BSW Stage 1 Audio Package E39 info

[The Bimmerhead]

I'm thinking about upgrading my stock DSP audio system to the BSW Stage 1. Has anyone else done it here and is there a DIY/Reviews for the package? Also, should i get the subwoofer package as well or is it not needed?

[DocPeters540]

If you like music with bass, get the BSW sub kit first. If not, go with the speakers. My friend has both for his M3, and let me say that it is incredible. You will not be disappointed with BSW, whatever you choose to go with.

Search postings by JCDM3...he did a DIY review for the BSW sub kit. Same concept, just an M3. Same system, too, I believe. It looks the same.

[jdjg]

Does BSW stage 1 are better than M Audio???

[DocPeters540]

It is as good if not better.

[razahyde]

bsw is garage, i had the speakers in my M and i couldnt tell any difference other then the tweeters being ear piercing.

the sub i dont know about, but if you have DSP already then id upgrade to the M audio subs instead. they are plug and play sound worlds better then the nokia box. also a third of the price BSW charges for the sub setup.

[jdjg]

bsw is garage, i had the speakers in my M and i couldnt tell any difference other then the tweeters being ear piercing.

the sub i dont know about, but if you have DSP already then id upgrade to the M audio subs instead. they are plug and play sound worlds better then the nokia box. also a third of the price BSW charges for the sub setup.

Hi raza, hey bro respond my PM......

[razahyde]

sent request

[nine9six]

bsw is garage, i had the speakers in my M and i couldnt tell any difference other then the tweeters being ear piercing.

the sub i dont know about, but if you have DSP already then id upgrade to the M audio subs instead. they are plug and play sound worlds better then the nokia box. also a third of the price BSW charges for the sub setup.

I have to agree with Razahyde on the speaker kits. I have heard it once in a e46 and both myself and the owner of the e46 cannot tell the difference between the BSW and stock. This was on a all stock stereo. However, I have never heard their subwoofer kit.

Raza, where can I get the M audio and how much do they usually run?

[Cyrix2k]

Speakers are a very personal preference; I wouldn't buy anything until you hear it in person first. I like laid back, not in your face, highs with strong/tight bass and slightly recessed mids.

[Zeros and Ones]

Everyone that I have talked to so far has always been pleased with BSW. I have not heard that many complaints.

I am going to dive in and get their stage 1 and sub kit for my car. I am most likely going to order it this week. Hope I get a hold of Houlton.

Once everything is in and tuned, I will report back.

[The Bimmerhead]

Everyone that I have talked to so far has always been pleased with BSW. I have not heard that many complaints.

I am going to dive in and get their stage 1 and sub kit for my car. I am most likely going to order it this week. Hope I get a hold of Houlton.

Once everything is in and tuned, I will report back.
how soon are you doing this? i want to see other people's feedback before diving in a >$1200 system sans a head-unit.

[E39Saloon]

There are a few DIY videos on youtube from the BSW workshop. There very well documented and the guy narrates pretty well.

[Zeros and Ones]

how soon are you doing this? i want to see other people's feedback before diving in a >$12,00 system sans a head-unit.

I am going to buy everything this week. Maybe it will take about 2 weeks to get to me since I am in CA and it is coming from Florida and If they have no backorder issues, as soon as I get it after I order I will do the install myself.

It does not seem to difficult since it is plug and play.

Many people have told me it is expensive and that I can get better for less. But this is plug and play and I have nothing to worry about and I will pay the extra just for that.

[The Bimmerhead]

I am going to buy everything this week. Maybe it will take about 2 weeks to get to me since I am in CA and it is coming from Florida and If they have no backorder issues, as soon as I get it after I order I will do the install myself.

It does not seem to difficult since it is plug and play.

Many people have told me it is expensive and that I can get better for less. But this is plug and play and I have nothing to worry about and I will pay the extra just for that.
hey let us know how it goes and take plenty pics!

[alexONE]

Raza, where can I get the M audio and how much do they usually run?

+1

[Zeros and Ones]

hey let us know how it goes and take plenty pics!

As noted by someone else here, you can go directly to their website and they have videos you can watch. Give great step by step process.

Wish they would do the same for the sub install but the instructions that you download from their website is more than enough to get the job done.

[taggart]

I have the stage 1 in mine(regular Rainbow tweets). Installation was a pain before I saw the youtube video. The video really helps. Initially I was underwhelmed since it does sound similar to the stock speakers. Once I tweaked the HU bass/treble settings it was then that I found it to be better than stock. More headroom to play with not like the stock speakers which would distort at a bit of bass adjustment. Headroom isn't as high as I want though.(weak stock amp?) Using an Ipod Nano as source btw. The speakers sound best when playing cds.

