[kdog26372]

Originally Posted by 6MT4me

Thanks to dog for the reply, appreciated. The speakers level is mid panel, similar to front panel, the matching tweeters were on sale on the JL website for 100.00 even. Having them professionally installed. I think it was worth the investment. Will keep all informed on the outcome

Sounds like a good deal and a no brainer for same price as coaxials. I see you've got the Etons and the JL's, don't forget to disconnect that center speaker, it's a major soundstage improvement.

[6MT4me]

Thanks again, k dog, I actually removed the center channel speakers this afternoon. Just under an hour. Took some effort afterwards to rebalance the sound. With the top down, to easy to overdrive and distort the front speakers, but adequate for the moment. New speakers will be added next week.
Just another issue not discussed here, so far. Besides no rear deck speakers, taking apart the trunk to get to the amp or to try and install the technicpnp harness is a much more daunting job. The plug locations are different, the rear seat release complicates removing the side walls and is even harder to reinstall. Just a warning to other can owners, compared to the coupe....
That is why I have opted for the rest of the job to be done professionally

[siwo]

Coming for a 2015 Lexus ES with a base audio system, the 2 series Harman Kardon is actually pretty nice to me. (Of course to each their own)

In my 2004 Civic I used to have 2x 10" JL w3 series subs and a 300watt amp pumping a load of bass, I have learned to grow up and listen to music in the car without all that rumble.

[srironman911]

Thx for the great post, so I read the whole post and you recommend this as a start?

1. Swap out front speakers with Etons B100W
https://www.amazon.com/Eton-10-Way-C...ilpage_o00_s00

2. Swap out rear deck speakers with JL Audio Evolution 4" Coaxial Speakers
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

3. Add the Technic ASD bypass harness
https://technicpnp.com/product/asd-bypass-harness/
contact technic and make sure right one...
http://technicpnp.com/contact.html#

4. BMW weather stripping on front door
Part numbers
51487300493 $14.78
51487300693 $14.78

or is this the correct part #?

Driver side: 51-48-7-300-693 Price: $23.63
Passenger side: 51-48-7-300-694 Price: $22.96

5. Ebay BMW OEM Speaker Connector Harness Pigtail

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-OEM-Spea...-/161420349903

Hopefully this is a good start as u recommended, anything else to start beside dynamat?

[BentZero]

Originally Posted by srironman911

Thx for the great post, so I read the whole post and you recommend this as a start?

1. Swap out front speakers with Etons B100W
https://www.amazon.com/Eton-10-Way-C...ilpage_o00_s00

2. Swap out rear deck speakers with JL Audio Evolution 4" Coaxial Speakers
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

3. Add the Technic ASD bypass harness
https://technicpnp.com/product/asd-bypass-harness/
contact technic and make sure right one...
http://technicpnp.com/contact.html#

4. BMW weather stripping on front door
Part numbers
51487300493 $14.78
51487300693 $14.78

or is this the correct part #?

Driver side: 51-48-7-300-693 Price: $23.63
Passenger side: 51-48-7-300-694 Price: $22.96

5. Ebay BMW OEM Speaker Connector Harness Pigtail

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-OEM-Spea...-/161420349903

Hopefully this is a good start as u recommended, anything else to start beside dynamat?

Thanks for the summary. It's a nice way to catch back up with this thread.

[srironman911]

Originally Posted by BentZero

Thanks for the summary. It's a nice way to catch back up with this thread.

Thx for the reply, after doing more reading, here's what I think... and hopefully member selmeralto can reply...

1. Swap out front speakers with Etons B100W
https://www.amazon.com/Eton-10-Way-C...ilpage_o00_s00

2. Swap out rear deck speakers with JL Audio Evolution 4" Coaxial Speakers
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

3. Add the Technic ASD bypass harness
https://technicpnp.com/product/asd-bypass-harness/
contact technic and make sure right one...
http://technicpnp.com/contact.html#

4. BMW weather stripping on front door

Driver side: 51-48-7-300-693 Price: $23.63
Passenger side: 51-48-7-300-694 Price: $22.96

5. Ebay BMW OEM Speaker Connector Harness Pigtail

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-OEM-Spea...-/161420349903

Hopefully this is a good start as u recommended, anything else to start beside dynamat?

[selmeralto]

Originally Posted by srironman911

Thx for the great post, so I read the whole post and you recommend this as a start?
...

4. BMW weather stripping on front door
Part numbers
51487300493 $14.78
51487300693 $14.78

or is this the correct part #?

Driver side: 51-48-7-300-693 Price: $23.63
Passenger side: 51-48-7-300-694 Price: $22.96
...

You're welcome.

This is a good summary of all things recommended in the initial post.

The part numbers for the weather seals are

51487300693 and 51487300694.

I paid a little more than $14 USD + shipping for each seal.

In other words, the second part numbers you list are correct but they cost me what you list for the first two items. Hope that makes sense.

If you've read through the posts you'll also know there are several installation tips sprinkled throughout.

Good luck.

[srironman911]

Originally Posted by selmeralto

You're welcome.

This is a good summary of all things recommended in the initial post.

The part numbers for the weather seals are

51487300693 and 51487300694.

I paid a little more than $14 USD + shipping for each seal.

