[Silverbmw328]

I've bought the Alpine retro fit kit but while I'm installing it I'm going to upgrade the under seat woofer to either Hertz of earthquake with an amp. The install is pretty straight forward and my only question is where is the best place to pick up the audio input from the head unit to the amp and what channel do I use, front rear or existing lines into the woofers ?

Cheers
Andy

[AlanQS]

As I understand it, the Alpine unit has two outputs specifically for the subs so just use them for your new subs.

[parapaul]

Originally Posted by AlanQS

As I understand it, the Alpine unit has two outputs specifically for the subs so just use them for your new subs.

Exactly this.

You don't need any extra feeds or any extra amps - everything's taken care of with the looms supplied. All you need to do, if you choose to, is ugrade the subs themselves.

[Silverbmw328]

Thanks guys, I'd be lost without this site..

Just to be clear, all I do is change the Subs and the feeds will sort themselves out within the install of the Alpine kit ?

If so it's off to search for the subs.

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by Silverbmw328

Thanks guys, I'd be lost without this site..

Just to be clear, all I do is change the Subs and the feeds will sort themselves out within the install of the Alpine kit ?

If so it's off to search for the subs.

If you have ONLY alpine kit, they will sound better with L7/ hi-fi subs.
Earthquakes (SWS-8) will be underpowered (150w each) with alpine amplifier (80W max). You can get away with it, but 2 disadvantages:

a) Additional load on alpine amp on max volume.
b) You will never listen to true potential of SWS-8s.


I have listened music in following cars:
1- Alpine kit with OEM base subs
2- Alpine kit with hi-fi subs
3- Alpine kit with hi-fi subs and HU coded to Hi-fi
4- Aftermarket Amp with components + SWS-8s

Comparing alpine kits, 3rd options sounds best. Hi-fi subs with alpine kit + coded HU brings best combination.

However if you like punchy bass, SWS-8s are must upgrade and will hardly sound reasonable with Alpine kit.

[BanziBarn]

When you say Hifi subs, are these BMW subs from an upgraded factory setup?

Also, what does the coding of the head unit do?

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by BanziBarn

When you say Hifi subs, are these BMW subs from an upgraded factory setup?

Also, what does the coding of the head unit do?

Hi-fi subs are bmw oem setup.
Tom sold plenty of them in Uk classified and they sound great.
Hi-fi coding takes out bmw pathetic equaliser settings and convert output of HU to low level balanced output (input to alpine amplifier). Ultimately you end up with less distortion on high volume.

[Silverbmw328]

Great.. and so to my origianl question then..

Where can pick up the audio line in to the "after market" amp I'll need for the earthquakes ?

And if I did go option 3, how do you git the hu re coded ?

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by Silverbmw328

Great.. and so to my origianl question then..

Where can pick up the audio line in to the "after market" amp I'll need for the earthquakes ?

Best bet is to get Technics harness from states.
If not, then it really depends on you.
You will require signals from front channel, which you can get from the back of HU or from the sub connectors.

Originally Posted by Silverbmw328

And if I did go option 3, how do you git the hu re coded ?

You can ask your local dealer, if they can help with coding.
Or you can try coders in your region from sticky thread 'Coders in UK'.
Make sure whoever does the job, should do it properly with bmw softwares, otherwise it is very likely that if your car get modules update, your coding will be wiped.
HTH.

[AdrianSi]

Originally Posted by makkan00

If you have ONLY alpine kit, they will sound better with L7/ hi-fi subs.
Earthquakes (SWS-8) will be underpowered (150w each) with alpine amplifier (80W max). You can get away with it, but 2 disadvantages:

a) Additional load on alpine amp on max volume.
b) You will never listen to true potential of SWS-8s.


I have listened music in following cars:
1- Alpine kit with OEM base subs
2- Alpine kit with hi-fi subs
3- Alpine kit with hi-fi subs and HU coded to Hi-fi
4- Aftermarket Amp with components + SWS-8s

Comparing alpine kits, 3rd options sounds best. Hi-fi subs with alpine kit + coded HU brings best combination.

However if you like punchy bass, SWS-8s are must upgrade and will hardly sound reasonable with Alpine kit.

You only want to be using the L7 subs with the alpine upgrade as they are 4ohm where as the Hi-Fi (loudspeaker Business) are 2ohm.

[makkan00]

My bad. I meant to say 4ohm bmw susb, whether they are from L7 or hi-fi, they are great.

[BanziBarn]

How much is a set of L7s? Are these 100% plug and play - Could a Numpty fit them?! (i.e me) Do you need to remove the seats to fit them?

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by BanziBarn

How much is a set of L7s? Are these 100% plug and play - Could a Numpty fit them?! (i.e me) Do you need to remove the seats to fit them?

I dont know what is production date of your car, but considering it is LCI, you will require new subs.

Read this posting and it will give you idea what you should be looking to upgrade.

You will require T50 to open your front seats, and just by tilting you can change your subs + enclosures.

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by Silverbmw328

Great.. and so to my origianl question then..

