BMW e36 M3 Installed!

AT LAST!!! 10 months of torture!!

Today I finished installing My 60GB Empeg in my '96 M3. I have the premium 10 speaker sound system (apparantly there's a base version) so I decided to try the factory amplifier. It sounds really good. It isn't loud at all, but it's more than enough with the windows down up to 60 mph. The spacial enhancement circuitry still works, but doesn't seem quite as pronounced as before.

I've written up a quick tutorial for those who would like to know more about how to do the install with a minimum of fuss.

Also, I have to give a nod to Tony. I never realized what it would be like having my entire music collection at my fingertips. My radio listening is down 95% (I begin to wonder if I should have bought it), and my interest in slaving a CD changer to the unit has become purely academic (though I plan on following through some day).

All afternoon evening while driving down the road I've found myself breaking into an ear splitting grin for no apparant reason. Have I found the path to Nirvana?

"Have I found the path to Nirvana? "

No, you've found the autobahn to Nirvana.

-Zeke

Also, I have to give a nod to Tony.

<nods back>

No one ever listens to us until they've experienced it for themselves.

I believed you, even before anyone stated the fact. The reason I got an empeg was in order to not lug CDs around. I still don't use a lot of its advanced features, but it's such a boon simply to not have CDs around.

Yup, Just last night I walked into Best Buy and the salseman handed me a spindle of CD-R's which were nearly free after rebate or something... After hauling them around the store for fifteen minutes, I realized that I'd had my last spindle for at least six months ahd hadn't made a dent...

Matthew

I listened. It's comprehension... I didn't comprehend, I couldn't....

Haha, now can you imagine the smile on my face when I upgraded from a Ford Escort AM/FM/Cassette to a Volvo + empeg + Alpine CD? Yeah, I essentially skipped the whole "hauling around CD's" thing all together. Haha, I hung on to my "hauling around TAPES" thing for a bit too long.

Now, if only I could stop trying to figure out the frequency distribution across the lines in Funnelweb while driving at rush hour. If that won't get me into an accident, tweaking my EQ settings sure will. Still, the smile will remain.

Yes, driving my M3 with the Empeg on is pure pleasure. I just added 399 80's songs (from the Time Life collection, "Sounds of the Eighties") and I can't even tell you how happy I am.

I spliced into the wiring harness in the trunk to add an aftermarket amp, and let me tell you, it was a pain in the butt. I found out that one of the speaker wires had a reversed polarity so if I had connected it up like the wiring diagram on the internet (unofficialBMW) I would have had one speaker out of phase.

Time to ditch the Xtant amp and install the McIntosh amps (they come next week)...I can't wait!!

If you ever have any questions about the M3, drop me a line at [email protected]

Wes
'95 M3 - Xtant 604x, a/d/s 345is, JL Stealthboxes