Is the Alpine upgrade worth it?

TMP · 01-15-2009, 01:15 PM

Yes...I do know how to use google

I am hopeing somebody has already had this done with an installer - I dont want to be the first install "Sorry Sir, this fell off and we are not sure where it came from"

RCUK · 01-15-2009, 01:23 PM

How much is this kit? Just that a guy of the Mini forum who works for BMW can do it for £210 inc postage.

Sounds like a few quid off, poss a few more ££ off if a few were to order.

(as an aside he is also getting me a price on the aero lip painted and the m3 boot spoiler painted)

He works at Derek Woodman BMW for anyone up north.

AlanQS · 01-15-2009, 02:12 PM

My Dealer did the installation job and charged me for the 2.5 hours BMW states that it will take. At their labour rate, the bill was £280. It appears that half the interior was removed, including the front seats - a bit of overkill I suspect, by a "by the book" tech. who was doing it for the first time.

The one advantage this gives me is a continuation of warranty and no split in responsibility since it was an official BMW dealer fitting official BMW components.

The supply and install cost me £508.

J.Bradders · 01-15-2009, 04:31 PM

I think im going to have the upgrade done, but frist i think ill go and speak with my dealer about the price.... £750!!! they told me.
I don't no if i fancy fitting it myself... Think i agree with AlanQS, id rather let them fit so i can take it back if theres any problems lol.
Ill let you no what happens lol.

Steve748 · 01-15-2009, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nottz_Jay

I think im going to have the upgrade done, but frist i think ill go and speak with my dealer about the price.... £750!!! they told me.
I don't no if i fancy fitting it myself... Think i agree with AlanQS, id rather let them fit so i can take it back if theres any problems lol.
Ill let you no what happens lol.

Kit should cost £230 ish and you need the window corners where the mirrors go. Trouble with using BMW workshop is usually they have not done it before whereas specialist Audio installers do it day in day out and their hourly rate is usually less as well. The guys that did mine didn't take any seats out and two of them took 1 1/2 hours. It is well worth it though

AlanQS · 01-15-2009, 06:07 PM

Nottz_Jay: I told the Stealer that the official BMW time allowed for the upgrade was 2.5 hours and they agreed to do it for that. They didn't know this when I turned up and also muttered about checking to see if it needed coding - I put them straight on this also.

I gave them the part number and finally came back, agreeing that there was no coding and agreeing to the 2.5 hours.

Try that with your dealer and see how you get on.

tyler durden · 01-16-2009, 01:12 PM

RCUK, I'm based in Bromley and would be happy to join your group purchase

Have you got any idea on fitting.

Is it really true that non dealer fitting will invalidate my warranty? My car still has 2y to go!!!

AlanQS · 01-16-2009, 01:55 PM

At worst, if something goes wrong with a part of the car associated with the installation, they might argue that the third party installation had something to do with it but they would have to prove it.

All other aspects of the car would not have warranty invalidated.

E92 LeMans · 01-16-2009, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyler durden

RCUK, I'm based in Bromley and would be happy to join your group purchase

Have you got any idea on fitting.

Is it really true that non dealer fitting will invalidate my warranty? My car still has 2y to go!!!

I might be interested in a group buy on this my mate is ment to be getting me one but taking his time as the parts dept is being a bit stindgey, with discount but BMW only have 20% mark up on this part.

miopyk · 01-17-2009, 05:07 AM

I've been reading this with interest and am now seriously thinking of jumping in and fitting this to my e93.

Having fitted various stereos, speakers and subwoofers over the years I'm happy to save myself a couple of hundred quid and have a go at this myself but before I do I thought I'd ask if any other e93 owners have fitted this themselves and could offer some guidance on how they did it.

The 2 areas I would welcome any advice on are how to get the wiring loom from the boot through the rear bulkhead and whether the amp will fit under the cover in the boot. Any pictures would be greatly appreciated.

Looking at the instructions kindly posted earlier the rest of the job looks fairly straightforward so I'm reasonably confident of being able to complete it without too much fuss.

Thanks in advance.

Miopyk

G_M_S · 02-25-2011, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlanQS

Well, it's ordered. After the mess I made of my passenger door card re-fitment when I fitted the tweeters I decided that I should pay the dealer to fit the kit.

It's going in on Thursday at a total cost of £510 so, whilst still painful, it's a bit better than some of the prices people have quoted in these threads.

And, if anything goes wrong, I have someone to blame.

AlanQS can I ask which dealer you used, as I'm only up the road in the Trossachs and am very interested in getting this upgrade completed. Now there's a dealer who's done it I'm even more tempted

Fox530 · 02-25-2011, 06:57 PM

If this an Alpine upgrade what exactly is included in the kit that is BMW specific? Presumably you could just buy an off the shelf Alpine amplifier for less which would be of even higher quality and fit that?

