Front foot well speaker upgrade ?? Originals not that bad

UK forum for general and technical discussion about the Z3 roadster
Post Reply
Brittas
Joined: Tue 09 Jun, 2009 11:07
Posts: 20

  Z3 roadster 1.9

Front foot well speaker upgrade ?? Originals not that bad

Post by Brittas »

I have put a pioneer head unit in my 1.9 Z3 which has really improved the music sound. I have tried a 15cm pair of kenwoods that were £55 from Halfords ..... Sounded worse than standard speakers. I have tried some Fusion Encounter 240w . 6.5" 4 ohm. EM-CM65 ... these sounded worse.
It seems the original speakers are not that bad with an upgraded head unit.
I guess I will never get deep bass out of a 15cm speaker. I probably am going to stick with what I have unless anyone knows a speaker that will be a definite upgrade.
User avatar
Gazza
Joined: Tue 04 Oct, 2005 20:58
Posts: 9521

  M roadster S54
Location: Romford Essex

Re: Front foot well speaker upgrade ?? Originals not that bad

Post by Gazza »

Did you run new wiring to the speakers?

The old speakers have their own amp.
Gazza

"Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car, oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car. Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall and torque is how far you take the wall with you"

Z3 S54 M roadster Image, BMW Z1, BMW M3 CSL, Z4M Coupe
ImageImage
PeteW Surrey
Joined: Sun 03 Mar, 2019 09:12
Posts: 5

  Z3 roadster 2.2i

Re: Front foot well speaker upgrade ?? Originals not that bad

Post by PeteW Surrey »

Hi Gazza


I have a query in respect to your comment, is this an amplifier behind the left hand foot-well speaker or cross-over electronics for frequency split between the main and the tweeters?

Regards



Peter
Brittas
Joined: Tue 09 Jun, 2009 11:07
Posts: 20

  Z3 roadster 1.9

Re: Front foot well speaker upgrade ?? Originals not that bad

Post by Brittas »

I used existing wiring. Are you sure the bog standard set up has an amp?
User avatar
Gazza
Joined: Tue 04 Oct, 2005 20:58
Posts: 9521

  M roadster S54
Location: Romford Essex

Re: Front foot well speaker upgrade ?? Originals not that bad

Post by Gazza »

PeteW Surrey wrote: Sun 07 Apr, 2019 10:38 Hi Gazza


I have a query in respect to your comment, is this an amplifier behind the left hand foot-well speaker or cross-over electronics for frequency split between the main and the tweeters?

Regards



Peter
Indeed, amp behind the LH footwell speaker.
Gazza

"Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car, oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car. Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall and torque is how far you take the wall with you"

Z3 S54 M roadster Image, BMW Z1, BMW M3 CSL, Z4M Coupe
ImageImage
User avatar
Gazza
Joined: Tue 04 Oct, 2005 20:58
Posts: 9521

  M roadster S54
Location: Romford Essex

Re: Front foot well speaker upgrade ?? Originals not that bad

Post by Gazza »

Brittas wrote: Sun 07 Apr, 2019 11:49 I used existing wiring. Are you sure the bog standard set up has an amp?
I upgraded my headunit and speakers, used new wiring to all speakers (7) inc sub
Gazza

"Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car, oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car. Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall and torque is how far you take the wall with you"

Z3 S54 M roadster Image, BMW Z1, BMW M3 CSL, Z4M Coupe
ImageImage
Dennisthemenace
Joined: Mon 25 Feb, 2019 22:23
Posts: 1

  Z3 roadster 2.8

Re: Front foot well speaker upgrade ?? Originals not that bad

Post by Dennisthemenace »

I’m using an Alpine KTP 445 amp with my Alpine HU, it’s ok but as said you won’t get any real bass as they aren’t in sealed enclosures, I’m looking out for the sub enclosure and accompanying parts, then I will run my old 5 channel Genesis amp to power the lot!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
882-user-1
Joined: Sun 01 Aug, 2021 22:25
Posts: 1

  Z3 roadster 2.8

Re: Front foot well speaker upgrade ?? Originals not that bad

Post by 882-user-1 »

Gazza wrote: Sat 06 Apr, 2019 18:21 Did you run new wiring to the speakers?

The old speakers have their own amp.
Just found this!!! :(

Just replaced rear speakers, drivers side with new kick panel speaker and new door tweeter, then tweeter in passenger door. And took passenger kick panel off to find .... this!!!

How do bypass it???

I have a new head unit which is i think will be fine as amp too for now.

Does this thingy-amp power all speakers or just front?

I'm assuming it had inputs for 12v, gnd, left +/- in, right +/- in & right +/- (amplified out).. no left out as connected to speaker. is the right?

anyone cut this out and wired a bypass? help?!!!
User avatar
Robert T
Site Admin
Joined: Mon 12 Jun, 2006 10:35
Posts: 10170

  Z3 roadster 1.9
Location: Cheshire

Re: Front foot well speaker upgrade ?? Originals not that bad

Post by Robert T »

Hi 882-user-1. I'm afraid that Gazza sadly passed away at the beginning of the year, so I'll answer on his behalf.

There is lots of info on here if you search for "footwell amplifier".

Here are some of the more interesting threads that I turned up:

viewtopic.php?f=10&t=39250&p=364849

viewtopic.php?f=10&t=9881

viewtopic.php?t=10889

There is a pinout in the first one, but the suggestion of running fresh wiring may be the cleanest solution, as you'll be able to use thicker wire to drive the speakers directly.

Cheers R.
Arctic Silver '99 Z3 1.9 & Black '59 Frogeye 1275cc
Image
Post Reply