Time to move to the next issue on the Z3.
The previous owner (before the dealer that sold it to me) ripped the factory radio out and replaced it with a Starsound piece of trash, and they seem to also have replaced at least some of the speakers. Unfortunately they also seem to have done a horrendous job. The FR channel plays on the FL speaker. The RF speaker and everything in both doors are dead, and they stuck larger speakers into the rear (at least they preserved the original small round grilles). Also, the RL speaker surround hits against the grill mounting ring, so I'll have to sort that out.
Now that I'm done mentioning those issues, on to the questions:
1. Should I try to get OEM rear speakers (if I can), or should I just find a way to get the speaker to not hit the grill mounting ring?
2. Is the standard 2.8 Z3 supposed to have mids in the doors, or only tweeters? Because only the tweeters are actually visible.
3. Will it be easy enough to find the correct wires behind the radio (seeing how many speakers it has, and I'm also not sure if the non-HK had an amp), or should I rather have a car audio shop look into it?
1999 BMW Z3 2.8 Roadster - show project
1970 VW 411L Auto - show/restoration project (sold)
1982 BMW 518i E12/8 - stolen
1987 Mazda 323 1.5 SL - daily driver, backup show car
1. No 2 yes 3. Look in the trunk behind the passenger side liner for the stock amp. All the speaker wiring goes there.
Thanks. By passenger side, I assume you mean right (driver side for me)?
EDIT: I couldn't get all the carpets completely out, but all I could find was the ragtop pump (left), some unit on the left in that "hole" by the light, and the CD shuttle (which is a 12 disc JVC, with no cartridge). There doesn't seem to be anything on the right side of the car.
Last edited by JKuhn; 10-18-2017 at 11:46 AM.
1999 BMW Z3 2.8 Roadster - show project
1970 VW 411L Auto - show/restoration project (sold)
1982 BMW 518i E12/8 - stolen
1987 Mazda 323 1.5 SL - daily driver, backup show car
Ah rhd car. Check the "port" side trunk behind the liner. If starboard side had the top pump it will be on the opposite side
But does the normal (not Harman Kardon) system have an amp? I tried to find it, but all it has on that side is a carpet that seems to match the bodywork (I couldn't get it completely out, but I managed to check most of what's underneath), and that storage bowl in the floor (with only the spare wheel nut/bolt under that). I can take some pictures tomorrow if needed.
1999 BMW Z3 2.8 Roadster - show project
1970 VW 411L Auto - show/restoration project (sold)
1982 BMW 518i E12/8 - stolen
1987 Mazda 323 1.5 SL - daily driver, backup show car
The previous owner may have removed the stock amp. I can't say whether the non hk have a remote amp as both of mine (99 2.3 & 2000 m) had them. Do you have the sub between the seats or the oddment box
No sub. Just the two compartments.
1999 BMW Z3 2.8 Roadster - show project
1970 VW 411L Auto - show/restoration project (sold)
1982 BMW 518i E12/8 - stolen
1987 Mazda 323 1.5 SL - daily driver, backup show car
UPDATE: I disconnected the rear speakers (I couldn't get them out without removing the roll hoops), all I know so far is that they are JBL, and about the size of the small round grilles. Then I ran some wire and shoved some of these in the car as a temporary measure:
Attachment 613172
So far I can say the difference in sound quality is INSANE, but obviously I can't have a loose set of bookshelf speakers in the car indefinitely. I might just source a replacement rear interior (sub enclosure and speaker enclosures), put a sub in and mod the replacement panels to house the drivers from those speakers.
1999 BMW Z3 2.8 Roadster - show project
1970 VW 411L Auto - show/restoration project (sold)
1982 BMW 518i E12/8 - stolen
1987 Mazda 323 1.5 SL - daily driver, backup show car
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