Dash Speaker Replacement for 1989 535i (e34)

[angusbn]

Looking for recommendations to replace the stock speaker for this model.

See attachment for measurements of the stock speaker.

Thanks.

[gmannino]

Dealer replacement item would be your best bet. Call them and tell them you need to replace that speaker. They should have something for you.

[pundit]

Looking for recommendations to replace the stock speaker for this model.

See attachment for measurements of the stock speaker.

Thanks.
Are you just replacing a faulty unit or wishing to upgrade with something better?
As mentioned try the dealer for a stock unit or maybe a wrecker.
As far as upgrading is concerned, I've been down this path and actually managed to find something... BUT!

If you just want to swap out the speakers with something better, then I can't help you as the only speakers I could find that offered improvement over the stock units AND could be made to fit the factory location (without butchering the dash) require entirely different crossovers and amplification.

I'll fill you in some more when I get home as I'm at work right now - Cheers

[angusbn]

I simply want a better quality aftermarket speaker than I can drop into this cavity without any modification. The factory AMP isn't in play any longer. It's toast. Only amplification is from the new Panasonic CD/MP3 HU - 4 * 45w

[saj3n]

I actually replaced with Pioneer replacements for this size. Not bad at all.

[gmannino]

Most of the time when I installed aftermarket 2 way componets in e34's I will just disconnect the 3 inch dash speaker.

Replace the the 5.25 inch mid in the kickpanels and replace the tweeter in the factory location. You might be able to squeeze a 3.5 inch speaker in that hole but I've never tried it.

[1991 525i Novs]

Most of the time when I installed aftermarket 2 way componets in e34's I will just disconnect the 3 inch dash speaker.

Replace the the 5.25 inch mid in the kickpanels and replace the tweeter in the factory location. You might be able to squeeze a 3.5 inch speaker in that hole but I've never tried it.


i put infiniti reference components up front, in the kick panel is the mid, and up on the dash is the tweeter, two hard to rewire through the door, put a 4 channel alpine amp under the rear seat and new infinitis in the back deck, the 2 alpine type r is the truck with a mono alpine amp...sounds sick

[pundit]

I simply want a better quality aftermarket speaker than I can drop into this cavity without any modification. The factory AMP isn't in play any longer. It's toast. Only amplification is from the new Panasonic CD/MP3 HU - 4 * 45w
Here is what I fitted... a Dai1chi HFS64-15-8

http://clients.net2000.com.au/~rowmat/bmw/hfs64-15-8.jpg

http://clients.net2000.com.au/~rowmat/bmw/midrange.jpg

http://clients.net2000.com.au/~rowmat/bmw/midrange_rear.jpg

http://clients.net2000.com.au/~rowmat/bmw/midrange_side.jpg

There is some work required as the square frame requires two opposing corners to be cut off .
Also as the speaker is originally shielded the steel cap and additional shielding magnet requires removal (already done in this picture)
This must be done or the speaker simply won't fit in the stock location.

[pundit]

And the new custom built crossovers fitted into the original factory case after totally gutting it...

http://clients.net2000.com.au/~rowmat/bmw/crossover_1.jpg

http://clients.net2000.com.au/~rowmat/bmw/crossover_2.jpg

http://clients.net2000.com.au/~rowmat/bmw/crossover_3.jpg

http://clients.net2000.com.au/~rowmat/bmw/crossover_4.jpg

The whole thing is fed by a Zapco amp and sounds very good!

[pundit]

Also replaced the horrible factory tweeters with Vifa silk domes...

http://clients.net2000.com.au/~rowmat/bmw/tweeters.jpg

The stock tweeters are on the left... Peerless in the center... and the modified Vifas (which I used) on the right.
The stock speaker location are best kept for the best imaging.
The mid's and tweeter are actually in the optimum locations.

The 5.25" bass-mids are so-so if used with a sub and crossed over at around 100hz. however I've ditched the 5.25" and fitted some 6.5" carbon fibre bass-mids in the kicks, but had to make the kicks out of 16mm mdf and heavily damp the cavity.
The plastic kicks are simply not solid enough.
These then crossover at 80hz to a rear mounted sub.

[pundit]

I actually replaced with Pioneer replacements for this size. Not bad at all.
Were the Pioneers are direct drop in replacement?
What model were they?

[saj3n]

I believe that they were a direct replacement, if not, very minor modification may have been made to the area anchored to the car via the screws. Here's a link to circuit city's page.

Model TS-A878

http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/productDetail.do?oid=27508&catOid=-13092&com.broadvision.session.new=Yes&BV_SessionID=@@@@0023639967.1154394315@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccdaddihggjmekcfngcfkmdffhdfkl.0

[angusbn]

pundit - which vifa tweeter model did you use in the door pillar?

[pundit]

pundit - which vifa tweeter model did you use in the door pillar?
Vifa D26NC-55-06 (http://www.speakerbits.com/net/catalogs/showpic1.aspx?ID=VF026A)

It needs the flange removed and some mods to the factory 'A' pillar tweeter pods.
I've currently attached them to the 'A' pillars with a couple of cable ties while I refabricate the tweeter pods.

The new mids & tweeters with the custom built crossover are a big improvment.
Don't be fooled by the apparent low wattage rating of the Dai1chi 2.5" dash speaker.
It's actually classed as a bass-mid.
As I'm band passing it from 300hz to 3000hz with a 12db/oct crossover it should handle around 40watts RMS (system power).

The new setup plays loud & clean. :)

[angusbn]

Thanks to all.

I've ordered a pair of Vifa 45mm tweaters D26NC0506 from www.solen.ca in Montreal. $38 Cdn each. Convenient since I'm in Ottawa.

Going to look a pair of 3.5" Kenwood KFC835C speakers for the dash location -looks promising - 1.5" mounting depth. Some mods likely. Available from www.bestbuy.com here in Canada.

[angusbn]

The Kenwood KFC835 3.5" speakers weren't even close. Still looking around but I bought the Vifa tweaters out of Montreal so hopefully they fit.

Thanks again pundit. This is becoming an obsession.