BMW Sound Systems by US Model Year
– base Stereo (“tweeterless”)
– HiFi
– Premium Sound
Base Stereo
The base Stereo system has no tweeters and no amp. The speakers are powered directly by the head unit, with a heavily-equalized signal. In US-spec cars it could be found in:
– 2010 and early 2011 E90 sedans (non-M)
– 2010 and early 2011 E92 coupes (non-M)
– 2010 and early 2011 E82 coupes
– 2010 and 2011 E70 X5
The front speakers get a full-range signal. The rear speakers get a high-pass-filtered signal.
HiFi
The HiFi system was standard in US-spec cars until MY 2010 (when it was replaced in some cars with base Stereo) and again starting in mid-2011. There are tweeters and an amp, but no graphic equalizer settings in the head unit’s user menu. The amplifier has analog inputs. Pre-2010 HiFi amps are large black modules. 2010 and later HiFi amps in E9x vehicles can be small metallic-colored modules.
2006-2009 E90 sedans
Later 2011 E90 sedans
2006-2011 E91 wagons
2007-2009 E92 coupes
Later 2011 E92 coupes
2008-2011 E93 convertibles
2008-2009 E82 coupes
Later 2011 E82 coupes
2008-2011 E87 convertibles
2004-2010 E83 SAV
2006-2009 E70 X5 (includes center channel)
Later 2011 E70 X5 (includes center channel)
Later 2008-2010 E60 sedans
(Note: early E60 sedans have an unusual hybrid system called “HiFi” – please contact us for information about these vehicles).
Premium Sound
— Logic 7 (up to 2009)
— harman/kardon (2010-up)
— Individual Audio (early M3, for example)
— Enhanced Premium (late 2008-up M3, M5)
The Premium Sound system differs by vehicle and by model year. For example, a 2009 335 sedan will have a “Logic 7”-branded system, where a 2008 M3 will have either the Individual or the Enhanced Premium.
Premium Sound systems in these vehicles always have a graphic equalizer setting in the head unit’s menu, as well as a “Logic 7” or “Surround” on/off option. The E90/1/2/3, the E60/61, and the E70 will have center-channel dash speakers and two sets of rear speakers (the E8x vehicles will not).
