The Random E46/ZHP Question Thread

Yeah, I don't think anyone here is making the snake-oil super-audiophile argument. It is, as UWISHU says, absolutely apparent to some when source quality is degraded. In fact, for me, the only take-away from the audiophile world is that losses in quality early in the system chain will be exasperated down the line. So, if your source (e.g. iPhone AUX vs. digital iPhone out) is less quality, the cables, amps, and speakers will only ADD to the distortion, and CAN NEVER make up for the deficiency. On the other hand, a known optimal source allows you to tweak later components (e.g. individual speakers) to improve the final sound.

Like food or wine, though, some folks will never really care about the diminishing returns of incremental quality increases. Frankly, that's probably better for their sanity.



To my original question, it's interesting to see that the non-CD head units are fairly inexpensive, even with "at least OK" audio quality. I'm interested in potentially installing one of these in my ZHP:
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_500UTE5...T.html?tp=5684

or

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_130X560...T.html?tp=5684

Any thoughts or experience with these or similar units, especially when paired with the stock HK sound system?

There is a guy at Crutchfield who upgraded his e46. See if you can reach out to him. One guy there used to have a ZHP too. Might still.


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"ZHP is a garbage option anyway- just some cosmetic upgrades with a different cam and diff to claw back some of the performance lost fitting those hideous and heavy wheels. Any 330 with a 3.46 diff will smoke a ZHP every time. The whole Mafia thing reeks of childish behavior." - an e46f member

Quote:

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Originally Posted by UWISHU1

Respectfully, this isn't me saying so; it's a fact. One of my gripes with younger generations is the decline in appreciation for great sound. Yes, I'd venture it would, indeed, be a majority having difficulty noticing a difference. Me (and plenty of others like me), on the other hand, can absolutely tell the difference in a blind test of compressed vs mostly-uncompressed (CD quality) audio. I'd bet pinks on it.

Now, could I tell the difference between the same file being streamed over a good Bluetooth, auxiliary, or a CD? Only maybe, and probably not.

As far as cabin noise being a factor, yes, that CAN make it harder to appreciate the difference. With that said, though, we're talking about newish BMW's here, not old Hondas. The interior of our cars are actually very quiet. So play a WAV file vs a 128kbps (and sometimes up to 320) inside my ZHP and I'll notice it immediately. I can promise you that. This has a lot to do with my experience with good sound. For so many, you don't know what you're missing. But once you've tasted it done right, car audio included, it's hard to go back :)

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Edit: Never mind, I don't really feel like arguing this. I'll just say I do own plenty of quality audio equipment and my entire collection is stored as lossless. But I maintain that the difference is negligible in an environment like an E46, especially if one is actually paying attention to the road.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BMWCurves

You take that back, Carly Rae Jepson is a Canadian national treasure!

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Pft. It's all about Nickelback and justin beiber.

OK, so I tried searching for this and couldn't find anything relatively current...

Has anybody installed an illuminated shift knob recently? It looks like there used to be an eBay seller selling them very reasonably, but that was years ago and I don't see anything now.

This all started because I want to do a Coby wheel along with knob/boot and parking brake/boot - all at the same time. Then, I happened onto the illuminated knobs. Sweeeet.

So, looking around, it looked like leatherz was about the only option at $260 ($160 plus add'l $100 because the 6MT backlit insert isn't available separately so he has to buy the $100 knob and cannibalize it.) I found another post that referenced using an F10 M5 knob with boot reattachment, but it looks like those are up on $200 now. Not really caring for the idea of spending $200-250 on a knob just to have it lighted.

Anything I'm missing?

Thanks!

SC

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ecrabb

OK, so I tried searching for this and couldn't find anything relatively current...

Has anybody installed an illuminated shift knob recently? It looks like there used to be an eBay seller selling them very reasonably, but that was years ago and I don't see anything now.

This all started because I want to do a Coby wheel along with knob/boot and parking brake/boot - all at the same time. Then, I happened onto the illuminated knobs. Sweeeet.

So, looking around, it looked like leatherz was about the only option at $260 ($160 plus add'l $100 because the 6MT backlit insert isn't available separately so he has to buy the $100 knob and cannibalize it.) I found another post that referenced using an F10 M5 knob with boot reattachment, but it looks like those are up on $200 now. Not really caring for the idea of spending $200-250 on a knob just to have it lighted.

Anything I'm missing?

Thanks!

SC

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http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3287

Sent from my SM-G925V using Tapatalk

I installed one last year and recently removed it. I need to determine if I'm selling it... I don't think it was a ZHP knob.


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"ZHP is a garbage option anyway- just some cosmetic upgrades with a different cam and diff to claw back some of the performance lost fitting those hideous and heavy wheels. Any 330 with a 3.46 diff will smoke a ZHP every time. The whole Mafia thing reeks of childish behavior." - an e46f member

Why did you remove it, didn't like the illumination or it being possibly a non-ZHP knob?

Hit up cakM3 for the source for this part. He told my son where to get one last Xmas, yes we ripped off the M5 boot, then replaced with the ZHP boot, and wired it in. Only took 10-15 minutes from start to finish, an easy mod.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BCS_ZHP

Hit up cakM3 for the source for this part. He told my son where to get one last Xmas, yes we ripped off the M5 boot, then replaced with the ZHP boot, and wired it in. Only took 10-15 minutes from start to finish, an easy mod.

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ecrabb, I have a friend who can get this part cheaper than what you have posted if you're interested :thumbsup I just need to confirm before giving you a definite...I should be able to find out by Thursday....