[BIGW0RM]

I think the technic plug and play harness with a trunk sub is hands down the best bang for the buck mod you can do to our stereo. The harness is 150 bucks. And a JL wedge is around 500-600 bucks.

So 750 bucks total for a real sub that will BUMP. Or 600 bucks for ghost subs that give a 10% improvement. Id do the trunk sub over ghost subs all day.

But then again, I have my a JL W6 and amp from my E92/F80 that I have yet to use. So that makes my upgrade cost either 150 or 600 bucks for ghost subs.

My issue is..I like the active sound. So doing the trunk sub means I will loose that. Which I will probably just accept and do the trunk sub.

[Murf]

Active sound is my issue as well. The software update seems to have toned it down alot and now I like it.

Noone has any thoughts on the Match or any other alternatives to the Ghost subs? I've also heard that they are not all that, would consider something with a little more thump.

[Flying05]

If only we had the option from the factory to have these subs. I get that it's not what our cars are based on, but I would at least like the option.

My Rubicon has the factory alpine stereo option and the sub hits pretty hard. Going to say that my factory alpine is better in my Jeep than the M's HK

[BIGW0RM]

Originally Posted by Murf

Active sound is my issue as well. The software update seems to have toned it down alot and now I like it.

Noone has any thoughts on the Match or any other alternatives to the Ghost subs? I've also heard that they are not all that, would consider something with a little more thump.

Yeah, I am interested in the amp upgrade too. Curious to see what those will do for the stock system as well.

Sorry if I asked you this already. But what software are you on? Get this... my first G80 m3 I had a few months did not have software update in the menu. It was missing! The dealer had to force update it to get it to show what version I have as well as show the remote update search in idrive. When they updated my 1st G80 M3, it went to 11/2021.50.

Yet my newest G80 M3 has software 11/2021.35. My dealer just did my 1st service and said I had no updates. My idrive update menu also says I am on the lastest version.

Yet my first one had a dealer installed 11/2021.50. And my newest one is only 11/2021.35? That seems odd to me.

So what version do you have?

[BIGW0RM]

Originally Posted by Flying05

If only we had the option from the factory to have these subs. I get that it's not what our cars are based on, but I would at least like the option.

My Rubicon has the factory alpine stereo option and the sub hits pretty hard. Going to say that my factory alpine is better in my Jeep than the M's HK

Bavsound use to sell a nice trunk sub enclosure for the E9X series. Its carpet matched the trunk and it molded into the back corner pocket in the trunk. It looked factory! I wish they made one for the G8X series. That, a small amp and the technic harness was all you needed. Id prefer a trunk sub, but I really dont want a normal box floating around in my trunk. Fasten down or not, they are just ugly. So I too, wish we had a nice enclosure like that for our cars.

[Murf]

Originally Posted by BIGW0RM

Yeah, I am interested in the amp upgrade too. Curious to see what those will do for the stock system as well.

Sorry if I asked you this already. But what software are you on? Get this... my first G80 m3 I had a few months did not have software update in the menu. It was missing! The dealer had to force update it to get it to show what version I have as well as show the remote update search in idrive. When they updated my 1st G80 M3, it went to 11/2021.50.

Yet my newest G80 M3 has software 11/2021.35. My dealer just did my 1st service and said I had no updates. My idrive update menu also says I am on the lastest version.

Yet my first one had a dealer installed 11/2021.50. And my newest one is only 11/2021.35? That seems odd to me.

So what version do you have?

I'll have to pull it up and take a pic later, it came out in Dec 2021 maybe?

[Flying05]

Originally Posted by BIGW0RM

Bavsound use to sell a nice trunk sub enclosure for the E9X series. Its carpet matched the trunk and it molded into the back corner pocket in the trunk. It looked factory! I wish they made one for the G8X series. That, a small amp and the technic harness was all you needed. Id prefer a trunk sub, but I really dont want a normal box floating around in my trunk. Fasten down or not, they are just ugly. So I too, wish we had a nice enclosure like that for our cars.

Agree. Must look stock like it belongs there.