[xxpanipuri]

i can't speak to the stage 1 kit but i did their 10" sub kit and it sucked...although my rear seats don't fold down so that didn't help...but i couldn't hear the sub at all!

that is the first/last time i'll ever buy something without listening to it...should have listened to my local audio shop....

for around the price of the stage 1 kit (about 100 more actually) i got focal components and arc audio amp for mids/highs....

for the 900 bucks (including tax/shipping) paid for the sub kit i could have gotten something alot better!

[Cyrix2k]

i can't speak to the stage 1 kit but i did their 10" sub kit and it sucked...although my rear seats don't fold down so that didn't help...but i couldn't hear the sub at all!

that is the first/last time i'll ever buy something without listening to it...should have listened to my local audio shop....

for around the price of the stage 1 kit (about 100 more actually) i got focal components and arc audio amp for mids/highs....

for the 900 bucks (including tax/shipping) paid for the sub kit i could have gotten something alot better!
I paid 34.95 at walmart for a 12" sub, ~$20 for MDF (which I built three boxes from), and $50 for a 1200w RMS amp and it sounds like it hits harder than the BSW. I'm using a five channel amp with ~200w RMS going to the sub and it gets fairly loud; it used to vibrate my Caprice but the BMW is damped well enough it doesn't vibrate (much). I'll be going to either a single 10" or dual 10s soon, but they'll be of higher quality.

I should mention I have the ski pass, but it's blocked by the ski bag which is folded up. It probably lets more sound through then steel though.

[taylorwilsdon]

My stereo cost less all in but sounds considerably better than the BSW kitted car I heard. Their claim to fame is that their kit works well with the factory amp, which very few aftermarket speakers do. My solution? Buy better aftermarket speakers and also replace the crappy factory amp...

[chucksrt]

Most of the replies really make you want to second guess the BSW kits!!! It's normally never good if you don't listen to them prior buying! What's the max depth for the 5.25" in the front and rears, also Are the factory speaker compartments sealed? if so does anyone know the internal volume of the enclosures?

[Smokin 540]

it's hard to get around the DSP unit to build in a nice aftermarket system. (amp, speakers, etc). There are solutions for a DSP workaround like JL cleansweep and others like it. If you are planning to keep the DSP then the BSW stage 1 kit is a good upgrade. Anything more, you'll have to do a comp upgrade to the audio system.

[legitsnowe39]

ive heard BSW in several cars, one e39 and ill say it sounds much better than stock. But to be honest my aftermarket system sounds a million times better. But getting 2 aftermarkets amplifiers, and spending 2000 dollars total on the entire system probably isn't what you may want to do. But let me tell you my headunit goes to 35/35 and i can hear it perfectly clear. Even with a 12 inch W6 pounding my car away, its clear as the chirp of a bird early in the morning, and the deep growl of a coyote at night :). In no means is my sub the best you can get. But ill be honest sound quality on a W6 is amazing, its not just a giant BOOM ( it can be if u choose to turn up the gain and settings) but it goes perfectly with the music. Only downside is loosing a little bit of my trunk... but its such a big trunk who cares... i never use it anyways.

[Gopher2k]

I've got the stage 1 in my 540i w/ M5 subs. The speakers are OK. If I could do it again, I'd just swap the front drivers and tweeters for half the price or go the MB Quartz/other aftermarket route. Its not worth the money imo.

Also, the M5 subs are a major disappointment.

[chucksrt]

MB Quart was bought out last year and their speakers are not as good as they used to be. Focal are nice but the French have one too many bad days when manufacturing (too much wine and cheese) and they have large batches of less than perfect speakers. I like bostons but they have deep mounting requirements. As for subs you can't go wrong with TC Sounds. I do not have DSP but plan on staying with the factory headunit and using what "smokin540" said the JL cleansweep which is excellent for cleaning up the factory signal and adding aftermarket amps, the only downfall is that there are only two rca outputs "would prefer 3 rca outs"

[xxpanipuri]

yea the bsw speakers match up well to the DSP amp....but you're better off replacing the dsp amp...i yanked mine out and found the 5volt preamp output (2 channel) from my factory stereo and fed that into an EQ and am running focal components with arc audio amp for mids/highs and i have a cheap orion amp and the jl audio prowedge box that swaps between the bmw and my DD toyota.....

i'm looking at the slim mount jl w5 and a jl 1000/1 mono amp...cuz with the prowedge in the trunk i have a hard time getting my kids stroller in the car....

