BMW 1-Series Forum (F20) 135i - 1Addicts.com > Second Generation 1 Series Forum > 2012 BMW 1-Series Sporthatch (F20) Discussion > Alpine Retrofit Audio Upgrade kit for the F20
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      07-11-2012, 05:59 AM   #1
prajayn
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Alpine Retrofit Audio Upgrade kit for the F20

Hello everyone, took delivery of my 120d last month and managed to find a decent demo model.

Love the car, just one issue, which is the sound system. I have the Radio Professional but the standard speakers which really suck. My Polo TDI had better quality speakers than this car, which was half the price.

Anyways. My only option right now is to get this Alpine kit or fit something aftermarket, which I am not too keen on but all depends on cost.

Here in South Africa, BMW want R9k for the parts, excl. labour which is pretty expensive. Basically works out to 700GBP.

Any thoughts on this matter would be much appreciated. Might decide to leave it OEM and trade it in later for a better specced model.
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Last edited by prajayn; 07-11-2012 at 06:05 AM..
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      07-11-2012, 10:35 AM   #2
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Nice wheels Prajayn (and nice rims too!),

There have been a few discussions on here, the consensus seems to be that it's not really worth retrofitting. The Alpine system is slightly better, but not nearly enough to justify the ridiculous cost. If the HK system was R10k, that would be reasonable in my opinion, and I would consider it...
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      07-11-2012, 04:05 PM   #3
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That is strange. BMW AutoGlen quoted R5700 in parts to me for the F20 125i, this was before I decided to build my own car and was considering a car off their floor.
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      07-14-2012, 12:10 AM   #4
prajayn
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I got the price from JSN Bryanston - been playing with the idea, and have actually heard the Alpine system in someones 135i Coupe - but that came with the underseat woofers as far as I know. It sounded way better than the crap in my car.

I find it pretty strange that my 2006 Polo Sportline had better OEM speakers than this car.

Sorry but I really like my music, not too loud but it should sound like it supposed to sound - I love this car, and because I bought it demo I didn't even bother testing out the speakers, I was too damn interested in the drive

Going to try to get the Instructions to fit to the F20, if it doesn't need recoding it could be a good deal, works out to around 5k with tweeter pods from Denmark excl. shipping
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      07-14-2012, 12:17 AM   #5
prajayn
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Found it...not in english though.
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File Type: pdf BMW f20 Alpine230425.pdf (1.49 MB, 13200 views)

Last edited by prajayn; 07-14-2012 at 12:22 AM..
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      07-14-2012, 06:42 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by prajayn View Post
Found it...not in english though.
Very useful, thanks! Not a problem understanding Italian for us Spaniards...
I might take it to my dealer next week to show them the Alpine retrofit does include the door-mounted speakers...
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      08-03-2012, 03:10 AM   #7
prajayn
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Instruction Manual F20

Ok so I managed to get the manual from Schmiedmann, and have attached it.

Looks like it doesn't need any coding and it looks like a pretty simple job to install.

Question is, do you think that someone with knowledge of sound installs would be able to do this quite easily and without damaging any panels? Also what tools would you need?
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File Type: pdf EDoc22210660.pdf (1.46 MB, 6947 views)
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      10-26-2012, 09:58 AM   #8
prajayn
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So today I finally fitted my Alpine Retrofit kit. Myself. Took my time but was as easy as stripping my 2006 Polo TDI.

All I can say is that now I actually like listening to music in my car again. Big difference. Only prob is that the rear shelf speakers distort...might disconnect or get more efficient ones with a crossover to kill the bottom end.
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      10-26-2012, 03:56 PM   #9
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Did you get any pics in the process so as to make a decent DIY guide...?
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      10-26-2012, 11:53 PM   #10
prajayn
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Some pics, sorry not many since I was trying to get done asap

So what I found is that the front splits are heavily attenuated so most of the bass and midrange come from under the seats and the back speakers.

Back speakers are as per the photo - what came out of the front doors I think. I will double check later. From what I am hearing, they are bottoming out and killing the rest of the sound quality. I am going to look for replacements and also add in a simple passive crossover to kill the bass going there.

Just looking online I can see that its impossible to find something with a 3 hole mount, will have to make a spacer or something to get it in there.

But then thats it.

ps. this car was as easy to strip as my polo, and once I plugged everything back in, the only error I had was the time/date.

Saved myself a couple of grand doing this DIY. Just need to order the tweeter pods now, currently just plugged in a set of infinity reference tweeters I had laying about.

Sound quality is not the most amazing, but I think what I am not liking is coming from the standard rears, will decide once those are out.
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      10-28-2012, 03:47 AM   #11
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If anyone needs step by step instructions just let me know.
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      10-28-2012, 05:32 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by prajayn View Post
If anyone needs step by step instructions just let me know.
yes please
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      10-28-2012, 05:57 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by iBeech View Post
yes please
+1
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      10-28-2012, 08:59 AM   #14
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+3
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      10-28-2012, 01:49 PM   #15
prajayn
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Cool, will need to take some photos of the interior and get this done tmw.
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      10-28-2012, 01:54 PM   #16
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Nice one! Someone posted a link somewhere to buy this kit- cannot find it!
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      10-28-2012, 03:32 PM   #17
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Yeah, I posted it in another thread on this topic.
this is it: http://www.salesafter.eu/product_inf...m-alpine.html&
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      10-28-2012, 05:10 PM   #18
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Thanks- £290- isit worth it?
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      10-28-2012, 11:55 PM   #19
prajayn
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Definitely. Schmiedmann's price is the same as well.

And also if you're handy then you can fit it yourself and save some cash. Will upload some instructions today if I have some time.
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      10-29-2012, 08:07 AM   #20
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Is the stock system that bad for a non audiophile?
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      10-29-2012, 08:37 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Math View Post
Yeah, I posted it in another thread on this topic.
this is it: http://www.salesafter.eu/product_inf...m-alpine.html&
That site says not fit for these models:
Fits not for cars with navigation business (SA606), navigation professional (SA609), radio professional (SA663), BMW HiFi-system (SA676), BMW HiFi-system professional dsp (SA677) or harman kardon HiFi sourround system (SA674) !!!

Is it true? I have SA663
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      10-29-2012, 10:09 AM   #22
prajayn
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I have the 663 as well, which is the business radio with idrive? 6 speakers.

make sure its for the f20 - there is another similar kit for older models.
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