H/K speakers are shot... Just replace them or BSW Stage I?

[sna77]

I'm not a huge audiophile, but my speakers are blown and are driving me nuts listening to scratchy music all the time...

I don't want to start adding amps or anything else that will require me to tap into the battery of the car, so my thoughts were to either get BSW Stage I or just replace all the H/K speakers with new ones.

BSW Stage I is $699 and looks like it has 10 speakers?
http://www.bavsound.com/product/481/174/BMW-Speakers-Upgrade-Kit-E46-3-Series-Sedan/

http://www.bavsound.com/images/fullsize/481_fs.jpg


Here is the parts list to replace all the H/K speakers:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=EV53&mospid=47725&btnr=65_0471&hg=65&fg=20
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=EV53&mospid=47725&btnr=65_0473&hg=65&fg=20


FRONT DOOR HK
LEFT TOP-HIFI LOUDSPEAKER TWEETER x 1 65138368241 $79.17
RIGHT TOP-HIFI LOUDSPEAKER TWEETER x1 65138368242 $79.17
Top-hifi system woofer (frt door) x2 65138368244 $79.17
MID-RANGE LOUDSPEAKER SCHWARZ x2 65138368243 $133.07

REAR DOOR
TOP-HIFI MID-RANGE LOUDSPEAKER x2 65138368245 $82.87


Which totals $635...

It's actually cheaper to just replace the stock H/K speakers than go BSW... From the reviews it seems like BSW is just a small upgrade over H/K...

Any thoughts on this? My questions:

-Do the BSW speakers looks stock like the H/K ones? i.e just fit behind existing grills, or are they branded differently somehow?
- Anyone have pics of the BSW installed? I want to keep the car as stock as possible.
- What are the 2 extra speakers with the BSW package (or did I miss two H/K speakers)?

Thanks!

[ELCID86]

Lot's of conflicting views on this. Assume you have searched here and e46f. My recollection is that most that have upgraded have not felt they got the bang-for-the-buck they hoped for. I do believe they fit in stock locations w/out mods.

I wish there were more options.

[NorCalZman]

I have been reading the same conflicting reports during my research. It was enough to make me hold off on buying them. Thinking they will improve the kit or i will hear about another brand of speakers that fit in there just as easily.

[johnrando]

No need for an installed pic as the BSWs look exactly like the HK ones, as they are behind the grills. There is NOTHING that fits w/o some work on these except for the BSW. The key deciding factor is, plug and play with no issues but not the bang for the buck you'd want, or go for big sound but you'll have to do research and cut some things. You don't have to get a full stage I, you can just upgrade a few. I did my fronts only, and I bought used to save. It does sound better but it's not dramatic. I'll likely buy a set of rears too.

As far as the extra count, coupes, sedans and verts have some commonality but the whole Stage I is different, so maybe you were looking at a different one?... or maybe it was tweeters or something they were counting. I've got my HKs I'd sell you cheap which were in perfect working condition if you just want to swap out the fronts. I'd have to see if they fit a sedan.

[sna77]

No need for an installed pic as the BSWs look exactly like the HK ones, as they are behind the grills. There is NOTHING that fits w/o some work on these except for the BSW. The key deciding factor is, plug and play with no issues but not the bang for the buck you'd want, or go for big sound but you'll have to do research and cut some things. You don't have to get a full stage I, you can just upgrade a few. I did my fronts only, and I bought used to save. It does sound better but it's not dramatic. I'll likely buy a set of rears too.

As far as the extra count, coupes, sedans and verts have some commonality but the whole Stage I is different, so maybe you were looking at a different one?... or maybe it was tweeters or something they were counting. I've got my HKs I'd sell you cheap which were in perfect working condition if you just want to swap out the fronts. I'd have to see if they fit a sedan.

hmmm... I'd likely replace all the speakers except subs in the sedan. So that's:

- 2 front tweeters
- 2 front woofers
- 2 front midrange
- 2 rear midrange
-------------------
= 8 speakers total

that same right for all sedan owners?