[The Bimmerhead]

My stereo cost less all in but sounds considerably better than the BSW kitted car I heard. Their claim to fame is that their kit works well with the factory amp, which very few aftermarket speakers do. My solution? Buy better aftermarket speakers and also replace the crappy factory amp...


ive heard BSW in several cars, one e39 and ill say it sounds much better than stock. But to be honest my aftermarket system sounds a million times better. But getting 2 aftermarkets amplifiers, and spending 2000 dollars total on the entire system probably isn't what you may want to do. But let me tell you my headunit goes to 35/35 and i can hear it perfectly clear. Even with a 12 inch W6 pounding my car away, its clear as the chirp of a bird early in the morning, and the deep growl of a coyote at night :). In no means is my sub the best you can get. But ill be honest sound quality on a W6 is amazing, its not just a giant BOOM ( it can be if u choose to turn up the gain and settings) but it goes perfectly with the music. Only downside is loosing a little bit of my trunk... but its such a big trunk who cares... i never use it anyways.

im interested in you guys' set up. Which route did you go? and how much money is needed for a good system (crisp sounding/mean bass)?

[Smokin 540]

yea the bsw speakers match up well to the DSP amp....but you're better off replacing the dsp amp...i yanked mine out and found the 5volt preamp output (2 channel) from my factory stereo and fed that into an EQ and am running focal components with arc audio amp for mids/highs and i have a cheap orion amp and the jl audio prowedge box that swaps between the bmw and my DD toyota.....

i'm looking at the slim mount jl w5 and a jl 1000/1 mono amp...cuz with the prowedge in the trunk i have a hard time getting my kids stroller in the car....


Could you elaborate more on this please...you mentioned that you yankedout the DSC amp...did this affect the OBC? is there a write up somewhere about this? also where did u find the preamp output? Thanks

[Cyrix2k]

The OBC will continue to function without the DSP amp.

[TheSparo]

i bought 2 sets of the blaukpunkt (sp?) component sets from 12V Electronics and am extremely happy. I also bought 2 of their 4 ch amps and hooked up the other amp to the blaukpunkt subs (2) in a sealed box, and LOVE the way it sounds... all for less than it would have cost for the BSW kits!!

http://www.12velectronics.com/servlet/StoreFront

[The Bimmerhead]

Out of topic but where can I get a double-din bezel?

[legitsnowe39]

I spent 500 bucks for a used w6 and jbl amp combo with 4 gauge jl audio wiring kit. I have one set of alpine type r components in front and a. Set ofthe same but coaxials in the rear.all are 5.25inch all those are hooked up to a seperate alpine mrp-f600 amp.

My highs and mids gets attention at stop lights then when the unexpected sub hits people freak out or get pissed.it's nice having a system I can hear every tune no matter how hard my sub is hittin.every drive is sex to my ears.except I played it too loud and my ears hurt at times. Nothing distorts no matter how loud.

[Endo Ed]

omg so i just got my kit and threw it in! so easy for any DIY person! how much easier can they make it! they give you step by step instructions with pics! and a toolkit that is of the highest qualty that makes it so easy! im very impressed. I own a car repair shop and never have gotten a product this nice with instructions and tools! also the door tool inc is better than my snap on one that i think i paid 65$+ for and i got the toolkit for FREE so how do you beat that! But enough about that the main point here......SOUND.... im hearing notes i never knew existed! im blow away by the sound and clarity of these speakers! guess it helps when they are made to exact spec of ohms, size and all! the last thing i wanted to do is fumble with fitment that was a huge decision in going with this set.. knowing what i know now i wouldnt even think of any other speaker for my M5 Ever! didnt take me long at all to do the front doors took minutes the rear doors a tad longer cause i have sun shades but once you figure that out its CAKE.. just make sure you crimp down the oe connectors a little so they are tight enough they dont pull off easily.. and the little tweeters dont strip the bolt they give you.. you dont need to cram it just snug it it has a lock ring lol! yes i did that! found a spare in junk drawer.. the rear deck is a little tricky dont give up and flip out... if have sunshade just remember the studs that stick down through the metal deck lid have to be pushed up through with a phillips or something then it should pull forward after you do all the other stuff then its easy.. get a hand under the cover to hold the sunshade as you pull forward cause it weighs it down..... there are so many videos and instructions from bavsound you wont have any issues trust me its so easy.... so i got them on sale i think 447 and it was the best dam money i have spent on that car and knowing it will last forever makes it all worth it! i was amazed at the quality of everything in the package inc the speakers! they are sick! really good feel to them, top quality! i am blasting the stereo full blast and no distortion it sounds amazing its too lud i have to drop it down a little or my ears hurt! im just so glad i did this! i never knew my speakers were this Shot! im amazed every time i drive it now, i was missing out on so much!
also they have the best customer service and are the nicest people over there at BavSound! i wish i got a sticker or something i would rock it on my car because im that happy! Thanks again BAVSOUND every bmw owner should have this upgrade! and its only 447 can buy much for our cars for that price!
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