BMW E90 Audio retrofit plan.

KaiminPuika · 11-02-2019, 03:31 PM

Hello guys!
I searched the forum a-z and found some really useful stuff but still I'm making this thread to clarify some things.

So I'm owner of 2011 E90 with Base audio system ( No tweeters, no amp ) and I would like to get a much better sound out of it. I'm not planing to spend too much money for it. My budget is +/- 500€(~550$). I have searched the market of Latvia and Lithuania and for that money I'm able to buy a full set of L7/HK music ( all the speakers + amp + wiring). Also I've got a friend who has done coding stuff like that before so that is no problem. I'm that type of person who does everything by myself, so I will install it on my own.
Now that you know some background, here is the questions that I have:

1) Is it worth buying an L7 set or I could buy some aftermarket set for that price ($550)? All the good stuff I've been looking for goes for >1000$. If you say yes, could you provide the link or the model of the set that could be better than L7.
2) If I buy an L7 set and later change the subwoofers, will I need to recode my car again?
3) I think that there shouldn't be problems with this, but just to clarify, does the pre-LCI wiring fits LCI model?
4) I've already got a combox in my car, so there shouldn't be any issues with the adding of amp, coding etc, right? Also, maybe I should look out for something else to run the combox and amp together.
5) My car has the small version of CIC screen, is it possible to code L7 to that or should I also look for a big screen version?
6) Is there something specific that I should know about this retrofiting? Like maybe I should look out of something when buy, be careful when placing the wires or something like that? (The plan is to retrofit the wires like the original ones and make it run throuh a Fuse Box)
7) Where could I found a FULL electronic scheme for my car?
8) Maybe there is some video where someone has done it and explained everything that I've missed?

For now its all that I want to ask.
I will definitely record my retrofitting and later create an topic with pics or video , but I want to find out everything I can about this, so I dont have any surprises.

Hope you have a good day!

ctuna · 11-02-2019, 04:43 PM

1) Is it worth buying an L7 set or I could buy some aftermarket set for that price ($550)? All the good stuff I've been looking for goes for >1000$. If you say yes, could you provide the link or the model of the set that could be better than L7.
2) If I buy an L7 set and later change the subwoofers, will I need to recode my car again?
3) I think that there shouldn't be problems with this, but just to clarify, does the pre-LCI wiring fits LCI model?

No wiring changes at all through the whole e9x run as far as I know.
4) I've already got a combox in my car, so there shouldn't be any issues with the adding of amp, coding etc, right? Also, maybe I should look out for something else to run the combox and amp together.

The amp and the combox do not interact at all except in the L7 system
where the Combox is part of the Most Bus as well as the Amp still
they do not interact at all even then.
5) My car has the small version of CIC screen, is it possible to code L7 to that or should I also look for a big screen version?
Don't know what your version is in other countrys but there is an idrive forum here. I think you may have to go to the UK subforums for this.
My guess is you would have to retrofit the entire head unit.
You may have a lot of country specific configurations.

6) Is there something specific that I should know about this retrofiting? Like maybe I should look out of something when buy, be careful when placing the wires or something like that? (The plan is to retrofit the wires like the original ones and make it run throuh a Fuse Box)
Audio retrofitting of speakers and amps can be considered entirely seperate
from the rest of the system with the exception of the fact a Logic 7
system amp uses the most bus system for the amp and the Head unit
be it idrive or pro radio must be programmed to use that is and audio output.

7) Where could I found a FULL electronic scheme for my car?
https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/

The following is generally enough info

BMW stereo types
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=352586
http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...2&d=1266451970
http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...2&d=1260829447
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=343673
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=138949
http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...1&d=1209780605
http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...1&d=1209780865
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=641323
http://bmwcoders.com/forum/3-er-8/bm...1-e92-e93-291/
http://technicpnp.com/menuDiagrams/d...e90_92_93.html
http://www.musicarnw.com/page-2/
http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...3&d=1169133185
http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...4&d=1278871872

8) Maybe there is some video where someone has done it and explained everything that I've missed?