If you've read through the posts you'll also know there are a several installation tips sprinkled throughout.

Good luck.

Thanks, I think you did a good job writing this Thread... and I think that would be a good start, now that I know the part numbers, thx again for sharing...

[selmeralto]

Originally Posted by srironman911

Thanks, I think you did a good job writing this Thread... and I think that would be a good start, now that I know the part numbers, thx again for sharing...

You're welcome. I wrote the first post but much of the information comes courtesy of other forum members.

[srironman911]

Originally Posted by selmeralto

You're welcome. I wrote the first post but much of the information comes courtesy of other forum members.

Yes, but you did try to keep updating the information which is very thoughtful...

[selmeralto]

Originally Posted by srironman911

Yes, but you did try to keep updating the information which is very thoughtful...

A combination of obsessiveness and too much time on my hands...

[srironman911]

Originally Posted by selmeralto

A combination of obsessiveness and too much time on my hands...

LOL, can't wait till the first part done, then will decide if I need the subwoofer and amp upgrade...

[selmeralto]

Originally Posted by srironman911

LOL, can't wait till the first part done, then will decide if I need the subwoofer and amp upgrade...

Good luck and if you do replace the woofers and amp do let us know if you find the additional investment worth it.

No-one has written in to say that he or she added the woofers and amp after doing the upgrades recommended here. That's probably because the sound is sufficiently improved by these relatively inexpensive upgrades and that people are reasonably happy to take the mods this far. But it would be interesting to know what the system could sound like if the additional steps were taken, even if only some people will want to spend the extra money.

And of course there's the possibility of upgrading the woofers and amp and choosing different, probably more expensive, speakers, but that should probably be a topic for a different thread.

[kdog26372]

and just a quick reminder from a previous post on the rear deck speakers.

"Just make sure when the speaker wire color lines up with the car side of the harness.

Car Red --> Harness Black --> Speaker Positive
Car Black --> Harness Red --> Speaker Negative

Car Red --> Harness Red --> Speaker Positive
Car Black --> Harness Black --> Speaker Negative"

Also, I haven't done the ASD bybass and haven't really noticed any annoying fake engine sound, so I'd maybe do all the speaker stuff first and see if you feel the ASD is too much and then proceed if desired. It's not been any issue to me.

[nateate8]

Hey, thx for the write up lots of information. Wanted to clarify, would you recommend the same sequence of upgrades for stock hi-fi (non hk) system?

[ed.k]

I spent a couple of hours tonight installing the ASD harness, replacing the rear speakers and disconnecting the center speaker. The sound is definitely improved and I'm looking forward to installing the front door speakers. Excellent thread and very helpful.

[selmeralto]

Originally Posted by nateate8

Hey, thx for the write up lots of information. Wanted to clarify, would you recommend the same sequence of upgrades for stock hi-fi (non hk) system?

You can certainly do the harness, the weather-stripping, and the Dynamat.

As for the speakers, I'm sorry but I don't have first-hand knowledge of what would work for the hi-fi system. My vague recollection is that Grave (in France) used the Etons in the front on a base (hifi) system. I also think there are some threads on the forum about upgrading the hi-fi system. You could check. Maybe some members can weigh in.

[JohnnyCanuck]

Been listening to podcasts mostly lately, but this morning on my way to work decided I needed some tunes and listened to Spotify over BT (320 kpbs downloads). First up: some Santana mastery (Oye Como Va), followed by Metallica's masterful cover of Turn the Page, and then The Stone Coyotes covering Donovan's Season of the Witch, and just as I was rolling into the parkade some Joey Ramone channeling Louis Armstrong and What a Wonderful World.

I just simply listened and enjoyed while in Sport mode with no ASD. Bottom line is ... it just sounded pretty good all in all. Considering where we came from to where we are ... I am actually fairly impressed with the sound quality and more than satisfied with my ~$300 investment.

Haven't even done the doors ... not sure I need to. Thanks again selmeralto, Viffermike and all the other contributors to this thread.

[selmeralto]

Originally Posted by JohnnyCanuck

Haven't even done the doors ... not sure I need to. Thanks again selmeralto, Viffermike and all the other contributors to this thread.

You're welcome.

But if you like what you've got so far, consider yielding to the temptation to add the Etons.

They'll add some real refinement to the sound. The HK door speakers are worthless.

[Nimsum235]

I have a question regarding the installation of the JL's. If I don't have a pigtail harness, and decided to just splice the cable with the provided connector, how can I tell which is the Positive and Negative cables? The BMW cables are the exact same color and I'm having some trouble figuring out which is which.

[Beartato]

Originally Posted by Nimsum235

I have a question regarding the installation of the JL's. If I don't have a pigtail harness, and decided to just splice the cable with the provided connector, how can I tell which is the Positive and Negative cables? The BMW cables are the exact same color and I'm having some trouble figuring out which is which.

There's a small line on the cables, the darker one is positive. I think they're red but my colorblind ass can't tell.

[Xenny]

Originally Posted by Beartato

There's a small line on the cables, the darker one is positive. I think they're red but my colorblind ass can't tell.

haha same problem here. what helped was to take a picture of the cable colors on my phone. Much easier to differentiate the red and brown through the saturated picture on the phone. that or get a buddy to tell you which is which.