E39 sound system

[numbnuts]

Any suggestions on how to improve my sound system on my e39 540 for a car that cost over £42,000 new it sounds crap!
Used to have a grand cherokee with a infinity gold system and that sounded fantastic!

[hughjayteens]

Contact www.prestige-audio.co.uk and have your credit card at the ready!

The owner has an E39 M5 that sounds better than any home hifi I have yet to hear!

[sohlman]

If you want to get a great system you will need to go aftermarket as the standard system has no rca pre outs enabling decent amplifiers and such like to be added. It all really depends on your budget. If you have £500 you could add a sub if your have £5000 you can have a mobile DJ. Its horses for corses

[numbnuts]

Thanks chaps looks i better get saving then.

[laingy]

Just spoken to prstige audio, and will cost about £1200 to upgarde the amplification and speakers in the car, then about another £700 to upgarde the head unit (keeping the sat nav and TV) and CD changer.

So start saving lots

[bluechim]

My 540 had the BWM recommended upgrade and it was really good! Its worth seing what their hi-fi upgrade costs before you start changing it from standard!

[laingy]

I had the harman kardon on a 330 and not that impressed with that, bass was very poor, the standard sound from my 530, is awful. Not even worth listening to. I am off to prestige soon.

[john_p]

I used Prestige for an install in my 330 and I was very happy with the work they did..

Only downside was I got a parking ticket outside their shop in Rayners Lane, but only because I didn't pay and display anyway they've moved to a site in Rickmansworth now, lots of parking!

>> Edited by john_p on Tuesday 6th April 21:13

[laingy]

What was the install? and was the improvements worth the money.

regards

[john_p]

I supplied my own head unit, DSP/EQ system, two changers and one amp.

I spent about £2k which got me 2x10" Diamond subwoofers, 2x6.5" component Diamond front speakers, a DLS A5 amplifier (3 channel) and all my kit installed. The amplifiers/DSP were fitted onto the back seats on a trimmed panel and the subwoofers were mounted below the rear parcel shelf, again on a trimmed panel. The rear shelf had to be 'vented' and then retrimmed. It took two days.

When I changed cars I removed all the kit myself and was very happy with the way they'd done things - it will be going back into my M3 at some point.. I have satnav though which makes matters tricky and also the dog peed on the subwoofers on their panel whilst they were propped up in the garage

It sounded amazing. Once I had set up the EQ/time delay correctly (using a laptop, SPL meter and test disc) music sounded superb, the bi-amplification of the front speakers meant that I could delay each speaker to sound exactly the same distance from the driver's seat. This really projected the sound forward in the car. Great stuff. It also went up to about 130dB as well if pushed (but I value my ears too much).

>> Edited by john_p on Wednesday 7th April 15:23

[Rico]

laingy said:

I had the harman kardon on a 330 and not that impressed with that, bass was very poor, the standard sound from my 530, is awful. Not even worth listening to. I am off to prestige soon.

langy,

any news on your audio upgrade?

Rico

[Laingy]

Due to visit prestige some time in the future, once baby and golfing duties allow me some spare time. And must go and look for another run around too.