I'm a major DIY E46er!

Hello all!

I just joined this forum the other day and have already used several DIY beforehand. Whenever I have to work on my 328ci or M3 I always come here to look for a DIY first! Y'all have great DIY write-up and the ones with pictures are even more helpful!!

I love doing as much as I can myself instead of getting a dealership or someone else to do what I can. Saves $$ plus you learn more about your car at the same time! Win-win situation. If anyone near the MACON, GA area ever needs help installing/replacing something on their E46 let me know and I'll see what I can do to help! I'm here (In Macon,GA) at least another year as I finish up school and depending on where I get a job I may be here a lot longer.

In general, does anyone with a speaker upgrade to the BSW stage 1 + Subwoofer system really like it? I'm thinking of upgrading to that soon.
It's really nice to be in a community with other bmw/E46 owners who know a little about what's under the hood and enjoy their cars! If I can control it, I will never drive anything but BMWs for the rest of my life!

- Matt

welcome

Welcome!
DIY ftw.

I just joined as well, send out a picture I have a Topaz Metalic Blue.

Welcome to the board!

Welcome!

welcome

dont get bsw.. way overpriced

Originally Posted by yxyxxx

I just joined as well, send out a picture I have a Topaz Metalic Blue.

This is a pic of the M3 after driving it around Europe for a few weeks after picking it up from the factory and dropping it off before heading home.

diy's r the best thing on this site. saved me lots of $$$$$

Thanks all for the "Welcomes." Makes me feel at home here already.

Originally Posted by yxyxxx

I just joined as well, send out a picture I have a Topaz Metalic Blue.

Where in Illinois are you located

Originally Posted by MysticBlueM3

Hello all!

I just joined this forum the other day and have already used several DIY beforehand. Whenever I have to work on my 328ci or M3 I always come here to look for a DIY first! Y'all have great DIY write-up and the ones with pictures are even more helpful!!

I love doing as much as I can myself instead of getting a dealership or someone else to do what I can. Saves $$ plus you learn more about your car at the same time! Win-win situation. If anyone near the MACON, GA area ever needs help installing/replacing something on their E46 let me know and I'll see what I can do to help! I'm here (In Macon,GA) at least another year as I finish up school and depending on where I get a job I may be here a lot longer.

In general, does anyone with a speaker upgrade to the BSW stage 1 + Subwoofer system really like it? I'm thinking of upgrading to that soon.
It's really nice to be in a community with other bmw/E46 owners who know a little about what's under the hood and enjoy their cars! If I can control it, I will never drive anything but BMWs for the rest of my life!

- Matt

Welcome, Matt!

I'm a little biased, but in my last 03 330i ZHP I had the Stage 1 and d110.e46s and loved it. We've made a number of improvements to the Stage 1 since then, so sound quality is better than ever.

However, our products aren't for everyone -- audio is a subjective thing and what sounds good to some doesn't to others. We focus on sound quality and accurate engineering so that our products reproduce music as faithfully as possible. Others prefer tons of bass, some very little.

Maybe you could tell me a little bit about what you're trying to accomplish with an audio upgrade, previous systems you've had, and what shortcomings of your BMW's audio system you'd like to improve upon, and I can help you make the right product choice, whether it's ours or another company's.

Originally Posted by koven

welcome

dont get bsw.. way overpriced

I'm sure the original poster appreciates your thoughtful response with plenty of information about WHY the product is overpriced, what alternatives he could explore, and your insightful questions regarding his car audio experience level so you could gauge whether he is capable of an install.

Look, you're entitled to your opinion of our products, but it doesn't help anyone to just poop on a product without giving an opinion why.

In this particular case, however, I'd like to point out the myriad reasons why you are wrong about our product pricing.

First and foremost, compare our products to a traditional car audio solution. Most people can't install car audio upgrades themselves, which means that for anyone not doing a self install, the product + labor costs are far in excess of ours, usually 75% or more higher.

Second, the performance is NOT guaranteed. There are a shocking number of hacks out there in the car audio world, and it's far more rare to find a good shop that can competently and correctly upgrade a vehicle's stereo, especially one as unique as that found in an E46. I can't tell you how many people we've had call us and tell us about how someone hacked up their car and they wish they'd found us sooner.

With our product, if you don't like it, send it back. You have 30 days to try it, enjoy it, and if it's not what you wanted, no big deal. We'll take it back.

Which brings me to my third point: our products are made for your exact vehicle, down to the connectors on every speaker. The reality is that many people don't want to hack up their car to install a stereo, and because there is only one ONE other product on the market that is a direct fit (excluding connectors, impedance, etc.), you pretty much HAVE to modify your car permanently for an audio upgrade unless it's BSW.

