Help with my ID'ing my Z4 stock sound please

chewie · 05-24-2009, 10:23 PM

Hi guys,

I'm new to the forums, new to a Z4 and looking for some help. I bought a 2003 2.5 three weeks ago, and I need your help trying to identify what kind of sound system my car has, because I've been reading some posts and I learned that certain systems don't allow for a simple head unit swap due to different signals of different systems. If someone could help me out and let me know if I can do a simple swap or not, that would be great. The car is pretty much completely bare bones, no extra features except the auto soft top. I'm pretty sure it has no premium sound, because the car has nothing else; no nav, no leather seats, no sport package, etc. (It would've been nice to have all that stuff, but now I can truly work to mod and make the car "mine"!)

I have a basic 6 speaker setup (2 side speakers, 2 rear speakers, 2 subs). What type of signal is this, and does it allow me to swap out the deck to an aftermarket deck without having to get an aftermarket amp? Can I swap the stock subs or speakers out without much trouble?

Thanks for any help anyone can provide!

Spaceman Spiff · 05-24-2009, 11:01 PM

You can see this guide which is very useful: http://users.telenet.be/AcousticSolu...eb/carhifi.htm.
If yours is the standard (6 speakers) you shouldn't have a problem with swapping the head unit.

chewie · 05-24-2009, 11:24 PM

Thanks for the quick reply. It sounds like I should have the standard setup, but I'm a bit confused because that link says that the standard has no door speakers and no subs behind the seat, but I'm pretty sure mine has those, and doesn't have any additional speakers. Huh?

Spaceman Spiff · 05-25-2009, 12:53 AM

Are you sure you have subs behind the seats? The speakers behind the seats are towards the top of the trim, below the roll bars and have round grills. The subs are about 10" below. See this page for the diagram:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.d...98&hg=65&fg=20

chewie · 05-25-2009, 01:32 AM

Hm, I definitely see something back there, unless it's just another speaker and not subs? The grill for this is almost rectangular (similar to the diagram), but it begins about 2-3" below the round grills, not 10" below.

Edit:
Found some pics on the web. Not my car obviously, but this is what mine looks like behind the seats.

Spaceman Spiff · 05-25-2009, 03:43 PM

Yeah those must be the rear woofers. Take out one of the grills and see if the woofer is installed. If the woofers are there, check the trunk where the battery is. If an amp is installed next to the battery, you have the top hifi system and it will not be an easy job. If there's no amp, you have Hifi.

nickpapa · 05-26-2009, 10:03 AM

to put it simple, if you have the options on your stock headunit to change between concert, jazz, classic etc. then you have DSP and you cant just wire up a headunit with a wiring harness for it to work.

if you dont have those DSP options on your stock headunit, then you can wire up an aftermarket headunit with a wiring harness without an issue.

chewie · 06-20-2009, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickpapa

to put it simple, if you have the options on your stock headunit to change between concert, jazz, classic etc. then you have DSP and you cant just wire up a headunit with a wiring harness for it to work.

if you dont have those DSP options on your stock headunit, then you can wire up an aftermarket headunit with a wiring harness without an issue.

Late bump! Using this advice, I definitely have the non-dsp, and I don't think I have subs in the back. Does anyone know if I can just buy a couple small subs and stick them back there without any problems? Or, worst case scenario, get someone's used factory subs and put them back there?

chewie · 07-14-2009, 04:12 PM

Bump. Can I buy some subs from the dealer or used to stick back there without any issues?

05-24-2009, 10:23 PM	#1
chewie Private 4 Rep 74 Posts Drives: 2003 Z4 2.5 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada iTrader: (0)	Help with my ID'ing my Z4 stock sound please Hi guys, I'm new to the forums, new to a Z4 and looking for some help. I bought a 2003 2.5 three weeks ago, and I need your help trying to identify what kind of sound system my car has, because I've been reading some posts and I learned that certain systems don't allow for a simple head unit swap due to different signals of different systems. If someone could help me out and let me know if I can do a simple swap or not, that would be great. The car is pretty much completely bare bones, no extra features except the auto soft top. I'm pretty sure it has no premium sound, because the car has nothing else; no nav, no leather seats, no sport package, etc. (It would've been nice to have all that stuff, but now I can truly work to mod and make the car "mine"!) I have a basic 6 speaker setup (2 side speakers, 2 rear speakers, 2 subs). What type of signal is this, and does it allow me to swap out the deck to an aftermarket deck without having to get an aftermarket amp? Can I swap the stock subs or speakers out without much trouble? Thanks for any help anyone can provide!
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05-24-2009, 11:01 PM	#2
Spaceman Spiff Captain 86 Rep 847 Posts Drives: R8, 996 C2, Z4MR (sold) Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: SF Bay iTrader: (1)	You can see this guide which is very useful: http://users.telenet.be/AcousticSolu...eb/carhifi.htm. If yours is the standard (6 speakers) you shouldn't have a problem with swapping the head unit.
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05-24-2009, 11:24 PM	#3
chewie Private 4 Rep 74 Posts Drives: 2003 Z4 2.5 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the quick reply. It sounds like I should have the standard setup, but I'm a bit confused because that link says that the standard has no door speakers and no subs behind the seat, but I'm pretty sure mine has those, and doesn't have any additional speakers. Huh?
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05-25-2009, 12:53 AM	#4
Spaceman Spiff Captain 86 Rep 847 Posts Drives: R8, 996 C2, Z4MR (sold) Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: SF Bay iTrader: (1)	Are you sure you have subs behind the seats? The speakers behind the seats are towards the top of the trim, below the roll bars and have round grills. The subs are about 10" below. See this page for the diagram: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.d...98&hg=65&fg=20
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05-25-2009, 01:32 AM	#5
chewie Private 4 Rep 74 Posts Drives: 2003 Z4 2.5 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada iTrader: (0)	Hm, I definitely see something back there, unless it's just another speaker and not subs? The grill for this is almost rectangular (similar to the diagram), but it begins about 2-3" below the round grills, not 10" below. Edit: Found some pics on the web. Not my car obviously, but this is what mine looks like behind the seats. Attached Images
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05-25-2009, 03:43 PM	#6
Spaceman Spiff Captain 86 Rep 847 Posts Drives: R8, 996 C2, Z4MR (sold) Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: SF Bay iTrader: (1)	Yeah those must be the rear woofers. Take out one of the grills and see if the woofer is installed. If the woofers are there, check the trunk where the battery is. If an amp is installed next to the battery, you have the top hifi system and it will not be an easy job. If there's no amp, you have Hifi.
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05-26-2009, 10:03 AM	#7
nickpapa First Lieutenant 23 Rep 374 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: North Jersey iTrader: (3)	to put it simple, if you have the options on your stock headunit to change between concert, jazz, classic etc. then you have DSP and you cant just wire up a headunit with a wiring harness for it to work. if you dont have those DSP options on your stock headunit, then you can wire up an aftermarket headunit with a wiring harness without an issue.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-14-2009, 04:12 PM	#9
chewie Private 4 Rep 74 Posts Drives: 2003 Z4 2.5 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada iTrader: (0)	Bump. Can I buy some subs from the dealer or used to stick back there without any issues?
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