Focal and JL Audio upgrade report

reward72 · 12-22-2017, 05:19 PM

I just replaced the base hifi of my MY18 M240xi with a full set of Focal speakers (IFBMW-SUB.v2, IFBMW-C, ISC-100) and a JL Audio XD600/6v2 amp with the Technics harness. The difference is day and night.

I’m not an audiophile, I don’t have the proper vocabulary, but I can tell it’s way better than any stock system I ever had. The base is a lot punchier and the mid and highs are crisp. I like all sort of music, but found hard rock to be particularly tiresome on the stock system, now I can enjoy it again.

I’m also surprised on how ASD sounds now. Comfort mode doesn’t sound that different, but in sport mode it is definitely louder and sound kinda nice. Part of me dislike that kind of shenanigan, but I must admit it made me smile.

SteveInfante · 12-24-2017, 10:11 PM

Where did you get the speakers from?

reward72 · 12-25-2017, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveInfante

Where did you get the speakers from?

I ordered the speakers and amp on eBay and the harness from Technic’s website. Got them all in about a week and had a local shop install them.

ChrisFulton · 12-25-2017, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reward72

I ordered the speakers and amp on eBay and the harness from Technic’s website. Got them all in about a week and had a local shop install them.

How/where did they mount the JL amp?
Did they remove the stock amp?
Photo?

SteveInfante · 12-25-2017, 07:54 PM

Thanks for the info.

reward72 · 12-31-2017, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisFulton

How/where did they mount the JL amp?
Did they remove the stock amp?
Photo?

The JL Audio Amp was installed exactly where the stock Amp was. Perfect fit.

reward72 · 12-31-2017, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reward72

I’m also surprised on how ASD sounds now. Comfort mode doesn’t sound that different, but in sport mode it is definitely louder and sound kinda nice. Part of me dislike that kind of shenanigan, but I must admit it made me smile.

We’re now a week later and I did a few hours of highway driving. I must say that the ASD drone is getting tiresome on long drives. I will code it out next week and see if it helps. I still love it in sport mode though, I hope I won’t miss it too much.

I have the factory installed M performance exhaust, my experience may be different from if I had the stock one.

aaaaah · 12-31-2017, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reward72

We’re now a week later and I did a few hours of highway driving. I must say that the ASD drone is getting tiresome on long drives. I will code it out next week and see if it helps. I still love it in sport mode though, I hope I won’t miss it too much.

I have the factory installed M performance exhaust, my experience may be different from if I had the stock one.

You won't miss it. The car sounds so much sweeter without it. I found the ASD made it sound much more like a V6 than an I6.

You will also be shocked at how much volume comes from the ASD.

BSMF87 · 01-06-2018, 07:19 PM

Are the Focals a plug and play? Direct swap? I'm looking to do the same with the JL amp.

reward72 · 01-07-2018, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BSMF87

Are the Focals a plug and play? Direct swap? I'm looking to do the same with the JL amp.

Yes. The Made-for-BMW Focal kit is plug’n’play and so is the amp if you also buy the Technic harness. I had a shop do the install but they told me they didn’t had to pierce any hole nor do any custom wiring. As easy as it can possibly be.

CHarrisMedia · 01-30-2018, 12:54 PM

Did you add tweaters into the door grills where the HK ones would be if you purchased that or just stuck with the door speakers?

iamdudi · 02-24-2018, 05:13 PM

hi, i wanna change my amp as well, thinking of getting the jl audio 800/8 (in order to run an external sub too) which is a bit wider, from your experience will the extended amp fit? 260MM vs 374MM

thanks!

barfastic · 02-26-2018, 07:39 AM

The base Hifi has an amp in the trunk? i thought the head unit/source powered the speakers....

//M235ixD · 02-26-2018, 02:10 PM

AMP and ASD unit is in the trunk on the driver side.

Quote:

Originally Posted by barfastic

The base Hifi has an amp in the trunk? i thought the head unit/source powered the speakers....

barfastic · 02-27-2018, 06:25 AM

so switching out an amp for a new one is as easy as unplugging the connections and reinstalling the new one? is it something DIY'able?

BEM-S4 · 02-27-2018, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barfastic

so switching out an amp for a new one is as easy as unplugging the connections and reinstalling the new one? is it something DIY'able?

Depends on the amp. Easiest is Bavsound / Bimmer-Tech it comes with a custom harness. You literally unplug the old one plug in the new one. Others are easy but you need a harness from TechnicPNP and ability to put wires in correct places on new amp.

Bavsound if you can't hook it up properly you really shouldn't be driving a car to begin with. 3 plugs all different shapes that can only go in one spot. It's like that block game a 1 year old can play.

Viffermike · 02-27-2018, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barfastic

so switching out an amp for a new one is as easy as unplugging the connections and reinstalling the new one? is it something DIY'able?

Plenty of answers to these basic questions elsewhere in this subforum.

That is all.

BEM-S4 · 02-27-2018, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viffermike

Plenty of answers to these basic questions elsewhere in this subforum.

That is all.

