stock radio Q's

[sabbath130]

hey there... well today i get my new car in hand.. '96 318is.. I was doing some reading and some say that the stock radio uses an EXTERNAL amplifier to run the interrior speakers... IS THIS TRUE? if so, dont you need to purchase (if you want to change it) and aftermarket head unit with no internal amplification?

furthermore... is there anyone out there with the specs on the RMS output for the interrior speaker amplifier? i wanna keep it but change the speakers so the RMS values still match up so i dont get any crackling at high volume...

[El Presidente]

For all cars but yours, the answer is yes.

For yours, the answer is maybe. The 318s had came with the base stereo (6 speakers). Almost all 325s had the "premium" stereo (not HK). This upped the speakers to 10. While there are 318s with an amp and 10 speakers, they are rare. The easiest way to tell is by looking at the door. If you see two speakers by your knee, then its amped. One, and its not.

[sabbath130]

there are 2 speakers in the door... a tweeter and a mid... this tells me tat is is amped? does anyone know any specs about this amp?

[El Presidente]

Sorry, can't help you with factory amp specs. But I can confirm its amped.

[Cruzin 323is]

i'm not sure, but i think it is a 15 watt rms... 4 channel.... the speakers on the doors are not amped... only the kick panel and the rear deck are....

[El Presidente]

No, they are all amped. The amp contains the crossovers, so if they weren't the factory tweets wouldn't last a day.

[Cruzin 323is]

good call... i'm wrong..

[El Presidente]

Funny thing about those tweets too. I just replaced them this week on a 328, and the actual tweeter was maybe 1/2" in diameter. Probably closer to 1/4". The infinities installed were 1"

[sabbath130]

why wouldnt they last a day if i changed the tweeters? the cut off freq is all that is determined by the crossover.. so cant another set of tweeters play the same freq range and the stock?


otherwise... what size speakers are in the kick panels and in the rear deck? what is under the casing attached to the rear deck speakers?