Cheap Audio Upgrade for BMW F20 F21 F22 F87 from Base or HiFi. Installation and sound comparison.

The best factory upgrade for base and HiFi systems on a budget it's probably the best summary for this video. In this video I talk about the differences between all factory options, install HK speakers and play some test samples of different combinations of speakers. Previously I installed HK speakers in my BMW F20 with base system which was a great improvement however, the HK tweeters were always almost annoying due to a different equaliser to factory HK setup. I decided to do the same in my F87 which came our from factory with HiFi system and I ended up with the same problem. So, I decided to experiment and I found HiFi tweeters installed in F3x and F4x. As you will see in the video, they giving much more pleasant tone which isn't too crisp.
I have to apologise for bad quality from the installation but I had to film it with gopro and I had stabilisation off.
If you have any questions, please feel free to comment below.
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Music:
Purrple Cat - Black Cherry: • Purrple Cat - Black Ch...
Geoxor - You I
Geoxor - Higher

[@Arctica18]

Another great video!

[@alvaros07]

Thanks for video, just what I need

[@Ulysses182]

Hi. I'm looking to upgrade the sound on my pre-LCI F30 (base audio system) to hi-fi or h/k or even to an aftermarket speakers and amp, but all connected to my original head unit. My question is: Would I need to replace my head unit as well to achieve the full potential of the new speakers? Does my "base" head unit somehow limit the quality of the sound? Is there such thing as harman kardon head unit, or hi-fi head unit, or are all head units the same in F30s? (I have pro navigation if it matters)

[@J4Z666]

Great video FD - I have f21 base system and believe me it's 1 million times better than the Insignia I had before that was shocking. You made this look very simple thanks - Ebay here I come!

[@MDrives]

Thank you. It’s really not that difficult and I’m not car technician.

[@J4Z666]

@@MDrives So turns out I have an F20 somehow someone confused me over which is which... lol. I finally ordered a front door HK upgrade kit which is due any day but now I'm wondering if I can also fit a HK Amp to a base F20 (which I have heard has no separate amp only the head unit). Don't suppose you know?

[@TheCloudStrike]

Which music is beeing used during 14:58 - 15:07?

[@alexavagyan930]

Great video

[@fratex6790]

Great video, how did you connect the tweeters at the back behind the headrest! Was the connection already existing?

[@MDrives]

Same as at the front. There are two ways. If you use hk mid tone speakers as well they have tweeter out. If you don’t you can use splitters for about £6 on eBay.

[@Blackbrere]

Hi FamilyDriver. Big fan and followed you on the CarPlay retrofit from Kush. I'm looking to also improve sound of my standard F21. Am I correct in saying that if I purchase F21 Harmon tweeters (frameless glass currently has plain plastic trim) and Harmon mid speakers for the front doors, will that be a decent upgrade from the standard set up? From your knowledge will it be plug and play as I'm not looking to change woofers or rear speakers. Many thanks and great informative videos.

[@MDrives]

It makes a nice difference as introduction of tweeters lifts the sound stage from leg high to almost ears level. I really think that these black hifi tweeters from 3/4 series are better choice than HK tweeters as they are just too loud and harsh. I would definitely change the mid tone to HK. Thank you for your kind comment and good luck with the upgrade.

[@Blackbrere]

@@MDrives Thanks for the reply. As usual I tend to follow your upgrades so I've actually purchased the HK tweeters and mid speakers. I agree listening to your video that they're harsher in the highs. I'll spend a bit of time with the HK and perhaps sell them on and get the HiFi's in the future. Looking forward to your next vid.

[@MrCharliooo]

Nice video! I have a 2017 M2 LCI with the basic audio system. Can I just confirm that if I buy the HK tweeter / Mid speaker, I can plug n play them in? :)

[@MDrives]

Yes. It’s plug and play.

[@babbobs]

Looking to upgrade my speakers to. I got the base system (no tweeters) in my F31, do i just need to buy the HK front speakers and tweeters and plug them in and they work? Or do i need some more modification?

[@MDrives]

No other mods are required.

[@Hannnnnzi]

Sir, to add this A pillar speaker, do I have to disconnect the battery? Thank you!

[@MDrives]

Hi. I didn’t disconnect it. I would if you would be disconnecting an amp or head unit.

[@armensarkisian7927]

Great video! I have a 2015 F22 coupe (frameless window) with Hifi and no tweeters. Looking to do what you did so I’m trying to hunt down used HK covers for the 2 series. Do you know if those covers work across many BMW lines? In other words, could I buy from 3 and 4 series coupe models and they’ll fit?

[@MDrives]

Thanks. I’m not sure it they would. I know they are the same across f21/22/87.

[@armensarkisian7927]

I didn't take a chance so I ordered the OEM tweeters with the housing to make sure they fit my 228. Since I will take out the HK tweeters from that unit, I was thinking I could add them to the rear speakers but from your video, I see that they look different. Is that a installation bracket that came with the speakers you purchased? Does the tweeter just attach to it or is it a whole different product? If it is a bracket, I'm wondering if I could find that and just pop in the HK tweeters from the front that I won't be using.

[@MDrives]

@@armensarkisian7927 the tweeters are the same I think but they come with this plastic. You should be able to sell you tweeters easily for about £40 on eBay

[@armensarkisian7927]

@@MDrives Good point. Thank you!

[@armensarkisian7927]

One last question. On the HK speakers, are both jacks identical? In other words, how do you determine which is the output port for the tweeter and which one is the main line? Are they labeled on the speakers?

