[tsbrown]

Originally Posted by NGT2

For me, I think the amp would work. I’ve test driven all kinds of cars with HK, including a M8, and bass was never the issue. It’s the clarity of the bowers that I like. So what you’re describing sounds great.

I’m pretty sure the HK in this LCI car is weaker than my old car. I put the original amp back in before trading the car but drove to Chicago with the OEM setup on B&W settings. The new car HK system sounds wheezy in comparison. Just have to get the Lightwave amp for it. Unfortunately the pre-LCI version out of the old car won’t work.

[tsbrown]

Originally Posted by Alscoob

Lovely car, enjoy

BUT that front plate can't be for real, is it?

That’s the IL dealer plate. KY doesn’t require one fortunately so the tow hook cover is back in place for a clean front.

[tsbrown]

Originally Posted by ashokgadeking

Congrats tsbrown ! TBM is a handsome color, so difficult to capture its glory in pictures. I made a similar jump to the M550i but from an M340i a couple weeks ago. The Alvite Grey Metallic car you were looking at might have been the one I purchased. Welcome to the club

If that’s the one NGT2 highlighted from his favorite TX dealer then you got a good one. Congrats!

[tsbrown]

Originally Posted by NGT2

Wouldn’t mind it in the X7, also, come to think of it.

You think Lightwave is better than Alpha One or Bavsound?

Bimmertech brands their amps as Alpha One and Lightwave. Maybe the pre-LCI version for HK adds the Lightwave branding where the LCI version doesn’t use it. I also had the Bavsound Ghost Subs in the 540i. They added only a little bass. Turns out what the HK system really needed was more power.

[tsbrown]

Originally Posted by adhrp

That understeer is going to ruin the experience.. "" because we all drive to the limit everyday and carve mountains like our asses are on fire.

Second response on this comment, but this just begs more follow-up. Funny thing is my wife’s X3 with iD7 has the G meter so I turned it on and watched how much I’m pulling in a turn. Maybe 0.6. As I’ve been getting accustomed to the new car the past couple days I found the same G meter and watched its trace on a highway on-ramp. Yeah, maybe 0.6g or so as I push it more. The limit on these is about 0.9ish. So just shows what a complete knob he is for claiming driving at the limit on public roads. Love the 540i, but that’s just stooopid.

[G30M]

Originally Posted by tsbrown

Second response on this comment, but this just begs more follow-up. Funny thing is my wife’s X3 with iD7 has the G meter so I turned it on and watched how much I’m pulling in a turn. Maybe 0.6. As I’ve been getting accustomed to the new car the past couple days I found the same G meter and watched its trace on a highway on-ramp. Yeah, maybe 0.6g or so as I push it more. The limit on these is about 0.9ish. So just shows what a complete knob he is for claiming driving at the limit on public roads. Love the 540i, but that’s just stooopid.

Mine does shoot past 1 with ease. But where I live the roads are very fast and twisty.

[tsbrown]

Originally Posted by G30M

Mine does shoot past 1 with ease. But where I live the roads are very fast and twisty.

Ever driven American roads? They aren’t built for that. Be happy yours are. Btw, what tires are you running?

[G30M]

Originally Posted by tsbrown

Ever driven American roads? They aren’t built for that. Be happy yours are. Btw, what tires are you running?

I did it on staggered 20" pirelli p zero rft

I now have conti sportcontact 5 255 40 19 square

I think it was 1.4 at a few corners

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by tsbrown

Bimmertech brands their amps as Alpha One and Lightwave. Maybe the pre-LCI version for HK adds the Lightwave branding where the LCI version doesn’t use it. I also had the Bavsound Ghost Subs in the 540i. They added only a little bass. Turns out what the HK system really needed was more power.

Yeah i looked it all up last night. Using my vin, they said it would be a different amp they have, not the light wave, and it is a tad weaker than the light wave. This is for a 22 M8.

[Alscoob]

Originally Posted by tsbrown

That’s the IL dealer plate. KY doesn’t require one fortunately so the tow hook cover is back in place for a clean front.

Phew... That's a relief.

Wish we could have a front plate delete here in the UK too, but that'll never happen.

[AP]

Definitely not. Government want to track you down for any minor misdemeanour using cctv.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by tsbrown

Haven’t noticed any imbalance issues. Maybe it’s application of the extra 200bhp that helps rotate the car though the turn.

We’ll get together for sure this summer and enjoy a Maine Lunch . And the good news is my home state doesn’t require a front plate

That's really good news on the plate. To be honest, my MA front plate is on for 15 minutes a year to get an inspection sticker. I'm just thankful the prior owner didn't drill holes in the bumper either.

[tsbrown]

Originally Posted by NGT2

Yeah i looked it all up last night. Using my vin, they said it would be a different amp they have, not the light wave, and it is a tad weaker than the light wave. This is for a 22 M8.

This LCI 23 M550 uses the all black Alpha One amp for $1800 where the pre-LCI 540i used the $2000 stainless cover Lightwave. Too bad they are different as I’d have already installed it. Really easy plug and play. Removing/installing the interior covers takes longer than actual swapping out the amp.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by tsbrown

This LCI 23 M550 uses the all black Alpha One amp for $1800 where the pre-LCI 540i used the $2000 stainless cover Lightwave. Too bad they are different as I’d have already installed it. Really easy plug and play. Removing/installing the interior covers takes longer than actual swapping out the amp.