Did you read the audio build sticky at the top of this page.
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=641323

Base System Upgrades
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=445266
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=634957
http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1003810
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=822366
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=581379
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=451941
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=540954
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ghlight=Dotech
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=495855
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=494299
http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/...morel-jbl.html
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ht=amp+upgrade
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=550771
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...1#post16679904
http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...1&d=1411521234
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1378833
base system wiring pre/post 3/09
http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...1&d=1411521234
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...tDpLJPcGkw_ui_
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...1#post16679904

11-02-2019, 03:31 PM	#1
KaiminPuika Registered 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: BMW E90 Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Latvia iTrader: (0)	BMW E90 Audio retrofit plan. Hello guys! I searched the forum a-z and found some really useful stuff but still I'm making this thread to clarify some things. So I'm owner of 2011 E90 with Base audio system ( No tweeters, no amp ) and I would like to get a much better sound out of it. I'm not planing to spend too much money for it. My budget is +/- 500€(~550$). I have searched the market of Latvia and Lithuania and for that money I'm able to buy a full set of L7/HK music ( all the speakers + amp + wiring). Also I've got a friend who has done coding stuff like that before so that is no problem. I'm that type of person who does everything by myself, so I will install it on my own. Now that you know some background, here is the questions that I have: 1) Is it worth buying an L7 set or I could buy some aftermarket set for that price ($550)? All the good stuff I've been looking for goes for >1000$. If you say yes, could you provide the link or the model of the set that could be better than L7. 2) If I buy an L7 set and later change the subwoofers, will I need to recode my car again? 3) I think that there shouldn't be problems with this, but just to clarify, does the pre-LCI wiring fits LCI model? 4) I've already got a combox in my car, so there shouldn't be any issues with the adding of amp, coding etc, right? Also, maybe I should look out for something else to run the combox and amp together. 5) My car has the small version of CIC screen, is it possible to code L7 to that or should I also look for a big screen version? 6) Is there something specific that I should know about this retrofiting? Like maybe I should look out of something when buy, be careful when placing the wires or something like that? (The plan is to retrofit the wires like the original ones and make it run throuh a Fuse Box) 7) Where could I found a FULL electronic scheme for my car? 8) Maybe there is some video where someone has done it and explained everything that I've missed? For now its all that I want to ask. I will definitely record my retrofitting and later create an topic with pics or video , but I want to find out everything I can about this, so I dont have any surprises. Hope you have a good day!
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11-02-2019, 04:43 PM	#2
ctuna Lieutenant General 1911 Rep 13,103 Posts Drives: 325xi 06 wagon MT Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Santa Cruz, Ca iTrader: (0)	1) Is it worth buying an L7 set or I could buy some aftermarket set for that price ($550)? All the good stuff I've been looking for goes for >1000$. If you say yes, could you provide the link or the model of the set that could be better than L7. 2) If I buy an L7 set and later change the subwoofers, will I need to recode my car again? 3) I think that there shouldn't be problems with this, but just to clarify, does the pre-LCI wiring fits LCI model? No wiring changes at all through the whole e9x run as far as I know. 4) I've already got a combox in my car, so there shouldn't be any issues with the adding of amp, coding etc, right? Also, maybe I should look out for something else to run the combox and amp together. The amp and the combox do not interact at all except in the L7 system where the Combox is part of the Most Bus as well as the Amp still they do not interact at all even then. 5) My car has the small version of CIC screen, is it possible to code L7 to that or should I also look for a big screen version? Don't know what your version is in other countrys but there is an idrive forum here. I think you may have to go to the UK subforums for this. My guess is you would have to retrofit the entire head unit. You may have a lot of country specific configurations. 6) Is there something specific that I should know about this retrofiting? Like maybe I should look out of something when buy, be careful when placing the wires or something like that? (The plan is to retrofit the wires like the original ones and make it run throuh a Fuse Box) Audio retrofitting of speakers and amps can be considered entirely seperate from the rest of the system with the exception of the fact a Logic 7 system amp uses the most bus system for the amp and the Head unit be it idrive or pro radio must be programmed to use that is and audio output. 7) Where could I found a FULL electronic scheme for my car? https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/ The following is generally enough info BMW stereo types http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=352586 http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...2&d=1266451970 http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...2&d=1260829447 http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=343673 http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=138949 http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...1&d=1209780605 http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...1&d=1209780865 http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=641323 http://bmwcoders.com/forum/3-er-8/bm...1-e92-e93-291/ http://technicpnp.com/menuDiagrams/d...e90_92_93.html http://www.musicarnw.com/page-2/ http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...3&d=1169133185 http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...4&d=1278871872 8) Maybe there is some video where someone has done it and explained everything that I've missed? Did you read the audio build sticky at the top of this page. https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=641323 Base System Upgrades http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=445266 http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=634957 http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1003810 http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=822366 http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=581379 http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=451941 http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=540954 http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ghlight=Dotech http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=495855 http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=494299 http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/...morel-jbl.html http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ht=amp+upgrade http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=550771 http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...1#post16679904 http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...1&d=1411521234 http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1378833 base system wiring pre/post 3/09 http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...1&d=1411521234 https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...tDpLJPcGkw_ui_ http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...1#post16679904 Last edited by ctuna; 11-02-2019 at 04:50 PM..
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