E30 speaker upgrade

[lion_yo]

Hi,

I have a 325i sport and would like to upgrade the front speakers but was wondering what size I would need?

Was thinking Alpine type r speakers but your advice is welcome as I'm not too good when it comes to sound system.

[randomspeedfreak]

before i start, im not interested in car audio either-

i managed to fit some 5'' speakers down there, behind the standard grill. it required a lot of spacing and fiddling - took me pretty much a whole weekend and the results arnt really worth it.

i think the standard size is 4'' from what i remember, best would be to go with that. you're wasting your time though if you arnt running an amplifier, that, as i understand it, is the most important part.

alpine type r are quality units worth getting

[m8782538]

co-axial speakers are fine to run from your head unit (provided its half decent) however if you are running 6x9's or a sub you will need an amp to run them.

Alpine type R are fine speakers, Personally i would look at Alpine or Pioneer for co-axial or component speakers.

[polsta]

before i start, im not interested in car audio either-

i managed to fit some 5'' speakers down there, behind the standard grill. it required a lot of spacing and fiddling - took me pretty much a whole weekend and the results arnt really worth it.

i think the standard size is 4'' from what i remember, best would be to go with that. you're wasting your time though if you arnt running an amplifier, that, as i understand it, is the most important part.

alpine type r are quality units worth getting

standard size are 5.25" 13cm

its definatly not a case of wasting time with an amp, all depends on the streo and speakers, a nice stereo+some half decent ok speakers say £30 alpines no amp, will sound better than knackered old paper cone 20 year old speakers all day long

if you put in £80 alpines or a much better class of speaker, then of course they will benefit from an amp


to the op - i and other zoners, have used vibe slick 50s , speakers, with great effect without an amp, good for the money , someone recently posted a link to some good looking shallow depth speakers, which are said to be good for the lower front e30 speaker holes

[Gouki]

I just recently installed new Vibe Slick V3 speakers in my vert. Very happy with them, the sound is decent from them which is probably further helped with new speaker cables as well. They are £40 for a pair which I think is reasonable and as pointed out are shallow depth.

[lion_yo]

I will be fitting a Alpine DVD flip out screen.

I assume you chaps are reffering to these speakers http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vibe-Slick-5- ... 25661bb244?

Although in reality I'm interested in these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-ALPINE-5- ... 2c5ec21e7b

But will the above Alpines be a direct fit into the orginal speaker grilles?

Also are the Vibe slicks a straight fit??

I'm in love with the Alpine range to be honest and looking for a decent amp to connect up to the front speakers, rear 6x9 and possibly a subwoofer.

[DanThe]

6x9 are old news, not to mention the fact you will be scorned by the whole zone if you decide to hack up the rear shelf
Im pretty sure you can squeeze 6 inch speakers into the rear shelf without molesting any bodywork

[lion_yo]

6x9 are old news, not to mention the fact you will be scorned by the whole zone if you decide to hack up the rear shelf
Im pretty sure you can squeeze 6 inch speakers into the rear shelf without molesting any bodywork

Okay thanks mate as I didn't really want to cut the rear parcel shelf.

Aren't the rear 5.25" too or will 6" fit??

By the way anyone have pictures of upgraded speakers in their E30?

[polsta]

Aren't the rear 5.25" too or will 6" fit??

By the way anyone have pictures of upgraded speakers in their E30?

yes they are 5.25 aswell, although you can have deeper ones

pics of them ? they just look the same size but different grills, although the best thing to do is hunt down some owm pioneer or blaupinkt grilles and put the new speakers on the shelf, with the owm grills over the top to keep the old school look !!

[Gouki]

By the way anyone have pictures of upgraded speakers in their E30?

Yep the Vibe Slick V3 thats the one in mine. The alpine one is pricey! but if the money I'd be expecting very good SQ.

This is mine in the front, and my speaker panel simples covers it so all discreet.

[polsta]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VIBE-SLICK-50 ... 255a405f49

think these are the vibes i had , says they are 70 rms compared to the 35rms of the v3 ones, for same sort of money

gave good sound, but i put in some alpine £30 ones from halfords in my discovery on the standard head unit,and they gave a nicer clear sort of sound, think any decent alpines in the £70-£150 range would blow the vibes away, im probably going alpine in my sport

[oomz1975]

I replaced the original worn out Pioneer speakers, with these Alpine ones.
£30 odd from Halfords........

[Jim320i]

By the way anyone have pictures of upgraded speakers in their E30?

Yep the Vibe Slick V3 thats the one in mine. The alpine one is pricey! but if the money I'd be expecting very good SQ.

This is mine in the front, and my speaker panel simples covers it so all discreet.

I also have some of these in mine. Good quality sound too considering its still not all set up properly. I managed to get mine off ebay for £15 posted so very please.

