Replacing standard speakers on E90

[Nate]

Hi there,

Could anyone please advise me which is the best suited after market speaker brand to use when wanting to upgrade the standard speakers in my E90?

FYI I am not planning a DIY (Destroy It Yourself) installation. Just don't have the heart and patience for that :hammerhead:

 

[Scouse]

Where are you based?

 

[Nate]

In Cape Town. Viewed posts on the Technical forum and got some excellent advise. Now need to find a BMW approved installer in Cape Town. Will contact the stealers soon.

 

[menno11]

Speakers that fit well in the E90 behind the slim doors

Infinity 42.9i(a bit biased as they in my car)
DLS K4
Rockford Punch 3.5" (a bit small though..)
Focal Polyglass slimline

These are the speakers readyly available in SA, but you can import a range of other speakers that work well too, like Rainbow

the Infinity and DLS are the only ones that can run off the stock HU amplification, for the rest you require aftermarket amps.

The guys at Radio Autosonic in Durbanville know BMW's (owner has a M6) you can try them out.

A good kit to import for straight swop is BSW Stage 1 kit.

 

[menno11]

Here is the list of compatible international speakers, comes off US site, so most will have to be imported.

4" component systems:

- Morel Dotech Ovation 4
- Top Mount Depth: 50 mm
- Bottom Mount Depth: ?
- Product Link: / http://www.morelhifi.com/products/mo...h_ovation.html
- Installation Link: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ghlight=dotech

- Morel Hybrid Ovation II 4
- Top Mount Depth: 50 mm
- Bottom Mount Depth: ?
- Product Link: http://www.morelhifi.com/products/mo...h_ovation.html
- Installation Link: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2566/...303fe199dc.jpg

- BSW Stage I
- Top Mount Depth: ?
- Bottom Mount Depth: ?
- Product Link: http://www.bavariansoundwerks.com/pr...Series-M3-E90/

- Focal 100KRS / 100KP
- Top Mount Depth: 39 mm
- Bottom Mount Depth: 44 mm
- Product Link: http://www.focal-fr.com/catalogue-do...files/1761.pdf
- Installation Link: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...62&postcount=7

- Focal 100VRS
- Top Mount Depth: 40 mm
- Bottom Mount Depth: ?
- Product Link: http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/Man.../091100VRS.PDF
- Installation Link: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=303672

- Rainbow SLC 210.25 NG
- Top Mount Depth: 46 mm
- Bottom Mount Depth: ?
- Product Link: http://195.243.203.21/rainbow/techni...221111&lan=ENG
- Installation Link: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=451762

- Rainbow CS 210 Vanadium
- Top Mount Depth: 50 mm
- Bottom Mount Depth: ?
- Product Link: http://195.243.203.21/rainbow/techni...127111&lan=ENG

- Rainbow CS 210 Profi
- Top Mount Depth: 50 mm
- Bottom Mount Depth: ?
- Product Link: http://195.243.203.21/rainbow/techni...126111&lan=ENG

- DLS PSA/PS4A
- Top Mount Depth: 50 mm
- Bottom Mount Depth: ?
- Product Link: http://www.dls.se/en/car/prod.html?produkt=en_66

- MB Quart RUA 210
- Top Mount Depth: 32 mm
- Bottom Mount Depth: ?
- Product Link: http://www.maxxsonics.net/manuals/mb...fs/rua_210.pdf

- MB Quart RVF 210
- Top Mount Depth: 46 mm
- Bottom Mount Depth: ?
- Product Link: http://www.maxxsonics.net/manuals/mb...fs/rvf_210.pdf

- Diamond Audio HEX S400*
- Top Mount Depth: 46 mm
- Bottom Mount Depth: ?
- Product Link: http://www.diamondaudio.com/manuals/...anual-2008.pdf

- Hertz Energy EM 100 (single driver only)
- Top Mount Depth: 28 mm
- Bottom Mount Depth: 30 mm
- Product Link: http://www.hertzaudiovideo.com/Doc/pdf_em100.pdf

- Renaissance SR-4.2
- Top Mount Depth: 46 mm
- Bottom Mount Depth: ?
- Product Link: http://www.renaudio.com/carstereo/SR-4.2.htm
- Note: Tweeter may not fit OEM pods

