Sound system for z3 3.0

[Kyle auty]

Hi all I’m looking for some recommendation for a nice sounding unit and speakers for my new z3 3.0
It currently has the original
Radio BMW Business RDS
With BMW 6 CD Changer I know it’s original and how it should be but the sound isn’t that good. Id Like to keep her looking original so any idea’s like a hidden amp with better speakers behind the original covers. Just not very clued up as to how I do it or what products to use.

 

[Rudyrov]

You may have some very old speakers and would probably benefit from a newer up to date head unit, but then again it depends on your taste and needs. Go visit a few audio dealers, look around at radios and the features, see if you would be interested or if perhaps just a speaker and possibly more power might just be enough.

 

[Antm72]

The Harmon Kardom system is not bad if fitted but when i looked at upgrades i found that the standard Head unit has a poor amp so a simple head unit change will change the sound alot.
A re wire will have to be a complete rewire to all new speakers if it is H.K as the BMW speakers are all oddly rated like 2ohm and 3ohm rather than what you will replace them with being 4 ohm.
If you don't have a H.K system you will probably have an amp on one of the front speakers.
If you can identify what you have it may be easier to fix it

 

[Mario]

I have done exactly what you want to do two different ways, one I replaced the original speakers with much better speakers but maintained the original head unit and secondary amp on the foot well quite a significant difference, then on another car I replaced all speakers but also connected the rear speakers and a subwoofer to a small pioneer 4 channel amplifier with the sub bridged for a 2.1 configuration it has sound level input and also auto on and off so it works well, the front speakers driven still from the original amp. Not ideal and by no means professional but you retain the original look of the car and improves quite a bit

 

[137699]

I have the BMW Business CD (aka Blaupunkt CD43) in mine with the HK audio setup and it sounds unbelievable.

I have heard that the Business CD is a much better sounding unit than the Business Cassette.
I added a £50 Bluetooth module to my Business CD and can now do audio streaming & hands-free phone calls. Very happy with the outcome.

 

[Kyle auty]

Thank you guys, like the idea of keeping the original head unit and CD in the boot. Think I’ll go see a fitter that can boost what I already have and maybe add a Bluetooth interface so I can link my phone up to it.

 

[Perfectjake]

What I did on my old 2.8 was get a sony headunit which you can change the display colour to match the orange of the BMW dash lights.
Then I replaced all the speakers with after market, which are basically just drop in. I did get slightly bigger rear speakers so had to cut the rear speaker holes a little.
Then I replaced the oddment box with a sub box, linked to an amp in the boot, I attached it onto the same stand the CD changer was on. The dinky sub you can fit in there is more than enough for the small cab of the Z3

I think I went a bit further than most, but there is definitely mid ground. Like simply swapping out the woofers will make the setup sound a lot better. If you want bluetooth you can get a bluetooth module added to the original headunit. I quite liked the sony unit as it offered more features than original and i could get the colours to match the rest of the bmw dash.

 

[SYMZ3]

I have the BMW Business CD (aka Blaupunkt CD43) in mine with the HK audio setup and it sounds unbelievable.

I have heard that the Business CD is a much better sounding unit than the Business Cassette.
I added a £50 Bluetooth module to my Business CD and can now do audio streaming & hands-free phone calls. Very happy with the outcome.

Agreed, the HK set-up with the business CD is very good.

 

[NawidDaoud]

@Perfectjake

Can you send links to the aftermarket speakers you used? Not really sure how to find speakers that will fit the car. I have a sport model with a subwoofer instead of the storage compartment, but it's partially blown and sounds horrible.

Also, did you rewire anything? Or simply replace speakers?

 

[Paul Rice]

Put the top down and listen to the engine, music to the ears

 

[NawidDaoud]

Haha the petrolhead in me agrees with you. But then the audiophile in me wants a subwoofer that works!

 

[Perfectjake]

@Perfectjake

Can you send links to the aftermarket speakers you used? Not really sure how to find speakers that will fit the car. I have a sport model with a subwoofer instead of the storage compartment, but it's partially blown and sounds horrible.

Also, did you rewire anything? Or simply replace speakers?

I wouldn't necessarily recommend these now as prices are more expensive than 2 or 3 years ago.

used these in the front https://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/product_m-in-phase-car-audio-xt5cii_p-23354.htm
can't remember if i had to mess with the connector to go from a bmw connector to a standardized one, though i rememberthe tweeters work of the same wiring as the originals and no need for that bulk box that these speakers came with it. I'd recommend finding another set of speakers with the same size and impedance for a better price. ( I only paid £25 when i bought 2/3 years ago)

These were for the back https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001IKKGZK/ref=pe_3187911_185740111_TE_item I had to cut the speaker holes bigger to fit these and left open as they protrude out, which i thought looked quit nice. If you don't want to carve away at the surround get some smaller ones, but otherwise they were easy to connect up.

Mine didn't have an original subwoofer so i had to run cables from scratch, but it was easy enough to run the necessary cables since centre console is easy to remove.

Though if you already have a sub does that mean you've got the Harman Kardon speaker set up? I'm not sure if you'd need speakers with a different resistance to get them to work with that setup.