Yep. That’s the same one it’s telling me to get. You think the additional speaker upgrades are crucial, or more incremental?

[tsbrown]

Originally Posted by NGT2

Yep. That’s the same one it’s telling me to get. You think the additional speaker upgrades are crucial, or more incremental?

I’m not an audiophile and my hearing isn’t great at certain frequencies (my wife’s speaking voice, ha!) but I think the amp is 95% of the fix. I would pass on the ghost subs and add a separate trunk sub instead to get more bass. The Alpha One amp has outputs for that. I believe they have a YT video for that installation as well. I don’t know the B&W system as well as you do but it looks like it has exciter speakers, presumably to get a similar effect to a larger sub moving more air.

Edit to add... Have been researching custom enclosed trunk subs for the G30. While there's no shortage of people who have added trunk subs, most people say the sound insulation from the trunk is very good, so to get best effect you want to put a sub where the center armrest pass through is. That's a non-starter for me since I have golf clubs in the trunk quite often and don't want to give up that space. I'll probably just stick with the Alpha One amp upgrade as I did on the 540i before.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by tsbrown

I’m not an audiophile and my hearing isn’t great at certain frequencies (my wife’s speaking voice, ha!) but I think the amp is 95% of the fix. I would pass on the ghost subs and add a separate trunk sub instead to get more bass. The Alpha One amp has outputs for that. I believe they have a YT video for that installation as well. I don’t know the B&W system as well as you do but it looks like it has exciter speakers, presumably to get a similar effect to a larger sub moving more air.

Edit to add... Have been researching custom enclosed trunk subs for the G30. While there's no shortage of people who have added trunk subs, most people say the sound insulation from the trunk is very good, so to get best effect you want to put a sub where the center armrest pass through is. That's a non-starter for me since I have golf clubs in the trunk quite often and don't want to give up that space. I'll probably just stick with the Alpha One amp upgrade as I did on the 540i before.

Same here with the golf clubs. And I believe the 8GC trunk is already smaller than the G30 anyway. But the amp is interesting to me. Will it void any warranty with the iDrive, outside of the speaker system?

[tsbrown]

Originally Posted by NGT2

Same here with the golf clubs. And I believe the 8GC trunk is already smaller than the G30 anyway. But the amp is interesting to me. Will it void any warranty with the iDrive, outside of the speaker system?

Hadn’t even thought about that. My 540i was well out of warranty by the time I added the new amp. If it does cause any problems during warranty, easy enough to remove/swap back for dealer visit.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by tsbrown

I’m not an audiophile and my hearing isn’t great at certain frequencies (my wife’s speaking voice, ha!) but I think the amp is 95% of the fix. I would pass on the ghost subs and add a separate trunk sub instead to get more bass. The Alpha One amp has outputs for that. I believe they have a YT video for that installation as well. I don’t know the B&W system as well as you do but it looks like it has exciter speakers, presumably to get a similar effect to a larger sub moving more air.

Edit to add... Have been researching custom enclosed trunk subs for the G30. While there's no shortage of people who have added trunk subs, most people say the sound insulation from the trunk is very good, so to get best effect you want to put a sub where the center armrest pass through is. That's a non-starter for me since I have golf clubs in the trunk quite often and don't want to give up that space. I'll probably just stick with the Alpha One amp upgrade as I did on the 540i before.

Although I have B&W, I am a sponge for reading about and researching G30 upgrades from HK. 100% correct, the amp is 95% of the problem, it is just weak. Start with just the amp NGT2. Speakers are fine. Subs would definitely be a consideration for me if I were upgrading, but I would buy the seat subs from alpha and have a shop do them. Amp is a piece of cake.

Tom - glad you are not considering a trunk box sub. I put one in my E39 and although it brought life to a 20+ year old car, the trunk vibrations are hard to take. I am sure a professional job could avoid this. I just bought a Rockford Fosgate 12" powered sub and taped into the low level inputs. The thing was a beast, but the thought of my license plate rattling and people hearing it made me cringe. I felt like snoop.

[charron98]

Very nice!

I am in search mode currently. Ironically, I had this one saved, and the gray one too, in my search favs.

[charron98]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

Although I have B&W, I am a sponge for reading about and researching G30 upgrades from HK. 100% correct, the amp is 95% of the problem, it is just weak. Start with just the amp NGT2. Speakers are fine. Subs would definitely be a consideration for me if I were upgrading, but I would buy the seat subs from alpha and have a shop do them. Amp is a piece of cake.

Tom - glad you are not considering a trunk box sub. I put one in my E39 and although it brought life to a 20+ year old car, the trunk vibrations are hard to take. I am sure a professional job could avoid this. I just bought a Rockford Fosgate 12" powered sub and taped into the low level inputs. The thing was a beast, but the thought of my license plate rattling and people hearing it made me cringe. I felt like snoop.

Wait, you're not actually Snoop?

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by charron98

Wait, you're not actually Snoop?

Word

[tsbrown]

Originally Posted by charron98

Very nice!

I am in search mode currently. Ironically, I had this one saved, and the gray one too, in my search favs.

Thanks! If you find an M550i with options you want for what looks like a good price you have to act quickly. I lost out on a couple because of not committing fast enough. It all worked out for me and same will happen for you. Good luck with your search.