Kick panel speakers barely audible - 2 questions

[jbongo]

I recently purchased a 2006 SI with the 10 speaker sound system and nav. When trying to understand why the sound systems sounded so lousy, I noticed the speakers in the kick panels were barely audible. I actually had to put my head up against these speakers to hear them.

When I brought the car into the dealer there happened to be another 2006 SI in the shop and when we listened to that car, we had the same results, so the dealer said that's the way they are supposed to sound. This doesn't seem right.

2 questions
- anyone have a similar problem?
- what is the fix for this?

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

thanks

[elerner61]

Are you certain you are not hearing anything out of those kick panel speakers? They're only going to provide your bottom end so if you haven't, you should test with a CD and play content with a good amount of bass. If you truly aren't hearing anything from them, the amplifier (located in the battery well on non M cars) could be toast. However, the most common issue with the amplifiers on Nav/Carver systems is that the amp channels for the subs go bad.

If your amp is bad, you've got to search for a new one. You can't insert a non-BMW amp in its place.

[jbongo]

When i put my head down next to the speakers and turn the radio up, you can hear what sounds like low end, but it is very very faint. I tried adjusting the balance & fader controls and tried this with and without DSP turned on.

[elerner61]

Ok,here's another close to impossible thought. Perhaps both kick panel speakers are blown? Find another speaker, hook it up and see what you get. If you get nothing, then your amp is gone.

[jbongo]

This sounds like a logical next step. Based on your response I assume this car must have multiple amps, because the other speakers in the car seem to work OK. Is that correct? Does anyone have any idea on what it would cost to replace an amp.

[elerner61]

Not multiple amps, a single amp with multiple (as in 10) channels.

New one is $995 from ECS. Not easy to find these things.

[newbizie]

Not easy to find them for a reasonable price at all but there are companies that you can send you amp to to see if they can fix it but like the guys said ahead those kick panel speakers are for low-end bass level sounds if they were blown you would hear a rattle.......

i would suggest turn your bass all the way up turn your treb down and find a track with a good bass line then turn up your hu you should feel some type of vibrations around your legs if not then i think those two channels in your amp went bad

[Clearancediver]

What companies can you send your amp to have it repaired?

[newbizie]

Originally Posted by Clearancediver

What companies can you send your amp to have it repaired?

the company my (trusted) audio company suggested is United Radio (unitedradio.com)

[elerner61]

That's a vendor to keep in our contact list. Nice find.

[Clearancediver]

Had a look at the repair list for BMW vehicles. Looks like OEM amps are not repaired by them as it's not on their list of repair items. Another page (pricing) indicates that they only repair aftermarket amps..... Going to make an inquiry to see if what I read is the correct interpretation.

[newbizie]

Originally Posted by Clearancediver

Had a look at the repair list for BMW vehicles. Looks like OEM amps are not repaired by them as it's not on their list of repair items. Another page (pricing) indicates that they only repair aftermarket amps..... Going to make an inquiry to see if what I read is the correct interpretation.

I called them personally and they said though its not on their common repair list they will still take a look at it.

[Clearancediver]

Here is the email reply..."I’m sorry but that isn’t something we can service here at United Radio. We do not have access to service information or parts for these units.
Finding a replacement for it might be easier than trying to have it repaired."

So.... Out of luck there...

[newbizie]

Originally Posted by Clearancediver

Here is the email reply..."I’m sorry but that isn’t something we can service here at United Radio. We do not have access to service information or parts for these units.
Finding a replacement for it might be easier than trying to have it repaired."

So.... Out of luck there...

well that sucks I guess the agent told me wrong

[newbizie]

Originally Posted by Clearancediver

Here is the email reply..."I’m sorry but that isn’t something we can service here at United Radio. We do not have access to service information or parts for these units.
Finding a replacement for it might be easier than trying to have it repaired."

So.... Out of luck there...

well that sucks I guess the agent told me wrong

[elerner61]

Since you're got the amp out of the car, are there any markings that would indicate who manufactures it? Any sort of codes?

PS: I've also just sent a mail to Bavsound to see if they have any manufacturer info

[gtMc]

Newbizie, are you also having the same problem that OP is having? OP, did you make any more progress?

Not sure where it was determined that the AMP is definitely bad, but if you are trying to find a replacement amp, it might be easier than you think:

This is taken from another thread on work that we did recoding amps: "part # 65129138102.. (replaced #65129125751) These amps work with E83/E85/E86."

If you can find a wrecked E83 or E85/E86 - you most likely have yourself an ideal replacement part. If you could pick, try to get yourself one out of an E85 as it is properly coded for the Z4's ideal acoustics. If you get an E83 or and E86, you would want to get it recoded (not hard).

Again this is assuming your Amp is bad. As elerner mentioned, new ones are very expensive.

[newbizie]

Originally Posted by gtMc

Newbizie, are you also having the same problem that OP is having? OP, did you make any more progress?

Not sure where it was determined that the AMP is definitely bad, but if you are trying to find a replacement amp, it might be easier than you think:

This is taken from another thread on work that we did recoding amps: "part # 65129138102.. (replaced #65129125751) These amps work with E83/E85/E86."

If you can find a wrecked E83 or E85/E86 - you most likely have yourself an ideal replacement part. If you could pick, try to get yourself one out of an E85 as it is properly coded for the Z4's ideal acoustics. If you get an E83 or and E86, you would want to get it recoded (not hard).

Again this is assuming your Amp is bad. As elerner mentioned, new ones are very expensive.

No my problem was no sound at all all functions were working correctly but no music, i ended up opening the amplifier to see what i could see something in there was definitely fried im guessing some sort of voltage regulator. I ended up replacing the whole system with a 300 dollar option until i get back from my next deployment.