530xi Wagon speaker question

[530xi]

Hey guys I want to upgrade my speakers. What sizes and where are they located?

Thanks..

[BimmerE39]

What kind of system do you have stock? Is it standard or is it the premium? Do you plan on adding outboard amplifiers? Or do you just simply want to drop in speakers? Are you adding sub woofers?

I ask these questions because it's almost impossible to answer your original question without additional detailed information.

[530xi]

Originally Posted by BimmerE39

What kind of system do you have stock? Is it standard or is it the premium? Do you plan on adding outboard amplifiers? Or do you just simply want to drop in speakers? Are you adding sub woofers?

I ask these questions because it's almost impossible to answer your original question without additional detailed information.

Yeah I was kind of vague..

it's the premium 7S stereo.. i think it's called.

It has nav, CD changer and SAT... I want o hange out theamps, I have some JL Audio equipment I want to install and I am going to have a customer box fabricated

Hope this is more help..

[BimmerE39]

Good, now we can get down to specifics.

First thing, if you don't have a JL Audio Clean Sweep OEM integration unit, you will definitely want to pick one up ASAP (more specifically the CL441dsp) as the factory iDrive system and factory amplifier have preamp levels that will make it next to impossible to properly tune outboard amplifiers correctly.

Speaker locations on the wagon are in several areas. In the front you have a 6.5" mid driver in the kick panel by the feet followed by a 3" mid bass in the door along with a 1" tweeter. There are very few aftermarket component systems offering a 3 way system.

In the rear you have two speakers in the headliner above the passenger seats and slightly behind. I believe those are 5 1/4" mid drivers and the tweeters should be located in the rear doors.

I also believe there are two 6" sub woofers in the front under the passenger seats, those will need to be disconnected/removed as they will no longer be necessary if you plan to add component subs in the rear.

[530xi]

Originally Posted by BimmerE39

Good, now we can get down to specifics.

First thing, if you don't have a JL Audio Clean Sweep OEM integration unit, you will definitely want to pick one up ASAP (more specifically the CL441dsp) as the factory iDrive system and factory amplifier have preamp levels that will make it next to impossible to properly tune outboard amplifiers correctly.

Speaker locations on the wagon are in several areas. In the front you have a 6.5" mid driver in the kick panel by the feet followed by a 3" mid bass in the door along with a 1" tweeter. There are very few aftermarket component systems offering a 3 way system.

In the rear you have two speakers in the headliner above the passenger seats and slightly behind. I believe those are 5 1/4" mid drivers and the tweeters should be located in the rear doors.

I also believe there are two 6" sub woofers in the front under the passenger seats, those will need to be disconnected/removed as they will no longer be necessary if you plan to add component subs in the rear.

Thank you man.. That is really helpful..

OK I was looking into the clean sweep integration.. I wasn't sure if it was really needed but many people have pointed me towards it...

Well I guess speakers now will follow and most importantly the custom enclosure...

[BimmerE39]

Believe me when I say the Clean Sweep makes a huge difference. Like I said, it will be impossible to properly tune the amps because the stock pre-amp signals from the iDrive system are way out of whack. However, Clean Sweep adjusts the levels to the correct level allowing you to tune the amps and the rest of the system precisely. Since most cars are coming with integrated systems like the iDrive, more and more products like the Clean Sweep are becoming common with installations. I heard a system at a local audio shop in a 2008 M5 and it was backed off of the Clean Sweep unit. Quite frankly it sounded absolutely phenomenal.

[530xi]

I have an appointment in a week to have the shop draw and design something out.. Especially regarding the enclosure I am looking to do...

I do not want a box in the back, so a custom one will be the way to go...

Mids and highs are being tossed around.. Boston Pros vs. JL Audio.... Not sure

[BimmerE39]

Both Boston Acoustics and JL Audio make good systems, so you can't go wrong either way...