[styles997]

Any news guys on the UK availability of this upgrade kit yet?

I'm getting torn between this or the power upgrade 1st...

[C85MAS]

Me too am desperate to know about this upgrade.
Recently listen to my mates HK system and it made me regret my decision not to get it. Any upgrade from the basic BMW speakers will be much welcomed.

[MRPoisson]

Originally Posted by C85MAS

Me too am desperate to know about this upgrade.
Recently listen to my mates HK system and it made me regret my decision not to get it. Any upgrade from the basic BMW speakers will be much welcomed.

+1

[albertadams]

I'm interested in this upgrade too. Bought an ex-demo without really listening to the stereo other than in the background on the test drive. Now I've had a chance to listen to the stereo I'm very, very disappointed with the quality. I'm no audiophile, but the Sony stereo in my 7 year old Ford focus was better, a lot better. I feel like anything I listen to is in medium wave!

[Zero71]

Is there genuinely one coming? On my first order I omitted HK and then realised my error. On hunting this forum there were a couple of rumors on an Alpine kit, but nothing solid. In the end, I just cancelled my car and re-ordered with HK. How different would an OEM Alpine aftermarket kit be to getting a reputable Car Hifi dealer put in an amp and new speakers for you? Would probably be cheaper too.

[RobUK]

Originally Posted by zerolight

Is there genuinely one coming?

When I last enquired both with BMW UK and my local dealer a couple of months back, I got the usual shrugs of "no idea".

Originally Posted by zerolight

How different would an OEM Alpine aftermarket kit be to getting a reputable Car Hifi dealer put in an amp and new speakers for you? Would probably be cheaper too.

Like the 'official' DAB retrofit, I expect it's down to the level of integration with iDrive, my guess being:

- Factory build HK = full integration.
- 'Official' Alpine retrofit = partial integration.
- Car HiFi dealer solution = little or no integration.

[jayakrishnanv]

Alpine retrofit contains the two tweeters to the front doors, new front door speakers and the amp with the wiring kit. The kit requires coding to change the HU equaliser to that of the alpine amp equaliser to make it work as expected. The front door covers need to be bought as an extra to the alpine kit. Retrofit time is 2.5hrs and if we are DIY inclined can achieve of our own as it doesnt need the removal of the dash board but needs the front door cards and the side carpet plastic holders. The amp sits in the boot floor.

Attached document can give an idea and this is for a F20.

[SaddleworthScot]

What sort of costs are we looking at for this?

[jayakrishnanv]

if you are buying the kit from Germany then it will be way less compared to the UK dealer price and then fitting of your own can save the dealer labour charge and any of our coders in the forum can get it done for the coding...for the F20 the UK dealer price is £385-£415 plus labour charge varying from £300 upwards including coding which will end up more than the HK kit...but doing DIY and getting coded separately can be made in lesser price

[SaddleworthScot]

I don't trust myself not to make a mess of my brand new F31.

[jayakrishnanv]

Originally Posted by SaddleworthScot

I don't trust myself not to make a mess of my brand new F31.

Yes thats the worry especially about the warranty...however i remember there used to be a forum sponsor in E90 forum from Sytner Group and they used to offer the alpine retrofit at a discounted price but they needed some certain number and only selected dealerships in their network were able to offer this service. If all of the interested people put in the interest and check with their dealership service team and negotiate to get the best possible quote then it can be retrofitted at a lesser price still honouring the warranty.

Unlike the DAB retrofit this is not having any external parts and is well integrated into the system and works as usual...After listening to the one done in a F20 its as close as the HK and defo a great improvement from the stock stereo.

[oop north]

As someone who might buy a secondhand car and therefore (probably) miss out on HK, I am very encouraged to hear that the Alpine kit is coming - it means I don't have to restrict a search for a car with HK, which would be extremely limiting.

I would say, though, that the standard stereo in the F30 is considerably better than the one in my 2003 E39 touring!

[RobUK]

I'd be interested in the upgrade if it could be done for a sensible price. I notice at the end of the instructions it says there is no programming/coding required so I'm assuming you won't get the the EQ functions in iDrive like you do with the HK?

Only concern about the work itself is the car coming back with rattles or other noises where things like door panels have been removed and refitted.

[MRPoisson]

Originally Posted by RobUK

I'd be interested in the upgrade if it could be done for a sensible price. I notice at the end of the instructions it says there is no programming/coding required so I'm assuming you won't get the the EQ functions in iDrive like you do with the HK?

Only concern about the work itself is the car coming back with rattles or other noises where things like door panels have been removed and refitted.

+1

[jayakrishnanv]

Originally Posted by RobUK

I'd be interested in the upgrade if it could be done for a sensible price. I notice at the end of the instructions it says there is no programming/coding required so I'm assuming you won't get the the EQ functions in iDrive like you do with the HK?

Only concern about the work itself is the car coming back with rattles or other noises where things like door panels have been removed and refitted.

Rob i can understand the head ache of the rattles but it again goes down to the capability of the technician who does the install and how much careful they are being...that when handing over for the install need to be stressed for any future corrections or rectification?

Regarding the equaliser there is no display that you will be getting in the idrive screen like what you have in HK...As far as i know in the E90 LCI models(2009-2012) required coding and thats how it gets changed to the alpine equaliser being used.

A group buy is the way forward for a cheaper option i guess. i can check with my local dealer parts department as i have been buying service parts from them for years and ask them if they can do any deal. Similarly if anyone else can initiate the same we can cross compare the price and try to negotiate between the dealers to get the max reduced

[Torque of the Devil]

I'd be interested in a group buy on the Alpine upgrade, the standard system is truly dog shit, can't believe BMW would allow this crap in a brand new car

[Y2AJ]

I would be interested in a group buy too. I'll find out from my dealer here in London if I can but I'm sure it would be cheaper outside London

[Hprice1099]

Originally Posted by Vanguard

I'd be interested in a group buy on the Alpine upgrade, the standard system is truly dog shit, can't believe BMW would allow this crap in a brand new car

Ditto

I've emailed a BMW specailist in the US and Aus and was told there technians are still working on Alpine upgarde, defo needs coding for full integration.

BMW sell http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Genuin...item2a2bec86f3 this for the F20 so fingers crossed should not be to long for the F30/31

[JOE YOUNG]

Originally Posted by Vanguard

I'd be interested in a group buy on the Alpine upgrade, the standard system is truly dog shit, can't believe BMW would allow this crap in a brand new car

+1

If i can remember it right its £530+labour for f30, Bmw Swindon

[Poohbore]

The Cotswold group in Hereford are very forum friendly. They offer special pricing to the bmwland forum on parts. Might be worth contacting them for the group buy.

After listening to the stock sound system in my wife's 2003 e46 330 vert I had to order the Hk upgrade.

[jakeb1]

Just reading the installation instructions (I know they are for an F20), it looks like the bigger speakers actually go under the front seats rather than in the doors which suggests they are bass speakers? At the end it says requires no coding?

Does anything know if this can be installed with the Business speakers? They are better than standard but still not as good as the standard 10 speaker setup on my old A4.

[Torque of the Devil]

No the mid range speakers go in the door, they just replace the standard ones already there, you would never locate a speaker other than a sub under a seat