factory radio performance

[bbw100]

I didnt want to wait to special order and the dealer had a 135i Msport with nav and 6 speed in stock big mistake not getting Harmon KARDON has anyone tried any modifications that wont affect the warranty? The base factory sound system pretty much sucks!

[Turbolader]

Welcome to the forum. If you have a 2010, or early 2011 then yeah, it's about as bad as it gets.

There are several people that have changed it up. It isn't as easy as a typical car, but it can be done. Check the Audio forum and you'll see several suggestions.

[SPB PELICAN]

Originally Posted by Turbolader

Welcome to the forum. If you have a 2010, or early 2011 then yeah, it's about as bad as it gets.

There are several people that have changed it up. It isn't as easy as a typical car, but it can be done. Check the Audio forum and you'll see several suggestions.

By that do you mean the 08-09 speakers are different? and if you areee saying that, are the 09 speakers better or worse?

[Turbolader]

2008-2009 have 8" drivers under the seats, they also have tweeters in the door sills and on the rear deck (I believe). 2010 and some 2011 I think have 6.5" drivers under the seats and no tweeters at all. Also, the 2008-2009 cars are all powered by an amp, not the deck. Lastly, the 2008-2009 cars get a flat signal from the deck, 2010 cars get a nowhere-near-flat signal.

All of the above is for US cars. What happened is that 2008-2009 US "Base" was actually a hifi system for the rest of the world. In 2010 BMW decided to get cheap and made US Base = World Base.

I have a 2010 car and the stock sound was absolutely abysmal. I have not heard a 2008/2009 system in person, but there is no way that it could be worse than the 2010.

The quality of the speakers is better (still low quality) but much better because of the tweeters and larger (and amp-powered) underseat driver.

[SPB PELICAN]

Originally Posted by Turbolader

2008-2009 have 8" drivers under the seats, they also have tweeters in the door sills and on the rear deck (I believe). 2010 and some 2011 I think have 6.5" drivers under the seats and no tweeters at all. Also, the 2008-2009 cars are all powered by an amp, not the deck. Lastly, the 2008-2009 cars get a flat signal from the deck, 2010 cars get a nowhere-near-flat signal.

All of the above is for US cars. What happened is that 2008-2009 US "Base" was actually a hifi system for the rest of the world. In 2010 BMW decided to get cheap and made US Base = World Base.

I have a 2010 car and the stock sound was absolutely abysmal. I have not heard a 2008/2009 system in person, but there is no way that it could be worse than the 2010.

The quality of the speakers is better (still low quality) but much better because of the tweeters and larger (and amp-powered) underseat driver.

Oh alright, thanks. 09 ftw

[Turbolader]

You have (IMHO) the best year to get.

[INDPNDT]

check out the BMW Alpine Hi-Fi Retrofit Kit for 2010-2011 135's..

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=505654

http://www.schmiedmann.com/65-41-2-1...uctnumber.aspx

[Backflush]

Originally Posted by bbw100

I didnt want to wait to special order and the dealer had a 135i Msport with nav and 6 speed in stock big mistake not getting Harmon KARDON has anyone tried any modifications that wont affect the warranty? The base factory sound system pretty much sucks!

Holly run on sentence. Any modification to the radio will only affect the radio warranty.

Do you know if you have the basic stereo system, or the HiFi system? I have the HiFi system and I upgraded the door speakers with Morels, the underseat Subs with Kickers SSMB8 (no longer available) and replaced the amplifier in the trunk with JL Audio XD600/6 amplifier. I have to say the the difference is very dramatic and it sounds awesome.