[uucdigest] Thursday, March 13 2003 Volume 03 : Number 6212
_________________________________________________________________ | | Search the ARCHIVES: | http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] | | Visit Richard Nott's Ultimate BMW Database: | http://www.bmwdatabase.com | | For all available Digest commands including unsubscribe/subscribe, | visit the BMW UUC Digest page: http://www.uucdigest.com | | Send SUBMISSIONS to [EMAIL PROTECTED] | Complaints? Send 'em to [EMAIL PROTECTED] if you must. | Technical Problems? Send 'em to [EMAIL PROTECTED] |__________________________________________________________________ In this BMW UUC Digest: Re: [uuc] Radio question RE: [uuc] Radio question Re: [uuc] Radio question Re: [uuc] Radio question Re: [uuc] Re: Restriction on DE events for non-chapter members Re: [uuc] Speaking of Driving Events.. Re: [uuc] Radio question Re: [uuc] Speaking of Driving Events.. Re: [uuc] Re: Restriction on DE events for non-chapter members Re: [uuc] Speaking of Driving Events.. Re: [uuc] Speaking of Driving Events.. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2003 21:46:00 -0500 From: Ed MacVaugh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Radio question First off, I'm about deaf, but need a stereo in the car for the passengers. So, if you ever get rid of the amplifier in the trunk and the two rear speakers, I want them. I'd probably pay silly money for them as they are the only option my wife's car doesn't currently have. Most folks that upgrade from HK go with MB Quart, who made a package sound system upgrade for the E36. They couple the MB Quart speaker upgrade with an a/d/s amplifier upgrade and leave the head unit stock or go with the ///M Coupe in dash Blaupunkt CD player (I have one in each of my cars and it looks absolutely stock), which go on eBay for around $285 Ed Burtsky wrote: >I have a '98 E36 with the upgraded HK Radio and a CD changer in the trunk. >Lately I have, unfortunately, started to listen to classical music in the >car and the failings of the system are quite apparent. For example the >violin section sounds like they are scratching their fingernails on >chalkboard rather than bowing a musical instrument. > >I would rather not replace the radio head (I'd like to leave the dash >appearance looking stock). So my question is this: How can I improve the >sound of the audio system? Will putting in a more powerful amplifier help >or is the CD changer at fault? If an amplifier will help, how should it be >wired, where should it be located, and what brand and power should I >consider. (I'm not looking to rattle the windows of other cars. I just >want an acceptable sound quality.) > >Burt >'98 M3 > > > > > ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2003 19:53:34 -0800 From: "KKiely" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [uuc] Radio question Burt, Replacing just the speakers is not a bad idea for the least expensive but perhaps not aurally best. As Brett indicates BMW sources speakers from the likes of Nokia and ITT. In older systems the amps would also have the crossovers built in so each speaker would get an already attenuated bandpass. If you expect to put in two way or 3 way's you're loosing out if the frequency has already been modified. Best bet is to change the amp and speakers and make any necessary adjustments or conversions at the input of the amp(s) as the head unit signals are probably speaker level not line level. - -Kevin ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2003 23:24:45 -0500 From: "mike" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Radio question I missed the first part of this, but I would also add, that changing the head unit First can make huge differences in sound. I have installed aftermarket head units in E-28s, E-34, E-36 M3s etc and it made a world of difference. In both of the 5 series cars, the replaced head unit, with stock speakers and amps sounded great with an added sub under the rear seat. The E-36 actually needs everything replaced to sound good, as it is by far the worst stereo I have listened to in car. If you do replace speakers etc and keep the stock head unit and amp, the improvement is slight, as the head unit is the bottle neck in my opinion of good sound. Mike - ----- Original Message ----- From: "KKiely" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2003 10:53 PM Subject: RE: [uuc] Radio question > Burt, > > Replacing just the speakers is not a bad idea for the least expensive but > perhaps not aurally best. As Brett indicates BMW sources speakers from the likes > of Nokia and ITT. In older systems the amps would also have the crossovers built > in so each speaker would get an already attenuated bandpass. If you expect to > put in two way or 3 way's you're loosing out if the frequency has already been > modified. > > Best bet is to change the amp and speakers and make any necessary adjustments or > conversions at the input of the amp(s) as the head unit signals are probably > speaker level not line level. > > -Kevin > > ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2003 23:51:37 -0500 From: "KMS - Brett Anderson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Radio question I'm not a stereo guy by anyone's imagination. I'm happy if the damn thing makes noise, but I gotta ask..... How does changing the head unit effect CD sound quality, when using a CD changer? Be gentle, I know engines and diffs, not stereos. - ----------------------------------------------------- BMW Special Tool Rentals Pay per incident tech support - ----------------------------------------------------- Brett Anderson KMS (440) 338 1650 www.koalamotorsport.com OSS committee member - ----- Original Message ----- From: "mike" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > If you do replace speakers etc and keep the stock head unit and amp, the > improvement is slight, as the head unit is the bottle neck in my opinion of > good sound. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2003 22:17:59 -0700 From: allegro1 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Re: Restriction on DE events for non-chapter members I'm hope that I'm not the only one who wishes that this subject would indeed become mute. Peter du Bois ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2003 00:18:48 -0500 From: Steven Schlossman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Speaking of Driving Events.. Every CCA DE event I register for has a priority to their chapter members first. Most schools I register for fill up the first day. It pays to be a dual member. If you are an instructor who doesn't have to pay to instruct, it's a moot point. - -- ...steven 1996 328ti National Capital - Summit Point Northern Ohio - Mid-Ohio GVC - Watkins Glen Tarheel - VIR MINI Links http://www.happytogether.com/minilinks/ 318ti Registry http://www.happytogether.com/318ti/registry/ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2003 00:25:49 -0500 From: "mike" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Radio question Well that part I missed. Remember, I only caught the last post about speakers. Now, say you are running a head unit that is controling a changer, the output is only as good as the head unit itself, even if it is a cd source. I cant speak for anything newer than E-36s, but if you compare the sound quality of a aftermarket Cd player to the stock head unit hooked to the factory cd changer, the aftermarket Cd sounds much better. The aftermarket unit will have higher level outputs going to the speaker inputs thus going to the stock amp, this also means, at a given volume, they will be less distorted than the stock stereo outputs. Atleast in those cars, they use speakerlevel outputs going into the amp, which is not good to begin with and thus, the aftermarket speaker level outputs will have less distortion and a low signal to noise ratio vs the stock unit. I dont know why BMW was cheap on the head units, but they really blow, about the level of a $100 unit from walmart. Just swapping a $180 JVC cd player into the dash makes about a 30-40% improvement in sound etc vs teh stock head unit/changer. Given that some like the stock unit and changer, then changing the amps and speakers will give a improved sound, but not to the degree compared to swapping out the head unit. I have not touched the BMW in dash cd players, so I have no idea how good they are. Mike Did the stereo stuff back in the beginning stages of car Hifi, Ex. Kenwood KRC 999II $1400 tape deck. - ----- Original Message ----- From: "KMS - Brett Anderson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2003 11:51 PM Subject: Re: [uuc] Radio question > I'm not a stereo guy by anyone's imagination. I'm happy if the damn thing > makes noise, but I gotta ask..... > > How does changing the head unit effect CD sound quality, when using a CD > changer? Be gentle, I know engines and diffs, not stereos. > > > ----------------------------------------------------- > BMW Special Tool Rentals > Pay per incident tech support > ----------------------------------------------------- > Brett Anderson > KMS > (440) 338 1650 > www.koalamotorsport.com > > OSS committee member > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "mike" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > If you do replace speakers etc and keep the stock head unit and amp, the > > improvement is slight, as the head unit is the bottle neck in my opinion of > > good sound. > > > ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2003 00:35:57 -0500 From: "KMS - Brett Anderson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Speaking of Driving Events.. Actually, most chapters charge their instructors, just at a reduced rate... Example, Northern Ohio chapter charges instructors $100 for the Friday open track day before a school at Mid Ohio. That is less than the rental cost of the track, but it's something. Hell, if I were an instructor, I'd want to get PAID for having to ride with *some* students.... ;-) - ----------------------------------------------------- BMW Special Tool Rentals Pay per incident tech support - ----------------------------------------------------- Brett Anderson KMS (440) 338 1650 www.koalamotorsport.com OSS committee member - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steven Schlossman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2003 12:18 AM Subject: Re: [uuc] Speaking of Driving Events.. > Every CCA DE event I register for has a priority to their chapter > members first. Most schools I register for fill up the first day. It > pays to be a dual member. > > If you are an instructor who doesn't have to pay to instruct, it's a > moot point. > -- > ...steven > 1996 328ti > National Capital - Summit Point > Northern Ohio - Mid-Ohio > GVC - Watkins Glen > Tarheel - VIR > > MINI Links http://www.happytogether.com/minilinks/ > 318ti Registry http://www.happytogether.com/318ti/registry/ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2003 00:39:14 -0500 From: "KMS - Brett Anderson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Re: Restriction on DE events for non-chapter members Very few people travel the country doing a single drivers school in each chapter's region. Most people do drivers schools within their own chapter. Many people also participate in a neighbouring chapter's schools. Some people participate in two neighbouring chapter's schools. So, for an extra $13.50, or perhaps $27.00 per year, you can do so without putting your club's chapters at risk of trouble with the IRS. Seems a small price to pay, if you ask me. Most of us spend more than that on a lunch or three. - ----------------------------------------------------- BMW Special Tool Rentals Pay per incident tech support - ----------------------------------------------------- Brett Anderson KMS (440) 338 1650 www.koalamotorsport.com OSS committee member ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2003 01:59:15 -0500 From: "Dave Kelley" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Speaking of Driving Events.. Actually the BMWCCA chapters in the Southeast do not charge their instructors. They participate in the school for free, but would have to pay for a lapping day if one were offered on the Friday. I'm talking Peachtree, Tarheel, and Sandlapper here and that pretty much covers Road Atlanta, VIR, and Carolina Motorsports Park. The PCA around here, on the other hand, does charge instructors at a reduced rate and they have a harder time finding instructors. Dave Kelley 98 M3/4 > Actually, most chapters charge their instructors, just at a reduced rate... > Example, Northern Ohio chapter charges instructors $100 for the Friday open > track day before a school at Mid Ohio. That is less than the rental cost of > the track, but it's something. > > Hell, if I were an instructor, I'd want to get PAID for having to ride with > *some* students.... ;-) > > ----------------------------------------------------- > BMW Special Tool Rentals > Pay per incident tech support > ----------------------------------------------------- > Brett Anderson > KMS > (440) 338 1650 > www.koalamotorsport.com > > OSS committee member > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Steven Schlossman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2003 12:18 AM > Subject: Re: [uuc] Speaking of Driving Events.. > > > > Every CCA DE event I register for has a priority to their chapter > > members first. Most schools I register for fill up the first day. It > > pays to be a dual member. > > > > If you are an instructor who doesn't have to pay to instruct, it's a > > moot point. > > -- > > ...steven > > 1996 328ti > > National Capital - Summit Point > > Northern Ohio - Mid-Ohio > > GVC - Watkins Glen > > Tarheel - VIR > > > > MINI Links http://www.happytogether.com/minilinks/ > > 318ti Registry http://www.happytogether.com/318ti/registry/ > > > ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2003 06:59:08 -0500 From: "Woody" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Speaking of Driving Events.. Such as YOU? Woody Hair ;-) - ----- Original Message ----- From: "KMS - Brett Anderson" > Hell, if I were an instructor, I'd want to get PAID for having to ride with > *some* students.... ;-) > ------------------------------ End of [uucdigest] V3 #6212 *************************** | | In memory of Michel Potheau - friend, enthusiast, founder of the BMW CCA. |________________________________________ | Please visit these UUC-approved BMW parts vendors/service providers: | (listed alphabetically) | | Autoscope-Motorsports - http://www.autoscope-motorsports.com | |==================================================== | | Koala MotorSport . BMW technical information, special tool sales/rental | http://www.koalamotorsport.com | |==================================================== | | Taylor BMW - http://www.taylorbmw.com - Doc Bimmer! | UUC Motorwerks . http://www.uucmotorwerks.com |__________________________________________