Ha - I must be getting soft or was in a good mood earlier.

barfastic · 03-01-2018, 04:34 AM

i have the Base hifi, so i dont think there is an amp.... plus bavsound doesnt have an amp available.

So no luck there...

Viffermike · 03-01-2018, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barfastic

i have the Base hifi, so i dont think there is an amp.... plus bavsound doesnt have an amp available.

So no luck there...

AFAIK, you're correct: the EU 'base' audio system doesn't have an outboard amplifier. That said, I'm unfamiliar with how ASD is integrated, what speakers are used, etc. with that audio system.

EU members should chime in since the 'base' audio isn't available in the NA market ...

... or, better yet: start a new thread so the focus of the thread is that issue. Please don't hijack this one.

Thanks!

reward72 · 03-02-2018, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CHarrisMedia

Did you add tweaters into the door grills where the HK ones would be if you purchased that or just stuck with the door speakers?

Since I had the non HK system I went with the coaxial speakers. No separate tweeters. Maybe I just don’t know better, but I don’t feel I’m missing anything.

wntrsnowg · 03-17-2018, 01:45 PM

There are two technic PNP harnesses for the 2 series. I assume this one was used for a complete amp replacement: https://technicpnp.com/product/7ch-h...hk674-harness/

12-22-2017, 05:19 PM	#1
reward72 Private First Class 321 Rep 149 Posts Drives: 2018 M240xi Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Quebec iTrader: (0)	Focal and JL Audio upgrade report I just replaced the base hifi of my MY18 M240xi with a full set of Focal speakers (IFBMW-SUB.v2, IFBMW-C, ISC-100) and a JL Audio XD600/6v2 amp with the Technics harness. The difference is day and night. I’m not an audiophile, I don’t have the proper vocabulary, but I can tell it’s way better than any stock system I ever had. The base is a lot punchier and the mid and highs are crisp. I like all sort of music, but found hard rock to be particularly tiresome on the stock system, now I can enjoy it again. I’m also surprised on how ASD sounds now. Comfort mode doesn’t sound that different, but in sport mode it is definitely louder and sound kinda nice. Part of me dislike that kind of shenanigan, but I must admit it made me smile.
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12-24-2017, 10:11 PM	#2
SteveInfante NewFinishColumbia/detailer 604 Rep 2,096 Posts Drives: 2015 F31 xDrive Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Columbia, SC iTrader: (0)	Where did you get the speakers from? __________________ 328 F31 xDrive/OSM/Venetian Luxury Line/Cold Weather/Premium/Driving Assist/Nav/Tech "Golden Goose" 78' Honda CB400A project http://www.instagram.com/steve_inf31
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12-25-2017, 07:54 PM	#5
SteveInfante NewFinishColumbia/detailer 604 Rep 2,096 Posts Drives: 2015 F31 xDrive Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Columbia, SC iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the info. __________________ 328 F31 xDrive/OSM/Venetian Luxury Line/Cold Weather/Premium/Driving Assist/Nav/Tech "Golden Goose" 78' Honda CB400A project http://www.instagram.com/steve_inf31
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01-06-2018, 07:19 PM	#9
BSMF87 Private First Class 140 Rep 169 Posts Drives: M2 BSM 6SPD Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	Are the Focals a plug and play? Direct swap? I'm looking to do the same with the JL amp.
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01-30-2018, 12:54 PM	#11
CHarrisMedia New Member 4 Rep 12 Posts Drives: 218i M-Sport Auto Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Did you add tweaters into the door grills where the HK ones would be if you purchased that or just stuck with the door speakers?
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02-24-2018, 05:13 PM	#12
iamdudi New Member 4 Rep 11 Posts Drives: BSM m235 Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: israel iTrader: (0)	hi, i wanna change my amp as well, thinking of getting the jl audio 800/8 (in order to run an external sub too) which is a bit wider, from your experience will the extended amp fit? 260MM vs 374MM thanks!
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02-26-2018, 07:39 AM	#13
barfastic Private First Class 37 Rep 120 Posts Drives: 228i M Sport Pack Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Athens, Greece iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 BMW 228i M Sport [0.00]	The base Hifi has an amp in the trunk? i thought the head unit/source powered the speakers....
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02-27-2018, 06:25 AM	#15
barfastic Private First Class 37 Rep 120 Posts Drives: 228i M Sport Pack Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Athens, Greece iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 BMW 228i M Sport [0.00]	so switching out an amp for a new one is as easy as unplugging the connections and reinstalling the new one? is it something DIY'able?
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03-01-2018, 04:34 AM	#19
barfastic Private First Class 37 Rep 120 Posts Drives: 228i M Sport Pack Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Athens, Greece iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 BMW 228i M Sport [0.00]	i have the Base hifi, so i dont think there is an amp.... plus bavsound doesnt have an amp available. So no luck there...
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03-17-2018, 01:45 PM	#22
wntrsnowg First Lieutenant 106 Rep 350 Posts Drives: 2016 M235i Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: San Diego iTrader: (9)	There are two technic PNP harnesses for the 2 series. I assume this one was used for a complete amp replacement: https://technicpnp.com/product/7ch-h...hk674-harness/
	Appreciate 0 Quote