Subject: At last - decent sound in an E38 Author: willyroo : member since March, 2006 : 71 posts Posted on: 2008-01-10 04:11:54

My ongoing quest to significantly improve the sound quality in an E38 continues. Due largely to the courage of some pioneers in this forum, the good advice from others, I decided to:

1) Add some proper bass with a Hybrid Audio 8" IB woofer in the skiport
2) Replace the anaemic amplifier with an Alpine PDX 4.150
3) Replace the rubbish drivers with Diamond Audio HEX 2-ways

The challenge was making sure all wires were correctly identified, tagged, checked again - and to keep it "stealthy".

Tip for the unwary - the speaker cables are reversed in RHD (UK, Australia, Japan) cars. However the pre-outs are in the same positions! (Go figure...)

Most useful tool:

Coopers Sparkling Ale

The (amazingly!) only mistake - bridging the rear channels of the Alpine amp without reading the instructions - which said run + from Channel 3 and - from Channel 4 (I added a bridge cable from - Channel 3 to + Channel 4 and the Alpine just calmly went into protection). For this install, I cannot praise the thoughtfulness - and compactness - of the engineering of the Alpine. The speaker plugs are foolproof.

So now? Really good front staging, and now all I need to do is tune it, as I have a huge midbass hump followed by a higher range "suckout" - maybe lower the HP frequency for the DAs...

Thanks to this forum for giving me the confidence to tear apart what BMW thought was a reasonable audio system...

Here's the original 5.25" the door pod - note the cable connection point


Here's the DA 5.25 - used a small hacksaw to work the pod - note the speaker wire directly connected


Start cutting and tagging...


More...


The Alpine goes in - mounted on an MDF board


Alpine glowing happily - tight fit for the changer


The final product (helper on the right )

• At last - decent sound in an E38 (pic) (url) - willyroo 2008-01-10 04:11:54 (446 views)
  • As Brian Said, Very Impressive! When can I give you my car?! :-) (nt) - absessler 2008-01-11 13:35:47 (112 views)
    • Hmm not sure if the Mrs would be keen on another 740 - but happy to take it - willyroo 2008-01-14 06:24:30 (99 views)
  • Impressive work. - Brian 2008-01-10 07:13:09 (95 views)
    • Thanks Brian - and the low 'noise floor' of the 7 helps - willyroo 2008-01-11 06:42:55 (111 views)