Musicar Level 1 bay area install experiences

koenb · 09-27-2011, 02:05 PM

I'm considering ordering the Level 1 upgrade to my base audio 335d. Ken recommends a shop in Hayward but as I work in the south bay that is not the most convenient location especially since they are closed on the weekend. I spoke to AllProAudio in Santa Clara and they mentioned they did 2 installs of Ken's upgrades. I was wondering if anybody can comment on their experience? Or at any other Santa Clara area install shop?

Does anyone have detailed installation instructions for the Level 1 upgrade?

ctuna · 09-27-2011, 02:41 PM

The difficulty will depend on which BMW system you start out with.
The Hi Fi is easiest

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=495855

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=581379
some diy on the doors
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...DIY+door+panel

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=540446

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=540954

There is also a DIY on the floor speakers to use as reference in the DIY forum here

If you start out with the base stereo the wiring is a little more complicated as you have to route
signal wires to the back. (for the amp I think)

From the recent reviews it looks like all you have to do is install the speakers and route
ground and +12 for the BMW Hi Fi system .(not that it is easy there are a few things you have to look out for like not unplugging the front seats while there is power to them. It generates a airbag error
that requires a reset by a scanner capable of that or a trip to a shop or dealership that has one)

Also google the BSW installation procedure for the doors.

The upgrade allows add on's he will give you different options for speakers depending on your tastes
and amps or processors as needed or requested.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=590801

There are a lot of recent install reveiws all positive

koenb · 09-27-2011, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctuna

The difficulty will depend on which BMW system you start out with.
The Hi Fi is easiest

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=495855

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=581379
some diy on the doors
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...DIY+door+panel

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=540446

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=540954

There is also a DIY on the floor speakers to use as reference in the DIY forum here

If you start out with the base stereo the wiring is a little more complicated as you have to route
signal wires to the back. (for the amp I think)

From the recent reviews it looks like all you have to do is install the speakers and route
ground and +12 for the BMW Hi Fi system .(not that it is easy there are a few things you have to look out for like not unplugging the front seats while there is power to them. It generates a airbag error
that requires a reset by a scanner capable of that or a trip to a shop or dealership that has one)

Also google the BSW installation procedure for the doors.

The upgrade allows add on's he will give you different options for speakers depending on your tastes
and amps or processors as needed or requested.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=590801

There are a lot of recent install reveiws all positive

Thanks for the links ctuna. I read most of those except for the ones on the door removal. I guess if I put the various things together, it would make for good enough installation instructions...

I'd still like to know about other folks experience with local installers in the San Jose/Santa Clara area. I may need a back-up in case my install goes haywire :-)

ctuna · 09-27-2011, 10:48 PM

The shops in San Jose I found didn't give me the impression they new e90's
well either that or they were really high end people that wanted to put in 5k plus systems and had 6 month waiting lists. And catered to Silicon Valley Execs.

One of the shops on Stevens Creek had a report of causing 10k worth of damage on one car. I believe it was AMS. They weren't using VPs kits it was something they came up with.
There was a law suit over it some years back.
Then there are the Bass Head shops were the smallest speaker they have in
there shops are 10 inchers. And all the cars in there lot are bouncing up and down.
Although this seems pretty straight foward if you can't do it yourself Hayward isn't that far
last time I talked to him he gave me a San Francisco shop reference which is much further than Hayward.
If they have already done some before thats worth something.

Want to have an installation party?
I want to do mine to.
What the model and year of your car what system, are you starting with?
coupe, 4 door

crazydiamond · 09-28-2011, 12:17 AM

I did a DIY on my HiFi E90 and went to Jeff at All Pro Audio when I thought I had blownup my shiny new xd600 amp. Jeff helped me diagnose it as a grounding issue and I was able to continue from there on my own based on all the excellent DIY guides here.

On a side note, he did gave me a funny look when he saw technics harnesss and said that's not how we do things here :-) At that point I took his advice on the grounding issue and got out of there.

ctuna · 09-28-2011, 01:03 AM

What did you use for a ground point
Before and after the ground error
VP recommends going to the battery - terminal
but I read the clamp nut does not come completely off the terminal so I
don't see how you get a ring connector on it.
This would also be true of the + terminal which of the three
hots on the battery did you use for that?

koenb · 09-28-2011, 01:17 AM

I've talked to Jim at AllPro Audio. These guys seem to do good work. At least the online reviews are raving and from talking to Jim I get the impression they know what they're talking about. For some reason they prefer to order their own stuff rather than putting in VP's kits. They did come up with a competitive quote for a similar kit.
Yes, I have read horror stories about AMS. Definitely not taking my business there!