The speaker cover refits over them too no problem at all, you cant tell the difference

[lion_yo]

Thanks for all your kind inputs guys.

Think I'm going to go Vibe slick 50 for the fronts as they seem to fit in the standard grilles easily and Alpine 5.25" or 6" on the rear parcel shelf.

[Silverfang]

I replaced the original worn out Pioneer speakers, with these Alpine ones.
£30 odd from Halfords........

Same as what i got from Halfords, I would also note that the 10cm versions fit in the rear speaker pods on Tourings without any problems Didn't even need to swap off the original plugs.

Total cost was less than £55 and took all of 30 mins to fit

[toby]

Certain types of 6.5" speakers will squeeze in the front.

[jonny323i]

what is the best for the rear touring speakers

[toby]

The touring rears are little 4" jobbies which are so small that any half decent speaker will do. You could get a component set in there but a 4" speaker isn't ever going to be marvellous.

[polsta]

Thanks for all your kind inputs guys.

Think I'm going to go Vibe slick 50 for the fronts as they seem to fit in the standard grilles easily and Alpine 5.25" or 6" on the rear parcel shelf.

any 5.25" will fit e30 speaker holes

i had the slick 50 in front of my is, and rear, fitted and sounded good for the money

not sure how true or not....but someone recently said shallow depth are better for the doors due to the wing being futher away from the magnet and interfering with the sound

anyway....vibe are good all rounders, more bass than alpine, alpine have a much better clarity, some say "tinny" ...but id say put in alpines in the front, with a speaker that offers more bass in the rear, or better still (what im doing) is 4 alpines and a little removable self amped sub box to add the bass

[lion_yo]

Thanks for all your kind inputs guys.

Think I'm going to go Vibe slick 50 for the fronts as they seem to fit in the standard grilles easily and Alpine 5.25" or 6" on the rear parcel shelf.

any 5.25" will fit e30 speaker holes

i had the slick 50 in front of my is, and rear, fitted and sounded good for the money

not sure how true or not....but someone recently said shallow depth are better for the doors due to the wing being futher away from the magnet and interfering with the sound

anyway....vibe are good all rounders, more bass than alpine, alpine have a much better clarity, some say "tinny" ...but id say put in alpines in the front, with a speaker that offers more bass in the rear, or better still (what im doing) is 4 alpines and a little removable self amped sub box to add the bass

Thanks mate. I think in that case I'm going to go Alpine all round just want a decent sound from the speakers not really fussed about the bass but what where you thinking in terms of Amp and sub? Which Alpine speakers were you planning on buying I think I ideally want to buy a pair which have the fancy special wiring

By the way I will hopefully be updating the thread with pictures when I have done the modification also do the front speaker grilles simply clip off??

[polsta]

front ones are the kick panel with grill in , unscrews easy and connect/screw in speakers with no grills

rear, you have to take out the shelf, screw in speakers with the little clips, and then the grills of choice over the top, ie the ones that come with them, or ones youve sourced like oem types

my way of thinking.. youd want the louder more bass/better quality in the back, and the more clarity/vocal like in the front, although im no expert,but more top end alpines will be much nicer than the vibes

im not sure what im having yet, probably 4x alpines around £60/80 per set range, rather than the £30 ones, a small 4 chanel amp, and a pre amed sub box in the boot, thats small and not too loud and over powering, and that can be easily un plugged and removed

[lion_yo]

Don't really like the idea of taking the rear parcel shelf off but if it has to be done then I guess I will have to take it off. What has to be taken off to get the parcel shelf off don't want to spend ages on fighting with it

By the way would 16.5cm speakers fit in the rear?

I think im going for SPR-50 5.25" in the front and SPR-60 16.5cm in the rear parcel shelf.

[toby]

Grab hold of the bottom of the rear seat, yank it upwards, lift it out.

Remove two 10mm nuts at the sides of the rear back rest, yank that upwards, pull out.

Loosen the seat belt trim bits that are in the shelf. Push the shelf upwards - a trim clip should be holding it down and then that should come out. Once the shelf is out it will be obvious where to cut holes for speakers.

[Gouki]

think these are the vibes i had , says they are 70 rms compared to the 35rms of the v3 ones, for same sort of money

Where did you get that from? V3's are rated at 70rms same as the previous version.

[sh55123]

Just a tip...hellfrauds sell their own branded 'Ripspeed' speakers at silly money (cheap). Apparently, they are manufactured for halfords by Blaupunkt (just what I have been told)

Anyhow, I have had plenty of e30's (and lots of other cars) with expensive speakers fitted, and these sound as good as any of them!

And no, i do not work for halfords, and also i have a fair ear for sound quality having worked in the pro audio business for a fair time in front of studio monitors worth 20k a pair!