[NeilMK]

Hi All,

First post here so go easy! I searched the forums but couldn't find an answer for this specific model. I'm upgrading the standard Hi-Fi audio on my F40 but need to locate the factory amplifier. I read some posts about it being behind left hand side luggage space trim panels but there is nothing there.

Any ideas anyone. It's a pre- July build f40 1 series UK spec with standard audio.

Thanks in advance.

[cjn]

Originally Posted by NeilMK

Hi All,

First post here so go easy! I searched the forums but couldn't find an answer for this specific model. I'm upgrading the standard Hi-Fi audio on my F40 but need to locate the factory amplifier. I read some posts about it being behind left hand side luggage space trim panels but there is nothing there.

Any ideas anyone. It's a pre- July build f40 1 series UK spec with standard audio.

Thanks in advance.

Should be there, behind the little hatch on the LHS. The Receiver Audio Module is a silver thing with a few cables, including a multi-way plug secured by a folding latch.

[NeilMK]

Originally Posted by cjn

Should be there, behind the little hatch on the LHS. The Receiver Audio Module is a silver thing with a few cables, including a multi-way plug secured by a folding latch.

Thanks for the reply. I removed the little hatch and just have the tyre inflation kit and some tools. I don't see anything behind those bits either, just empty space. How much of the trim did you have to remove or was it there right behind the hatch?

Cheers

[NeilMK]

Is it possible there is no external amp in my car and the speakers are driven by the head unit? I can see what looks like the bracket for the amp in the boot but there is nothing attached to it. I'm thinking perhaps the base audio doesn't even use an external amp..

[cjn]

The base stereo for the F40, at least up to 2021 when mine was built, is the RAM that is fed from the HU and sends amplified signals to the 6 speakers. Are you the first owner? If there has been an upgrade the RAM should still be there. Can you look behind the black sheet at the back of the cubby hole? I'll try to find the time to take a photo of mine.

[NeilMK]

Originally Posted by cjn

The base stereo for the F40, at least up to 2021 when mine was built, is the RAM that is fed from the HU and sends amplified signals to the 6 speakers. Are you the first owner? If there has been an upgrade the RAM should still be there. Can you look behind the black sheet at the back of the cubby hole? I'll try to find the time to take a photo of mine.

Photo would be great mate, thanks. I've looked behind the black sheet in the cubby hole and don't see anything but empty space

[YogiPL]

Hi! This is from my F44, but the amp should be right above the tire inflation kit.

Do you have the center speaker? In Europe the HiFi actually was not the standard on the F40 and F44, there was a level below that without a discreet amp - easiest way to tell is if the car has a center speaker cutout in the middle of the dashboard.

[NeilMK]

Originally Posted by YogiPL

Hi! This is from my F44, but the amp should be right above the tire inflation kit.

Do you have the center speaker? In Europe the HiFi actually was not the standard on the F40 and F44, there was a level below that without a discreet amp - easiest way to tell is if the car has a center speaker cutout in the middle of the dashboard.

Thanks for the reply buddy. It looks like mystery solved then. Definitely nothing in that location, plus there is no centre speaker. Not a major issue, it just means I'll have to tap into the speaker wires behind the head unit instead.

Really helpful, thank you.

[cjn]

Here's my rear cubby location. The RAM is at the top, and the centre vertical cable is the (modified) original, as is the horizontal cable disappearing on the right. The stuff at the bottom is my own wiring for an upgrade amplifier, etc. Sorry, picture needs rotating 90 deg anticlockwise.

[NeilMK]

Originally Posted by cjn

Here's my rear cubby location. The RAM is at the top, and the centre vertical cable is the (modified) original, as is the horizontal cable disappearing on the right. The stuff at the bottom is my own wiring for an upgrade amplifier, etc. Sorry, picture needs rotating 90 deg anticlockwise.

Thanks for taking the time to get a photo. Definitely nothing in my car in that location

[MercMan85]

I know question has already been answered but just double clarifying that yeah in uk spec F40/F44 the lowest spec audio was the "base" system which does not have an amp unlike other countries where the lowest spec audio was "hifi" which does have an amp.

so if you've got no centre speaker & theres no amp in the place where it should be then you have the base system.

I discovered this on my old F45 active tourer.