Ctuna, my car is a 2010 335d with base audio. I think I can do the install myself, but I need my car to commute so it needs to be guaranteed done in 1 weekend. I would be up for helping you do your car first? That would give me an idea of what's involved. What's your time frame for wanting to do this? You're in Santa Cruz? I'm in Foster City myself (but my work is in Santa Clara).
VP also mentioned that he and his buddy Tom will be in the bay area mid October and they plan to do some installs locally then.
Installation price seems to be $600 no matter where you go.

ctuna · 09-28-2011, 01:41 AM

I already have some Torx Drivers and some Pry tools plus spare plastic pop
rivets, Voltmeter and most of the other stuff necessary . My car will be simpler than yours because I'm starting out with HI Fi . I am kind of up in the air between Zapco's and a JL setup.
I'm retired so my time is pretty free.
I have already done some practice runs on my panels.
I only have a single car garage so I was going to do my stuff in steps
in the driveway.

I can't seem to mail you yet here
my direct email is ctuna@surfnetusa.com
mail me and I will see what we can do.

crazydiamond · 09-28-2011, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctuna

What did you use for a ground point
Before and after the ground error
VP recommends going to the battery - terminal
but I read the clamp nut does not come completely off the terminal so I
don't see how you get a ring connector on it.
This would also be true of the + terminal which of the three
hots on the battery did you use for that?

For -ve terminal, I basically went to a bolt very close to the battery post (but not the -ve terminal directly) The problem was that there was too much resistance (around 20 ohms if I recall correctly) Jim @ All pro told me to sand the contact area along the bolt and and try again. This did the trick and my amp suddenly came to life :-)

For +ve, I used the excellent adapter provided by technic which plugs right into an empty distribution slot on the battery.

VP Electricity · 09-29-2011, 11:25 AM

That excellent adapter is a BMW part which plugs into a fused output on the terminal. Any idea what the fuse rating is? Me either. Looks cool, but we don't use it for that reason. If you ever pop that internal fuse, the entire battery terminal must be replaced, which is like $75 last I checked.

And as far as your grounding goes, that's why all of our harnesses include power and ground in equal lengths, with ring terminals, so you can ground right to the negative terminal. We never - NEVER - have a grounding problem in our system installs doing it this way.

