[kegobass]

I wanted to share my recent experience with purchasing the Alpha One speakers, subs, and amp through Bimmertech. I installed all of these in my 2016 M235i xDrive which had the HK setup.


Purchased items:
Alpha One Speakers and Subs (complete replacement set)
Bimmertech Premium Audio System (aka Match PP86DSP)
I already had the ASD removal harness but this is required or you can code it out

Ordering Process:
The online ordering process was very easy.* The website is setup in a way that is fool proof. Input your VIN, it tells you the components what will work with your system.* I had a few small questions but I used the chat functionality and someone at Bimmertech was able to quickly answer my questions.

Packaging:
The speakers all came in really nice packaging.* Very nicely done.* The amp packaging was "ok".* There is a metal tab that sticks up quite a bit on the mounting bracket - the amp was properly secured and packing material around it so it was ok. I provided feedback to Bimmertech to use a bigger box or custom packaging for the amp if possible to make it look proper.

Installation:
The speaker installation was a bit challenging at times.* The*instructions*on the Bimmertech website were for other BMW models and some of the steps did not match 100% so I had to dig around forums and Youtube videos to figure things out (removing panels, trim, etc).* It would have been nice to see a videos made specifically for the 2 series but I understand that would require a lot of videos and cars. Once I got through the first couple of speakers, the rest went in pretty easily.

Note - The blue speaker connections to the existing HK speakers are ridiculously difficult*to remove without damaging them.* I broke a few of the the tweeter connections for sure.* I don't blame Bimmertech for this but the install videos I watched make it look super easy and it's not.* I have seen others complain on forums about this as well, but this is BMW’s/HK’s design, not yours.* I'm just providing feedback overall on the DIY process.

Amp installation was similar to speakers in terms of no direct video for the F22 BMW but I managed*through it.* A small snafu - I was shipped a small USB cable for tuning the amp but the cable shipped was the wrong cable.* The cable should have been a left angle cable to go across the amp versus a right angle cable which didn't fit at all.* Again, Bimmertech support was very good.* They ended up giving me a $5 credit for the cable I had to purchase on Amazon. I recommended to Bimmertech to provide a 10’ USB left angled cable so you can sit in the driver’s seat with a laptop for optimal tuning.

Tuning:
Tuning is the #1 area that needs to be right on otherwise the whole system sounds horrible and you’ll be disappointed. That said, I think this was also the biggest challenge for me. I tried at least 10 tune files, the one Bimmertech provided and trying some from Bimmerpost forum members but not one of them sounded good to me.* The system was missing frequencies especially the low end.* I tried tuning the DSP myself but in my opinion, the tuning software isn't very easy to use and I couldn’t find any local audio shops who knew the software. I finally reached out to Bimmertech support for assistance.

I worked closely with Maciej @ Bimmertech over the last month or so on providing a tune that I was satisfied with. Since tunes are subjective based on your listening and type of music, I let Maciej know that I like rock/metal music and provided him a EQ I was used to using in previous cars (simple eq band curve, nothing crazy). Bimmertech didn’t have a 2 series with the HK system so Maciej had to improvise a bit but was able to get a tune that he was happy with. I loaded it up and Bam!, everything sounded like it should. Great sound stage, crystal clear, and with the low end I was expecting to hear.

Quality:
From what I can tell, the speakers and amp are made with high quality and standards.**I did have a bad mid-range speaker DOA which I worked with Bimmertech support to resolve very quickly.* This was a very good customer service experience.* No hassles, they just shipped me a new speaker and that was it. No returns or RMAs.

Customer Support:
I want to specifically point out how easy and professional Maciej, Patryk and the whole team at Bimmertech were during this process. They were patient the entire time, explaining in detail the inner workings of the audio system. I felt we were partners working together, not customer/vendor. Kudos!
In general, the customer service I received was 100% top notch along the way.* Everyone at Bimmertech should be very proud of this.

Closing Remarks:
I previously had a local shop install most of my car audio systems since it does require certain know-how and you need to be comfortable ripping your car apart to some degree. I opted with the drop in system this time as the DIY appealed to me and I saved a bunch of money without compromising quality. After getting the tune right, I know I made the right decision and I am 100% satisfied with the purchase and support received from Bimmertech. If you’re looking to dramatically improve the sound in your BMW, definitely check Bimmertech out. If you have any questions, I’d be happy to help.