1999 328i Stereo

[Steinalero]

Im just wondering 1) how to remove the factory stereo (a site with some pictures would be most helpful) and 2) if anyone knows any good subwoofers that would hook into the stock radio. I know about basslink but I've heard that theres too much bass and not enough treble. I was thinking I would get a new head unit but I don't know how good that would look in a bimmer. Any suggestions? Thanks

[DexBeemer]

Here is a site that you can check out. It tells you how to remove the trim which will help you get closer to your stereo. It also has some other good info.

Good luck.

http://www.e46fanatics.com/howto/howto.php

[clarkinc]

Originally posted by Steinalero@Apr 3 2005, 06:26 PM
Im just wondering 1) how to remove the factory stereo (a site with some pictures would be most helpful) and 2) if anyone knows any good subwoofers that would hook into the stock radio. I know about basslink but I've heard that theres too much bass and not enough treble. I was thinking I would get a new head unit but I don't know how good that would look in a bimmer. Any suggestions? Thanks

[snapback]324706[/snapback]

Once the snap-on trim is removed, its pretty easy to get to the head unit. Just make sure the snaps stay in-tact because they are very easy to break (pretty sure they are no more than 30 cents at the dealer). As far as too much bass in your system I would worry about that too much. BMW makes a huge effort to make sure the cabin in quiet, especially from road noise. Depending on the way that you mount them, you are going to loose alot of sound form the insulation and back seat alone so just the power form the head unit is not going to turn your vehicle into a bass machine.

Now if you just want to just replace your rear speakers with better or more heavy duty ones you are looking for just woofers (Sub-woofers have two voice coils and beg for power) but too musch power in deck mounting can cause vibration and clatter in the rear of your vehicle. The rear of your above the rear deck along the wall houses sensitive equipment such as modulaters, defrost, radio reception boosters to name a few, so you definately don't want to put cause malfuction in anything.

[PMB]

The stock stereo is quite easy to remove. The silver/wood trim can be gently prised off starting from the passenger door end. Use something blunt like the handle of a teaspoon. Once removed there are a couple of screws holding the head unit in place. Remove these and the HU just slides out.

The weak part of the stock system is the speakers. If you replace the speakers with some good quality ones it will sound a lot better.

I still use the stock system. I replaced the front speakers with some extremely good components and some ok ones in the back (often disconnected). The rear speaker output drives an amp and sub mounted over the ski hatch (so as to not lose trunk space.

Picture attached.

[clarkinc]

Originally posted by PMB@Apr 4 2005, 06:56 AM
The stock stereo is quite easy to remove. The silver/wood trim can be gently prised off starting from the passenger door end. Use something blunt like the handle of a teaspoon. Once removed there are a couple of screws holding the head unit in place. Remove these and the HU just slides out.

The weak part of the stock system is the speakers. If you replace the speakers with some good quality ones it will sound a lot better.

I still use the stock system. I replaced the front speakers with some extremely good components and some ok ones in the back (often disconnected). The rear speaker output drives an amp and sub mounted over the ski hatch (so as to not lose trunk space.

Picture attached.

[snapback]325085[/snapback]

That looks good!!! Not too much and not too little.

I actually have a DVD player in the same location operating the two in my head rest.

[Steinalero]

Hey thanks everyone, I just took the head unit out, it was incredibly easy. I think I will replace the speakers and might add a sub. One of my speakers is blown anyway so i should probably replace them. Thanks again everyone.