[wannabebimmer]

Do you use the iPod via the AUX connection or did you purchase the iPod 6FL option (integrated iPod where you can control the songs via iDrive). I think integrated iPod will have better sound since it uses the iPod cable to transfer data digitally where as the AUX in is analog (I think)....

I have 6FL and smartphone integration. I don't use the cradle though (gonna buy a cradle which supports iphone 4). 6FL comes with a cable that hooks to the USB + AUX. If AUX is not being used, why is the connection needed? I suspect USB is to control the ipod and the sound o/p is through the aux.

Btw, I wouln't be able to play off the USB stick if I did not have 6FL. The USB in the glove compartment can be used only for import and export of media to the hard drive. It cannot be used to play songs directly off a usb drive.

 

[335i]

I have 6FL and smartphone integration. I don't use the cradle though (gonna buy a cradle which supports iphone 4). 6FL comes with a cable that hooks to the USB + AUX. If AUX is not being used, why is the connection needed? I suspect USB is to control the ipod and the sound o/p is through the aux.

Btw, I wouln't be able to play off the USB stick if I did not have 6FL. The USB in the glove compartment can be used only for import and export of media to the hard drive. It cannot be used to play songs directly off a usb drive.

The 3.5mm connection in addition to the USB is a non-amplified output (to comply with DRM I believe) - it adds another D/A conversion - but to me, it's worth the small loss for the usefulness of iTunes. It makes my life easy to be able to sync and have my tunes wherever I have my phone, instead of making sure I've updated my USB drive - a problem I had when I had a dedicated iPod previous to my iPhone.

 

[jagass]

My premium sound is nice. I have the same bad experience too that's why I upgrade.

 

[hsindogg]

Just as an aside, if anyone is using the 6FL USB port, make sure you get a super high speed USB 2.0 memory stick, such as the Patriot Xporter (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220261)

I tried a couple different sticks, and if you have a lot of songs on the drive, or even folders, there will be a display read lag. The Patriot has just a little bit of lag when I scroll down to like song #100, but it's immensely better than anything else I tried.

Any iPod users have a display read lag?

 

[sunpole]

I'm pretty happy with the premium sound. I've tweaked the 7 channel equilizer a bit to the "C" shape to produce a better highs and lows. "Out of the box", the sounds produced were very "tinny". I'm not sure if you can tweak the equalizer with the base system.

http://www.bavariansoundwerks.com/ has a solution for $420.

There seems a lot of positive reviews on BSW sound system, some even upgrade to their speakers system from BMW premium sound... I am not sure feeling a little hesitant buying speaker system without listening to them first, but again it is only $400... I will research a little more, most likely I will do something about this soon. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Newmanium]

There seems a lot of positive reviews on BSW sound system, some even upgrade to their speakers system from BMW premium sound... I am not sure feeling a little hesitant buying speaker system without listening to them first, but again it is only $400... I will research a little more, most likely I will do something about this soon. Thanks for the suggestion.

It looks like it's preorder only for now. I had BSW on my 530, and it's nice - but it can't upgrade your amp for more power. Just helps a lot with the quality (and does a good job IMHO).

 

[335i]

Just as an aside, if anyone is using the 6FL USB port, make sure you get a super high speed USB 2.0 memory stick, such as the Patriot Xporter (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220261)

I tried a couple different sticks, and if you have a lot of songs on the drive, or even folders, there will be a display read lag. The Patriot has just a little bit of lag when I scroll down to like song #100, but it's immensely better than anything else I tried.

Any iPod users have a display read lag?

There is zero lag for me on my iPhone after I give it a few seconds to connect..

There was a minimal lag with my bro in laws USB drive, but scrolling slowly I couldn't tell. I can flip from a-z quickly with no lag and still see songs display as a spin the idrive wheel (seems to act just like an iPod, scroll fast and it moves quicker over songs so it doesn't take 30 spins of the wheel to get to z.

 

[seenaraj]

I have the same experience

After 3 weeks of joy from driving my new 35D, I CAN NOT believe how bad the base speaker system are... It grinds my ear from listening to anything louder than audible. To those who did or did not upgrade to premium sound, do you share the same frustration? If you do, what did you do about this other than not turning on the music at all? Any recommendation for an aftermarket upgrade?

For me its two weeks though, contacted the dealer who sold me the vehicle and they took the car back and ordered a new one with premium speakers. Ended up paying the difference for the premium audio and had to give up $1000 from eco credit since BMW reduced it from $4500 to $3500. Evaluated all the options finally decided that i cant live with the terrible base audio system.

 

[Millennium68]

Speakers need breakin.

Hello, I personally at first also found the base speaker system unacceptable, but with NO solution found had to stay as is. To my surprise, I think the speakers needs a breakin the way many (if not all) home speakers needs. So, after listening base system for a month or so, it looks like they started to sound better. Of course, you would never be able to compare them to premium system, but they are more acceptable now then it was first couple of weeks. Also, I think the best configuration for me is to have treble at the high and bass in the middle, so play more with different levels to find what is acceptable for you.

 

[drpahjee]

Who produces the Premium sound system?

 

[Newmanium]

Hello, I personally at first also found the base speaker system unacceptable, but with NO solution found had to stay as is. To my surprise, I think the speakers needs a breakin the way many (if not all) home speakers needs. So, after listening base system for a month or so, it looks like they started to sound better. Of course, you would never be able to compare them to premium system, but they are more acceptable now then it was first couple of weeks. Also, I think the best configuration for me is to have treble at the high and bass in the middle, so play more with different levels to find what is acceptable for you.

There's no breakin for the speakers - that's just your ears getting used to the sound profile.

