E30 M3 Audio options

[Kevin///m3]

Hi all,

I'm a month or so away from finishing a full restoration on my M3, and need to make a decision on what direction to head in, audio wise. Hoping for some feedback from the group.

For context, my philosophy on the restoration was to keep everything stock with exception of built 2.5 motor and aftermarket suspension. I want the interior to look as original as possible (I will have an Air Fuel gauge).

What speaker options have others had success with, when running just off a head unit? I don't want to run separate amps or anything. Have people been able to fit larger speakers on the rear deck but while maintaining the stock grills?

Headunit suggestions? I recently saw some website that showed a modified stock head unit with integrated bluetooth, but lost the site. I love that idea, but perhaps the stock head unit won't power speakers well enough to generate any quality sound.

With that said, I don't have high expectations for sound quality. The original speakers are falling apart and the interior is about to be reassembled, so figured I'd fit a sensible audio system in place.

Thanks,

Kevin

[stevesingo]

Head unit - Becker Grand Prix. Difficult to find, but period looking and has bluetooth.

[Kevin///m3]

Found the link for the BMW radio retrofit

https://cantalouperadio.com/collections/products/products/mdeck-ba-1-bluetooth-retrofit-kit

[rolley]

Any update, OP? I want to update my audio also and I'm looking for ideas.

[Kevin///m3]

Any update, OP? I want to update my audio also and I'm looking for ideas.

Update.

I researched and the SIG, R3V and here. Opinions are all over the place.

I also realized that I no longer have my OEM radio, must have gotten lost in the shuffle when I replaced it with aftermarket 20 years ago when I first got the car (I was 16...the M3 was my first car). At some point, i may buy a OEM radio, have it refurbished and install the Cantaloupe radio modification, but thats a process I'll tackle another day.

Not needing a CD player, I went with a Digital audio only Kenwood. Compared a bunch of them on Crutchfield.com and this one had high ratings. Most importantly, the display colors are highly adjustable and I can match the BMW orangish-red lights. https://www.crutchfield.com/p_113BT3...U.html?tp=5684

I called Crutchfield to inquire about speakers that are suitable for running off the head unit internal amp ( I don't care to run external amps, subs etc.....this is a driving car, not a sound studio.....I'll enjoy my Harmon Kardon OEM system in my F80 M3 if I want to jam). The tricky thing about the front speakers is that you have to be careful about how far a speakers woofer can protrude out from the frame during sound play. Crutchfield seems to have the E30 M3 interior well mapped, and person I spoke with seemed pretty confident these set of 5.25" Focal components would do the trick (other E30 guys seem to like Focal too) https://www.crutchfield.com/p_091ISS...RoCmZcQAvD_BwE

Knowing that 5.25" speakers produce slightly more base than my cell phone, I deviated further from originality and went with a set of Focal 5x7"s for the rear. They fit with very little modification under the factory rear deck speaker grills. The 5x7s are going to produce more bass than the 5.25"s, and i can easily go back to 5.25 components in the rear if for some reason I see the need or am disappointed with the sound (Crutchfield has a generous return policy) See below picture. https://www.crutchfield.com/p_091ISC...BoCOcMQAvD_BwE

I'll report back after things are up and running.

[Kevin///m3]

Here is what the Kenwood looks like in the dash

[Afish]

I installed a Kenwood head unit with a matching subwoofer mounted under the passenger seat with the stock speakers and it sounds great

[rolley]

Looks great. Can't go wrong Focal speakers also.

[ShaolinM3]

Knowing that you’ve already got a new head unit and upgraded speakers, I can still give my 2 cents on the Cantaloupe BT mod as I just installed mine (for future reference) - for music it works as intended; my speakers are stock and I don’t mind how it makes the music sound “vintage”...kinda like listening to old records

Have not used to make or receive calls (yet) as I’d rather be driving

i wonder, is there a market for the tape player since that component was removed?

Have heard positively about Focals - can’t wait to hear what you think of your final setup.

[Kevin///m3]

Knowing that you’ve already got a new head unit and upgraded speakers, I can still give my 2 cents on the Cantaloupe BT mod as I just installed mine (for future reference) - for music it works as intended; my speakers are stock and I don’t mind how it makes the music sound “vintage”...kinda like listening to old records

Have not used to make or receive calls (yet) as I’d rather be driving

i wonder, is there a market for the tape player since that component was removed?

Have heard positively about Focals - can’t wait to hear what you think of your final setup.

I may buy an original unit and do the upgrade at some point.

My stock speakers were falling apart.

Once I have the car done (couple weeks now). I'll respond with a review of the Focals.

[mlytle]

any update Kevin?

[nrubenstein]

If you are running moderate amplifier power (or even head unit power) and no subwoofer, the E34 premium sound mids are really hard to beat. The Dayton ND25FN-4 is a solid tweeter option. Unfortunately, the guy who used to build a pretty decent crossover for this setup flamed out, so you have to do your own. (He specced a 6dB low pass at 4,500Hz, and a 12dB high pass at 6,000Hz.)

What's the value of the E34 mid? Well, shockingly, it actually sounds pretty good if it's not being powered by a garbage factory amp, BMW still sells them new for $30-40, and the bass output is killer in the context of 5.25" speakers.