnt saying to spend that on a head unit. One like this would do everything you are looking for and sound great.

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_113KDCX...-KDC-X596.html

2-ways would be fine as long as you wired them directly from the head unit and bypassed the factory amp.

Originally Posted by RJDaly28

I wasnt saying to spend that on a head unit. One like this would do everything you are looking for and sound great.

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_113KDCX...-KDC-X596.html

2-ways would be fine as long as you wired them directly from the head unit and bypassed the factory amp.

Why would the sony CDXGT565UP be a downgrade than? Its very similar in specs to what you have posted.
and especially when i can get it for $40 and its been used for only 2 months so its basically new

Originally Posted by michalt95

Why would the sony CDXGT565UP be a downgrade than? Its very similar in specs to what you have posted.
and especially when i can get it for $40 and its been used for only 2 months so its basically new

You are correct there. I must have forgotten you mentioned that head unit in the original post.

Got the sony CDXGT565UP and the kickers ds65.2 (turns out they are kickers ds65.2 not kickers ds62) 2 6 3/4 and 2 tweeters with a crossover (will be looking soon into how to mount them)

ordering this probably tomorrow.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/E46-3-SERIES...0977a9&vxp=mtr

will i be able to just mount the unit into the car and wire it to the stock amp for now? will there be any problems? frying the amp, blowing the speakers etc. or am i good untill i run new wires for the new speakers?

Originally Posted by michalt95

Got the sony CDXGT565UP and the kickers ds65.2 (turns out they are kickers ds65.2 not kickers ds62) 2 6 3/4 and 2 tweeters with a crossover (will be looking soon into how to mount them)

ordering this probably tomorrow.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/E46-3-SERIES...0977a9&vxp=mtr

will i be able to just mount the unit into the car and wire it to the stock amp for now? will there be any problems? frying the amp, blowing the speakers etc. or am i good untill i run new wires for the new speakers?

Should be fine with the factory amp but you'll need to add a line out converter in between the head unit and the amp. That harness will feed your factory amp a full line level signal from the Sony and that will make it extremely loud and prone to distorting very quickly. Add the line out converter and you should be ok.

Originally Posted by RJDaly28

Should be fine with the factory amp but you'll need to add a line out converter in between the head unit and the amp. That harness will feed your factory amp a full line level signal from the Sony and that will make it extremely loud and prone to distorting very quickly. Add the line out converter and you should be ok.

do i really have to get the LOC?? and if i do, do i need 1 for each speaker?
what i want to do is buy the radio kit and just wire in the adapter for the wiring and keep that for a little. untill i get 2 more speakers and get time to install them and run the new wires. then after running new wire to bypass the stock amp i was thinking of just undoing the wiring for the speakers(leaving the power and the other wire connected to the adapter) and just plugging in into the new wires that i ran.

Originally Posted by michalt95

do i really have to get the LOC?? and if i do, do i need 1 for each speaker?
what i want to do is buy the radio kit and just wire in the adapter for the wiring and keep that for a little. untill i get 2 more speakers and get time to install them and run the new wires. then after running new wire to bypass the stock amp i was thinking of just undoing the wiring for the speakers(leaving the power and the other wire connected to the adapter) and just plugging in into the new wires that i ran.

Your long term plan will work just fine, but if you skip the LOC initially it will sound like crap. It will get really loud quickly and distort. You could also potentially damage the factory amp and/or speakers since you are sending a full line level amplified signal right into the factory amp. You only need one LOC.

You may want to just wait until you can swing the additional speakers and just do it all at once if you really don't want to do the converter. Just my opinion.