[tennisfreak]

So right now I am a little concerned and a little upset.

I upgraded my BMW m240i HiFi speakers to the bavsound stage 1 with ghost subwoofers.

It sounded great but I thought it would sound better with the bimmertech amp.

I thought it was odd that the amplifier was not offered directly from bavsound but I contacted bimmertech.
Bimmertech informed me the amplifier would work fine with the bavsound speakers.

Just to be sure last week I contacted bavsound asking them what the wattage information was on the speakers I purchased. I let them know I wanted to buy the bimmertech amp and use it.

Here was their reply (from Coby Cranman):

Hi Chris,

I don't have wattage info readily available but our speakers can easily handle the wattage from that Bimmertech amp. We actually sell that same amp everyday. We just don't carry it because we haven't personally tested it in your car. I'm 100% sure it will work but we just don't add it to our site until we've tested and created instructions etc.

Long story short, have no fear! Our Stage I will sound awesome with the Bimmertech amp : )

So I purchased the amplifier and it was loaded with bimmertechs tune created specifically for the "HiFi" system.
I thought the tune sounds awful with too much base and muffled mids and highs.

So today I contacted bavsound asking if they had a tune I could try. Here was their initial response (Jeremy Whittle):

Hey Chris,

If your vehicle didn't come with tweeters from the factory it would have our Co-Axial speakers supplied which aren't meant to take the additional power from a Standard Bimmer-Tech tune. I would be very cautious with the volumes used as our warranty does not cover the speakers when used with their amplifier in this case. Unfortunately at this time I don't have a tune available for your car, but you will need to go in and tweak the power to the midrange drivers to lower levels to get them sounding proper. If we end up writing a tune here I will make sure to let you know as well!

So I replied telling him that their own support told me the bimmertech amp was ok. I even attached the email from their own support telling me it was ok to get the amp.
I also told them since they told me the amp was ok I would expect the warranty to be honored if any damaged occurred. (Since the only reason I bought the amp in the first place is THEY TOLD ME IT WAS OK)

Jeremy responded with this:

Hey Chris,

I would not run the amplifier any longer without creating a custom tune file, and would pursue returning it if you don't feel confident doing so, or don't want to pay a local audio specialist to do so. Coby was providing coverage during a week that I was unavailable, and is likely not aware of the 2 Series situation with Standard Audio cars not having tweeters, as this currently only affects the 2 Series and is very much an exception to the rule. As of now it's unlikely you have caused any damage to the speakers, but I wanted to give some weight to the situation as continuing to play the speakers while they sound "awful" will almost certainly damage them further.

We can not provide warranty coverage for speakers being run on amplifiers that are not provided by us as we have no control over what tune is put on them. It would be like expecting BMW to cover your motor after putting an aftermarket turbo kit on the car. While you can properly install and tune a turbo kit, it's also very possible to do serious irreparable damage to the motor as well. Hope that helps clarify! As said, all is likely fine for now, but you do not want to run the amplifier any further without tuning, and approach the tuning on the cautious side.

So now I am not happy at all.
Jeremy is basically saying a temp told me wrong last week and if its broke its my fault and they wont cover anything.

This is absolutely horrible customer service and unacceptable.

So now I need to find out if any damage was done to the speakers and how to move forward.

Anyone have personal experience with the speakers and amplifier?

[Viffermike]

tennisfreak,

Honestly, you should have a much larger issue with Bimmertech, not BavSound. A couple of questions:

- Where did you get this 'HiFi' tune for the Bimmertech amp? If you didn't get it directly from BavSound, you have a problem because BavSound links to tested tune files on its website. It's not going to be liable for any tune not tested by itself -- nor should it be.
- How did you apply the tune through the Audiotec Fischer DSP software?

BavSound designs its Stage 1 kits to be used with the factory amp. it is very, very clear about this on its website, and it doesn't disclose wattage info for nearly all of its speakers partially for that reason.

That said, you're right: It does sell the Bimmertech amp and recommends it for use with the BavSound speakers. However, that Cody specifically said the Bimmertech amp isn't sold for the 2 Series HiFi Stage 1 upgrade -- a fact that's borne out by a quick check of the BavSound website -- should have been a huge red flag.

Different DSP tunes will react differently depending on the speakers you are running. Regarding Bimmertech's tune for the HiFi: You likely have no idea what speakers the tune is made for -- and if it's made for the OEM speakers, then it's likely going to sound horrible through the BavSounds because of the drastic differences in voicing and power handling between those and almost any aftermarket driver, as well as it likely having boosted bass content because the bass articulation and power-handling capabilities of the OEM speakers is far worse than nearly any aftermarket driver you can install.

I would highly recommend you immediately revert to the stock flat DSP setting on the Bimmertech amp -- if the BavSounds aren't blown, that should make a huge quality difference right off the bat -- then have a professional tune the DSP for the BavSounds.

[BEM-S4]

I agree with VM but will caution that finding a tech to actually mess around with the tune software will be challenging. No one in the US that I've found is familiar with it. Yes they can learn but it's not like a JL amp that they push all day every day.

IMO I'd switch back to stock amp, ensure speakers are ok, then at least isolate that it's a tune issue.

BTW Bimmertech will, if you ask them, ship your amp with Bavsound's tune preloaded on it. So maybe just send the amp back and get them to send you a replacement with the right tune.

EDIT: I missed the part about you having a HiFi car because as far as I know Bavsound won't sell you speaker + amp for that configuration on a 2 series. That complicates matters. For a 3 HiFi like I just upgraded, they do sell the amp. 2 HK = 3 HiFi and I have identical setups in both cars. 2 HiFi is a completely different animal.

[IK6SPEED]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

I agree with VM but will caution that finding a tech to actually mess around with the tune software will be challenging. No one in the US that I've found is familiar with it. Yes they can learn but it's not like a JL amp that they push all day every day.

IMO I'd switch back to stock amp, ensure speakers are ok, then at least isolate that it's a tune issue.

BTW Bimmertech will, if you ask them, ship your amp with Bavsound's tune preloaded on it. So maybe just send the amp back and get them to send you a replacement with the right tune.

EDIT: I missed the part about you having a HiFi car because as far as I know Bavsound won't sell you speaker + amp for that configuration on a 2 series. That complicates matters. For a 3 HiFi like I just upgraded, they do sell the amp. 2 HK = 3 HiFi and I have identical setups in both cars. 2 HiFi is a completely different animal.

Just be clear, the Underseat HiFi speaker on a F30 = F20, so 2 HK = 3 HiFi is not 100%.