09-27-2011, 02:05 PM	#1
koenb Registered 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: 2010 335D Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	Musicar Level 1 bay area install experiences I'm considering ordering the Level 1 upgrade to my base audio 335d. Ken recommends a shop in Hayward but as I work in the south bay that is not the most convenient location especially since they are closed on the weekend. I spoke to AllProAudio in Santa Clara and they mentioned they did 2 installs of Ken's upgrades. I was wondering if anybody can comment on their experience? Or at any other Santa Clara area install shop? Does anyone have detailed installation instructions for the Level 1 upgrade?
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09-27-2011, 02:41 PM	#2
ctuna Lieutenant General 1911 Rep 13,104 Posts Drives: 325xi 06 wagon MT Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Santa Cruz, Ca iTrader: (0)	some examples The difficulty will depend on which BMW system you start out with. The Hi Fi is easiest http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=495855 http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=581379 some diy on the doors http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...DIY+door+panel http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=540446 http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=540954 There is also a DIY on the floor speakers to use as reference in the DIY forum here If you start out with the base stereo the wiring is a little more complicated as you have to route signal wires to the back. (for the amp I think) From the recent reviews it looks like all you have to do is install the speakers and route ground and +12 for the BMW Hi Fi system .(not that it is easy there are a few things you have to look out for like not unplugging the front seats while there is power to them. It generates a airbag error that requires a reset by a scanner capable of that or a trip to a shop or dealership that has one) Also google the BSW installation procedure for the doors. The upgrade allows add on's he will give you different options for speakers depending on your tastes and amps or processors as needed or requested. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=590801 There are a lot of recent install reveiws all positive Last edited by ctuna; 09-27-2011 at 03:05 PM..
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09-27-2011, 10:48 PM	#4
ctuna Lieutenant General 1911 Rep 13,104 Posts Drives: 325xi 06 wagon MT Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Santa Cruz, Ca iTrader: (0)	I didn't find anybody I would trust The shops in San Jose I found didn't give me the impression they new e90's well either that or they were really high end people that wanted to put in 5k plus systems and had 6 month waiting lists. And catered to Silicon Valley Execs. One of the shops on Stevens Creek had a report of causing 10k worth of damage on one car. I believe it was AMS. They weren't using VPs kits it was something they came up with. There was a law suit over it some years back. Then there are the Bass Head shops were the smallest speaker they have in there shops are 10 inchers. And all the cars in there lot are bouncing up and down. Although this seems pretty straight foward if you can't do it yourself Hayward isn't that far last time I talked to him he gave me a San Francisco shop reference which is much further than Hayward. If they have already done some before thats worth something. Want to have an installation party? I want to do mine to. What the model and year of your car what system, are you starting with? coupe, 4 door Last edited by ctuna; 09-28-2011 at 11:11 AM..
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09-28-2011, 12:17 AM	#5
crazydiamond Private 9 Rep 56 Posts Drives: 2008 335i Sedan Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SF Bayarea iTrader: (0)	I did a DIY on my HiFi E90 and went to Jeff at All Pro Audio when I thought I had blownup my shiny new xd600 amp. Jeff helped me diagnose it as a grounding issue and I was able to continue from there on my own based on all the excellent DIY guides here. On a side note, he did gave me a funny look when he saw technics harnesss and said that's not how we do things here :-) At that point I took his advice on the grounding issue and got out of there.
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09-28-2011, 01:03 AM	#6
ctuna Lieutenant General 1911 Rep 13,104 Posts Drives: 325xi 06 wagon MT Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Santa Cruz, Ca iTrader: (0)	Crazy What did you use for a ground + 12 What did you use for a ground point Before and after the ground error VP recommends going to the battery - terminal but I read the clamp nut does not come completely off the terminal so I don't see how you get a ring connector on it. This would also be true of the + terminal which of the three hots on the battery did you use for that? Last edited by ctuna; 09-28-2011 at 01:11 AM..
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09-28-2011, 01:17 AM	#7
koenb Registered 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: 2010 335D Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	I've talked to Jim at AllPro Audio. These guys seem to do good work. At least the online reviews are raving and from talking to Jim I get the impression they know what they're talking about. For some reason they prefer to order their own stuff rather than putting in VP's kits. They did come up with a competitive quote for a similar kit. Yes, I have read horror stories about AMS. Definitely not taking my business there! Ctuna, my car is a 2010 335d with base audio. I think I can do the install myself, but I need my car to commute so it needs to be guaranteed done in 1 weekend. I would be up for helping you do your car first? That would give me an idea of what's involved. What's your time frame for wanting to do this? You're in Santa Cruz? I'm in Foster City myself (but my work is in Santa Clara). VP also mentioned that he and his buddy Tom will be in the bay area mid October and they plan to do some installs locally then. Installation price seems to be $600 no matter where you go.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-28-2011, 01:41 AM	#8
ctuna Lieutenant General 1911 Rep 13,104 Posts Drives: 325xi 06 wagon MT Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Santa Cruz, Ca iTrader: (0)	koenb I already have some Torx Drivers and some Pry tools plus spare plastic pop rivets, Voltmeter and most of the other stuff necessary . My car will be simpler than yours because I'm starting out with HI Fi . I am kind of up in the air between Zapco's and a JL setup. I'm retired so my time is pretty free. I have already done some practice runs on my panels. I only have a single car garage so I was going to do my stuff in steps in the driveway. I can't seem to mail you yet here my direct email is ctuna@surfnetusa.com mail me and I will see what we can do.
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09-29-2011, 11:25 AM	#10
VP Electricity Brigadier General 289 Rep 3,201 Posts Drives: F34 xDrive Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: portland oregon iTrader: (3)	That excellent adapter is a BMW part which plugs into a fused output on the terminal. Any idea what the fuse rating is? Me either. Looks cool, but we don't use it for that reason. If you ever pop that internal fuse, the entire battery terminal must be replaced, which is like $75 last I checked. And as far as your grounding goes, that's why all of our harnesses include power and ground in equal lengths, with ring terminals, so you can ground right to the negative terminal. We never - NEVER - have a grounding problem in our system installs doing it this way.
	Appreciate 0 Quote