Harmon Kardon csutaris@yahoo.com Bowers and Wilkins

[Csutaris]

I am considering purchasing a 530i. I am a audiophile nut and enjoy music and quality sound. I listened to the Harmon Kardon upgrade in the 5 and found it to be substandard. I have bowers and Wilkins at home and I am sure their upgrade is of great quality/ sound. I have found no 5 series with the b&w upgrade. I have a great deal on the table on a 530 I of course without the b&w upgrade. My question is their any advice to aftermarket a sound system? My last option is to build. Thanks for your anticipated input.

[White94RX]

I would wait and find one with the upgraded stereo. Going aftermarket in these cars is never as good as keeping original factory stuff.

[gsanvi]

The B&W upgrade costs couple times as much as Harman Kardon, at least where I'm from. I think very few people are going to order it. Also a matter of personal taste, but the speaker grilles are quite ugly in my opinion - they have this strange flower pattern on them. I am not an audiophile myself, but I think that the B&W system is not worth the money and I wouldn't fuss over it.

[f355spider]

Bavarian Autosound has an speaker upgrade package, with or without their updated subwoofers. This would be an option if you find a car you otherwise like, that has the HK stereo.
When I was shopping, I rarely saw the B&W stereo in anything but the M550i.