Stock Radio with a System... Anyone?

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Who here is rockin' a stock oem head unit with a bad ass system behind it?
Curious to how it's working out for ya?

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Bump

[Cabriolet]

this thread talk all about it. http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=296992

there is a company that will put new guts in it. unfortunately, i doubt any r3v's have it since we are all poor.

[archie]

this thread talk all about it. http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=296992

there is a company that will put new guts in it. unfortunately, i doubt any r3v's have it since we are all poor.

Oh I meant a stock head unit with different speakers in the car,amps in trunk with a boom box. Sorry if I confused everyone.

[Cabriolet]

Oh I meant a stock head unit with different speakers in the car,amps in trunk with a boom box. Sorry if I confused everyone.

people do it. but every time it sounds like crap and my ears bleed. the stock HU's are usually so warnout and then add on top using high level inputs to the amp and all you get is really loud bad audio.

if you want to keep the stock look. i would have the head unit rebuilt. then do up a fancy truck setup, using low level line in. the whole setup should be ~$2500 and if i keep my m3 i may end up going this way.

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Crap! Was hoping for better news on this.
This is for the wife's car, black M3. She wants the stock look with cassette.
She's old school.

[StereoInstaller1]

Crap! Was hoping for better news on this.
This is for the wife's car, black M3. She wants the stock look with cassette.
She's old school.

Of course you can do that, its no big deal at all.

You have 3 choices with the stock deck: either use it as it is or feeding into a good quality line level adapter (turns speakers into RCAs) from Audiocontrol, JL, JBL, Cache or any of several others.

All 3 choices require you to amplify all the speakers, which is fine because it is cheap and sounds drastically better.

The Audiocontrol LC8i would add a subwoofer level control (several others do as well) but unique to the LC8i is an AUX input with adjustable volume (use your iPod or phone through the system directly, with a knob on the dash) which is why it is so damn expensive, and is also the reason it is the only one I use. Typically, once someone hears how much their phone kicks the crap out of the stock deck, they use the deck for radio only...and that is when they have no internet for Pandora.

If you are doing a full system in which all speakers are amplified, the logical solution is to use a 5 channel amplifier that will accept the decks outputs, so no converter would be needed. There are bunches of them on the market, you could go as far as to use the stock dash-mounted fader if you choose.

So, the 3rd choice also using the stock deck, but modified to put out the same type of signal as an aftermarket deck (far "cleaner" sounding, more dynamic) which is something i have been fiddling with for a while.

So, as far as I know, her M3 has a factory "Premium Sound" system. If care were taken, that system could be installed without cutting even one wire, but a stock amp would need to be hacked up to make a plug that would allow it to be true plug and play.

If you are planning on using one of our boxes, it will be necessary to remove the ski pass hole, but no other mods would be necessary. You could cut some foam out of the back of the seat, but the M3 seat is so thin to begin with, it really does not matter all that much.

Stock deck, stock speakers, custom adapter, 5 channel amp and subwoofer is all that is needed. The amp should be chosen carefully, but there are dozens of fine choices all across the price spectrum.

If you wanna discuss price and such, shoot me an email, we can figure something out.

Luke

PS: Please use lukefisher AT germanaudiospecialties.com if you do email.

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So, as far as I know, her M3 has a factory "Premium Sound" system. If care were taken, that system could be installed without cutting even one wire, but a stock amp would need to be hacked up to make a plug that would allow it to be true plug and play.

Luke, buddy, amigo! Thanks for this info, you are awesome help!
One thing is is that the car is an early 88 model and came with the non Premium sound Radio.
This radio has a lot less wires behind it. That is the radio that's going back into the car.
So am I still good to use it with the information you provided above?

Thanks again!!

[StereoInstaller1]

Luke, buddy, amigo! Thanks for this info, you are awesome help!
One thing is is that the car is an early 88 model and came with the non Premium sound Radio.
This radio has a lot less wires behind it. That is the radio that's going back into the car.
So am I still good to use it with the information you provided above?

Thanks again!!

Of course not, silly! What the hell, that changes everything...well, sort of.

Tell me what you are trying to do in the first place, maybe that would help.

Luke

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Luke, I got a buddy that is going to help me with the install, so I'm good there.
I was just throwing it out there to see if anyone has done this type of set up with their own car. Oem cassette radio with a box and few amps.
Just curious to know what steps were done and how it sounded when installed.
Always appreciate your help, you rule!
Thank you!

[rios26]

Does anybody knows if the 89 M3 had a factory amplifier? I changed the stereo and I am having troubles with the installation because an amplifier. I don't know if it was put after. And also I can't find it.

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Yes it has a stock amp in the trunk, left drivers side in the panel.

[StereoInstaller1]

Does anybody knows if the 89 M3 had a factory amplifier? I changed the stereo and I am having troubles with the installation because an amplifier. I don't know if it was put after. And also I can't find it.

AFAIK, all E30M3s sold in the US had amplifed systems.

It is on the left, under the trunk liner, near the trunk hinge, on a bracket with the check panel relay module, behind the sheet metal.