Where can pick up the audio line in to the "after market" amp I'll need for the earthquakes ?

And if I did go option 3, how do you git the hu re coded ?

If you already have Alpine kit and have not bought SWS-8s, then it would be wiser to get L7 subs and go with all OEM route with alpine kit.

[BanziBarn]

Originally Posted by makkan00

I dont know what is production date of your car, but considering it is LCI, you will require new subs.

Read this posting and it will give you idea what you should be looking to upgrade.

You will require T50 to open your front seats, and just by tilting you can change your subs + enclosures.

Thanks for that. I have a 2009 LCI so by the sounds of it I need a new housing as well as the L7 subs as my current subs are bonded to the housing so can't be removed seperately.

Very tempting!

[magic77]

just curious been toying with sws-8s for my L7 kit but reading this bit confused. Previously I recall few posts talking about SWS for L7 kits and it mentions they should be teh 2Ohm version if you have the OEM L7 kit.
But reading this it seems they need to be 4ohm whcih leaves me pretyy much confused whcih is the right solution

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by magic77

just curious been toying with sws-8s for my L7 kit but reading this bit confused. Previously I recall few posts talking about SWS for L7 kits and it mentions they should be teh 2Ohm version if you have the OEM L7 kit.
But reading this it seems they need to be 4ohm whcih leaves me pretyy much confused whcih is the right solution

As Adrian pointed out, if you have L7 system, you have 4ohm subs, so you should be looking to have 4ohm version of SWS-8s.

In all honesty, it is not going to make much difference, if you will stay with stock amplifier, and your subs are already pretty reasonable.

However if you have hi-fi, they come with 2ohm subs, and in that case, you will require 2ohm version of SWS-8s.

[magic77]

Thanks thats the joy of searches you find lots but not always right

what I find with the stock L7 subs is they max out when on high volume and distor the sounds. I almost need to re setup the sound somehow to force less base into the mids in the doors as I fear I might pop another one soon.

Plan was to do the subs first and then look at if needed a dedicated amp.,

Looking around foound these ground zero subs though not sure if they are worth it at all comparing to the l7

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/grou...zmw200neo.html

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by magic77

Thanks thats the joy of searches you find lots but not always right

what I find with the stock L7 subs is they max out when on high volume and distor the sounds. I almost need to re setup the sound somehow to force less base into the mids in the doors as I fear I might pop another one soon.

Plan was to do the subs first and then look at if needed a dedicated amp.,

Looking around foound these ground zero subs though not sure if they are worth it at all comparing to the l7

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/grou...zmw200neo.html

If you have L7 setup and factory fitted amp, then don't you think that you will be making things more difficult for yourself by adding aftermarket amp for SWS-8s.

Sub which you mentioned in your link can be straight swap as its 100W and can be powered by factory amp, however depth is 59mm.
SWS-8s measures approx 52 mm, and it requires spacer of 2-3 mm or modification of OEM subs enclosures.
So comparing to SWS8s, these subs will defo require bracket / spacers.

Before you make any move, you should see if you have new subs which are permanently fitted in enclosures, as if you do so, then upgrading to these subs seems bit of a dream.

[mob17]

I have some spare sub enclosures im willing to sell if interested.

[parapaul]

Originally Posted by magic77

Thanks thats the joy of searches you find lots but not always right

what I find with the stock L7 subs is they max out when on high volume and distor the sounds. I almost need to re setup the sound somehow to force less base into the mids in the doors as I fear I might pop another one soon.

Plan was to do the subs first and then look at if needed a dedicated amp.,

Looking around foound these ground zero subs though not sure if they are worth it at all comparing to the l7

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/grou...zmw200neo.html

Originally Posted by makkan00

If you have L7 setup and factory fitted amp, then don't you think that you will be making things more difficult for yourself by adding aftermarket amp for SWS-8s.

Sub which you mentioned in your link can be straight swap as its 100W and can be powered by factory amp, however depth is 59mm.
SWS-8s measures approx 52 mm, and it requires spacer of 2-3 mm or modification of OEM subs enclosures.
So comparing to SWS8s, these subs will defo require bracket / spacers.

Before you make any move, you should see if you have new subs which are permanently fitted in enclosures, as if you do so, then upgrading to these subs seems bit of a dream.

CAD also sell Ground Zero adaptor brackets specifically for these subs. They're sold as a BMW direct replacement so should fit perfectly.

[AdrianSi]

Originally Posted by magic77

Thanks thats the joy of searches you find lots but not always right

what I find with the stock L7 subs is they max out when on high volume and distor the sounds. I almost need to re setup the sound somehow to force less base into the mids in the doors as I fear I might pop another one soon.

Plan was to do the subs first and then look at if needed a dedicated amp.,

Looking around foound these ground zero subs though not sure if they are worth it at all comparing to the l7

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/grou...zmw200neo.html

With the Logic7 set up you have the perfect opportunity to do this by tweaking the EQ. Have you tried taking the lowest couple of band on the EQ below the 0, increase the volume then just tweak them up until they reach their maximum?