[@iNasteable]

Cześć, robiłeś to w poprzednim filmie w F20. Wymieniałeś głośniki z przodu i z tyłu i tweetery? Czyli 4 głośniki z przodu i 4 z tyłu wymieniłeś tylko? Wymieniałeś subwoofer pod nogami kierowcy i pasażera?

[@MDrives]

Wymiwnilem 4 średnio tonowe, dołożyłem 4 tweetery.

[@iNasteable]

@@MDrives też chcę to zrobić, ale w F30. Myślę, żeby wymienić też 2 subwoofery co są pod siedzeniami przednimi. Myślisz, że da to radę na oryginalnym zestawie bez wzmacniacza jakoś chociaż lepiej zagrać? Bo się obawiam, żeby nie piszczało, czy coś - bo przecież nie mam wzmacniacza.

[@Hannnnnzi]

hi there, to solve the high pitch of the HK tweeter, why don't you change the Hifi amplifier to the HK amplifier? It should solve the problem.

[@MDrives]

I would have to change the subs then as well. What I want to try first is to code in different equaliser but as the car is under warranty I want to wait with any coding until warranty runs out.

[@mabdollaei1]

I have a F44. The factory sound system doesnt have the tweeter cover. Do you think the F22 cover will fit my car?

[@MDrives]

I doubt. Completely different cars.

[@Hannnnnzi]

in this 2 series, you are using the Hifi amplifier right?

[@MDrives]

Correct

[@nickprince8623]

Hi, great helpful video, I’ve just replaced the standard door speakers for Harman Kardon and added a pair of tweeters, sound is greatly improved, had to turn the treble down a bit, now my question is, is there any improvement on also upgrading the front centre speaker to Harman kardon ? Thanks

[@MDrives]

I didn’t do the central speaker. Many people disconnected them as apparently they reduce the sound separation as it’s basically a mix of right and left channel

[@c.alcantara9490]

Where u find this kit please ? thank a lot by avance

[@Chris_Ks05]

Hello , wouldn’t it better instead of “mixing”/searching tweeters and speakers HK, for the hifi system just to change front Focals IC BMW 100L which they have tweeters together with the speaker ?? Thank you in advance..

[@MDrives]

Separating the speakers and having tweeters much higher completely changes the sound stage in the cabin.

[@Chris_Ks05]

@@MDrives Thank you.. I can understand the point, but finding tweeters HK plastic covers for BMW F20 is a disaster 😅

[@shadiomar4193]

Did you do any coding after changing the speakers? I had the base system without tweeters, 4 mid-range and 2 smaller subs, after installing the HK speakers the treble was crazy high, thats because the head unit is tuned to have sharper high notes to compensate the lack of tweeters, so I’ve coded the head unit with BimmerCode to HIFI, it flattened the notes, sound became much better! I’ve also added the VIBE POWERBOX 65.4 amp which has made it even better!!

[@MDrives]

Thanks for the advice. This is something I will be doing this when my warranty is over.

[@SK-vx4zu]

Hi Shadi, How you finding the vibe 65.4 amp. Did it make a big difference to the sound ? Thanks

[@8teate]

Hi, do you have any advice on how to install this amp in the BMW. So far I have done the upgrade to the HK tweeters only. Will check the coding out. Thanks!

[@adi-electronics]

Hello! How did you code for HIFI sistem and what are the exact steps in Bimmercode menu ? If the basic AUDIO system does not have a separate amplifier, is it OK to code The head unit for HIFI system that has a dedicated amplifier? If the coding for HIFI is OK and it is compatible for the basic system, maybe H/K coding is better? Thank you in advance.

[@adi-electronics]

@@MDrives If the basic AUDIO system does not have a separate amplifier, is it OK to code The head unit for HIFI system that has a dedicated amplifier? If the coding for HIFI is OK and it is compatible for the basic system, maybe H/K coding is better?

[@Bimmerstye1]

You did good in selling the subwoofers from the 4-series. They wouldn't have worked well with the Hifi amp anyway. The F2x Harman Kardon subs and all Hifi subs are 2 Ohm impedance. The Harman Kardon subs from 3-series and up are 7 Ohm impedance. So the only option if you want to replace the Hifi subs with HK are subs from an F2x or similar (F45, F46, i3, i8, Mini,...) not the ones from 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 series. The doorspeakers are all the same impedance for all model ranges.

[@MDrives]

Thank you for letting me know. I didn’t know that.

[@khanalive9533]

How to tell Iv I got hifi or bass system

[@MDrives]

Hifi will have have a speaker in the middle of your dash as well.

[@jimftr]

I'd recommend getting the tweeter covers foe the doors and then getting some Focal ISBMW 100l. Sound quality is far superior to HK and not too harsh.

[@MDrives]

Thanks.

[@christopherriley1187]

I’m quite sure it’s an e87

[@MDrives]

It isn’t.

[@astairaeisadickhead]

You should have deleted the other video because i did the same thing you've done on the F20 , i did put hk tweeters but they are tooo ear piercing ...

[@MDrives]

Many people like them but it depends on your hearing. I'll add a link to this video in an old one.

[@astairaeisadickhead]

@@MDrives you should code your car to HI Fi you will get more balanced result ..

[@MDrives]

I think coding to HK would give me better results as I had hifi system from factory. Unfortunately as I have over 1.5 year of bmw warranty left I can’t code my car. 😕

[@robertasviskupaitis9195]

the music during installation section was unnecesary and too loud...

[@m-stat9]

please stabilize your videos

[@MDrives]

I do it now.