Or has this been specifically tailored to be plug and play or something? I notice the price of it has now climbed to £355 supplied.

01-15-2009, 01:15 PM	#45
TMP Brigadier General 349 Rep 3,022 Posts Drives: M6 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Cheshire iTrader: (0)	Yes...I do know how to use google I am hopeing somebody has already had this done with an installer - I dont want to be the first install "Sorry Sir, this fell off and we are not sure where it came from" __________________ M2 Arrived! Family 5er
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01-15-2009, 01:23 PM	#46
RCUK Lieutenant Colonel 100 Rep 1,672 Posts Drives: 911 Turbo Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Orpington, Kent iTrader: (4)	How much is this kit? Just that a guy of the Mini forum who works for BMW can do it for £210 inc postage. Sounds like a few quid off, poss a few more ££ off if a few were to order. (as an aside he is also getting me a price on the aero lip painted and the m3 boot spoiler painted) He works at Derek Woodman BMW for anyone up north. __________________ Been there, done that, driven the 'Ring
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01-15-2009, 02:12 PM	#47
AlanQS Colonel 244 Rep 2,811 Posts Drives: Jaguar XE P250 HSE Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Glasgow iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 430i m-sport G ... [0.00]	My Dealer did the installation job and charged me for the 2.5 hours BMW states that it will take. At their labour rate, the bill was £280. It appears that half the interior was removed, including the front seats - a bit of overkill I suspect, by a "by the book" tech. who was doing it for the first time. The one advantage this gives me is a continuation of warranty and no split in responsibility since it was an official BMW dealer fitting official BMW components. The supply and install cost me £508.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-15-2009, 04:31 PM	#48
J.Bradders Private 12 Rep 59 Posts Drives: 3GT 330D xDrive MS+ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	I think im going to have the upgrade done, but frist i think ill go and speak with my dealer about the price.... £750!!! they told me. I don't no if i fancy fitting it myself... Think i agree with AlanQS, id rather let them fit so i can take it back if theres any problems lol. Ill let you no what happens lol.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-15-2009, 06:07 PM	#50
AlanQS Colonel 244 Rep 2,811 Posts Drives: Jaguar XE P250 HSE Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Glasgow iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 430i m-sport G ... [0.00]	Nottz_Jay: I told the Stealer that the official BMW time allowed for the upgrade was 2.5 hours and they agreed to do it for that. They didn't know this when I turned up and also muttered about checking to see if it needed coding - I put them straight on this also. I gave them the part number and finally came back, agreeing that there was no coding and agreeing to the 2.5 hours. Try that with your dealer and see how you get on.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-16-2009, 01:12 PM	#51
tyler durden Private 6 Rep 74 Posts Drives: E93 330i M Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	RCUK, I'm based in Bromley and would be happy to join your group purchase Have you got any idea on fitting. Is it really true that non dealer fitting will invalidate my warranty? My car still has 2y to go!!!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-16-2009, 01:55 PM	#52
AlanQS Colonel 244 Rep 2,811 Posts Drives: Jaguar XE P250 HSE Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Glasgow iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 430i m-sport G ... [0.00]	At worst, if something goes wrong with a part of the car associated with the installation, they might argue that the third party installation had something to do with it but they would have to prove it. All other aspects of the car would not have warranty invalidated.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-17-2009, 05:07 AM	#54
miopyk First Lieutenant 13 Rep 351 Posts Drives: 987 Boxster & R56 Cooper S Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	I've been reading this with interest and am now seriously thinking of jumping in and fitting this to my e93. Having fitted various stereos, speakers and subwoofers over the years I'm happy to save myself a couple of hundred quid and have a go at this myself but before I do I thought I'd ask if any other e93 owners have fitted this themselves and could offer some guidance on how they did it. The 2 areas I would welcome any advice on are how to get the wiring loom from the boot through the rear bulkhead and whether the amp will fit under the cover in the boot. Any pictures would be greatly appreciated. Looking at the instructions kindly posted earlier the rest of the job looks fairly straightforward so I'm reasonably confident of being able to complete it without too much fuss. Thanks in advance. Miopyk
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-25-2011, 06:57 PM	#56
Fox530 Lieutenant 40 Rep 583 Posts Drives: M340i xDrive Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: United Kingdom iTrader: (0)	If this an Alpine upgrade what exactly is included in the kit that is BMW specific? Presumably you could just buy an off the shelf Alpine amplifier for less which would be of even higher quality and fit that? Or has this been specifically tailored to be plug and play or something? I notice the price of it has now climbed to £355 supplied.
	Appreciate 0 Quote