Is the HiFi system that bad?

[IEDEI]

when i was ordering my car, i tried out a 'base' audio system in a 128 and it sounded like the radio from my alarm clock.....in 1995! it was terrible. that being said.....you could just upgrade the stereo at some point.

[Bob Z.]

I think the base system in my 2013 135i is fine. I listened to that and the HK before I ordered the car and found that it was not worth the extra coin. Needless to say you can tweek the base, treble, etc. to suit your choice. And remember, what sounds good to someone may not for the next so you really cannot listen to what others say here, at least if you are the one that has to live with it!

[e36addict]

My HiFi system is complete garbage, however somewhat manageable. My mothers 135i has the base of the base, and it is worthless. I'd rather sit in silence. Never actually experienced the Top HiFi HK system though.. I'm sure just the tweets in the doors alone would help a lot..

[edisapimp]

The sound system in my vert is garbage. The HK in my e46 is better. The Bose in my infiniti pooped on them both. For any modern car I would say the sound system is below average.

[brusk]

I think the HiFi in my 08 is the cheapest HiFi setup I've heard. It's very disappointing that BMW put all that effort into it to have it sound like crap, the 3 series cars I've driven sounded good in comparison and they aren't much different. Most econo cars with base door speakers sound better. My girlfriend turns it down after 5 minutes as it hurts her ears as it sounds off no matter how I set the treb/bass. I keep hoping I'll stop dumping money into performance stuff so I can order stuff from MusicarNW.

[Allencic]

Billup,

Why do you want the music turned up with your windows down? Do you think anyone is impressed with your choice of music. When stopped at a light do other drivers yell, "Turn it up louder, that's my favorite song."

There's a precise technical term for people who play loud music with the windows down, it begins with "A" and ends with "hole."

[128Convertibleguy]

It appears there is considerable variability in BMW sound systems, and enormous variability in musical taste here.

I like good sound, and the base system in my 128 is quite listenable. "horrible" and "alarm clock" rhetoric is beyond silly.

My taste is clean accurate sound, without "jazzing it up" as many car systems do. My hifi speakers are Vandersteen 2ces, my tv speakers are renovated AR-11s, with a Definitive Procenter 1000, my computer speakers are Klipsch Promedia. All placed thoughtfully in the room, and wired with adequately sized standard wire. Well regarded by most, not flashy enough for some.

I have no need to mod the sound system in the 128. It delivers fairly clean sound. Given that the "listening room" has terrible acoustics, and the ambient noise IS horrible, upgrades would be silly. Unless you want your sound "jazzed up", as many do. Personally, I don't need thumpy base or "dazzling" highs. Or to threaten my hearing with volume.

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by 128Convertibleguy

Given that the "listening room" has terrible acoustics, and the ambient noise IS horrible, upgrades would be silly.

+1

[2tonik]

I don't buy cars for the quality if their stereos. I have used the radio in my 128i maybe five times since I got the car.

I prefer to hear the the engine's sweet song, and the transmission, brakes, and other bits doing their jobs.

In mild weather I open the windows and turn off the HVAC completely so I don't hear the fan or compressor.

My favorite alternative to the car's stereo is a Fender Telecaster plugged straight into a Fender amplifier.

I am a location sound mixer working in the motion picture industry.

[cheshirecat79]

^ that's great, but it doesn't really help in regard to the OP's question.

[2tonik]

OK, short answer: Yes.

[JeffyD]

I think this is all summed up by saying, if you're talking about "HiFi"as in US market's base level option most years recently, and not "HiFi" as in the HK-sourced system upgrade that was offered, then it can be summed up as such - if you aren't incredibly picky about sound quality ( to the point where you've tricked yourself into thinking audio systems are worth throwing tons of cash into ), have a music source with a tweakable EQ, are not hoping to impress anyone, and/or aren't looking to be blown away with high fidelity yourself... Then, yes. The HiFi system is perfectly livable with for most day-to-day driving, but is not an experience that will leave you in awe of its abilities.

But, in my opinion, the top level option offered from the factory is underwhelming just as much. If not more so due to it being lackluster despite the cost.

As far as playing music loudly with the windows down - who cares, so long as it's a reasonable hour and not in the neighborhood? Some people do it for attention, sure, but others are just enjoying their music they way they like to - loudly. It's not about drawing attention in either positive or negative manners. The windows up or down is probably more dependent on the season.

