Aftermarket Amp?

[klrgoten]

Has anyone done an aftermarket amp upgrade? if so, what did you use? I'm having some issues finding info on people upgrading their F80/F82. I upgraded to the BavSound Stage1's a while back but I'm looking for a bit more punch...

I'm guessing I can't just buy an OEM HK amp and change out my Hi-Fi amp right? (Thinking it should be relatively plug and play with the same proprietary connectors, etc)

[Denso]

Subscribed to this, I have the exact same question

[Mandi90TT]

Most likely no. However, you can add a trunk sub for more punch.

[Mrfurious214]

Here's what i did on my f30. I'm hoping the trunk specs are the sane in the M3 so I can transfer my work. I carpeted the rest and put metal grills on. I'll post pics of the finished product but it works perfect and i lost 0 trunk space.

[RocketBoots]

Originally Posted by klrgoten

Has anyone done an aftermarket amp upgrade? if so, what did you use? I'm having some issues finding info on people upgrading their F80/F82. I upgraded to the BavSound Stage1's a while back but I'm looking for a bit more punch...

I'm guessing I can't just buy an OEM HK amp and change out my Hi-Fi amp right? (Thinking it should be relatively plug and play with the same proprietary connectors, etc)

You cannot buy a OEM HK amp and replace yours; it is the opposite of plug-n-play The HK system uses a fiber optic bus to the amp; the HiFi (non-HK) uses analog signals. The two are not interchangeable. The non-HK system is much easier to upgrade. You can buy just about any amp, although a very popular one is the JL XD series. You need to contact forum member Technic to get a P-n-P harness, and it's a breeze.

As far as a bit more punch, depends what you mean by that. A trunk sub would definitely fit the bill, but you may want to start with the underseat woofers. The standard HiFi ones are pretty pathetic. You could replace them with a decent midbass, like a Jehnert or Gladen, or get the SWS sub (fitment will require a little cutting/mod to the underseat enclosure) and see how you like it. I'm not sure how low the BavSound mids play, but the SWS may be what you want.

In any case, start with the amp. Changing the anemic factory amp may be all you want.

[Mandi90TT]

Originally Posted by Mrfurious214

Here's what i did on my f30. I'm hoping the trunk specs are the sane in the M3 so I can transfer my work. I carpeted the rest and put metal grills on. I'll post pics of the finished product but it works perfect and i lost 0 trunk space.

That looks the same as my F82 trunk. Can't confirm measurements, but from the pic it looks the same.

[Mrfurious214]

Here's the final product. I was planning on doing 1 piece of rectangular metal to make it look more flush but i got lazy. Just a trunk, so it was good enough for me. The thump was the most important part...which i have.

[Lincoln30]

Originally Posted by Mrfurious214

Here's what i did on my f30. I'm hoping the trunk specs are the sane in the M3 so I can transfer my work. I carpeted the rest and put metal grills on. I'll post pics of the finished product but it works perfect and i lost 0 trunk space.

The F80 trunk has the space for the sub box but the amps will not fit where you have them in the F30 since BMW put a fuse box and something else in that forward space under the floor. Looking closer at you pic, I see you also have hardware on top of the battery cover, so I'm not sure what I'm seeing in the pic next to the fuse box?

Don't bother with an upgrade to the HK amp, it's not enough power.

[davegill]

Originally Posted by Mrfurious214

Here's the final product. I was planning on doing 1 piece of rectangular metal to make it look more flush but i got lazy. Just a trunk, so it was good enough for me. The thump was the most important part...which i have.

Are those 8's or 10's?

[Mrfurious214]

Thats my alpine amp on the right side there. The other amp is the bmw stock amp. I just tapped into the lines to power my sub and put my amp where u see it. Those are 8" subs. Unless you're looking to win contests its plenty of thump.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by Mrfurious214

Thats my alpine amp on the right side there. The other module is the Combox/TCU. I just tapped into the lines to power my sub and put my amp where u see it. Those are 8" subs. Unless you're looking to win contests its plenty of thump.

Fixed.

In case I misunderstand what you wrote, you should not be tapping anything on that Combox harness -regardless if it works for you.

[Mrfurious214]

Originally Posted by Technic

Fixed.

In case I misunderstand what you wrote, you should not be tapping anything on that Combox harness -regardless if it works for you.

Ah! Thank you for the correction. Took me about an hour to figure out that wasn't the amp. If you want to tap in as i have done you need to remove the side panel on the left side and you will find the wires needed.

Thanks for the heads up!