- Zapco CK-10.2
- Top Mount Depth: 48.25 mm
- Bottom Mount Depth: ?
- Product Link: http://www.zapco.com/prod/Speakers/D...ts/CK-10.2.pdf

- Helix P234 (aka H234 / HXS Precision [old model])
- Top Mount Depth: 47 mm
- Bottom Mount Depth: ?
- Product Link: http://www.audioaffinityusa.com/heli...speakers08.htm
- Installation Link: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...highlight=h234


5.25" Component Systems:

- DLS Reference RS5/RS5A
- Top Mount Depth: 45 mm
- Bottom Mount Depth: ?
- Product Link: http://www.dls.se/en/car/prod.html?produkt=en_67

- Boston Acoustics S50
- Top Mount Depth: 47 mm
- Bottom Mount Depth: ?
- Product Link: http://mobile.bostonacoustics.com/Manuals/S50Man.pdf

- MB Quart RUA 213*
- Top Mount Depth: 42 mm
- Bottom Mount Depth: ?
- Product Link: http://www.maxxsonics.net/manuals/mb...fs/rua_213.pdf
- Installation Link: http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...1&d=1258132444
- Note: Requires dremeling speaker frame to fit inbetween OEM mounting screws

- Focal 130 VRS
- Top Mount Depth: 48.5 mm
- Bottom Mount Depth: 53 mm
- Product Link: http://www.focal-fr.com/catalogue-do...files/1304.pdf


And while I'm at it, might as well list the possible woofer replacement drivers for under the seats:

8" Woofers under Front Seats

- Earthquake SWS-8 / SWS-8X (4/2 ohm)
- Top Mount Depth: 2 1/8"
- Product Link: http://www.earthquakesound.com/sws.htm
- Installation Link: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=134066
- Note: This is a sub-woofer, not a midbass driver! (mid-bass can be made to sound OK with digital processing)

- Hertz Space 8*
- Top Mount Depth: 42 mm
- Product Link: http://www.hertzaudiovideo.com/Doc/S...nica_space.pdf
- Installation Link: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=304693
- Note: Best used as midbass driver (bandpassed)

- Morel ADMW SW 9
- Top Mount Depth: 71 mm
- Product Link: http://www.morelhifi.com/products/mo...rs_admwsw.html
- Installation Link: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...highlight=admw
- Note: Best used as midbass driver (bandpassed). Requires 3/4" spacer ring and Morel grille to protect cone & surround from floor carpet.

- Kicker SSMB8* (Thanks Technic!)
- Top Mount Depth: 59 mm
- Product Link: http://www.crutchfield.com/S-cMCNI6D...ker-SSMB8.html
- Installation Link: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...4&postcount=37
- Note: According to Technic, much better midbass driver than SWS-8, but not as good at sub-bass frequencies (30-40Hz), i.e. you will need an additional sub. Requires 1/2" spacer ring to fit enclosure and 1/4" shim underneath OEM grilles. Carpet needs to be cut away under seat rails to prevent surround hitting it but looks stock once seats installed.

- Jehnert XE 200
- Top Mount Depth: 50 mm
- Product Link: http://www.jehnert.de/typo3/index.php?id=bsse0&L=1
- Installation Link: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=451762
- Note: Requires spacers (thickness unknown). Manufacturer recommends the use of a subsonic filter starting at 80 Hz, suggesting this driver is optimized for mid-bass ("kick bass") and perhaps not well suited for sub-bass.

- Morel MW 265
- Top Mount Depth: 69 mm
- Product Link: https://www.madisound.com/store/prod...products_id613
- Installation Link: http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showp...0&postcount=18
- Note: Requires spacers (min. 3/4" thick).

 

[mabhiza]

i have the 3 way Rainbow kit in front and the 2 way at the back it
sounds awesome with an alpine amp driving fronts and under seat rainbow subs
The 2ways struggle a bit as i do not have a crossover and I am using a crappy SoundLouder chinese radio that doesnt do low cut filter

I am planning to upgrade to alpine head unit, that should sort out the 2 way as it has a built in crossover