[static667]

Personally, I would avoid the BSW stuff. It is way over priced for the quality. Sure its plug and play with no modding needed but its not worth it. I installed these (http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_61206_Rockford-Fosgate-P16-S.html) Rockford Fosgate speakers in my car. A little modification was needed to adapt them to the factory mounts and they sound way better. Just ask anyone who has been in my car. If you want install instructions, shoot me a PM. Seriously, it would be a 2 on a 1-5 scale.

[static667]

And if you feel like spending a little more, I put these (http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_61208_Rockford-Fosgate-T16-S.html) in Charlie's ///M.

[Yass_ZHP]

I think I might have the same issue with my speakers... not sure what to do either

[midlandtech]

I have a buzz in my drivers side woofer and have been wanting to replace it but figured I would just do them all at that time. I am not too keen on spending 700 dollars the BSW's... wish there was a fairly similar plug and play option.

[ELCID86]

Road trip to Corolla, NC! Look out Static.

[static667]

Road trip to Corolla, NC! Look out Static.

Come on down!

Sent from my TI-85 with Tapatalk 4

[static667]

I think I might have the same issue with my speakers... not sure what to do either





I have a buzz in my drivers side woofer and have been wanting to replace it but figured I would just do them all at that time. I am not too keen on spending 700 dollars the BSW's... wish there was a fairly similar plug and play option.


Seriously guys, the Fosgate speakers are an easy swap and you'll be very happy with the sound quality.

Sent from my TI-85 with Tapatalk 4

[ELCID86]

What about the small ones (tweeters)?

[johnrando]

Kyle's system is AWESOME... he knows what he's talking about.

[Hermes]

John, I would be interested in your stock HK's. I think my drivers door one is going out.

[johnrando]

OK, PM'd.

[sna77]

Personally, I would avoid the BSW stuff. It is way over priced for the quality. Sure its plug and play with no modding needed but its not worth it. I installed these (http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_61206_Rockford-Fosgate-P16-S.html) Rockford Fosgate speakers in my car. A little modification was needed to adapt them to the factory mounts and they sound way better. Just ask anyone who has been in my car. If you want install instructions, shoot me a PM. Seriously, it would be a 2 on a 1-5 scale.

What did you do with the tweeters? How about the back speakers? That first link just looks like it replaces the 2 front door speakers...


And if you feel like spending a little more, I put these (http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_61208_Rockford-Fosgate-T16-S.html) in Charlie's ///M.

That's exactly what I'm looking to avoid doing in my car--no powered amps etc.

[static667]

The front and rear speakers are the same. The tweeters took a little modification for the coupes, I haven't done a sedan yet so I'm not exactly sure the fitment.

Sent from my TI-85 with Tapatalk 4

[cakM3]

And if you feel like spending a little more, I put these (http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_61208_Rockford-Fosgate-T16-S.html) in Charlie's ///M.

Kyle did an awesome job installing my new system.....those who were at this year's reunion meet at Dane's can attest to the sound quality in my ///M :thumbsup


Kyle's system is AWESOME... he knows what he's talking about.

+1000!


What did you do with the tweeters? How about the back speakers? That first link just looks like it replaces the 2 front door speakers...



That's exactly what I'm looking to avoid doing in my car--no powered amps etc.

Steve, you wouldn't get an exact representation since my amps and subwoofers have been completely replaced (much more like totally upgraded) along with all of my speakers but I can tell you that the Rockford Fosgate speakers Kyle installed are top-notch :thumbsup When I upgrade my ZHP's speakers, the Rockford Fosgate speakers will be going in them :thumbsup We should meet up sometime so you can actually hear my speakers in person. I don't regret one moment doing this upgrade!


My vote is in for Kyle being the Mafia stereo guru... ;)

[330i ZHP]

if you want the HK speakers from my touring you are welcome to them. I am replacing them with Focal K2s