I had an Acura and a BMW for a while, they each would sound weird when I switched until I had driven them for a day or two, and my ears adjusted. Then they sounded fine.

 

[Wilkiwan]

I have a 2010 328i with stock sound. Sounds like crap. It does sound a little better hooked up to my ipod, but that is because of the ipod equalizer settings. When I get back to the States I plan on upgrading the speakers and installing a bigger amp.
I also have on order 2011 X5 Sport, which should arrive in late Dec. I ordered the premium hi-fi sound.

 

[drpahjee]

Who produces the Premium sound system?

anyone know? bmw or a 3rd party?

 

[ard]

anyone know? bmw or a 3rd party?

why does it matter???

It is a system spec'd by BMW but made by a third party...of no-name vendors and manufacturers... not "bose", etc...and not available from anyone (even BMW) as an 'add on'.

 

[Newmanium]

http://bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=483423&highlight=speakers

Official info from the 2007 model, as noted, manufacturer may have changed, but general concept is still the same. Philips did those speakers. As ard says, is meaningless.

 

[barbja]

Interesting, when I drove a 2011 X5 with my father to help him with his purchase, I thought the standard system sounded almost as good as the Logic 7 in my 335. We were listening to HD radio, though, so I didn't test any other source. I'll have to check it out again once his car gets here.

J-Man, which model X5 did you drive? sunpole is talking about the 35d. The 35d and the 35i standard have a cr*ppy, it belongs in a Kia, sound system (well, perhaps the sound system in a Kia is even better).

The sound system in the 35i premium and sport have an upgraded sound system, then 50i over that, then premium over all of those. (Perhaps the 35i sport and 50i get the same sound system, but I'm *really* sure, from a stereo POV, you're screwed with the 35d and 35i standard).

I canceled an order of a 35d because of the stereo fiasco and had them build me another one with premium sound in it. There was not one CA at our dealer that knew there was a difference in the sound system between the models. [When I test drove a 2010 35d and the sound sucked, but it was pretty good in a 50i. Neither had PS. I thought there was something 'wrong' with the 35d and asked if my stereo would sound like the 50i. Their answer: Yes. REAL answer: No. They got the gift of a highly-optioned 35d with a sucky stereo on their lot.]

 

[Wilkiwan]

Not to get off subject, but in my option the 2011 35d isn't worth the extra money for the small increase in mpg. I hear the engine is a lot louder too. With that said, you should upgrade the sound system.

Can anyone else confirm that the premium, sport, and 50i get a better sound system than the standard? I'm in Germany (US military), based on the US price list/specs I didn't see anything different, but I wasn't looking at the base model. From what else I have read, I think that premium sound is the way to go.

 

[Newmanium]

Not to get off subject, but in my option the 2011 35d isn't worth the extra money for the small increase in mpg. I hear the engine is a lot louder too. With that said, you should upgrade the sound system.

Can anyone else confirm that the premium, sport, and 50i get a better sound system than the standard? I'm in Germany (US military), based on the US price list/specs I didn't see anything different, but I wasn't looking at the base model. From what else I have read, I think that premium sound is the way to go.

I don't think that guy is correct - base sound for an X5 is base sound. The only difference between models is the X5M premium sound is a bit fancier.

 

[drpahjee]

why does it matter???

It is a system spec'd by BMW but made by a third party...of no-name vendors and manufacturers... not "bose", etc...and not available from anyone (even BMW) as an 'add on'.

why does it matter? what's wrong with my wanting to know if it's "brand name" manufacturer? particularly when BMW is charging $1200-1600 for the upgrade...

http://bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=483423&highlight=speakers

Official info from the 2007 model, as noted, manufacturer may have changed, but general concept is still the same. Philips did those speakers. As ard says, is meaningless.

thanks for the response...

 

[BJKBerg]

BMW base audio systems for the US X5 2009 and on into 2011 are pathetic. Prior to 2009 here in the US the X5 used to have BMW's mid level system HiFi system with 10 speakers and a 200 watt multi channel amp. BMW has become so cheap that the base audio now is 6 speakers and the amp has been removed. What makes it really bad is the stupid germans compensated for the lack of speakers with tweeters by adding a DSP adjusted signal to what is sent to the speakers from the head unit. What does this mean, if you add an amp and add more speakers, the sound you will get will still sound awful because the head unit is still adjusting the high up to compensate for thinking there are no tweeters. Also frankly if you are waiting on BSW good luck. BSW has had something on their web site about pre-ording an upgrade for almost a year but still nothing to fix the base system in an X5. Another thing Cheap Motor Works did was reduce the subwoofer from 8" to 6". At the time I ordered my X5 I assume I was getting the same base system I had in my 2008 X5 and similar to what I have in my 2009 1 series. At the time I ordered I had read many negative reviews about the logic 7 Harman Kardon system. Also the premium sound upgrade was still $1800.00 because they were still including the 6 disc changer in that package. I did not see the value in getting premium sound if I had what I had in my 2008. If I had to do it again I would special order the mid level hifi system. It may also be why when I received my lovely letter from my BMW dealership's General Manager telling me how they could get me into new BMW for a lower monthly payment I told the GM fix the navigation system bugs, the audio in the X5, my squeaking convertible roof, the dash with a sinking in airbag, the crappy run flats, and my prematurely wearing leather drivers seat in my 1 series, then we can talk.

As another FYI at least the 3 series has an alpine upgrade option for the base stereo.

Part numbers are: 65410445684 and 65410445683

If you want to go 100% after market amps and speakers JL Audio makes a device that removes the DSP adjusted signal from the BMW head unit.