To make vehicle-specific products in small quantities is, well, expensive. Much as we'd love to be able to offer eBay prices on our products because we know we'd sell more, it's just not possible in small manufacturing runs for a completely unique product of the quality that we offer (massive silk-dome tweeters, fiberglass composite cones, santoprene surrounds, and 4 year warranties).

The fact is, you simply cannot find a better value mix of sound quality, guaranteed performance, and easy installation than our products. Are BSW upgrades the cheapest way to upgrade your audio system? No. Are they an amazing value? Absolutely. Our 10,000+ happy customers prove it.

^^ well said... Oh and... Welcome Matt!

Originally Posted by Micah D. Cranman

Welcome, Matt!

...Maybe you could tell me a little bit about what you're trying to accomplish with an audio upgrade, previous systems you've had, and what shortcomings of your BMW's audio system you'd like to improve upon, and I can help you make the right product choice, whether it's ours or another company's.

I am looking to upgrade the stock system that was put in my Dad's '05 M3 when I get it. He didn't get the HK/Logic7 upgrade when he ordered it so it has the stock speakers. I'm used to the stronger bass and ambient capacity capability of the HK system I have in my 328ci and love it. I want the M3 to have a stronger bass that you can actually hear well that improved the sounds & rhythms that the HK system helps produce. Plus, the 328ci has a speaker button in the dash that is designed for when the car has more people in it (I think), but I like to use it all the time because it makes you feel like your at a concert instead of just listening to music! I hope most of that makes sense. I definitely plan to upgrade your your BSW Stage 1 + Subwoofer and Amp system when my dad officially gives me the car and I get a job to pay for the parts... I can't wait to do the upgrade!

One more thing, when you install the BSW subwoofer, where do you recommend reinstalling the fold-down seat latches? The instructions online say to velcro them to the side of the base or stick them on the bottom of the housing, since the subwoofer housing apparently needs the slots that the handles to release the seats are currently using as anchors. Where is the best place to reinstall the release handles that is substantially anchored (I'm not going to velcro them!)?

Thanks for your time and advice!

- Matt

Happy to help, Matt.

Sounds like the Stage 1 + Subwoofer system is perfect for you. Expect it to blow away the HK system, though!

As for mounting of the fold-down seat handles, you can screw them to the side of the enclosure for a more permanent mount. The reason we don't suggest this is because it means you have to unscrew them if you want to remove the enclosure, preventing a quick removal process. If you're OK with that, then mounting them on the side of the enclosure is ideal.

Also keep in mind that with this mounting option, you will have to modify them a bit and clip off a small plastic piece that normally protrudes into the rear deck for mounting. This doesn't prevent them from being reinstalled in the original location, however.

We suggest using short screws so as not to create holes in the enclosure. 1/2" self-tapping screws should be fine.

Thanks for the info Micah! I plan to buy the systems and install them as soon as the time comes. If you don't mount the handles on the sides of the enclosure, where can they be mounted securely so the optional removal of the enclosure can be done if I want to ans still have the handle remain nice and stable?

There are very limited options, none that are very good that we've found. This is why we suggest the velcro. The handles will stay in place and are perfectly usable on the rare instances you want to use them, and you get flexibility of being able to remove the enclosure quickly if desired.

Originally Posted by Micah D. Cranman

There are very limited options, none that are very good that we've found. This is why we suggest the velcro. The handles will stay in place and are perfectly usable on the rare instances you want to use them, and you get flexibility of being able to remove the enclosure quickly if desired.

I guess I'll go with the velcro then. I actually use the handles frequently because I travel a lot and need the extra room the seats down provides. I also have a full size spare in the trunk so I usually put the seats down and push that forward to fit things in the back.

Btw, I bought the DICE iPod integration kit with the ashtray mount today from you guys (BSW) and plan to buy the Stage 1 & subwoofer systems next week! Can't wait to install all of it in the M3 and have an awesome sound system! I checked your name as my rep for my order and will for the speaker order when I place it. I hope that's ok.

For the DICE stuff, do you recommend running the wire from rear to front to the glove box and connecting the ashtray mount cable the the DICE with the device in the glovebox or somewhere else? One DIY runs the cable up the center counsel. Is the iPod wire that comes with the mount or DICE long enough to reach from the glove box area to the ashtray (behind the dash and all, of course)? Thanks so much for all the back-and-forth help!! Much appreciated! I'll let you know when I order everything, install it, and listen to it to see how it is!