[zioziozio]

Every car I have ever owned has a better sounding audio system than my M3. I was just thinking about this today. This car was $90k and the audio sounds like a Geo Metro.

[Flying05]

Originally Posted by zioziozio

Every car I have ever owned has a better sounding audio system than my M3. I was just thinking about this today. This car was $90k and the audio sounds like a Geo Metro.

That was a sharp car when it first came out.

[Daily_drivX5M]

Originally Posted by Flying05

That was a sharp car when it first came out.

It was indeed.

[Likeanowl]

I haven’t read this whole thread but I have a question, how do most of you listen to your sound? Bluetooth or hard wired?

[nearwater4me]

Originally Posted by Likeanowl

I haven’t read this whole thread but I have a question, how do most of you listen to your sound? Bluetooth or hard wired?

Wireless CarPlay for casual MP3 playbacks and USB stick w/ flac files when I want to appreciate music
But we really do need a better setup.

[Flying05]

Originally Posted by nearwater4me

Wireless CarPlay for casual MP3 playbacks and USB stick w/ flac files when I want to appreciate music
But we really do need a better setup.

Is the usb stick much better quality in sound vs wireless CarPlay?

[rashannon81]

Cool side note I just found.

The M4 actually has a bigger amp than the m3. And every other car in the line-up. Haven't found out why.

I'll be picking up my IOMG G82 Monday and audio system is always a first for me.

https://www.bmw-m.com/en/topics/magazine-article-pool/bmw-m-harman-kardon-bowers-wilkins.html

[nearwater4me]

Originally Posted by rashannon81

Cool side note I just found.

The M4 actually has a bigger amp than the m3. And every other car in the line-up. Haven't found out why.

I'll be picking up my IOMG G82 Monday and audio system is always a first for me.

https://www.bmw-m.com/en/topics/magazine-article-pool/bmw-m-harman-kardon-bowers-wilkins.html

That’s gotta be a typo. I seriously doubt BMW will use a more powerful amp just for the M4.

[nearwater4me]

Originally Posted by Flying05

Is the usb stick much better quality in sound vs wireless CarPlay?

I don’t think there’s much difference in sound processing between the two audio source, but sound quality difference between compressed format and flac? Quite significant.
The difference becomes more apparent after installing aftermarket, higher-quality components.

[Flying05]

Originally Posted by nearwater4me

I don’t think there’s much difference in sound processing between the two audio source, but sound quality difference between compressed format and flac? Quite significant.
The difference becomes more apparent after installing aftermarket, higher-quality components.

Hmm. Going to have to research this more.

[BIGW0RM]

Originally Posted by Flying05

Hmm. Going to have to research this more.

Can we run in WIRED carplay mode? That should boost sound quality just the same as playing USB files.

[Flying05]

Originally Posted by BIGW0RM

Can we run in WIRED carplay mode? That should boost sound quality just the same as playing USB files.

I was wondering how much of a difference this makes. Going to try on my rubicon Alpine system being that carplay is only available wired. Don't have my M at the moment. Then will try Bluetooth. I feel like I've done this before and could not tell much of a difference.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by rashannon81

Cool side note I just found.

The M4 actually has a bigger amp than the m3. And every other car in the line-up. Haven't found out why.

I'll be picking up my IOMG G82 Monday and audio system is always a first for me.

https://www.bmw-m.com/en/topics/maga...s-wilkins.html

That is an error in that page. There is no "600W" OEM amp in any BMW anymore.

[nearwater4me]

Originally Posted by BIGW0RM

Can we run in WIRED carplay mode? That should boost sound quality just the same as playing USB files.

I'd say it has more to do with the compressed format of the MP3 files than the wired/wireless connection itself.
If you could compare a same song with mp3(lower bitrate) vs. flac, the difference will be quite noticeable.

[Flying05]

Originally Posted by nearwater4me

I'd say it has more to do with the compressed format of the MP3 files than the wired/wireless connection itself.
If you could compare a same song with mp3(lower bitrate) vs. flac, the difference will be quite noticeable.

Yep, tried on my rubicons premium alpine and confirmed wired car play vs Bluetooth sounds the same. Definitely the file type as you mentioned.