Can such be annoying on the occasions when you roll up to a stoplight and someone is blaring something not to your tastes louder than you'd like them to? Yeah. But such is life, and it's the price paid to live in a community and is hardly worth reacting to negatively. Just like when you wait in line at a store, and the people ahead of you wind up making things take longer than they need to be. Annoying, but not a big deal.

[SeCsTaC]

Thanks for everyones input. I got to listen to it today very briefly and on first impression I thought it sounded decent. I only played 1 song and this was when the car was parked, but it's okay for me. I'll truly be able to tell once I've lived with the car for a week or two, so I'm hoping everything works out and I am able to get the car.

[Huecifer]

It's embarrassing and really sad that a $40k car has a worse stereo than the Kia rental car I had a few months ago. I'd say about every other trip in my car I'm reminded about how much I hate the awful, awful stereo. If you're concerned at all now, you likely won't be happy with it.

[zamboni]

I had a 09 E82 and the hifi system on mine was very decent, there is not much difference between E82 vs my E93 M3 system.

[kobeballer96]

I love my hifi system. I don't know about a Kia being better lol or a honda. I'm a audiophile and I think it's decent. I think you guys have busted systems lol. Tune it to your specs and enjoy. Note I use my iPod connected to idrive. Never the radio.

[Billup]

Originally Posted by Allencic

Billup,

Why do you want the music turned up with your windows down? Do you think anyone is impressed with your choice of music. When stopped at a light do other drivers yell, "Turn it up louder, that's my favorite song."

There's a precise technical term for people who play loud music with the windows down, it begins with "A" and ends with "hole."

While I'm quite flattered that you jumped to conclusions and made up a scenario about my glorified life, that is hardly the case.

I work about an hour from my residence in a small town, and my hour commute each way is strictly on the highway for about 10 minutes, then a two lane back country road with no traffic or traffic lights for the remaining 50 minutes. I have particularly bad hearing, and enjoy the windows down in nice weather, so I need to turn up Rick Astley a little bit louder to counter the wind noise.

There is a precise technical term for people who create their own imaginary circumstances in their head, it begins with "I" and ends in "GNORANT".

[Huecifer]

Originally Posted by Billup

While I'm quite flattered that you jumped to conclusions and made up a scenario about my glorified life, that is hardly the case.

I work about an hour from my residence in a small town, and my hour commute each way is strictly on the highway for about 10 minutes, then a two lane back country road with no traffic or traffic lights for the remaining 50 minutes. I have particularly bad hearing, and enjoy the windows down in nice weather, so I need to turn up Rick Astley a little bit louder to counter the wind noise.

There is a precise technical term for people who create their own imaginary circumstances in their head, it begins with "I" and ends in "GNORANT".

LOL, I agree, Billup. Interestingly, in my last car, I have had people outside the car ask me what I was listening to, and even spurred on a dance party in the parking lot of a ski resort while I was loading/warming up the car. But, you know, I'm an a-hole, obviously.

More pertinent to this thread: neither of those things has happened since I've gotten the BMW. Why? Because I can barely hear the stereo with the windows down, let alone anyone outside of the car. The stock stereo is a joke.

[alexmtl_135i]

I had HK system in my 135i and it was totally badass. Maybe not badass as in super high fidelity badass, more like Beats headphones kind of badass. Super strong bass that's present even at low volume but not overwhelming. At high volume I usually find myself irritated by the acute sounds in other cars, but not in this one. The HK system in my c63 is much less spectacular in that way.

I didn't try the standard Hifi system, but the HK is probably worth the upgrade .

[1descending]

I bought my '09 used. It claimed to have the premium sound package and a VIN lookup shows "S677A HiFi System Professional DSP". Is that the base or upgraded system?

In any case, I find the system to be good, but I've never owned a car with an actually good sound system before.

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by Billup

so I need to turn up Rick Astley a little bit louder to counter the wind noise.

I thought I was safe from being Rickrolled here.

[Allencic]

Billup and Huecifer,

The more I think of you thinking it's OK to annoy those around you with your window open loud music the more depressed I get over your lack of simple common decency for those around you. I assume you think you're very cool with your loud music. You're not, you're simply rude. Did your family never teach you common manners and politeness? Did you go to a school system where the only thing that mattered was that you had great "self esteem" and didn't care for others?

Too many people think that BMW drivers are basically self-centered jerks. Too bad that you and your loud music are helping them remove all doubt.

If you have no manners or decency I doubt that you learned the word, "solipsism in school. If you must, look it up before you crank up the thumpa, thumpa bass again.